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.

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This military thriller was a page turner. This is one of those novels that you are in a hurry to get back to after your work day. I enjoyed the characters and the occasional light humor. Can’t wait for the sequel to find out what is in store for the two warrant officers.

The DeMille's are a dynamic duo of suspense and the fast action thriller. We meet a new pair of investigators in Scott Brodie and Maggie Tyler, Warrant Officers in the Army Criminal Investigation Division (CID). They're sent to Venezuela to track down Kyler Mercer, an elite forces Caption that deserted his mission and men in Afghanistan. The political themes are current and play a slight background role in this novel of twists and turns that raises more questions as the protagonists slog through the pit of corruption and crime of Venezuela to the jungles of the Amazon, not to mention the swamps propagated by the CIA and other murky and shady characters. Brodie is in the mold of John Corey, DeMille's hero of many prior novels. A good copy who's Smart, sassy, resistant to authority with typical "bad boy" attractiveness to women has the braggadocio to keep this complex novel moving swiftly along with great charisma with his worthy partner Maggie. Nelson DeMille and son have another hit on their hands and what I hope will be the start of a new series for both father and son as well as Brodie and Taylor.

I was extremely happy when this book showed up unsolicited in my inbox. I am a Nelson DeMille fan and I needed a break from the depressing books I had just finished so this was a most welcome respite.

I have a good friend who's from Venezuela so I probably know more about the current situation than the average reader. So this book resonated with me, And DeMille did his research; the country was portrayed as I've been told--re the politics, economic situation, corruption and loyalties, etc.

I got into it immediately [DeMille has that knack]. I pretty much enjoyed the characters, plot development, and the wry humor that appeared from time to time.

I was very interested until about 2/3 of the way through and then... Instead of a fast-paced read, it slowed down for me into an agonizing cat-and-mouse game, [Ok, maybe some people will like it; I did not]. So then it became quite uneven. From a sold 3.5 to 4, to a final 3.

I thought the DeMille's [now a father-and-son writing team] did a very good job of getting into the military mindset, the situation in Venezuela, and the previous settings of Vietnam and Afghanistan, And yes, it was a thriller but not a favorite.

Two Army detectives are sent to Venezuela to catch a deserter from its elite Delta Force. Following DeMilles now familiar pattern The Deserter is a fast paced thrill ride from start to finish. Adding his son Alex to the formula insures it’s series long future and enjoyment. Highly recommended.

What a wonderful, engrossing book! Two CID investigators are sent to find, arrest and bring home an Army deserter, Kyle Mercer, a much decorated soldier who has gone rogue. The two investigators, Scott Brodie, a wise cracking guy who also served in the military prior to becoming a CID investigator, and Maggie Taylor, who has baggage of her own from her tours of duty overseas. Both had seen action in the Middle East, which enabled them to both sympathize and despise the guy they were ordered to go after. Nelson DeMille’s books are always full of pictorial descriptions amid historically true places and this book is no exception. Set amid chaotic and politically unraveling Venezuela, it is full of excitement.

Despite the recycled characteristics from heroes of previous novels, this military thriller satisfies. Maybe it's because of those recycled characteristics. If the formula works, and in this case it does for DeMille and so then why not? Great attention to detail and feasible plots torn from the headlines with characters that kick ass.


Copy provided by the Publisher and NetGalley

Nelson DeMille's latest novel and first in a new series (co-authored with his son), The Deserter (Simon and Schuster 2019), as we have come to expect from DeMille is a spine-tingling, fast-moving, complicated story of international intrigue. Chief Warrant Officer and Army CIS officer Scott Brodie and his partner Maggie Taylor are tasked with finding a Delta Force Officer, Kyle Mercer, who deserted his post in the Middle East for no known reason. When soldiers die searching for him, it changes his desertion from odd-but-probably-explainable to how-could-he-do-that. Despite the Army's best efforts, Mercer disappears, finally showing up in an underage whorehouse in Venezuela two years later. Brodie and Taylor are sent to bring him back to America for trial.

Brodie is a wise-cracking smart-aleck while Taylor is a by-the-books investigator. Once they arrive in Venezuela, they go through innumerable problems, solved cleverly with lots of death-defying confrontations in what has become a lawless nation. Each step gets them closer to not only the deserter but unraveling the conundrum of why a patriotic kid from Iowa who achieved the highest level of trust the Army could offer--Special Forces--would dump it all to seemingly aid the enemy.

