My favorite kind of mystery - extremely well-written, action-packed from start to finish, suspenseful, poignant, and fast-paced!

My thanks to NetGalley and Grove Atlantic for the opportunity to read this engaging ARC.

Alligator Alley is the latest in the Joe DeMarco series of thrillers from Mike Lawson, and as usual, it's an action-packed read. DeMarco teams up (again) with Emma, a "retired" government agent with a her own vast array of connections. Together they attempt to bring justice to the murderers of a young woman who is very important to someone important to DeMarco's boss. Emma takes the spotlight in this installment, bringing her years of clandestine experience to the task at hand. Gotta love the dynamic between Emma and Joe...

If you are a fan of thriller series, with twisty plots, humor and great dialog, you will enjoy the Demarco series. Mike Lawson has done it again!

I eagerly await the next installment, and would like to thank Grove Atlantic and NetGalley for the opportunity to read an advance copy.

I’m new to Mike Lawson as an author and to the Joe Demarco series. So I approached this book knowing it was the 16th in the series and I was not familiar with numbers 1-15. Despite this, Alligator Alley also was a great stand-alone novel. I’m sure I may have understood more character nuances if I read some of the earlier books but I loved this either way! From the very first page, I was hooked on the edge of my seat with non stop suspense!

Thank you to Atlantic County Press and NetGalley for an advanced uncorrected copy of this novel, which will be publishing in February 2023. I will most definitely be seeking out more from this author and series and will be recommending it to my reader friends!

First and foremost, a large thank you to NetGalley, Mike Lawson, and Grove Atlantic for providing me with a copy of this publication, which allows me to provide you with an unbiased review.

Mike Lawson returns with another stellar Joe DeMarco novel, allowing the ‘Bagman of Congress’ to expand his investigative wings down in the Florida Everglades. Lawson provides his protagonist with a difficultly case, trying partner, and intense moments of action throughout, sure to impress the reader. Lawson provides an entertaining backdrop in this sixteenth novel in the series, proving that the DeMarco momentum has not waned one iota.

After a young employee of the Department of Justice’s Inspector General’s Office is found murdered in the Florida Everglades, suspicion surrounding her murderer is high. Young Andie Moore had been following two FBI agents who were tasked with investigating Medicare fraud, but the case had gone sideways for no apparent reason. When Joe Demarco, a bagman for the Speaker of the House of Representatives, is sent to Florida to look into it, things take an interesting turn. DeMarco is not alone and his partner is surely not someone who enjoys taking second chair.

Working alongside the gritty Emma, DeMarco helps to explore the FBI agent angle, though these two are as tight lipped as they come. Still, Demarco and Emma think that there’s more to the story than simply two buffoons wanting their payday for screwing up the case. Emma has contacts all her own and calls on them to help with some of the digital and forensic know-how, which opens new perspectives. Trolling the crime scene in the Everglades, known to locals as Alligator Alley, Emma and DeMarco find some key evidence that shows that the kickback plot is a little more complex than first presumed.

With the apparent leader of the group proves elusive, DeMarco and Emma will have to work quickly and diligently to nail down the killer and ensure that Andie Moore did not die in vain. DeMarco will discover a few new things about himself and how to work alongside the rigid Emma, who has little time for any of his shenanigans. Mike Lawson keeps things strong and uses his abilities to impress the reader once more.

Since discovering the work of Mike Lawson, I have never failed to be impressed by all he adds to his stories to keep them on point. While the political aspect is secondary, it offers some interesting backstory to the larger narrative. Lawson has a great writing style and keeps his pieces moving at a quick pace, entertaining the reader from the opening pages.

With a strong narrative that does not rest for a moment, Mike Lawson lures the reader in from the opening pages. Strong criminal storylines provide something intriguing for the reader, while adding some humour at just the right moments. Great characters who add their own flavouring help Lawson move the story along with ease. A few plot lines fuel the story’s underlying greatness without impacting the momentum the narrative offers. While DeMarco is never doing the same thing, the continuity is there and series fans can be assured of a stellar piece of writing. Lawson is to be applauded and I am eager to see where things are headed next.

Kudos, Mr. Lawson, for a wonderful addition to the series, You never fail to impress.

