by Mike Lawson
First published 2015
Joe DeMarco operates in the shadows of Washington DC, handling problems for Minority Leader John Mahoney. This time the job takes him far from familiar territory. Mahoney owes a debt to a Vietnam War veteran who once saved his life. The man's granddaughter Sarah now needs protection. She runs a blog that challenges a wealthy oil executive who wants to exploit North Dakota's natural resources. The billionaire has sent hired enforcers to silence her through intimidation and violence. DeMarco travels to North Dakota to shield Sarah from these corporate thugs. The landscape is foreign to him, but the threat is real. What begins as a straightforward protection assignment escalates into deadly confrontation. DeMarco faces off against professional problem solvers who eliminate obstacles for their corporate employer. These operatives will kill both Sarah and DeMarco to complete their mission. DeMarco must adapt his urban skills to rural terrain while corporate assassins close in.
Genres: adventure, mystery, crime, contemporary, thriller, action
Vibes: fast-paced, suspenseful, thought-provoking
Tropes: fish-out-of-water, urban-rural-conflict
Setting: North Dakota, Washington DC
Period: Contemporary
288 pages · Kindle Edition · Atlantic Monthly Press
Content warnings: violence