The Maze by Nelson DeMille is a so-so thriller.

There is a lot of retelling of events in Corey's past as found in previous novels. This is helpful to new readers, but the recounting of his past activities went on too long and needed to be edited down to a more manageable summary in the narrative with repetition eliminated. This is also a slow moving novel and takes way-too-long to actually pick up the pace. While some of Corey's constant quips and jokes are funny, all of the constant sexual jokes, thoughts, crude comments, etc. became tiring after, perhaps ten pages. All of the subsequent sexual jokes and comments were just annoy and grating. If non-sexual sarcastic comments, jokes, and observations were the majority with the sexual comments very sparingly thrown in, it would have made the novel much more satisfying - along with less retelling of Corey's past escapades. I managed to make myself finish this novel and the plot doesn't get good until the very end.
Disclosure: My review copy was courtesy of Scribner via NetGalley.
The review will be published on Barnes & Noble, Google Books, Edelweiss, and Amazon.

I was disappointed by this book. John Corey is at loose ends following his forced retirement as a federal agent. A former NYPD detective, injured in the line of duty and on three quarters disability, John is a danger junkie, so when he is approached by an old flame with a proposal that he go undercover as a CI in the off-the-books investigation that may involve corruption at the highest levels of law enforcement on Long Island, he's in. This is supposed to be a thriller, but the only action comes at the very end of the book. The rest (and it's not a short story) is spent setting up what a stud John is and who all the players are in the case. To me, a lot of it seemed repetitive, and for a successful detective and agent, Corey's actions relative to the case didn't seem very realistic since they made him seem naive, at best, or dumb at worst. And if you don't like foul language or gratuitous sex, this is not the book for you.

Do you miss the opposite-of-feminist writing of Mickey Spillane? Do you think Bill Cosby and Harvey Weinstein were unfairly targeted? If so, I have a book for you. The Maze harkens back to a long-ago time when men were men and women were only good for one thing.

John Corey is an ex-NYPD detective who is also an unmitigated pig (at least from a woman’s perspective). He was obviously asleep throughout the #metoo movement. The Maze will automatically alienate half its audience. Even the other (male) half will find the mystery not up to Nelson Demille’s 1980/90s standards. Such a disappointment! 2 stars.

Thanks to Scribner and NetGalley for a digital review copy of the book.

I am so sorry to say that I did not like this book, because I loved everything else I've ever read by Nelson Demille. Naturally, I was excited to receive an ARC from Net Galley - but shortly into the book I realized this one was not going to meet my expectations. I had read other John Corey novels, and enjoyed his saracastic humor. I
even liked him. But in The Maze his character was so outrageously macho and sexist, I couldn't stand him. I also found it very slow. I usually read about a book a week and this one took me nearly three weeks to finish. The plot was okay, but it took until more than 40% through to get to the point of the story. I found so much of it repetitive - especially Corey's secondary comments to the readers. If he had left those out the book would have been 100 pages shorter. I was hoping that the ending would offer some redemption, but the final action sequence was way too long. Then there were too many twists that it just got complicated and I didn't find it satisfying. I think I will go back and read an older Demille book now to remind myself what a great writer he really is.

Thoughts:
We follow Ex Cop John Cory who seems to live life by his own rules as
He tries to solve a big case. This story will leave you guessing a lot it also has a bit of everything mystery, murder, sex, romance and a good detective story.

This was my first time reading a book in this series. Having seen how many existed already, I was initially excited to see what makes them so successful. I gave it a try and found the protagonist so incredibly unlikable bland full of himself that his arrogance cannot be interpreted as charm. He's nothing but overboard masculinity with a great side quality of Islamophobia!

I've read many books by Nelson DeMille and have enjoyed them all. This one was no different. Fast paced, and easy to follow along with characters I've come to know and love. I highly recommend this book.

