In this "engaging" thriller, Washington, DC, insider Joe DeMarco is on the hunt for a mole deep in the shadows of US intelligence operations (Publishers Weekly).

Author of House Witness, 2019 Edgar Award Finalist for Best Novel

When an American defense contractor goes to Iran to sell missile technology, the CIA learns about it about it from a spy in Tehran. But when the story is leaked to an ambitious journalist, the spy is caught, brutally tortured, and executed.

Joe DeMarco's boss, Speaker of the House John Mahoney, tasks him with finding the leaker. But Mahoney has his own reasons for taking action. He once had an errant fling with the journalist who broke the story—and now that she's in jail for refusing to compromise her source, she's threatening to tell all unless Mahoney helps her.

But someone else is out to avenge the spy's death, and hoping DeMarco will lead him straight to his prey. And if DeMarco gets in the way, he'll have to die, too . . .

In this "superb example of the post–Cold War espionage novel" Mike Lawson brings readers behind the closed doors in the halls of power—and right into the line of fire (Booklist, starred review).