When I got this book I was worried. So often great authors like Nelson DeMille can't deliver the same spectacular level of storytelling when working with another writer, even if it's their son. I could give examples but I’ll keep them to myself. In this case, I needn’t have worried. The Deserter is true DeMille from its blistering pace to its nuanced understanding of the environment and its well-developed characters. I also worried whether I would like this character as much as I liked, say, John Corey. Again, I shouldn't have. The author's voice for Brodie is friendly with enough humor to soften serious issues while Taylor plays his foil expertly. Check these out:

“I have eyes in the back of my head.” “But your head is up your ass.”

Taylor asked, “Are you very cool in a dangerous situation, or do you just not understand what’s going on around you?”

“Mr. Brodie. Enjoying Caracas?” “Not even slightly.” “It grows on you.” “So does toe fungus.”

“The two most common elements in the universe are hydrogen and stupidity.”

The only negative of this book is the endless hammering about the destruction wrought in Venezuela by their government and how heavily it weighs on its people. I appreciated the education the first time he built it into the story, didn’t mind it the fifth time, and wished I could hide from what is an impossible humanitarian nightmare by the fifteenth time. I started feeling guilty that I was reading fiction instead of doing something productive to help these well-meaning people.

Anyone else read this and feel that way?

--reviewed on my blog, WordDreams, 1/20

Two Americans are tasked to locate and extricate a military deserter in Venezuela. I have been a DeMille fan since "The Charm School" days, but was unable to finish this recent novel. I felt that the usual page-turning prose came in fits and starts, and was bogged down by unnecessarily crude language. I have read and enjoyed many a raunchy military/spy book, but this just did not capture my attention enough to finish the second half.
Thank you Net Galley and ( Publishing ) for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.

An ARC was given by NET GALLEY for this review.

This is not an unbiased review because we are ALL BIASED right? Plus the last few by this MASTER author have been well. . . .

If you read a lot you learned from Patterson that once a second author's name appears, or worse yet a RELATIVE's name appears on the cover sound the alarm the ship is sinking.

BUT WAIT, this one breaks that mold, great plotting, great pace, heck great all around. this second DeMille goes the second mile :) :) ;) and makes it work. Super story!!!

Nelson DeMille wrote “The Deserter” in collaboration with his son, the noted screenwriter, Alex DeMille. It was to fill a contractual agreement with his publisher and DeMille made a wise choice for his partner. The senior DeMille, despite his popularity, is known for his verbal excesses. Junior isn’t allowed that luxury as a screenwriter. They figured that together they would find a happy place of just the right length. I don’t know about that because the book is plenty long with lots of words, but the end product is outstanding, a tribute to both the DeMilles.

DeMille takes a look at Venezuela’s crumbling economic and political existence, much as he did in “The Cuban Affair” with Cuba. He then ties it together with the much-hated Middle East conflict using palatable language to appease those of us with conflict sickness.

His usual impeccable research was hindered somewhat, because he never made an in-person visit to Venezuela. He was advised not to for safety reasons. So he and Alex studied satellite photos, read many books, and interviewed people familiar with the turmoil there. He has explained that events were constantly changing, making the authors continually chase the news and forcing them to set the story events as happening last summer to freeze the time frame.

His two new protagonists are Scott Brodie and Maggie Taylor, investigators with the Army’s Criminal Investigation Division. Brodie is a wisecracking smart aleck with non-conformist tendencies, while Maggie is a sultry knockout that everyone, including Scott wants to bed. It doesn’t happen here, although she is forced to parade around in her nudies for the enjoyment of bad guys who, to their disappointment, do not get to go further. But don’t get to thinking that Maggie is just another pushover. She’s as tough as week-old steak.

Their assignment to find a deserter and bring him home to face trial. There are dark reasons this amount of trouble is necessary and the two investigators find secrets that are disturbing and treacherous. Lofty officials in both the military and the government have launched some raunchy activities that, in their devious minds, no one needs to know about. The deserter. Kyle Mercer, because of his adversities, has succumbed to mental problems that make him both violent and suffering some pangs of conscience, qualities making him extremely unpredictable and dangerous. Bringing him to heel will be challenging.

