“House Rules” by Mike Lawson

Genre: Thriller



Rating: 4 Water Towers

This book is an advance reader copy (uncorrected proof). “House Rules” by Mike Lawson is due in stores, in hardcover, in June 2008. It can be pre-ordered at Amazon.com.

The back cover PR says that “Mike Lawson is a talented thriller writer who is only getting better”. That is an understatement…….Mike Lawson has catapulted himself into (in my mind) the ranks alongside such greats as Baldacci, Flynn, and Thor. “House Rules” is one terrific book.

As “House Rules” opens, several foiled terrorist acts have the nation on edge.

The first foiled attack prevented two American Muslim's from blowing up the Baltimore Harbor Tunnel. Unfortunately, the third member, and leader, was not in the building at the time of the FBI raid and was not captured. Upon questioning the two young men the FBI were able to identify the man, “Muhammad” , as an “honest-to-God al-Qaeda operative”.

Two weeks after that aborted attack, Senator William Davis Broderick introduced a bill that would severely limit the freedom of all Muslims (citizens or not) in the U.S. Think real life Senator McCarthy in the 1950's. Introducing the bill made Senator Broderick an instant media star, but, it was three more American Muslim terrorist attacks (all were foiled) that catapulted the bill to approval in the Senate and moved it to the House, where it sat in deliberation per instructions from Speaker of the House John Mahoney.

One of the attempted attacks was on the White House by an American citizen and lawyer, Reza Zarif, who was flying a Cessna into restricted air space over Washington D.C. The Air National Guard scrambled two F-16 fighter aircraft and tried to elicit a response from the Cessna. Getting no response, and seeing that the plane had started it’s descent toward the White House, one of the F-16’s shot the Cessna out of the sky. Subsequent FBI investigations determined that Reza murdered his entire family before boarding the plane and that he had al-Qaeda connections. The general consensus was that he “snapped” under the stress of his life.

We find out, however, that Mahoney is a long time friend of Reza’s father and Mahoney suspects foul play, or dirty doings. He knows Reza would never do this nor would he ever kill his own family.

This is where Mahoney asks Joe DeMarco, special Congressional troubleshooter, to find out the true story behind the situation. The FBI had a theory, and it sounded great, but, where others fail to uncover the whole truth, DeMarco, Emma (yes! she is back), and computer geek, Neil, succeed. With additional help from individuals in Homeland Security, FBI, and other law enforcement agencies, DeMarco's team uncovers a complex, multi-layered, plot to enlist these American Muslims to commit terrorist acts…..with the express purpose of encouraging the passage of Broderick’s "Muslim Registry" bill.

DeMarco and friends slowly unravel the truth, and people, behind the plot. The mystery, intrigue, and violence ratchet up as time and time again well laid plans and schemes to uncover the next higher person in the plot are hindered by surprising and complicated twists and turns. Great reading!

Remember Muhammad?

With all the effort to uncover the mastermind of the foiled attacks, Muhammad has quietly slipped away and focused his effort on a new plan that could kill hundreds, or thousands, of innocent people.

The ending of the book wraps up the foiled attacks and the fate of the people involved then focuses on how Muhammad’s new plan and DeMarco’s life collide. The frightening part of Muhammad's plan is that it could happen, in real life, given the current state of preparedness, or un-preparedness.

To find out what happens, you will have to read the book.

In an email, Mike Lawson has told me that a fourth book is in the works.

Before “House Rules” comes out, I would recommend reading “The Inside Ring” and “The Second Perimeter” to catch up on Joe DeMarco and friends. If you like Thrillers, you will enjoy these books…….guaranteed.

Mike’s Web Site

“The Second Perimeter” by Mike Lawson

Genre: Fiction

Rating: 3.5 Water Towers

Following “Playing for Pizza” was a difficult task. But Mike Lawson’s “The Second Perimeter” succeeded where others failed.

“The Second Perimeter” is Lawson’s second book and is everything you could want in a Thriller…..lots of action and intrigue with a touch of humor (and he writes about the Navy….of which I am a veteran…VAW-124, Norfolk, VA). Very cool.

Joe DeMarco is a trained lawyer who is working, at the only job he could get, as a “troubleshooter” for the Speaker of the House, John Fitzgerald Mahoney. He obtained this position via Joe’s Aunt who had gotten to know Mahoney…very well. Joe has been handicapped in his pursuit of a career in in law thanks to his father who was a hit man for the Mafia. Unfortunately, Joe has not inherited Dad’s way with weapons and that lack of ability is a handicap in his current line of work. Luckily Joe’s investigative partner, Emma, is familiar with all the tools of the spy trade being an ex-DIA agent.

In “The Second Perimeter” DeMarco and Emma embark on a simple mission to Bremerton, WA to investigate a fraud allegation at the Navy shipyard. Upon questioning the complainant they assume this is nothing much to worry about, but, decide to interview a couple of ex-employees just in case.

These ex-employees are “ losers” who suddenly have money in the bank, new boats, etc. During the interview, DeMarco and Emma meet their boss, Carmody, an ex-SEAL who started the consulting firm that is developing a training course on nuclear reactors.

After the meeting, DeMarco and Emma understand that what they are investigating is something much more than fraud, and they push some buttons to see what happens.

They are rewarded with a positive indication that they are correct. The original complainant is murdered, the two losers are deep sixed, and Carmody takes off on a wild goose chase around the Western U.S.

Since Emma suspects that Carmody is moving around as a decoy she concentrates her efforts locally and the authorities stop the defection of John Washburn, an expert on submarine noise and sonar capabilities, to China.

It turns out that Carmody’s control, Li Mei, is an old nemeses of Emma’s and has terminated the efforts to gather data from the shipyard (and all the loose ends) and chosen a new tact: To kidnap Emma so the Chinese can pick her brain.

The action reaches it peak at a meeting in Vancouver as Li Mei kills several police, attempts to kill Carmody (a big mistake on her part for failing), and takes Emma hostage.

As the remainder of the book unfolds, it is largely up to DeMarco to find Emma and resolve the situation. In the end he receives help from Carmody (who is now working for the Chinese to get Li Mei, but also has other, more personal, reasons to get to Li Mei ) in a most interesting and surprising manner.

I highly recommend Mike Lawson to anyone who enjoys thrillers with a military flavor and a bit of humor (think Brian Haig). “The Inside Ring” was a great book and you should start there since it is the first in the series. A third book (“House Rules”) featuring DeMarco (and, I hope, Emma) is on the way in June 2008.

Mike tells me that purchasing the new book now from Amazon will be a better deal than waiting.

Mike’s Web Site