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jcheidel's review against another edition
3.0
This level of physical heroics and blood and guts is a little over the top.
emmasbookishself's review against another edition
4.0
This is my favourite Demille book so far!!
Scott Brodie, and Maggie Taylor are sent you Venezuela to find intel on an ex Army Delta Force officer, Kyle Mercer who deserted his post. Deserting is a highly punishable act. It’s Brodie and Taylor’s mission to find intel, and at best arrest and being Mercer back to American soil.
With help from a few locals, the pair are able to locate where Mercer was last seen. Brodie and Taylor soon learn that Mercer has a camp set up somewhere in the jungle. But first a shoot out occurs at the last known place Mercer was spotted, and the two are ordered to abort their mission and come home.
While Taylor and Brodie are working together, he has some suspicions about his partner and who she may really be working for. The truth about their “allies” in Venezuela are also revealed and the mission to capture Mercer isn’t just what it seems. One official, Worley, wants Mercer killed so he cannot reveal some buried truths that would put him in a compromising position.
Brodie and Taylor are disguised as Clark and Sarah Bowman, Canadian bird-watchers, as they enter Kavak the location they believe Mercer has his camp. Quickly, their cover is blown and they become the captured. Brodie is determined to escape because he knows a future for Taylor at that camp would be exploiting, and scarring. He plans their escape by taking out their guard, and heading for the river.
The pair successfully make it to the river when they spot Mercer. The believe they have a chance to take him captive, because they saw no weapons on him unlike his men, when they were being interrogated. Brodie approaches Mercer, and shots the man he was speaking with. He attempts to make Mercer surrender but it quickly turns into a rundown into the river. Luckily, Mercer didn’t see Taylor who Brodie gave the gun to, and she picked up their stat phone that was confiscated. Mercer did have a weapon, when Brodie caught up with him and Brodie only had a knife. However, because Mercer didn’t see Taylor, she and Brodie have the advantage and are able to make him surrender. They tie Mercer’s arms behind his back, and gag him and get him into the boat they were able to steal.
After speaking with two of their leaders they are headed to a deserted runway where they’ll be picked up and flown to an unknown location before going to the States. However because the truth about Worley was told, Brodie and Taylor are half-expecting the pickup to be a hoax. Sure enough it was.
With Mercer’s help, when the getaway plane arrives they have to injure Worley because he intended to kill all three of them.
The three await a different, and real getaway plane where they’ll be safe and out of the Venezuelan jungle.
Scott Brodie, and Maggie Taylor are sent you Venezuela to find intel on an ex Army Delta Force officer, Kyle Mercer who deserted his post. Deserting is a highly punishable act. It’s Brodie and Taylor’s mission to find intel, and at best arrest and being Mercer back to American soil.
With help from a few locals, the pair are able to locate where Mercer was last seen. Brodie and Taylor soon learn that Mercer has a camp set up somewhere in the jungle. But first a shoot out occurs at the last known place Mercer was spotted, and the two are ordered to abort their mission and come home.
While Taylor and Brodie are working together, he has some suspicions about his partner and who she may really be working for. The truth about their “allies” in Venezuela are also revealed and the mission to capture Mercer isn’t just what it seems. One official, Worley, wants Mercer killed so he cannot reveal some buried truths that would put him in a compromising position.
Brodie and Taylor are disguised as Clark and Sarah Bowman, Canadian bird-watchers, as they enter Kavak the location they believe Mercer has his camp. Quickly, their cover is blown and they become the captured. Brodie is determined to escape because he knows a future for Taylor at that camp would be exploiting, and scarring. He plans their escape by taking out their guard, and heading for the river.
The pair successfully make it to the river when they spot Mercer. The believe they have a chance to take him captive, because they saw no weapons on him unlike his men, when they were being interrogated. Brodie approaches Mercer, and shots the man he was speaking with. He attempts to make Mercer surrender but it quickly turns into a rundown into the river. Luckily, Mercer didn’t see Taylor who Brodie gave the gun to, and she picked up their stat phone that was confiscated. Mercer did have a weapon, when Brodie caught up with him and Brodie only had a knife. However, because Mercer didn’t see Taylor, she and Brodie have the advantage and are able to make him surrender. They tie Mercer’s arms behind his back, and gag him and get him into the boat they were able to steal.
After speaking with two of their leaders they are headed to a deserted runway where they’ll be picked up and flown to an unknown location before going to the States. However because the truth about Worley was told, Brodie and Taylor are half-expecting the pickup to be a hoax. Sure enough it was.
With Mercer’s help, when the getaway plane arrives they have to injure Worley because he intended to kill all three of them.
