Tuesday, June 26, 2012

POLITICAL THRILLER



Joe DeMarco, now this is a guy you come to love. I feel like I know him personally. He’s a guy that you can’t help but to like for when you need him he’ll come. Trouble seems to find him no fault of his own. Its drawn to him like a magnate. He doesn’t search for it; he doesn’t have to it is dropped right onto his lap and says “here I am”.
Joe was first introduced to me through a free e-book download The Inside Ring by Mike Lawson. My first impression of this guy is he’s not very smart. His father worked for the Mafia but his father protected him and didn’t want him to become part of the crime family.
Joe is somewhat street smart and to look at him you would not want to mess with him for he has an appearance of a Wise Guy. A good looking Italian with dark hair broad shoulders and great physique. But Joe’s looks precede him, he is kind, gentle, and loves his country. However, don’t let his looks fool you, he can take care of himself. He is an attorney but doesn’t practice law. Someone who knew someone got him a job at the Capital.
Joe looks into things. He is somewhat a negotiator, investigator, and a carrier. He does odd jobs for Congress. His boss is the Speaker of The House John Mahoney. And when John asks him to check into a situation he hesitantly does it with no questions asked, that is sometimes. No one knows who Joe works for; he doesn't appear to have a boss. He is lost in the paperwork in the accounting department with no direct link to any particular employer. No one checks it because his office is in the subbasement of the Capital building with no windows. An insignificant employee with a GS-13/14 pay rate and its directly deposited into his bank account. He lives in a moderate home in an average neighborhood and drives a Volvo. He is an insignificant employee! At least that is what everyone at Congress thinks.
Joe DeMarco’s first series opens with an attempted assassination to the President of the United States that goes array. General Andrew Banks, the Secretary of Homeland Security, had received a note that the President’s life was in danger and he didn’t do anything about it. He wasn’t sure if this was a hoax and/or if the Secret Service was aware of it. How could someone get so close to the President? And where were the Secret Service? It is their job to protect the President. In fact according to the video it looked as if the Secret Agent actually bowed low to let the bullet pass. It almost hits the President but instead it kills the writer Perry Montgomery. General Banks looking at the video is alarmed and does not know what to do so he calls the Speaker John Mahoney asking him to look into it as a favor but not to stir the pot. For this would look bad for General Banks and his Homeland Security team! So the Speaker calls Joe and wants him to check if the Secret Service were aware of this assassination attempt and what did they do about it. Just do some snooping no big deal…
Joe thinks that this is way out of his league. He investigates little stuff minor things not assassinations especially towards the President. That’s FBI matter and for him to begin snooping could get him into a lot of trouble even killed. Those politicians who don’t like the Speaker will begin to snoop and will find out that he’s on no one’s payroll. He could lose his job and where could he get a job? He’s the son of Mafioso, even though his father is dead by the hands of another organized family member, he’s  potential employers would frown at the thought. And he would not work for organized crime it’s too dangerous.
Joe finds himself in a middle of a cover up beyond his dreams and needs to seek the help from the mysterious Emma. Emma had worked for the government and though retired she is gone out of town for long periods of time. Emma knows a lot of influential people and some scary characters. And Joe knew from the early start of their relationship not to ask questions. He wasn’t interested in beginning a relationship with Emma for she is gay and has a partner. However, when Joe finds himself in a situation he can not control or dangerous he searches for Emma. Emma KNOWS people!!!
Joe’s life is never the same. His life is in danger getting way over his head and people are trying to kill him. Agency’s like the FBI, CIA, Homeland Security, and Secret Service do not like outsiders snooping into their affairs especially a punk like Joe DeMarco. But the Speaker pushes Joe and wants him to find out what is going on!!!!
Note: This is a great beginning to this series and each series gets better as you get to know this great character Joe DeMarco. 

The Inside Ring

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