NYPD detective John Corey has retired from his latest assignment and is relaxing at his uncle's house on Long Island when an old friend approaches him about working for a private detective agency. While reluctant to do so he figures out that his friend is setting him up as a mole to try and take down a criminal enterprise that engulfs several towns. It takes awhile for the action to start but once it starts it's lights out. I've been a fan of DeMille since I read "The Gold Coast". He is a great storyteller and his character development is excellent. I recommend this book.

I have always loved Nelson DeMille books. And when I saw that NetGalley was offering a new “John Corey” book, I jumped at it.

But… my enthusiasm prior to reading The Maze was not matched by the time I finished it.

John is an out-dated character. Not to say that he should be “woke” (he shouldn’t), but it’s tough to read some of his thoughts and actions: particularly his views of women.

Most of this book was about what was going to happen - how many times did we read “when we go to Bermuda” or “when I start the job” or “when I do (the main thing John was meant to do - no spoiler here).

Took till the last 100 pages or so to really get to the action. I’m all for the build up, but.. the build up didn’t have much suspense.

I was caught up in John’s relationships - particularly with Beth and Max. It was fun to read.

But “the waiting was the hardest part”.

Lastly: why do I think this is NOT the last we will hear of or from “Amy”. Hope not anyway..

This was my first Nelson DeMille book for me and I was excited for this thriller. However, this one fell flat for me. John was just not a character I could find myself caring for and often times rolled my eyes. His crass, brash manor felt over the top and was something I couldn't really get past.

The Maze, the 8th book in the John Corey series, starts with John finding himself in a forced retirement trying to figure out what is next. The former Federal Agent is then approached by one of his former lovers with a job offer.
Soon he finds himself on a manhunt to find a suspected serial killer that was inspired by the unsolved Gilgo Beach murders.

This book had all of the ingredients for me to be hooked and it didn't happen for me. Thank you, Net Galley and Simon and Schuster for this free advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

I have read several books by Nelson DeMille and have not been disappointed. The Maze was a bit of a slow burn for me and took me about 1/3 to 1/2 to get involved with the storyline and the characters. The Maze is centered on the dangerous hunt for a serial killer. The story is inspired by the true and unsolved Gilgo Beach murders. Former NYPD homicide detective John Corey is called out of retirement to investigate a string of grisly murders much too close to home.

Once the story gets going, the action is fast-paced, but it takes some time to get there to the action.

I would rate this a 3.5/4 out of 5 stars.

#NetGalley @ScribnerBooks

The Maze

The Maze continues the unpredictable adventures of John Corey, former NYPD Homicide detective, and Anti-Terrorist Task Force Federal Agent. He is found contemplating his “forced” retirement as a Federal Agent with the Diplomatic Surveillance Group, sitting on the porch of his uncles waterfront home on Long Island. It is noted that he was constantly assessing if a Russian may be finding an opportunity for an assassination attempt on his life.

Corey is reunited with his former lover, Detective Beth Penrose, and a proposition for a new career opportunity. We are taken into a maze of questionable motives, corruption and a hope of finally getting the answers to unsolved murders and a potential “Resolve” of serial killings.

Corey doesn’t disappoint with his sharp, sarcastic, politically incorrect banter, and his ability to think outside the box with his investigative skills and quick tactical response.
Corey drives the conclusion into a fast paces race thru The Maze with twists and turns reminding the reader of his investigative and unorthodox genius and survival.

DeMille takes this character to a new level, allowing the reader to really get into his head, that never seems to slow down! Another great addition to this favorite series.

I was thrilled to have the opportunity to read an ARC for The Maze. Nelson DeMille has been one of my favorite authors since 1990 when a friend urged me to read The Gold Coast. Word of Honor is among my favorite reads of all time. And The Charm School is a must read for Cold War fiction. When Plum Island introduced the irreverent John Corey, I jumped in with both feet. Loved The Lion’s Hame. But, The Maze seemed to portray a caricature of John Corey rather than the anti hero I’d come to love. The book wasn’t bad; but this was not the Nelson DeMille that captured my imagination with tight plotting, brilliant dialogue, nuance and page turning prose.

I enjoyed being reacquainted with John Corey and Beth Penrose, but Corey seems to have devolved into a cretin that nobody could actually love….much less Ms. Penrose. Regrettably, I must say I am disappointed.

However, I will always have Word of Honor & The Charm School to celebrate Mr. DeMille’s incomparable talents.