The three await a different, and real getaway plane where they’ll be safe and out of the Venezuelan jungle.
cathydesi55's review
4.0
Excellent book. The main idea and the first draft came from Alex DeMille, screenwriter son of Nelson. In this collaboration I could definitely hear Nelson's input because the humor/character of Scott Brody actually reminded me of Nelson's series character, John Corley. Although it was a toned down a bit for Scott. There will be a follow up book with the two main characters working together on another case. Looking forward to it!
clak5686's review against another edition
5.0
I really enjoyed this ripped from the headlines book. CID Warrant Officers Scott Brodie & Maggie Taylor are tasked with going to Venezuela to find deserter Kyle Mercer who has been spotted there. From the beginning Scott has concerns about the case. There are many questions without good answers. He also believes that his superiors have not told him all that they know. Venezuela is a political mess and very dangerous. Maggie has some insight into the case which she shares with Scott. They make an excellent team. He is brash and sarcastic. She comes off as a rule follower. But, we learn that each of them have been changed by war. This case will also change them. I could not put the book down. I hope that these father and son authors give us more of this interesting pair.
gmh711's review against another edition
3.0
A new series from the author of the John Corey series and his screenwriter son Alex. John Corey fans will not be disappointed by the banter between Scott & Maggie. It's a younger protagonist and his new CID partner sent off to find a deserter. But the story is complicated. Interesting twists & fast-paced if a little predictable.
canada_matt's review against another edition
4.0
In this debut father-son collaboration, Nelson and Alex DeMille present a novel that takes the reader into the depths of South America on the hunt for a renegade army officer. While serving in Afghanistan, Captain Kyle Mercer is captured by the Taliban and paraded before the cameras, only to slip out of their grasp and disappear entirely. His desertion is made clear, though he refuses to elaborate and remains on the lam. Army Criminal Investigation Division (CID) receives a substantial lead and decides to send two of its own, Scott Brodie and Maggie Taylor, out to capture Mercer and bring him back to face court martial. It would appear that Mercer was last seen in the seediest part of Caracas, capital of the increasingly unstable Venezuela. Brodie and Taylor prepare for their mission, knowing little about one another, but keen to bring Mercer to justice. When they arrive, both CID agents use a cover story to allow them the chance to investigate a little further, though this will mean bending all sense of reality, as they enter brothels of the worst kind. While Brodie is keen to crack a joke at every turn, Taylor cannot stomach the depravity that is presented to them, hoping to locate Mercer and depart swiftly. When one of the prostitutes tells a detailed story of Mercer having left the city for a jungle camp, Brodie and Taylor must prepare for new adventures, learning also about a ‘Flagstaff’ mission, which might be key to the desertion. They are also made aware of a competing American group seeking Mercer’s head, though they will likely kill him and ask questions later. Armed with little more than a flimsy cover story, Brodie and Taylor must locate and capture Mercer without him finding out, which is sure to be harder than it seems. A great joint effort that pushes the DeMilles to the edge of their capabilities as they pen a great thriller peppered with off-hand humour. Recommended to those who have long loved the elder DeMille’s dry wit and detailed stories, as well as the reader looking for something set in a newer locale with great description.
I have seen readers all over the map with this piece, so I was slightly apprehensive about wanting to tackle it. Knowing the caliber of Nelson DeMille’s writing, I could only hope that Alex would be able to keep pace and help create a stellar piece of fiction. I did not feel let down and wonder if the harsh critics were perhaps too wrapped up with some DeMille perfection that they did not permit new approaches to thriller writing. Scott Brodie is the usual DeMille protagonist, whose love of his job is balanced out with the need to crack a joke while plotting how to get inside a woman’s pants. Brodie offers much to the story, lightening the mood when needed, but also keeping the reader on their toes with his antics and leadership qualities. There are some breadcrumbs of a past where Brodie was reprimanded or at least criticized for his machismo, but he is also focussed on the job at hand, including how to get out of tricky situations. Maggie Taylor is still coming into her own throughout this piece. A soldier turned CID, she is used to taking orders, but not necessarily handling the brashness of someone akin to Brodie. Eager to please, she has her limits and will not simply let her superior toss her into danger without challenging the decisions. She’s also privy to much, including the aforementioned Flagstaff background, which could come in handy for her and the larger mission, should she tell what she knows. Others provide both humour and action throughout this piece, providing the reader with some entertainment value, as well as a few chills, depending on the point of the story. The premise of this piece is strong, taking the reader out of their usual reading haunts and into Venezuela. A great deal of research surely went into creating this setting and ensuring that at least most of it was plausible. The DeMilles keep the story clipping along, even though it is a long novel, with numerous tangents that serve to enrich the hunt for Kyle Mercer. I was eager to learn that there is more to come, both with the Brodie-Taylor team and collaboration between Nelson and Alex DeMille. This is a new series in the making that has the building blocks for success.
