In the middle of the night, on a winding road in a suburb outside of Washington D.C., a homeless veteran is killed in a hit-and-run—a tragedy that barely catches the attention of the media and police.

Days later, John Mahoney, the former Speaker of the House, is confronted by Diane Lake, an ex-CIA agent turned political researcher with a knack for digging up unsavory intelligence on some of D.C.’s biggest players. Diane is there with a gift for Mahoney: the news that Lydia Chang, the wife of one of his biggest rivals, might be working undercover as a Chinese agent.

Knowing it’s too early to get the FBI involved, Mahoney does the only thing left to do. He calls in Joe DeMarco.

DeMarco might not have the title of political researcher, but he’s no stranger to digging up dirt either. As DeMarco starts his investigation, he soon learns there’s a lot more going on than Mahoney suspected, and instead of answers, all he finds are more questions. Who’s the mysterious man Lydia Chang has been meeting in the park? Does Diane Lake have an ulterior motive? And why does everything point back to a random hit-and-run?

Praise for The Asset:

“There are a handful of authors whose books are not only must-reads, but must-reads the minute I get a hold of them . . . But when I get a new Mike Lawson book, I sit down and read it exclusively until I finish. In this case, it took less than a day to accomplish that.”—George Easter, Deadly Pleasures Mystery Magazine

“Readers mourning the death of Thomas Perry are advised to try Lawson’s equally deadpan political thrillers, beginning here.”—Kirkus Reviews

“Lawson delivers a tightly wound, politically charged thriller . . . Lawson keeps the pace rocket-fast, blending sharp dialogue with DeMarco’s cynicism and resourcefulness . . . A gripping, twist-filled thriller that exposes the corrupting influence of power and the ruthless lengths people will go to protect it . . . The novel is a hugely satisfying read, filled with political intrigue, well-drawn characters, and DeMarco’s single-minded pursuit of justice. Whether you’re a longtime fan or new to the series (like me), The Asset is an easy recommendation—a smart, cynical, and thoroughly entertaining ride through the dark heart of Washington politics.”—Steve Thomas, Best Thriller Books

“The Asset is a cerebral and simmering political-espionage thriller that’ll shock you with how dark and disturbing it progressively gets until the shocking finale . . . Lawson creates palpable tension in his narrative with a supreme emphasis on realistic tradecraft and scenarios where outthinking your opponent for a win-win scenario is more interesting than any kinetic and guns-blazing situation . . . An exciting old-school thriller with lots of political intrigue and sleuthing that takes you back to the classic detective tales.”—Kashif Hussain, Best Thriller Books