Thanks to Simon and Schuster and NetGalley for providing this Advance Reading Copy. I loved Plum Island by Nelson DeMille and was looking forward to this continuation of John Corey's adventures. I remember laughing a great deal at Plum Island and was anticipating the same for The Maze.

I found that I was no longer laughing as I did in the previous novel...I found his character to be more vulgar, arrogant and more than a little sexist. The novel was an easy read, but I find his character no longer appealing!

I have read all of the previous John Corey books and looked forward to this one with great anticipation. Unfortunately, I was disappointed in the complicated plot as well as the character of John. Much of the book are John’s thoughts and dialogues with others since the novel is in first person. Many of his thoughts demonstrate off-color humor, not even witty, just crude at times. With the returning appearance of old girlfriend Beth Penrose, I was hopeful that the action would pick up quickly, but the slow pace continued for over half of the book. There are a lot of references to John being chased by Russian assassins that seemed superfluous and absolutely off the topic of the current book which is about John infiltrating a crooked organization and trying to get evidence against them. John’s arrogance is front and center in this book and is totally off-putting instead of endearing. His sexual references are rampant, flowing freely on just about every page when I just wanted the story to move along. There are many plot details that are unbelievable, so this is definitely not a police procedural since John followed no procedures at all. The complex plot was somewhat entertaining but not at all engrossing as previous books have been. I ultimately thought the book was an okay read, but I did not think it is up to the standards of the previous John Corey books and I am not sure I will be up for reading another of these in the future. It was a struggle to compete it even after the action started because the crassness continued and it was not in the least appealing. The sharp wit that I had looked forward to has devolved into a fixation on sexual innuendo that was neither welcome nor did it add to the story. Nelson DeMille is better than this book as anyone who is a fan would recognize immediately and wonder what happened to the charm and humor that used to be so apparent.
Disclaimer
Disclosure of Material Connection: I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher via Netgalley. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255, “Guidelines Concerning the Use of Testimonials and Endorsements in Advertising.”

Thank you to NetGalley for an ARC of this book.

Inspired by, and based on the actual and still unsolved Gilgo Beach murders, 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 deeper into this case, which has made national news, he comes to suspect that the failure of the local police to solve this sensational case may not be a result of their inexperience and incompetence—it may be something else. Something more sinister.

Taking the actual unsolved Gilgo Beach murders and weaving them into this thriller, is brilliant and a page turner. Having followed NYPD homicide detective John Corey from his first appearance in 'Plum Island', 'The Maze' takes us further into his life. With thrilling plot twists, this is one of the best of the series. Thank you #NetGalley for the advanced copy.

I received this title as an ARC through NetGalley. I have always been a fan of Nelson DeMille-- since "The Charm School" in 1988 through this latest novel where Jon Corey returns from retirement when offered a job by his former lover, Detective Beth Penrose. Corey wrestles with the idea of taking the job until he works out on his own that Penrose wants to use him as a confidential informant. In an off-the-books investigations, a group of law enforcement individuals have made a connection between a local security company and a potential serial killer that has left a string of bodies in a national park. Through some funny (and sometimes offensive and almost always politically incorrect) internal dialogue, Corey unravels the truth behind the security company and what services they are really offering. I enjoyed the twists and turns of the story and believe if Corey REALLY retires from police work, he'd make a great stand-up comedian.

This is the eighth book in the John Corey series. It has been long overdue and does not fail to impress. The character is likeable and has a sharp sense of humor. The storyline is well developed and I wanted to continue reading until I finished. I hope I don’t need to wait several years for the next book in the series.

Nelson Demille is a fantastic author that has written many books that were made into movies. I’d love to see a mini series featuring John Corey.

The Maze by Nelson DeMille is the eighth book in the John Corey series. While John is learning to live the retirement life, he is requested to join his former girlfriend, Detective Beth Penrose, for another investigative adventure. John would need to join a private firm, Security Solutions, to help with uncovering some terrible sexually motivated crimes. Is it possible that local law enforcement could be involved in a cover-up?
I was disappointed in this one, sorry! I have enjoyed reading Nelson Demille books in the past, but this one was just not my favorite.
Thank you to NetGalley, the author, and the publisher for the opportunity to read this book. The publication date is October 11, 2022.

