House Witness

What began as a political thriller turned more into something criminal and legal in nature... but it only helped to enhance the plot and the story. Joe DeMarco is forced to come to terms with the murder of his cousin, though there are even larger shocks on the horizon. The character of Joe DeMarco, as seasoned readers know, has both grit and determination, as well as charm with a rough exterior that usually gets him the results he seeks....but it is the character of Ella Fields that steal the limelight in this novel. Overall it’s a fun ride full of action and suspense with a solid twist towards the end that most of us won’t see coming.

Somehow I don't think I have read any of the Joe DeMarco series by Mike Lawson of which this is book 12. Too bad for me.

Joe DeMarco gets a call in the middle of the night that Dominic DiNunzio, his godmother's son and a man he has known all his life, has been killed in a bar in New York. It isn't Connie DiNunzio who phones, it is John Mahoney, the most prominent Democrat in the US House of Representatives who phones. Connie phoned him first because he is Dominic's biological father, a fact that neither Joe DeMarco or John's wife Mary Pat, or anyone else for that matter, knows.

In a few short paragraphs Mr. Lawson sets up this excellent thriller that stands alone quite well. As a matter of fact, if the negative comments from Amazon show more reviewers is to be believed, it stands alone better than as part of the series. Quite a few of them said that there isn't enough "Joe DeMarco" in the story. That's an interesting idea, don't you think?

For a tyro like me, the story works fine. Joe works closely with a prosecutor and her intern up in Manhattan to uncover a massive witness tampering case. Very competent and exciting writing and I enjoyed it quite a bit.

I received a review copy of "House Witness" by Mike Lawson (Grove Atlantic) through NetGalley.com. show less

HOUSE WITNESS
MIKE LAWSON

MY RATING ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️▫️
PUBLISHER Grove Atlantic
PUBLISHED February 6, 2018

A gripping read of a race to find the witness tampering team available only to those super wealthy defendants that have enough money to pay the multi-million dollar fee.

SUMMARY
House a witness is the twelfth novel in the Joe DeMarco series by Mike Lawson, But this one's a little bit different, it's personal. John Mahoney, the Minority Leader of the US House of Representatives and DeMarco’s boss, has a secret. He has a son, it's a son that his wife knows nothing about. That son has just been shot dead in a dark bar in Manhattan, so Mahoney sends DeMarco to New York to make sure the killer is prosecuted to the fullest extent show more of the law. But there are five witnesses that can testify against the killer, who is a rich kid named Toby Rosenthal, so it doesn't look like there's much for DeMarco to do. And then the witnesses start disappearing or changing their testimony. Justine Porter, the prosecutor suspects that this is witness tampering, and it might be connected to a pattern of cases across the country where super wealthy defendants are avoiding convictions when witnesses testimony falls apart. Can DeMarco find whoever is responsible for the tampering prior to the Rosenthal trial?

REVIEW
HOUSE WITNESS was an entertaining thriller that had me turning pages faster than a jackrabbit! I’m a huge fan of the DeMarco series and have read and love them all. This one is no different, although I was a little disappointed that crux of DeMarco’s role didn't emerge until well into the book. But when he did, he was in fine form.

DeMarco, who with the proper motivation, leaves no stone unturned, in an effort to find an elusive “exceptional jury consultant”. In House Witness he has a lot of help from the impressive Sarah, a tiny, sharp and savvy intern in the district attorney’s office who was a “blood hound with a key board.” I loved the ending of House Witness. Looks like DeMarco may be crossing paths with this “exceptional jury consultant” again. I recommend this book to fans of political and legal thrillers, and anyone who likes series.

Thanks to Mike Lawson, Grove Atlantic and Netgalley for an advanced reading copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. show less

What a great legal thriller, I had no idea that this was the 12th book in the Joe DeMarco Series.
DeMarco's the fix-it man for the Minority Leader of the House, John Mahoney. When he gets a call late one night about a murder in a Manhatten bar, he's a little confused as to why this should be of any issue regarding Mahoney, he quickly learns that there are some personal issues at stake here. Not only regarding Mahoney but himself as well he grew up with the victim of this senseless crime. DeMarco is told that this man has to fry for what he did, he has to be convicted of murder no matter what. They had no idea exactly what forces they were up against.
The man who committed the murder is the rich son of a very high profile corporate show more attorney who is spoiled and has been on a bender since his girlfriend dumped him a few days ago. Naturally, he runs to Daddy to help him out of this crisis, he shot the man in cold blood in a crowded bar with several witnesses. It's a disaster, but when DeMarco is summons to work with the prosecutor he discovers a very odd trend regarding very rich murder defendants getting off when they should have been convicted.
This is a fast-paced read with plenty of action and suspense that kept it from lagging. A lot of legal thrillers get bogged down in all the legalities the trial that you find yourself nodding off, I can assure you that won't happen here.

Disclosure: I was provided an e-galley of this book by the publisher and NetGalley in exchange for my honest opinion.
2 likes show less

I’m going to be looking for more books in the Joe DeMarco series. It was a great take-me-away-from-my-real-life mystery in which Joe uncovers shady lawyers for millionaires who conspire with a couple to “do away with” witnesses who would lead to the conviction of their clients.

The 12th Joe DeMarco thriller finds Senator Mahoney’s fixer seeking justice in a court room. When Mahoney’s illegitimate son is murdered in front of multiple witnesses by the son of a wealthy Manhattan lawyer, the case becomes a battle between judicial corruption and political influence. The killer’s lawyer hires an “exceptional jury consultant” who guarantees an acquittal for two million dollars. As this slam-dunk case starts to fall apart, DeMarco becomes a de facto investigator for the Manhattan ADA. Barrett’s husky baritone matches DeMarco’s easygoing attitude, lined with a hard-edged threat. Barrett’s facility with accents adds color as the investigation starts crossing the country. When the point of view shifts to show more the consultant, Barrett lightens his intonation creating a believable predatory woman. Barrett compels the listener to race through this fast-paced conspiracy. Try the DeMarco series with fans of Wood’s Stone Barrington or Flynn’s Mitch Rapp.

The improved review was published in Booklist May 1, 2018 issue. show less