DeMille, in his usual entrancing style, takes the reader on a roller coaster of a ride, filled with action and violence. The location is gorgeously depicted and the dialogue is magnificent. The plot is drawn with finite skill, presenting a riveting read. Don’t miss this book, and if you haven’t discovered Nelson DeVille’s talent, you need to get on with it. Your exploration has a good start with “The Deserter,” the first of a trilogy, but don’t overlook his other novels.

This is a typical Nelson Demille novel. I love that you know what to expect from him.
A mystery with lots of twists and turns
An adventure novel
A main character with a little bit of sleaze, but you love him anyway

One thing I really liked about this novel was how much I actually learned about Venezuela. It was so sad reading about how these people live. This was much more detail about the location that we usually get, and I am thinking that's due to his son working on the novel with him.

One thing I didn't like was the ending. I don't know why, but it just felt unsatisfying. However, that's just my opinion. Maybe I just started to dislike the main character a bit?

I want to thank the publisher and net galley for an advance copy of this book. I was so excited to be chosen for the ARC.. However, this did not impact my review.

Captain Kyle Mercer, decorated Delta Force veteran of the war in Afghanistan, has deserted. Why, is not clear. The Taliban have released a pair of videos showing the brutal acts of Mercer and it is clear the trained assassin has gone rogue. A year later an old Army buddy spots Mercer in Caracas, Venezuela and so the Army Criminal Investigation Division (CID) dispatches a couple of agents to track him down and bring him back to the US.

We follow the story through the eyes of Scott Brodie, a former infantryman in Iraq and now veteran CID agent. He displays plenty of wise-ass humor to remind readers of DeMille’s other protagonists, especially John Corey. His partner is Maggie Taylor, a former Civil Affairs E-5 in Afghanistan, now also working for CID, and a person who operates much more by-the-book. She also happens to be drop-dead gorgeous, a factor that doesn’t always help her in the exotic settings in the novel. Together they follow Mercer’s trail to the harsh and corrupt city of Caracas, and then into the deeper and even more dangerous interior of Venezuela. Adding to the tension, is Brodie’s suspicion that Maggie is hiding a secret of her own, perhaps even being a CIA asset.

I’ve been a long-time fan of Nelson DeMille and am seldom disappointed. Joining him in writing this novel is his son, an award-winning film writer, director and producer. Father-son writing teams don’t always work well in my experience, but I am happy to report this team has produced a winner. I can easily see it being picked up for a movie at some point if it hasn’t already. Not only is the plot extremely relevant to current international news, it has all the right elements: action balanced by excellent characters, vivid settings, and morally ambiguous circumstances. As Brodie and Maggie track and get closer to Mercer, they uncover a horrible secret perpetrated by the US forces, leading to difficult decisions on how to handle the situation. In fact, the ending is impossible to accurately predict, due to numerous possible outcomes. Brodie and Maggie make an interesting team, often at odds, but also sexually attracted to one another. I’m not aware this is being marketed as the first in a series, but I can certainly see that potential.

Thank- you to Simon & Schuster and NetGalley for providing a copy for review.

Loved this book! It has a tightly woven plot and engaging characters, from the rule ignoring, Scott, to the "good girl" Maggie, who has secrets of her own. When, as CID officers, they are assigned to go to Venezuela to find, arrest, and bring back to the US for trial, Kyle Mercer, a Delta Force operative that deserted his post and has not been found. A random siting in a bar brought them to Venezuela, but all the players involved seem to have multiple agendas.

The characters are engaging and, especially Scott, funny at times, even as he is bucking authority as he does his job. I found myself engrossed in their story and wanting them to survive it intact.

If you enjoy the genre, you will love this book. The author is a master at his craft and this book reflects that. Put this one on your must read list.

The Deserter was written by Nelson DeMille and his son Alex. Full disclosure, DeMille is one of my favorite authors and The Deserter is an excellent example why I hold him in such a high regard. Fast paced, edge of your seat moments, new characters, and snappy dialog make this a 5 star book....more than 5 if I could! I was given an early copy to review.

3.5 stars, rounded up
Nelson DeMille consistently creates intelligent characters who have trouble following orders and have wicked senses of humor. John Corey remains one of my favorite characters of all time. Scott Brodie is cut from the same cloth. Unlike Corey, who is just a total smart ass, the DeMilles have tried to give Scott more depth in addition to the wisecracks. It doesn’t always work.