Read 4 of 2022 and read 12 of Winter Break is the upcoming Mike Lawson book. This book started off incredibly strong. In fact, it was so action-packed that I found myself walking around reading it because I couldn’t put it down. While it stayed action-packed, it also seemed to drag a bit in the middle. There weren’t a lot of twists in this book, but the writing style and well-developed characters made this a binge-worthy read. I love the interactions among the characters. A ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ read in my books. Thanks @netgalley! #avivaandfriendsrecos #bookstagram

This is Joe DeMarco #16 and this time Joe is pretty much a bystander watching Emma NLN fix the problem. It's great fun, if not the most thrilling book you'll ever read.

A young woman who is important to someone who is important to Joe's boss John Mahoney is murdered and Joe and Emma are sent to Florida to investigate. They track down the killers, who aren't so smart, and the killers' boss, who is. It's pretty clear from the beginning how the story will play out, but watching Emma and her crew work is fun. Joe finds it exhausting, especially as Emma makes him get up early and won't let him play golf.

It's a quick read for an airplane or beach.

Having read all of the Joe DeMarco books in the series, I am always happy to see a new addition to the series. I enjoy seeing Joe work with Emma and the twists she brings to the story. As usual, I found myself reading straight through and look forward to the next installment.

thriller, suspense, unputdownable, verbal-humor, FBI, murder-investigation, murder, greed, execution, due-diligence, intrigue, action, friendship*****

Investigating the investigators. Rats in the DOJ.
The bad cops are FBI near retirement and one of the murder victims worked in the Inspector General's office. Joe is a fixer with a law degree who works for the Speaker of the House. Joe and an assortment of others dig deep to find the proof needed to get justice for the murdered. One of the things they relearn is that greed makes everyone stupid. A good read.
I have the feeling that Joe will go into retirement and there will be a spinoff series with Emma of the Defense Intelligence Agency in charge with Joe as main supporting character.
I requested and received an EARC from Grove Atlantic/Atlantic Monthly Press via NetGalley.

Opening with an alarming execution along Florida’s stretch of high-speed highway that cuts through swamps and connects the two coasts, Lawson then ramps up intrigue into a crackerjack mystery. A young female agent is in over her head searching out corruption in the Miami white collar FBI division and meets her demise in the Everglades just off the highway. Joe DeMarco is pushed into a must-solve-the-case situation and becomes paired with Emma, a semi-retired agent with endless connections that covers for DeMarco’s happy-go-lucky approach. What immediately comes apparent is that two aging and rogue FBI agents are trying to feather their retirement and will protect their hard-earned illegal funds. Elements of hard-boiled detective work is mixed with no-holds barred thriller scenes make this tale one that demands readers’ attention.

Mike Lawson has done it again, Alligator Alley is the latest and upcoming book with Joe DeMarco in the lead role but is he really. I found that Emma has a bigger part and I do like Emma. This book is as always well written and filled with complications for Joe and humor for the reader. I find that I like these later books better than some of the earlier ones and that is a problem for me because I read this series from both ends. Never a good idea. Still I will continue reading the early books until I catch up. Many big thanks to Atlantic Monthly Press and Netgalley for letting me read this book.

Alligator Alley is a new installment in the Joe DeMarco series by Mike Lawson. I have read several in the series and this was particularly good. Joe is a lawyer who works for the Speaker of the House, John Maloney. Joe is asked to investigate the death of a young investigator of the Attorney General’s office. She worked for Harry a highly decorated Vietnam Vet.
Joe goes with Emma who is a retire DIA agent. Emma is a recurring character in the series, and I really enjoy her.
I thought the writing and story were good as always. I did think having read other books in the series increased my enjoyment. I recommend the book and all the Jo DeMarco stories.

Two crooked thirty-year FBI veterans take a couple who have stolen millions of dollars out to the Florida Everglades and kill them. Andie who works in the DOJ’s Inspector General’s Office follows them and records the killing on her phone. The killers shoot her, and DeMarco is tasked to find out what happened. DeMarco is paired with Emma, a retired ex-spy, and they realize the two are not acting alone. I loved this book; it was a real page turner. This was my favorite of Mike Lawson’s DeMarco books. Characterization was done so well, and it was fun to see the good guys and the bad guys working to get the millions of dollars. Lawson does an excellent job of explaining the federal government bureaucracy and the various weapons and how they are used. Great book!

I was issued this book by NetGalley for my unbiased review.

