Untouchable is a good installment in the Joe DeMarco series by Mike Lawson. He is the ‘Fixer” for the former Speaker of the House, John Mahoney.
A piece of paper is found in the National Archive that has terrible implications for those in power.
Mahoney sends DeMarco to find out what is going on, and he runs into some unsavory people. He knows a lot of people who can help him and off he goes.
DeMarco calls on Emily, an old friend, to help. The action never stops, and all sorts of things happen.
I really enjoyed this one – this one has a lot of his friends helping him. We get to have more insight into the relationship between Mahoney and DeMarco.
I really like the series, and this one did not disappoint.

I always enjoy the Joe DeMarco books by Mike Lawson and Untouchable is no exception. Joe, a “fixer” for a powerful congressman and (for now) former Speaker of the House, finds himself in the middle of a potential scandal that has broad implications. It’s a “ripped from the headlines” kind of story.

This book has a great plot, with a widely-varied cast of characters and bad guys. The dialogue is snappy and helps keep the reader fully engaged in the story. it’s a fast-paced thriller with lots of moving parts and it dips and dives like a rollercoaster.

I thought the first few chapters were a bit choppy, with short sentences that felt a little stilted. But, it settled down into a well-written thriller with good character development and several unexpected twists that only ramped up the story as well as the tension. It’s definitely a 4.5 star book.

I enjoyed Untouchable and now I simply have to read Mr Lawson’s next Joe DeMarco book! NetGalley provided an advance reader copy.

The ever dependable Mike Lawson gives us a new Joe DeMarco thriller. Demarco is a fixer for the John Mahoney, Former Speaker of The House and gets all of the off the book jobs. Asked to look into something that suggests something is rotten at the very top of US Government he attracts the interest of some very dangerous people. Luckily he knows some dangerous people himself, but that might not be enough….. As usual, DeMarco ambles through things wishing he was playing golf, the story and characters happen around him. Emma, his rather talented and enigmatic friend is her usual stand out self, a brilliant character. DeMarco looks the part but usually is slightly lazy and rarely thinks outside the box, Emma however likes to kick the hornet’s nest. Topical story told with Mr Lawton’s usual character driven and observational style. I am a massive fan of all his books and he never fails to deliver, he certainly deliver here. Great stuff.

Untouchable by Mike Lawson, and overall, I really enjoyed it. The story is gripping, the pacing is solid, and the characters are well-developed. Lawson does a great job of keeping the reader engaged with plenty of twists and turns,That said, I have to admit that I was a bit disappointed by the ending. While it tied up some loose ends, I felt like it didn't fully deliver. Despite the ending, I'm definitely looking forward to the next book in the series.
Thanks NetGalley for advance copy

timely, thriller, threats, suspense, intrigue, unputdownable, political-intrigue, political-corruption, witty, twisty, entitled-attitude, murder, lies, secrets, accountability, suspicion, friendship, greed, investigations, due-diligence, criminal-acts, criminal-element, tense, extortion, archivist*****

Solid fast-paced plot with thoroughly invested characters and an all-too-believable tense progression. It's a scene of American politics at the highest levels and with plot twists as mind-bending as tomorrow's news. Joe DeMarco is the man we'd all like to have investigating to find truth and making certain that nothing stays hidden.
The ending made me nutz!
I requested and received a free temporary uncorrected advance proof from Grove Atlantic | Atlantic Monthly Press via NetGalley. Thank you!
Pub Date Feb 25, 2025 #Untouchable by @MikeLawsonBooks #JoeDeMarcoThrillersBk18 #NetGalley @groveatlantic #TenseThriller #WashingtonDCPolitics

This was a wonderful book. I think it brings to light the things political figures to to insure they can get away with almost anything. In todays political climate most people can relate to this. It changes the main characters life. The ending leaves you on a cliff wanting more. I hope there is a sequel to this book. Mike Lawsons books are always wonderful and this one will not disappoint you..
Thank you net galley for giving me the opportunity to read it

Another winner from Mike Lawson and it’s nice to see another book in the Joe Demarco series. The National Archives comes across a piece of paper from the Oval Office that has significant implications for those in power. Demarco is tasked with finding out who murdered Brandon Cartwright and the action starts there. Lots of great dialogue between Demarco and his boss John Mahoney and an excellent plot. Highly recommend!

Easy to read and entertaining like the rest of the series, and the main character stays in character as his usual slow and patient self. I also like reading about strong and smart female characters, and the author is clever in bringing in a few of those as well.

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

I have read a couple of Mike Lawson's books and they have been enjoyable reads. This book did not disappoint. The book moves at a nice pace and keeps your interest. The cast of characters doesn't hurt either.

Looking forward to reading more from Mr. Lawson.

I enjoy Joe DeMarco’ s character and his “fixer” relationship with Minority Leader Mahoney while trying to remain ethical. The characters are well developed, you really dislike the bad actors and pull for the ones who are innocent or trying to maintain the right way of doing things. This is a political story of intrigue and a v eyn enjoyable read.

Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this eARC.

Untouchable: A Joe DeMarco Thriller by Mike Lawson is a high-stakes political thriller that plunges readers into the murky depths of Washington D.C.'s power corridors. This latest installment in the Joe DeMarco series sees the seasoned troubleshooter facing one of his most daunting challenges yet: investigating the President of the United States.

The novel begins with the murder of Brandon Cartwright, a billionaire with a penchant for high-profile parties and dubious connections. When evidence surfaces implicating the President in Cartwright’s death, former Speaker of the House John Mahoney enlists DeMarco to uncover the truth. What follows is a tense and intricate investigation that tests DeMarco’s skills and resolve.