Scott is a warrant officer in the Army CID. He and his partner have been tasked with finding Kyle Mercer, a Delta Force officer who’s walked away from his post in Afghanistan, been captured by the Taliban, escaped from them and is now on the run. Someone thinks they’ve seen him in Venezuela.

It took me longer to get a feel for his partner, Maggie Taylor. She’s a newbie, just one year into the job. She’s also suspected of being a spook. But in the end, her character felt a lot more real than Scott. Of course, the most complicated character of all is Kyle Mercer, the Deserter in question.

This time, Nelson is co-author with his son, Alex. The writing was seamless. The authors give us a great sense of time and place. As with The Cuban Affair, the DeMilles place their characters in an unstable country. Venezuela has gone to hell. It’s its own brand of war zone. Unlike some other reviewers, I really appreciated the in depth analysis of the politics and didn’t feel it bogged down the story. That said, I did feel the story itself could use some tightening up. It lagged in spots. And the ending was predictable and unsatisfying. This book is proof of the important job an editor does.

My thanks to netgalley and Simon & Schuster for an advance copy of this book.

Nelson DeMille has a type. And he loves that type. Alpha males prone to deviations of orders and common sense alike. Lovers of beer. And blondes. Although, there has historically been more success with the beer.

Nelson DeMille has fans. Legions of them. And for the record, I’m card-carrying member #7593. These fans (us fans?) know what to expect from a Nelson DeMille novel. The beats are set. The tune can be hummed. Only the location changes. Sometimes.

The Deserter, co-written with DeMille’s son, Alex, features two Criminal Investigation Division officers, Scott Brodie and Maggie Taylor, assigned to Venezuela in pursuit of an army deserter. Not merely the army mind you, but a member of the Delta Force elite. Kyle Mercer, said deserter, has a mission. Maybe not a mission from, you know, God, but Ozzie Guillén at least. Brodie and Taylor attempt to navigate a highly-corrupt and dangerous regime in Caracas in order to find clues on Mercer’s whereabouts. As the hunts deepens, they begin to question their mission, Mercer’s motives, and even Taylor’s purchase of a certain skimpy bikini. The Deserter starts fast and different and compelling as perhaps Alex was able to stretch his influence. Yet once the good-old DeMille one-two punch starts, the formulaic barrage is inexhaustible.

DeMille’s formula works. And you know, is also highly entertaining. The Deserter is more than an action-thriller as, in a similar view to The Cuban Affair, DeMille shows the politics of the region. He denigrates the despair while praising the people. He takes his readers to lands such readers would not normally visit and brings those locales to life with the adventure of it all. Unfortunately Brodie is nothing more than a revisionist character of John Corey, John Sutter, or more recently, Daniel MacCormick. Their dialogue is fun, their egos grand, but, twelve stories later, they are hardly unique. DeMille’s alphas don’t need to be neutered, like that failed attempt during Timothy Dalton’s James Bond films, but a reboot on the archetype couldn’t hurt.

The Deserter is everything a Nelson DeMille fan has come to expect and even wants to expect: clever dialogue, precarious situations, bad choices, and badder bad guys. But man, even a slight change in the routine would be as welcomed as Dewar’s on ice instead of neat.


A round of shots to the fantastic teams at Simon & Schuster and NetGalley for the chance to read, review, and enjoy this advance copy. A world of thanks to Nelson and Alex DeMille for including me on their latest escapade.

I loved this book... fast paced, military/political thriller with great characters. I particularly liked the humorous banter between the two main characters. Highly recommended.

Thank you to NetGalley and Simon and Schuster Publishing for the opportunity to read and give an honest review of this book.

This is the first book collaboration between Nelson DeMille and his son, Alex.
Two times the DeMille in one book! This was another great military thriller,
one that was hard to put down.

Scott Brodie and Maggie Taylor are two CID sent to Venezuela in pursuit of an army deserter, a very famous one. This deserter isn’t an ordinary one. He is bent on revenge and mayhem. It isn’t a simple case of retrieving this deserter. There are people in the army, higher ups, that want to make sure, Kyle Mercer never has the opportunity to tell his story to the world.

The writing is so entertaining, especially the dialogue. It makes the characters
very believable, very likable.

I have always enjoyed DeMille novels and this new one is no exception.

Nelson DeMille never disappoints. Crisp writing, well plotted, a fun adventure.
Thoroughly enjoyed this book.