Kudos, Messrs. DeMille, for a great joint debut. I loved the humour, the education, and the entertainment you provided me. Don’t let the critics get you down.
Love/hate the review? An ever-growing collection of others appears at:
http://pecheyponderings.wordpress.com/
A Book for All Seasons, a different sort of Book Challenge: https://www.goodreads.com/group/show/248185-a-book-for-all-seasons
I have seen readers all over the map with this piece, so I was slightly apprehensive about wanting to tackle it. Knowing the caliber of Nelson DeMille’s writing, I could only hope that Alex would be able to keep pace and help create a stellar piece of fiction. I did not feel let down and wonder if the harsh critics were perhaps too wrapped up with some DeMille perfection that they did not permit new approaches to thriller writing. Scott Brodie is the usual DeMille protagonist, whose love of his job is balanced out with the need to crack a joke while plotting how to get inside a woman’s pants. Brodie offers much to the story, lightening the mood when needed, but also keeping the reader on their toes with his antics and leadership qualities. There are some breadcrumbs of a past where Brodie was reprimanded or at least criticized for his machismo, but he is also focussed on the job at hand, including how to get out of tricky situations. Maggie Taylor is still coming into her own throughout this piece. A soldier turned CID, she is used to taking orders, but not necessarily handling the brashness of someone akin to Brodie. Eager to please, she has her limits and will not simply let her superior toss her into danger without challenging the decisions. She’s also privy to much, including the aforementioned Flagstaff background, which could come in handy for her and the larger mission, should she tell what she knows. Others provide both humour and action throughout this piece, providing the reader with some entertainment value, as well as a few chills, depending on the point of the story. The premise of this piece is strong, taking the reader out of their usual reading haunts and into Venezuela. A great deal of research surely went into creating this setting and ensuring that at least most of it was plausible. The DeMilles keep the story clipping along, even though it is a long novel, with numerous tangents that serve to enrich the hunt for Kyle Mercer. I was eager to learn that there is more to come, both with the Brodie-Taylor team and collaboration between Nelson and Alex DeMille. This is a new series in the making that has the building blocks for success.
Kudos, Messrs. DeMille, for a great joint debut. I loved the humour, the education, and the entertainment you provided me. Don’t let the critics get you down.
Love/hate the review? An ever-growing collection of others appears at:
http://pecheyponderings.wordpress.com/
A Book for All Seasons, a different sort of Book Challenge: https://www.goodreads.com/group/show/248185-a-book-for-all-seasons
brady2387's review against another edition
5.0
Absolutely loved it! I think it's my favorite fiction book of the year--I literally could not put it down. I'm just glad to be done with it so I can be productive in other areas of my life.
Very interesting story, humorous, and great characters. Highly recommend!
Very interesting story, humorous, and great characters. Highly recommend!
deearr's review
4.0
{60-second video review here} ---> http://bit.ly/The_Deserter
Get ready for a long and entertaining read. Father/son team Nelson & Alex DeMille will take you on a journey reminiscent of Apocalypse Now, although the overall flavor of the tale is much different. While the ride is not smooth at times, the thriller/spy aspects will definitely keep your nose buried in the book until the end.
It was refreshing to read a book in this genre where the characters are not enshrined with superhero status. Yes, protagonists Scott Brodie and Maggie Taylor excel in their roles as Warrant Officers, but they are not perfect. They make mistakes and bad things can happen to them. The storyline matches their skills, as the plot never jumps into uncharted waters with descriptions of an impossible plot that could never happen. There are multiple layers of misdemeanors and crimes, and Brodie/Taylor have to dig through all the clues to find the truth.
The book might seem overly lengthy at times, due to the deep description. Most of the time I didn’t notice the length as the details were laced with Brodie’s thoughts, much of them sarcastic or irreverent. Seeing the world through his viewpoint kept the book rolling. Without his constant interpretation of events, the book would have certainly bogged down under its own weight.
For those concerned, there is harsh language including f-bombs (more in the beginning than were probably necessary, though these thinned out as the book went on). One early scene had Brodie and Taylor in an embrace while hiding from the Caracas police, with sophomoric references to Brodie’s excited genitalia. One can only wince when an author stumbles down this path. Unfortunately, the DeMilles went from subtle hints concerning the sexual undertones to blatant high school double entendres. The unsaid internal dialogue from Scott Brodie was, at the very least, an unwelcome distraction. Although the number of instances slowed as the ending came closer, they never completely stopped.
Thankfully, none of these small bumps in the road were strong enough to destroy a powerful story. The majority of the descriptions and dialogues moved the story forward at a rapid pace and the ever-present danger kept me interested throughout the entire book. Definitely recommended. Four-and-a-half stars.
