The Second Perimeter

by: Mike Lawson

Published by: Anchor Books

Reviewed by Alex McGilvery

The Second Perimeter starts with the protagonist, Joe DeMarco, being sent to a naval base near Seattle to investigate concerns of fraud raised by the nephew of his boss’ golf partner. It very quickly becomes evident that there is indeed something going on. Joe and his friend Emma have stumbled on a spy operation. Now someone from Emma’s classified past is out for revenge, and Joe, used to dealing with political squabbles on behalf of his boss, the Senate’s Speaker of the House, is feeling out of his depth. In the end he will need to put everything he has built for himself on the line.

From the beginning of the book Mike Lawson pulls you into his characters’ lives. He paints their lives with deft humor and empathy. All the characters are fully rounded. I was delighted to discover that even people I thought were caricatures developed new depths. The villains of the story have believable reasons for their actions, and the heroes struggle with the cost of their actions.

The Second Perimeter delivers the action it promises. The plot moves from Seattle to Vancouver to Washington. It is a wild ride. The reader cheers for Joe even as we realize that he is way out of his depth in this world of spy and counter-spy. I found the ending truly satisfying. Mike Lawson has delivered a rousing tale that left me wanting to read more about the fascinating characters he has created.

Armchair Interviews says: Wonderful characters in a very good read.

Author’s Web site: http://www.MikeLawsonBooks.com