Lawson’s portrayal of DeMarco is as compelling as ever. The character’s blend of street smarts, tenacity, and moral ambiguity makes him a fascinating protagonist. DeMarco’s journey through the labyrinthine world of political intrigue is fraught with danger and deception, and Lawson masterfully keeps the tension high throughout the narrative.

The plot is meticulously crafted, with twists and turns that keep readers guessing. Lawson’s ability to weave complex political scenarios with personal stakes ensures that the story remains engaging and thought-provoking. The stakes are incredibly high, and the sense of urgency is palpable as DeMarco navigates a web of lies and corruption.

Lawson excels in Untouchable with his exploration of power and accountability. Lawson delves into the ethical dilemmas faced by those in positions of authority and the lengths to which they will go to protect their interests. This thematic depth adds a layer of sophistication to the thriller, making it more than just a page-turner.

The supporting characters are well-developed, each adding their own unique flavor to the story. From shady politicians to loyal allies, the cast of characters enriches the narrative and provides a broader perspective on the central conflict.

Untouchable is a gripping and intelligent thriller that will appeal to fans of political intrigue and suspense.

“Untouchable” by Mike Lawson gets high praise for this tension filled Joe DeMarco thriller!
DeMarco finds himself assigned to an impossible case which has implications to take down the president of the United States. Is it possible the president sanctioned the murder of a wealthy sex trafficker to cover up his sexual escapades? DeMarco who has made a career of hunting down the very worst people in Washington is called in to investigate a man who is literally untouchable.

This book is action packed with an unexpected cliff hanger ending. I can’t wait for the next installment.

Thank you NetGalley and Grove Atlantic for the ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review.

Second book I’ve read from the series. Solid political DC stuff that’s well plotted. Propulsive story beats and a good mix of POV, maybe a little bit much at the beginning, but not enough to get confusing.

Clean writing too but occasionally you get a sentence like “The bar was an average looking bar.” I’m invested in what happens to DeMarco next - this one ends on a cliffhanger.

Thanks to Grove Atlantic and NetGalley for the ARC.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read and review "Untouchable", the latest Joe DeMarco thriller from Mike Lawson.
Joe DeMarco is on the case! And it's a case ripped from today's headlines (well, sort of).
The big question: Did the President of the United States sanction a murder in order to cover up sexual escapades?
When Joe's putative boss, former Speaker of the House Mahoney is made privy to some damning information that might link the President to the murder of an accused sex trafficker in order to stave off blackmail (the man wants a pardon, or else....), he sets Joe on the trail. Just what occurred, when and can it be proven.
There are so many twists and turns to this story that writing about any of them would constitute spoilers, so I'm just going to say that this might just be one of DeMarco's most dangerous cases as it reaches the very top of the political spectrum and any and all involved are highly invested in protecting themselves - to the point of murder(s).
If you love the Joe DeMarco books before this one, you'll definitely enjoy Untouchable. Recommended for fans of political thrillers, and just thrillers in general.

An action packed story. The characters are great with good interactions. Cliff hanger ending so ready to read the next book. Hope it is soon.

Joe DeMarco is at it again. When House Minority Leader Mahoney gets an impossible request, he passes it on to his problem solver. Murders, abuse of power, sexual trysts, and cover-ups are taking place in the highest echelon of the Nation’s government. Since it involves people Mahoney doesn’t like, he sends DeMarco who has to bring so many loose threads together that we wonder if he’ll ever solve the case. Lots of action as the author does a masterful job of bringing the case together and leaves us anxious for the next installment.

I couldn't be happier to tell you that Joe DeMarco is back!

Many of us who are long-time Joe DeMarco fans thought the series might have lost its way after the last couple of really mediocre entries, particularly the awful title in which DeMarco hardly had anything to do with the narrative but show up a few times and whine that he'd rather be playing golf. But happy days! UNTOUCHABLE is vintage Joe DeMarco, maybe even the best title ever in the entire series. Recognizable events echo through the narrative and Joe DeMarco drives the action just as he should.

This is a terrific book, and all Joe DeMarco fans hope there are a few others just like it in the pipeline.

Mike Lawson keeps the Joe de Marco series thriving with Untouchable, a Washington thriller involving murder. DeMarco's investigation shows that the President of the United States may be involved in the murder of a rich playboy. DeMarco has his own way of investigating, and it keeps the reader's interest in this DC story that doesn't involve politics as we know them today.
Thanks NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC.

yeah yeah, "could not put down," "stayed up all night," we all hear those reviews, but it's TRUE - seriously TRUE. Read this in one sitting. Okay, granted I have a thing for Lawsons's Joe DeMarco, but even if you've never read one, you will not be left behind. (But in all honesty, of course you will connect more deeply with the characters if you already know them.) Joe may have little respect or admiration for the people in power, but he definitely has his own code of right and wrong and in Untouchable, some people go too far for Joe to ignore. Using the Jeffrey Epstein scandal as plot device we learn that a local murder was more likely a cover up to make sure there would be no connection to....wait for it.....of course, the president. But it's not exactly what you'd expect, (thus the staying up all night to finish), and without going the route of spoilers, let's just say this one pushes Joe to the edge. So while I am pacing, anxiously waiting for the next rendezvous with Mr. DeMarco, I have started back re-reading the series. (they sooo hold up for re-reading). And in a world where things often seem insanely senseless, I see that Joe was talking about these things years ago, so maybe it's always been insane. (Not that THAT is comforting but...) Joe just makes so much sense. Oh wait, maybe it's Mike Lawson I have a thing for. Seriously - if you haven't read the series - do it.

Great series that continues to defined new ways to one up itself. The shades of the Epstein saga make this one feel very close to real life. I really enjoy the character development in this series and would highly recommend this book to anyone.