This is a weird book to review for me. It has been so long since I read Plum Island and that has been the only DeMille novel I read until now. I remember feeling the same way about that one that I felt during the maze. I enjoyed John Corey and the humor interspersed throughout. Corey is an interesting protagonist and one that I enjoy spending time with. The writing itself flows and the novel was an easy read. The premise, however, sounded better than the execution. The description is somewhat misleading- do not expect a serial killer thriller, as there are more elements to it and it reads more as a cover-up on high places novel. It also takes too long to execute. The beginning is slow and it takes a while (almost 50%) to finally build to the true plot, but I was already losing interest. A lot of focus is placed on John’s relationship as well, which I found to be distracting. However, this is sure to please action/thriller fans or fans of the Corey series and does herald a welcome return to DeMille’s fans. I just don't know u fortunately, that I am one after this second try with him.

(Arc provided through the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review).

Not my favorite. The humor didn't work for me and the pacing was entirely too slow for the genre. As much as I enjoy a slow-burn investigation, this dragged. It takes too long for the actual story to be forward. Much of the novel is repetitive or the same scenes are viewed from different points of view. It could be interesting, done right, but the novel fails at that.

I received this book as an ARC and this is my review. Nelson DeMille is a renowned author and his John Corey character is full of jokes and irreverent comments. I have read most of his books but this one is different - most of the action is at the end and the rest is setting up and creating an atmosphere. I recommend this story to readers who enjoy psychological thrillers with interesting characters.

“I took my first step into the maze when Beth Penrose showed up on my porch.”

John Corey is the wisecracking, politically incorrect former NYPD detective, FBI agent, college professor and member of an anti-terrorist task force. There’s a reason why none of these worked out for him and he’s now semi-retired and relaxing at his uncle’s house on the Great Peconic Bay. Enter former lover Beth Penrose with a complicated (and possibly filled with untruths) proposition. Nine women, all prostitutes, have been killed and buried on Long Island’s remote Gilgo Beach. This is true. What happens next is not…but it could be.

What follows is John Corey’s adventure into the world of private investigators. Naturally, he doesn’t follow rules or requests from members of his new firm or from the police who are trying to help him. He may or may not solve a complex case but you know there will be bodies littered along the way. Possibly his.

Is John Corey an acceptable hero in today’s world? Not at all, he’s sexist, borderline racist, and deliberately funny. He’s also smart, respects the women he works with and cuts through levels of deception. The Maze marks his return and another excellent mystery by master Nelson DeMille. 5 stars.

Thank you to NetGalley, Scribner and Nelson DeMille for this ARC.

The self banter in this book is A+. John makes me laugh out loud.
Murder, mayhem and mysteries to be solved abound in this complex book.

John is very much impolitically correct. He ticks most everyone off. But times change and I think it’s much harder for people who are set in their ways to change. Sometimes you just get what you get. All his imperfections and lack of social graces aside he is one heck of a detective.

At times it took a while to get where we needed to be but once it got rolling it was a good ride. There was a good old fashion foot chase, that I loved. Sometimes the old ways are the most thrilling, no CGI required.
The other characters in the book provided good substance to the story.

It provides the intensity, mystery and who done it you’re looking for in a good murder mystery.

I received this ARC through "NetGalley" and I am voluntarily leaving an honest review.

The story begins with John relaxing at his uncle's house when he receives a visit from Beth who he worked with earlier. She makes a request of him to look into the possibility of taking a job with Security Solutions. She told him that Max, another friend of John's, had talked with Steve about the possibility of a job there. As you read on in the book, you discover that there is more to why she wants him to work there.

The story continues as John learns more what is all about. John having nothing else to do jumps in with both feet.

To learn what Beth's real reason is for John to take the job and what events happen once he started, then you need to read the book.

Thank you NetGalley!! This was just a typical John Corey story which is a wild ride with sharp lines and fast paced situations.
John is trying to rest up on Long Island, scene of his previous books, and being brought back by his ex into an undercover operation into a private investigator firm that seems to be shady.
Great small town world but yet also the larger past continues to follow John as he navigates both what the PI firm is doing and yet how and why he's being asked to do all of this.

Definitely recommend this fun fast paced read!

This book is definitely one for the record books. O, how the mighty have fallen!

