Nine stars
Long a fan of Nelson DeMille’s writing, I was eager to see how he would work alongside his son, Alex. The two have a great ability to meld their writing styles and create an impactful story that is sure to pull the reader into the middle of a stunning story with just the right amount of humour. A politically powerful novel that has strong historical aspects, the authors present this stunning piece that is as entertaining as it is long. Well worth the reader’s time and effort, Nelson and Alex DeMillie make the experience one readers will remember for the foreseeable future
After their last assignment, Army Criminal Investigation Agents Scott Brodie and Maggie Taylor spent five months apart, trying to piece together what took place on a mission in Venezuela. Their stellar abilities and great working relationship has them both summoned to return to action, this time in Germany, where fellow CID Special Agent Harry Vance has been found dead in a park at the centre of Berlin’s Arab refugee community. Brody and Taylor have great skills and must sift through all the rhetoric to gather answers, though they must work alongside the German authorities, rather than calling the shots. Working to discover what happened to Special Agent Vance, a counterterrorism expert, will take more than simply looking at the crime scene photos.
German authorities are sure that this has been an act of Islamic terrorism, though Special Agents Brodie and Taylor cannot dismiss all angles. While Germany is retuning to its right-wing views and strong Islamaphobia, there is something that does not seem right with the case. Brodie and Taylor cannot dismiss the strong sentiments, but even if they explore the victim’s past, something other than terrorism comes to the surface. Vance’s presence in the German capital is not entirely related to his work, with a mystery that few have yet to uncover. There is also a strong Cold War element, one that could turn the case on its head, should anyone want to look under the surface.
Butting heads on both sides of the Atlantic, Brodie and Taylor must forge onwards to see if this could simply be an attack on a group that has been vilified in the country or whether there may be some Stasi-era double agents that have been sitting under the radar since the fall of the Berlin Wall. There is nothing like taking the case into their own control, as Brodie and Taylor are sure someone is trying to sweep things under the rug. Forced to get to the core of the issue, Brodie and Taylor refuse to stand down and force themselves into the uncomfortable areas of the investigation, while others would do all they can to silence them. With a larger event looming, CID Special Agents Brodie and Taylor must solve the murder of Harry Vance before disaster strikes for everyone and turns the German nation into a mess it has not seen since the Nazis rose to power. A stunning piece that has all the needed elements, Nelson and Alex DeMille make it a must-read for many.
While dry wit is one of the key aspects to Nelson DeMille’s work, there is always a strong storyline under there. This has surely been passed along to Alex when the elder DeMille decided to collaborate. These two have been able to pen two great novels and keep the reef in the middle of it all. There is a great historical backstory here, as the narrative builds, while also addressing many political and social aspects of the German state, a key aspect to the story’s core. As things advance, the authors make sure the reader is kept on the edge of their seat. Things are never what they appear, especially with DeMillie at the helm. Adding great character development, the authors provide strong views and just the right amount of humour to cut through some of the denser moments throughout. I hope to see more of Brodie and Taylor before too long.
Plot development helps make this the strong book it has become. There is a need for a central theme, which the authors present with ease, but also some historical aspects that fuel sub-plots and ideas that could steer things in other directions. The authors cannot help but inject both to keep things from becoming too linear. I can only hope that the reader is able to juggle everything in order to get o the core of the matter. I cannot wait to see when next the protagonists will come together, offering the authors a chance to collaborate once more.
Kudos, Messrs. DeMille, for another great piece that kept me hooked.
Book Reviews to Ponder 