My thanks to NetGalley and Simon & Schuster for an advance electronic copy of this book.
Get ready for a long and entertaining read. Father/son team Nelson & Alex DeMille will take you on a journey reminiscent of Apocalypse Now, although the overall flavor of the tale is much different. While the ride is not smooth at times, the thriller/spy aspects will definitely keep your nose buried in the book until the end.
It was refreshing to read a book in this genre where the characters are not enshrined with superhero status. Yes, protagonists Scott Brodie and Maggie Taylor excel in their roles as Warrant Officers, but they are not perfect. They make mistakes and bad things can happen to them. The storyline matches their skills, as the plot never jumps into uncharted waters with descriptions of an impossible plot that could never happen. There are multiple layers of misdemeanors and crimes, and Brodie/Taylor have to dig through all the clues to find the truth.
The book might seem overly lengthy at times, due to the deep description. Most of the time I didn’t notice the length as the details were laced with Brodie’s thoughts, much of them sarcastic or irreverent. Seeing the world through his viewpoint kept the book rolling. Without his constant interpretation of events, the book would have certainly bogged down under its own weight.
For those concerned, there is harsh language including f-bombs (more in the beginning than were probably necessary, though these thinned out as the book went on). One early scene had Brodie and Taylor in an embrace while hiding from the Caracas police, with sophomoric references to Brodie’s excited genitalia. One can only wince when an author stumbles down this path. Unfortunately, the DeMilles went from subtle hints concerning the sexual undertones to blatant high school double entendres. The unsaid internal dialogue from Scott Brodie was, at the very least, an unwelcome distraction. Although the number of instances slowed as the ending came closer, they never completely stopped.
Thankfully, none of these small bumps in the road were strong enough to destroy a powerful story. The majority of the descriptions and dialogues moved the story forward at a rapid pace and the ever-present danger kept me interested throughout the entire book. Definitely recommended. Four-and-a-half stars.
My thanks to NetGalley and Simon & Schuster for an advance electronic copy of this book.
nietzschesghost's review
4.0
Deserter is the first outing for military police officer and all-around legendary hero, Scott Brodie, in the DeMilles's most electrifying and downright exhilarating thriller to date. Action-packed, fraught with danger and with plenty of political intrigue, we are treated to a stellar read from beginning to end and a book that produces so many twisty-turny surprises as well as countless peaks and troughs. Espionage, crime fiction and action thrillers, this has a potent, killer mix with the pages simply turning themselves. It gets you salivating and is clearly, as with all of Nelson DeMille's previous political thrillers, well thought through. It's timely and has your heart racing as the chase heats up. For a book that blends both authors' unique styles, this is a solid, exciting and highly entertaining read.
There is no doubt this co-authored book is up there with some of his past stories in terms of complex plotting, fast pacing and the delicate balance between thoroughly researching the topics but not allowing the narrative to get bogged down in detail. This is a taut and utterly captivating thriller and the first in a planned trilogy featuring Scott Brodie and Maggie Taylor of the Army Criminal Investigation Division. The story centres around a Delta Force member who disappears from his post in Afghanistan and is seen a year later amongst the hotbed of unrest in turbulent Venezuela. Brodie and Taylor are given the mission of locating him and bringing him home whether that be alive or dead. Many thanks to Sphere for an ARC.
There is no doubt this co-authored book is up there with some of his past stories in terms of complex plotting, fast pacing and the delicate balance between thoroughly researching the topics but not allowing the narrative to get bogged down in detail. This is a taut and utterly captivating thriller and the first in a planned trilogy featuring Scott Brodie and Maggie Taylor of the Army Criminal Investigation Division. The story centres around a Delta Force member who disappears from his post in Afghanistan and is seen a year later amongst the hotbed of unrest in turbulent Venezuela. Brodie and Taylor are given the mission of locating him and bringing him home whether that be alive or dead. Many thanks to Sphere for an ARC.
bryonie's review
3.0
While the storyline was interesting, I found the pace to be almost snail-like, which is something you really don't want with a thriller of this type. We got bogged down in so much detail about the where, that the what and why and who got lost. Sometimes the place is this important to a story, where it becomes a character in and of itself. But this is not one of those stories, and because of this, the story suffered.
On top of that, the hinted at romance between the main characters was so out of place and came from so far out in left field that it felt forced and contrived at the same time.
Overall, I just wish as much effort had been put into character building as it had been on the researching the place. Maybe then I might have had a better idea of the why (and motivation) for all the major players in this story doing what they had done.
On top of that, the hinted at romance between the main characters was so out of place and came from so far out in left field that it felt forced and contrived at the same time.
Overall, I just wish as much effort had been put into character building as it had been on the researching the place. Maybe then I might have had a better idea of the why (and motivation) for all the major players in this story doing what they had done.