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A review by ceeemvee
The Deserter by Alex DeMille, Nelson DeMille
3.0
Captain Kyle Mercer of the Army’s elite Delta Force deserts in Afghanistan, is captured by the Taliban and held for almost two years. He escapes, makes his way to Venezuela and does his best to avoid the authorities seeking to bring him back to the U.S. But once he is spotted by someone who served with him, the order is issued to bring him in. Scott Brodie and Maggie Taylor, investigators with the Criminal Investigation Division, take off to Venezuela and go to great lengths to bring Mercer back to the U.S. for justice.
I’ve read a few of DeMille’s books over the years, and have really enjoyed them. The script that works for him is the arrogant, smart-alecky hero who defies authority at every chance. The characters are sometimes shallow, but I have found that I learn so much about the circumstances where DeMille has placed his subject (Viet Nam in Up Country, Cuba in The Cuban Affair, or Plum Island in, well, Plum Island). This book is no different, and I learned much about Venezuela, a country that has collapsed so completely that I don’t see how it will rise again.
The story is captivating, and there are many questions that need answers. Did Mercer desert before he was captured and, if so, why? Why did he renounce his commission? What does he know about a secret mission? What’s the secret mission and who wants to know what he knows? And why? Why is he in Venezuela?
While the marketing info calls this “a taut, psychologically suspenseful military thriller” I classify it as a military adventure thriller and can see this coming to the big screen soon. The dialog is scripted as such, the visuals are described as if it is a movie and the ending is a big bang. While enjoyable, there are two areas of the book that I didn’t care for. First, Brodie’s wisecracking is over the top to the point of irritation, and second, the sexual attraction between Brodie and Taylor just really isn’t believable. While I have never been in the heat of battle, I think that when your life is really on the line, maybe sex isn’t the first thing you are thinking about? Or do you really want to sleep with someone you don’t like? Hard to believe Brodie’s a principled man as that’s all he thinks about.
I’m a little disappointed as it isn’t quite up to DeMille’s better books, so my advice is to wait for the movie.
https://candysplanet.wordpress.com/
I’ve read a few of DeMille’s books over the years, and have really enjoyed them. The script that works for him is the arrogant, smart-alecky hero who defies authority at every chance. The characters are sometimes shallow, but I have found that I learn so much about the circumstances where DeMille has placed his subject (Viet Nam in Up Country, Cuba in The Cuban Affair, or Plum Island in, well, Plum Island). This book is no different, and I learned much about Venezuela, a country that has collapsed so completely that I don’t see how it will rise again.
The story is captivating, and there are many questions that need answers. Did Mercer desert before he was captured and, if so, why? Why did he renounce his commission? What does he know about a secret mission? What’s the secret mission and who wants to know what he knows? And why? Why is he in Venezuela?
While the marketing info calls this “a taut, psychologically suspenseful military thriller” I classify it as a military adventure thriller and can see this coming to the big screen soon. The dialog is scripted as such, the visuals are described as if it is a movie and the ending is a big bang. While enjoyable, there are two areas of the book that I didn’t care for. First, Brodie’s wisecracking is over the top to the point of irritation, and second, the sexual attraction between Brodie and Taylor just really isn’t believable. While I have never been in the heat of battle, I think that when your life is really on the line, maybe sex isn’t the first thing you are thinking about? Or do you really want to sleep with someone you don’t like? Hard to believe Brodie’s a principled man as that’s all he thinks about.
I’m a little disappointed as it isn’t quite up to DeMille’s better books, so my advice is to wait for the movie.
https://candysplanet.wordpress.com/