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thepagelady's review against another edition
2.0
It took me awhile to finish this one. It was a good story just not really one for me but I can see why others would like it
mhuntone's review
adventurous
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.75
danubooks's review against another edition
5.0
The long wait is over!!
Whether you first met Nelson DeMille’s John Corey back in 1997 (Plum Island) or he caught your eye in his last outing in 2015 (Radiant Angel), you know that Corey has a talent for irreverent humor and for ruffling feathers as he uses his considerable skills to investigate crimes. Both talents are very much in evidence in this latest DeMille novel.
In a throwback to the first Corey novel, The Maze opens with John Corey at his uncle’s home on the Long Island shore. He finds himself unwillingly retired, eased out of his latest position with the Diplomatic Surveillance Group because of the uncomfortable results of his last case. His personal life isn’t healthy either…he’s at loose ends, and that is never good for someone like Corey.
When he’s approached by former lover and current police detective Beth Penrose and encouraged to look into employment with a private security firm, he doubts that Beth is just trying to keep him busy. It soon becomes clear that something is wrong here on the shore…but who can be trusted is not clear at all. Because this time around, the criminals are not the foreign terrorists that Corey has been battling these last few years. Dead bodies are piling up, and the perpetrators may very well be much closer to home.
I have always enjoyed John Corey’s escapades, and I continued to do so with The Maze. The combination of humor and suspense makes for quick reading and a book that is hard to put down. DeMille fans old and new, the wait has been worth it! Thank you to NetGalley for the advanced reading copy.
Whether you first met Nelson DeMille’s John Corey back in 1997 (Plum Island) or he caught your eye in his last outing in 2015 (Radiant Angel), you know that Corey has a talent for irreverent humor and for ruffling feathers as he uses his considerable skills to investigate crimes. Both talents are very much in evidence in this latest DeMille novel.
In a throwback to the first Corey novel, The Maze opens with John Corey at his uncle’s home on the Long Island shore. He finds himself unwillingly retired, eased out of his latest position with the Diplomatic Surveillance Group because of the uncomfortable results of his last case. His personal life isn’t healthy either…he’s at loose ends, and that is never good for someone like Corey.
When he’s approached by former lover and current police detective Beth Penrose and encouraged to look into employment with a private security firm, he doubts that Beth is just trying to keep him busy. It soon becomes clear that something is wrong here on the shore…but who can be trusted is not clear at all. Because this time around, the criminals are not the foreign terrorists that Corey has been battling these last few years. Dead bodies are piling up, and the perpetrators may very well be much closer to home.
I have always enjoyed John Corey’s escapades, and I continued to do so with The Maze. The combination of humor and suspense makes for quick reading and a book that is hard to put down. DeMille fans old and new, the wait has been worth it! Thank you to NetGalley for the advanced reading copy.
katemoxie's review against another edition
1.0
I've loved Nelson DeMille's novels for decades. I enjoyed the seven that featured John Corey. This one was a waste of my time. John Corey has regressed to the mind of a 13 or 14 yr old sex obsessed adolescent. Repeating his plan again and again and again was tedious and annoying. Major disappointment.
ncalv05's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
emily_loves_2_read's review against another edition
4.0
The Maze
⭐️⭐️⭐️.5
Genre: Mystery Thriller
Format: Kindle eBook
Date Published: 10/11/22
Author: Nelson DeMille
Publisher: Simon and Schuster
Pages: 432
GR: 3.55
I requested a digital advanced readers copy from NetGalley and Simon and Schuster and providing my opinion voluntarily and unbiased.
Synopsis: The Maze opens with Corey on the porch, but now in forced retirement from his last job as a Federal Agent with the Diplomatic Surveillance Group. Corey is restless and looking for action, so when his former lover, Detective Beth Penrose, appears with a job offer, Corey has to once again make some decisions about his career—and about reuniting with Beth Penrose. The Maze takes the reader on a dangerous hunt for an apparent serial killer who has murdered nine—and maybe more—prostitutes and hidden their bodies in the thick undergrowth on a lonely stretch of beach. As Corey digs, he comes to suspect it may not be the result of inexperience to solve this case, it may be something more sinister.
