Emma Lathen is the pen name of two American businesswomen: economic analyst Mary Jane Latsis and attorney Martha Henissart who published 24 mystery novels featuring John Putnam Thatcher, a Wall Street banker. I enjoyed the business aspects of these books. The business authenticity enhanced the mysteries.
But Latsis and Henissart also published 7 novels featuring Congressman Benton Safford under the pseudonym, R. B. Dominic. These political mysteries captured the corrupt tenor of the Washington, D. C. swamp.
Michael Lawson may have read some of the R. B. Dominic mysteries. The first book in Lawson’s Joe DeMarco series, The Inside Ring (2005), starts out with an assassination attempt on the President of the United States. DeMarco works for Speaker of the House, John Fitzgerald Mahoney. General Andy Banks, the Secretary of Homeland Security, asks Mahoney to look into the assassination attempt–and Mahoney, always willing to deal for future political favors, assigns DeMarco to the secret investigation.
DeMarco follows a trail of clues that leads through the Secret Service, the FBI, and the Department of Homeland Security. While the plot of The Inside Ring is stolid and surprising, DeMarco takes a lot of punishment (reminiscent of those old Mike Shayne mysteries where Mike got conked on the head nearly every book). Lawson also creates the most fascinating character in The Inside Ring: a mysterious woman named Emma who seemingly knows everybody in Washington…and has some deft shooting skills, too. Emma becomes Lawson’s Deus ex machina which is okay by me. Are you a fan of political fiction? GRADE: B-
Loved the Emma Lathen but I am not much of a fan of political thrillers. Much like hospital shows I don’t like to be reminded of the worst that can happen.
Patti, I like political mysteries and thrillers in small doses.
Some yes, some no.
George Easter is always touting these books in Deadly Pleasures. Like you, I read the first one and enjoyed it enough to read more, but I haven’t so far. Yes, she certainly was the deus ex machina, wasn’t she?
I like Joseph Finder’s books, and Chris Hauty’s somewhat over the top Hayley Chill books, starting with – what else? – DEEP STATE. I think you’d like these, George.
Jeff, I have a stack of Joseph Finder books around here somewhere. I don’t know Chris Hauty, but I’ll check out Hayley Chill. Thanks for the heads up!