The John Corey of The Lion's Game or even The Lion is not in this book, no matter what the jacket blurb may have told you. The John Corey of Nightfall is definitely nowhere to be seen.

While this book takes on a real-life officially unresolved case, it does little to further the story, or even offer a believable alternate reality check, not even a whisper of a theory as to what / why / how may have happened. This is John Corey, with testosterone on the maximum level, and smart-alec-y comebacks at, say, a 4-out-of-10, and talking... don't even get me started. Let's just say if Corey talked this much, he'd do much better in a daytime soap opera. If this were the first Corey book, it would also have been the last - at least the last many would have cared to read.

The story plods along slowly, and literally nothing seems to be happening - except John getting laid, and thinking about getting laid, and talking about getting laid, and complaining about not getting laid enough, and also complaining about not getting paid enough. No urgency here, as in Nightfall. No real danger here, as in The Lion's Game.

To add insult to injury, time and again Corey reminisces about his Plum Island case, and tries to draw parallels. Sad that a writer of DeMille's stature has to resort to such forced and explicit references to his own earlier (much better!) work, while using up space in a later work on a totally different subject, not at all related to that case.

Also, that last chapter was a doozy - not sure what the author or the editors had in mind when they agreed to put it. Was it that they had promised to include no more than 46 chapters in the book, and then at the beginning of the 44th chapter, they realized - Holy S***, the titular Maze has not been used so far in the story, and there has been no real action, and by the way Corey hasn't really done anything to, you know, actually work the case... so let's put all that here, in these last few chapters!

All in all, exercise caution when choosing to pick up this book - it is a full-frontal assault on the image of Corey, and utterly crass and sexist as well along the way.

Is this it, then?

Thanks to Netgalley, Scribner and Mr. DeMille for an eARC of this book.

This is the first John Corey book I’ve read, and I loved it! I haven’t read anything written by DeMille in a very long time, maybe I need to begin again.
John Corey is a renegade ex-cop, who makes his own rules. This story seemed to be a mix of Sopranos meets Jersey Shore. The characters are so vivid, I could picture each one. This book would make a great movie and I already can think of who the main characters should be.
The Maze gives the reader, mystery, romance, sex, summer vibes, dirty cops, taking place on the Long Island shore. . This was a purely entertaining read and I enjoyed each page.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an advanced copy in return for my honest review.

Book Review
The Maze
Nelson DeMille
reviewed by Lou Jacobs


readersremains.com | Goodreads


OK, I admit it, reading Demille’s 8th John Corey novel is a guilty pleasure. It’s like eating a whole box of Godiva chocolates without coming up for air. And, like chocolates, you can never get enough.

This continues the saga of the rogue, smart-ass cop that is addicted to risk and peril. He’s been called a “shitstorm magnet.” John is also known for his politically incorrect humor and sarcastic, but on-point patter. Even though this is the eighth entry into this series since his auspicious 1997 debut in Plum Island, this novel can be enjoyed and devoured as a standalone since Demille masterfully weaves into the narrative the necessary backstory.

John actually is unemployed, since he was asked to cease and desist from his last Federal gig with the Diplomatic Surveillance Group (DSG). Apparently, due to his somewhat rogue and excessive actions, the SVR (the Russian Foreign Intelligence Service) is gunning for him. This only adds to agencies trying to eliminate John. There are many Islamic terrorists gunning for him for pay-back during his days with the ATTF ( Anti-Terrorist Task Force), not to mention the multitude of adversaries acquired when he was a NYPD homicide detective.

We find John convalescing after taking three shots to the chest, with a month long hospitalization at Columbia Presbyterian. He’s trying hard to do nothing at his Uncle Harry’s waterfront summer house on the North Fork of Long Island. His duties are frequently lifting a beer bottle and a copy of a Nero Wolfe mystery. A rude knock on the door reintroduces a previous “old flame,” Suffolk County Homicide Police Detective Beth Penrose. After verbal jousting an unusual job offer is presented. Since he’s presently unemployed she and her boss, Sylvester Maxwell (call me “Max”) thought it would be a great opportunity for him to work as a private investigator for Steve Landowski at Security Solutions, here on the island. Max is an old friend who John worked with on a double homicide (during the Plum Island novel). Steve would apparently like to meet with him to discuss working for him. John is thinking he’d rather have a visit to the dentist, for a root canal.