My Thoughts: This is Book No. 8 in the John Corey series. This is the first book I have read in the series and I kept up well. There have been some reviews for those who have read the prior books that this one was not as good as the previous books in this series. Some of the political humor may be offensive to some, but appears to be inline for the situation of the storyline. Corey loves to take risks and he is a hold nothing back guy, which holds true in this book. The action is a bit dialed down in this novel, but there is still a great deal of thriller tension. This story does move a little slower. The characters are well developed with depth, mystery, and are intriguing. The author’s writing style is complex, suspenseful, tense, and kept me engaged throughout the story. I would recommend giving this a go, especially if you have read the other books in the series.
⭐️⭐️⭐️.5
Genre: Mystery Thriller
Format: Kindle eBook
Date Published: 10/11/22
Author: Nelson DeMille
Publisher: Simon and Schuster
Pages: 432
GR: 3.55
I requested a digital advanced readers copy from NetGalley and Simon and Schuster and providing my opinion voluntarily and unbiased.
Synopsis: The Maze opens with Corey on the porch, but now in forced retirement from his last job as a Federal Agent with the Diplomatic Surveillance Group. Corey is restless and looking for action, so when his former lover, Detective Beth Penrose, appears with a job offer, Corey has to once again make some decisions about his career—and about reuniting with Beth Penrose. The Maze takes the reader on a dangerous hunt for an apparent serial killer who has murdered nine—and maybe more—prostitutes and hidden their bodies in the thick undergrowth on a lonely stretch of beach. As Corey digs, he comes to suspect it may not be the result of inexperience to solve this case, it may be something more sinister.
My Thoughts: This is Book No. 8 in the John Corey series. This is the first book I have read in the series and I kept up well. There have been some reviews for those who have read the prior books that this one was not as good as the previous books in this series. Some of the political humor may be offensive to some, but appears to be inline for the situation of the storyline. Corey loves to take risks and he is a hold nothing back guy, which holds true in this book. The action is a bit dialed down in this novel, but there is still a great deal of thriller tension. This story does move a little slower. The characters are well developed with depth, mystery, and are intriguing. The author’s writing style is complex, suspenseful, tense, and kept me engaged throughout the story. I would recommend giving this a go, especially if you have read the other books in the series.
theamyleblanc's review against another edition
I received a copy of this story from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
DNF: 13%
I wanted to read this mostly for the inspiration material. I'm very familiar with Long Island and I've heard of the Gilgo Beach murders. I enjoy the occasional police/FBI/CIA procedural. Sarcasm and dry humor are my bread and butter. This seemed like it would be a slam dunk - an easy but entertaining read.
I could not have been more wrong.
John Corey is a terrible character. He's a crass, xenophobic, misogynistic pig. He reads like a Boomer who hates that the world has changed and who has almost zero self-awareness. The things that annoy him - the server's "No problem." in response to a request - are classic Boomer complaints. He doesn't fit into the world of today.
This feels like copaganda - and poorly done copaganda at that. Since the story is told in first person from John's point of view, we're able to see how he misses "the good ol' days" when cops were treated like royalty and weren't held accountable for their actions. But he's such an a**hole that it doesn't engender any sympathy. It just makes him seem more out of touch and cranky.
Based on other reviews from fans of this author's work, this is a despicable departure in quality from his existing body of work. Avoid this book at all costs!
DNF: 13%
I wanted to read this mostly for the inspiration material. I'm very familiar with Long Island and I've heard of the Gilgo Beach murders. I enjoy the occasional police/FBI/CIA procedural. Sarcasm and dry humor are my bread and butter. This seemed like it would be a slam dunk - an easy but entertaining read.
I could not have been more wrong.
John Corey is a terrible character. He's a crass, xenophobic, misogynistic pig. He reads like a Boomer who hates that the world has changed and who has almost zero self-awareness. The things that annoy him - the server's "No problem." in response to a request - are classic Boomer complaints. He doesn't fit into the world of today.
This feels like copaganda - and poorly done copaganda at that. Since the story is told in first person from John's point of view, we're able to see how he misses "the good ol' days" when cops were treated like royalty and weren't held accountable for their actions. But he's such an a**hole that it doesn't engender any sympathy. It just makes him seem more out of touch and cranky.
Based on other reviews from fans of this author's work, this is a despicable departure in quality from his existing body of work. Avoid this book at all costs!
luv_2read's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
Loved most other John Corey books-but I found The Maze to have a shallow, predictable plot and the main character though typically arrogant, brash & brilliant crossed the line for me into a character who felt sad & washed up; making stupid, predictable decisions throughout. The writing was at times too raw & crass. The Maze was a sad disappointment for me.