I received an advance copy of The Maze from NetGalley. Having read a lot of DeMille going back to the very beginning, I was delighted to have the opportunity to get an early copy. Therefore, it pains me to say that I found it a total disappointment. Part of John Corey’s charm is his irreverence. Having said that, it is never-ending in this book. Nearly every word uttered and every thought was laden in his characteristic sarcasm and it wore thin very quickly. Add to that his relentless opining on the sex he could have, shouldn’t have, has had, is just boring. With all this, the story never even really got going until nearly half way through the book. When it did, it wasn’t the usual DeMille I liked so much in the past. To be honest, the only reason I finished it was the obligation to NetGalley for an honest review. I have never given 1 star but, sadly, The Maze did not work for me.

The Maze was a great addition to the John Corey series. I was surprised at what was around each corner as the story I really enjoyed this book! However I must add for anyone who wants to read this book it will not be for everyone due to the sexism and language in it. 3.5 stars

A very enjoyable read. Fast and breezy with lots of action. I especially enjoyed the author's use of dialog, both spoken and unspoken. A very satisfying book. Highly recommended.

This is my first taste of Nelson DeMille's writing. I decided to accept an arc of this book after watching an interview with the author. His main character, John Corey, is a retired NYPD Homicide Detective who has also worked with the FBI. At this point he is out of work and feeling restless while staying at his uncle's beachfront estate on Long Island, when his former lover, Detective Beth Penrose, shows up with a job suggestion: apply at a local private investigation firm called Security Solutions. Their friend, Chief Maxwell, also thinks it's a terrific idea. Is there more behind their urging of the job on him? John can be a loose cannon, a bit arrogant, and definitely not a team player so if Beth and Max do have a plan, it may unravel quickly once John is involved.

The story is told from John's first person point of view so the reader is aware of John's private thoughts, which are often irreverent, obnoxious and ribald. He thinks with two heads and often the little one leads him astray. A little of his brand of humor goes a long way. The plot involves a lot of men behaving badly involving explicit sex. It takes a long time for any real action to get going but the ending is quite explosive (pun intended) ;-)

I received an arc from the author and publisher via NetGalley. My review is voluntary and the opinions expressed are my own.

While I do love an unlikable character, this one wasn't for me. Couldn't stomach the sexism. Unfortunately, this was a DNF.

I do appreciate the early read. Wish I'd connected more.

I had heard lots of good things about this series, so when it came up for review, I was excited to read it. I haven't read any of the series before, so I was jumping in with book #8 with the idea that I'd be missing some backstory, but I was not ready for what I jumped into.

The main character, John Corey, is a crass, foul-mouthed, over-the-top, sexist homicide detective. Even worse, is this book done in first person, so there's no way to even try to ignore his character since you're in his head at all times. Yes, if you haven't noticed, I don't like the character at all.

The mystery part of the book was not what I would call great either. What can I say besides this book wasn't for me in all aspects?! I'm not one for swearing, sexual content or just overall lewdness, so I cannot in any way recommend this book. After reading it, I felt like I had to wash my eyes and brain out - yes, it was that offensive to me. If it wasn't for the commitment I made to read and review, I would have dumped this book after chapter 1.

Worst part, it has no place here on my blog, except as a warning that this book is full of everything I do not stand for. It's extremely offensive and even though I've been assured by other readers of the series that the earlier books are not like this, I won't be reading any of them to find out if that's true!

I received a copy of this book through NetGalley. I was not required to post a positive review - but one of my honest opinion.

The Maze by Nelson DeMille was very hard for me to continue reading. I only finished this book because I made a commitment to NetGalley to read and review it. I got through it, but it wasn’t captivating or even enjoyable to read. It was awful from the very beginning. The writing was bland and there wasn’t much of a plot for a most of the book. Even when a plot started forming, it was boring and repetitive. Corey narrates the story, but it seems all that’s on his mind is sex. He acts like a teenage boy. The graphic sex narrative just made me feel a bit sick. If I wanted to read that I would choose an erotic novel. Corey is obnoxious, full of himself and a sexist pig.

About 40% through Corey starts his new job at a corrupt corporation. There is basically no action until 80% of the way through the book. With the little amount of action this 400+ page book could have easily been a novella or short story. It was filled with unnecessary descriptions, and the rambling, disgusting thoughts of John Corey for over 300 pages! Enough is enough. Give us some action. This book was dull and disappointing. It had a shallow plot and was mostly pointless internal musings from Corey. The very last chapter was the only good chapter in the whole book, but nothing was really resolved. So not even a satisfying good ending.

I am giving this book 1* because I can find no reason to read it. If it had anything interesting, a good plot, action, mystery, or even one likable character I would go higher. But I just could not find anything that made this book worth reading or worth recommending.

I would like to thank Nelson DeMille, Scribner and NetGalley for the opportunity to read an advance copy of The Maze!