I have read a book or two of the Joe DeMarco series. Like the others, this book is an enjoyable read.

Joe DeMarco has a job to do, but doesn't take himself all that serious. I guess that working for a politician leads one to be a bit cavalier. In this tale Joe is teamed up with Emma. Emma is no nonsense, and is definitely take charge. Joe in many ways is her willing and capable servant. There are plenty of twists and turns, and it keeps you attention from beginning to end.

I look forward to reading more about Joe and his adventures.

I've been a Joe DeMarco fan more or less from the beginning so I was looking forward to getting stuck into a new Joe DeMarco novel and savoring DeMarco's wonderfully cynical take on the realities of American politics. I have to tell you I was really terribly disappointed.

Don't get me wrong here. This is a pretty darn good book and an enjoyable read. The problem with it is that it's not actually a Joe DeMarco novel. Oh, the DeMarco character is in there, but he's simply not central to the narrative and doesn't drive the action. Most of the time he's just hanging around while other people act, telling us how disinterested he is in what's happening, and saying that he'd really rather be playing golf.

All in all, it was a very strange way to present the series character which drew people to the series in the first place. I enjoyed the book, but I miss Joe DeMarco. He deserves a lot better.

This book is easy to read and entertaining, just as I like, and the plot and the characters are excellent.

I was offered this ARC by Grove Atlantic and NetGalley prior to its scheduled release next February. I accepted with gusto because I’ve read every installment in this series. Unfortunately, I found this read quite unsatisfying. It was thin on plot. It’s more a “prove they did it” than a “figure out who did it” story, which makes it very difficult to keep up meaningful suspense. The hint of an additional political mystery faded away to a mildly amusing and implausible solution, almost as an afterthought.

There was plenty of action in this story, which was good because the characters were also very thin. The bad guys were amazingly stupid given their employment.

And the good guys? This story brings us back to Emma, the enigmatic retired spook with the steel trap brain, who has appeared occasionally over the years. I like her, especially her disdainfully matter-of-fact attitude toward Joe and her ability to call on resources to solve her problems. She has a gun but doesn’t need to use it. She can bring in muscle like Joe and other folks who owe her big-time for unnamed past deeds. And Joe has a mostly supporting role this time. He is focused, as usual, on playing golf and picking up women. Once in a while he has a suggestion, including the final action twist, but it’s rare. I find little in him left to admire, and he certainly isn’t that funny any more.

I finished this novel feeling disappointed. I didn’t get a window into what makes Emma tick. I am tired of Joe’s constant whinging. Joe’s boss may not be speaker of the house by next year. I wonder, will Joe still be employed? Maybe he should be cut loose and go to work for Emma full time.

Giving this one 3 stars with a generous rounding up.

Impossible to go wrong with a Joe DeMarco thriller! This installment in the long running series was as enjoyable and gripping as the previous installments. I love the fast pace and dialogue of these books and this one did not let me down.

I absolutely loved this book. I’ve been a huge fan of Mike Lawson since I read his first Joe DeMarco novel back in 2005, ‘The Inside Ring’ and I instantly knew I had found an Author I wanted to closely follow. Since then, all sixteen books in this series have been amazing, so entertaining. I have to say that Alligator Alley would be right up there as one of my favourites. You can’t help but love DeMarco, Emma and Mahoney, three character’s that are nothing alike, however have so much personality, and that really comes across in Mr Lawson’s wonderful writing.
I spent so many enjoyable hours reading this story. Highly recommended. 5/5 Star Rating.

I got so wrapped up with the lawyer 's first person talk (who disappears.. I won't say how or why) that I felt v cheated when she no longer is telling us what's going on .. 2 rogue FBI guys create mayhem , thieving and robbing. Jo de Marco and cohort Emma , a revisited and experienced previous agent of FBI helps up to find out what's going on. I want always persuaded by dialogue .. not expressive enough. But story's a good one with intriguing timessness about its themes

Mike Lawson continues to set his Joe DeMarco series outside of Washington. This time we are in Florida, where a young DOJ employee has been murdered. Two FBI agents are the suspects. Joe is sent down to help investigate, and teams up with Emma, a retired but wise investigator. We learn about corruption in the FBI as well as the halls of Congress. I've always like the Joe DeMarco series and recommend Alligator Alley as well.
Thanks NetGalley for the ARC.