However, his uncle just informed him that he rented out his summer house for July and August for sixty thousand and needs John to vacate the premises—and he remembers that Beth has a cottage close by. In the past this was the site where they “screwed their brains out.”

John ponders. Well, I need a summer job, a summer house, and a summer love. So maybe this could work out. John listens to Beth and will listen to Steve, “because as every detective knows that listening to bullshit is part of the journey toward enlightenment.”

During the course of listening to bullshit, an interesting, funny and entertaining interlude occurs commenting on idiotic expressions that John can’t stand—most irritating is the use of “no problem,” a catch-all for “welcome,” “that’s fine” etc.

John meets with Steve Landowski at his place of business, the “Farmhouse,” which some refer to as the Animal House. The second floor features a large “playroom” where Poker Night and Thirsty Thursdays are held. Thirsty Thursdays features exotic “dancing girls” and is attended by local cops and politicians and even judges. There are also several bedrooms, which Steve refers to as the ‘honeymoon suits.” Steve’s generous hospitality wreaks of possible corruption and probably blackmail. Beth and Max later inform John that a previous employee, Sharon Hite, working as a PI, committed suicide under very dubious circumstances.

She was working the missing persons case of Carolyn Sanders, whose street name was “Tiffany,” and probably worked the second floor. Her naked body along with eight other women where eventually discovered after being dumped like garbage on Fire Island. This was the site of a horrendous unsolved mass murder case. It was obvious to John he was to function as an undercover informant, a mole at Security Solutions. In John’s estimation, Steve Landowski was a dangerous combination of stupid and cunning, along with an equal touch of sociopath and psychopath, and driven by ego, libido, and money.

Nelson Demille proves to be an excellent storyteller as he weaves an intricate plot with multiple twists and turns and unexpected reveals that culminate in an exhilarating denouement that features a chase that will have the reader on the edge of their seats…. as tension and intrigue reach a boiling point. Demille once again shows his mastery with dialogue and character development involving his multiple multidimensional characters. This case has lots of twists and turns with many beginnings and no end in sight.

Thanks to NetGalley and Scribner Books for providing an Uncorrected Proof in exchange for an honest review. Hopefully will continue to entertain us with further exploits of John Corey.

John Corey is predictably predictable, which sets the path of this book right at the start. He’s an arrogant and cocky retired detective, who changes both his mind and his direction decisively and often. With his history and background in law enforcement he has been hired to look into the murders of a number of prostitutes. But the tentacles of conspiracy in the local law enforcement agencies are like a Portuguese Man of War, long and poisonous. There are so many secrets being kept, so many bad guys, a maze of connections between them and so many different ways things can turn out, that, for this reader, the end of the story still left me guessing about which side of the law most of the people were on. My only criticism of the book is that I wasn’t a fan of some of the outdated sexual humor.

I had high hopes for this book, but was disappointed and didn't finish it. The author took a long time to get to the crux of the story (like 50% into the book) and I found the characters often repeating the same information. While I wanted to enjoy this book, I had to DNF it because it just didn't capture my attention.

I'd really looked forward to this latest from De Mille. And I was disappointed. I remember John Corey as being a hoot because of his irreverent comments but I don't remember him being so offensive about just about everything but most especially about women. I'm amazed some of the things he says and thinks made it past the editors (or was it worse before it was toned down?). Yes, I know that this represents Corey's POV but he wasn't someone I wanted to spend time with. WRT to the plot, Corey has been encouraged by his friend Max, the local chief of police, to take a job with a security company owned and operated by former law enforcement. It takes a long time- too long- to get to the mystery of who is killing women. This is said to be loosely based on a real serial murder case but it's hard to see that in the way this plays out. I admit to clicking through to get to the action so I missed whatever nuance there might be. Thanks to the publisher for the ARC. Regret I can't recommend this.