Nelson Demille and his son Alex are back again with the second book in this series. If you like intrigue, action and suspense look no further. I enjoyed this book and it shows both Demille's at the top of their story telling game. If you like military thrillers this book is not to be missed! Looking forward to seeing what the father/son tandem come up with next.

Thank you NetGalley for the ARC in return for an honest review.

Thank you so much to NetGalley for sending me a free ebook in exchange for my honest opinion and review of Blood Lines by Nelson Demille and Alex Demille.

I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book. I have not read The Deserter (Scott Brodie & Maggie Taylor #1), so all I can say is Blood Lines (Scott Brodie & Maggie Taylor #2) is a great book if you read it as a stand alone. I enjoyed it so much, I'm going to go back and read The Deserter.

In Blood Lines, Special Agents Scott Brodie and Maggie Taylor are brought together to investigate the murder of CID Special Agent Harry Vance. What appears to be a random murder turns into so much more after they start following leads, however, the German government, as well as Brodie and Taylor's higher ups, don't really seem interested in getting to the truth.

I really enjoyed this book, and look forward to reading more from these authors.

Army Criminal Investigations Department Agent Harry Vance is murdered in Berlin on what appears to be an off-the-books investigation. CID Agents Scott Brodie and Maggie Taylor are assigned to a team that will investigate his murder, a chance to prove they can solve a case without stepping on the wrong toes. That will depend on whether Brodie can control what he describes as the adolescent boy inside of him who makes half his decisions. He is reputed by his peers to be monumentally arrogant, among the many other sad male stereotypes such as his declaration that “all men are pigs, but some are more dedicated to the role than others.” Maggie is the opposite—competent, self-assured, disciplined, politic—and partnered with him, it seems, to serve as a foil. Or, perhaps, for the same purpose complementary colors are paired: her civility makes Brodie’s boorishness appear more fully saturated.

This is the first book I have read by Nelson DeMille, born in the 1940s and still portraying the alpha male in a context that—unfortunately—read well in the 1970s when he first published but feels terribly dated and out of touch with the modern flow of things. Maybe his readers don’t mind that Brodie sees the females he works with as sex objects, brags about getting laid, and describes his sexual encounter with a grieving woman in a cringe-worthy, awkward manner that evokes a scene from the 1970s horror flick, “The Omen.” It’s hard to say these things, but honesty is expected here.

I wish to thank the publisher, co-authors, and NetGalley for providing this eARC in exchange for an honest review.

When CID agent Vance is murdered in Berlin the investigation reunites agents Scott Brody and Maggie Taylor from The Deserter. They are sent to Berlin to co-ordinate with German officials and embassy personnel, but have no investigative powers of their own. Vance was one of Brody’s instructors in Intelligence and he is not one to sit on the sidelines. Vance’s body was found in an area with a large Muslim population. The police and embassy are quick to write off the murder as an act of terrorism. Evidence has been planted to reinforce that conclusion. Brody and Taylor, however, have found evidence that there is an ongoing threat.

Vance was involved with Anna, the daughter of a Stasi officer who worked for the Americans. He was betrayed by an American officer known as Odin. Before his death, Vance was close to discovering the traitor’s identity. As Brody and Taylor pursue Odin they discover a connection to East Germany’s chemical warfare labs as well as a rising group of neo-Nazis. They are taken off the case and ordered home when they continually overstep their mandate, but everything is pointing to an imminent attack somewhere in the city. Brody can not leave if there is a chance that he can find Odin and stop it. While Taylor is more disciplined and prepares to leave Berlin, they are still a team and he needs her help.

Brody and Taylor work well together. They are both combat veterans and dedicated officers who have been betrayed in the past by their superiors. Brody has little patience for authority figures and his brash attitude is often restrained by Taylor. Blood Lines delivers a complex mystery that moves slowly at first but builds to a finale that has you on the edge of your seat. I would like to thank NetGalley and Scribner Publishing for providing this book for my review.

I’ve been a huge fan of Nelson DeMille since his first novel, and I particularly loved his early, stand-alone books like Cathedral. In recent years though, I’ve gotten tired of his John Corey novels, as a little John Corey goes a long way. So I was excited to see on NetGalley that DeMille has returned to the characters, Scott Brodie and Maggie Taylor from his novel, The Deserter.

In Blood Lines, Brodie and Taylor are re-teamed and sent on a mission in Berlin where one of their own has turned up dead. Their search for the truth takes them all over the city and puts them at odds with all of the other government agencies involved with the case.

It’s a bit longer than it needs to be, but fans of DeMille will enjoy this case and its many layers. I found it a refreshing change of pace.

Thriller fans rejoice! Nelson and Alex DeMille are back with another edge of your seat spy book filled with mystery and intrigue, just as a you would expect.

Army CID investigators, Scott Brodie and Maggie Taylor are ordered to Berlin to solve the murder of one of their own, CID investigator Vance. Immediately they face roadblocks with information being withheld from the local authorities to even why Vance was in Berlin in the first place, as he was not on any authorized case. It’s up to Brodie’s unconventional methods to make any headway always finding clues that others overlook, or are conveniently hidden from them. The lack of local cooperation, clues that don’t add up together with the political tensions in Berlin dating as far back as WW II and Stasi atrocities convince Brodie and Taylor this murder investigation is just the tip of the proverbial iceberg.

Thank you NetGalley for the opportunity to preview this new DeMille novel.

I have some good news: DeMille is back! Five years have passed since THE DESERTER, the first novel in the series, and Army CID agent Scott Brodie is back at work with Maggie Taylor as his partner. One of their own, an Army CID agent has been murdered in Berlin, Germany. His death in a park at midnight leads Brodie to suspect that he was on the trail of something important.

This novel is a mystery with large doses of military intelligence and international thriller drama. The narrative is complex with lots of twists and turns. Brodie has a cutting-edge humor and a deep-seated need to seek justice. And he doesn’t mind breaking some rules if need be. He and Maggie together they make a great team. The plot is somewhat of a slow burn but the ending leads to a satisfying conclusion. It’s a DeMille novel, stellar in every way.

The rating here is really 3.75 but I bumped it up because I thought the book was terrific. Number two in the series but a fine standalone. Unfortunately it is also bloated with long exposition, explanation and !! reports !! and there were a couple of plot holes. Yikes. I would have cut out pages of stuff if I were the editor. Army Criminal Investigation Agents Scott Brodie and Maggie Taylor are a great pair, experienced military cops who know their stuff. They are in Berlin investigating the murder of another Army Investigator who was killed in a place he shouldn't have been. The trail winds all over the place as new bad guys plot their plots and bureaucrats plot theirs, I liked it a lot.

Scott Brodie & Maggie Taylor are back. In antoher action packed adventure, they proceed to determine the cause of death of one of their collegues. No surprise that they are thwarted at every turn. Brodie however, does not give up and plows through any and all roadblocks put in his way. . The story. though long, moved along a a reasonable pace. A complex mystery comes together at the end. I look forward to another installment of Brodie & Taylor.

This is an interesting investigative story. Army CID investigators Maggie and Scott are on a new and exciting case that puts them in danger. They go to Berlin, Germany to investigate the murder of one of their colleagues and find themselves caught up involved in an international case. They are dogged in their pursuit of justice and truth. The story has wonderful characters and is a great page turner.

Blood Lines features the return of Army Criminal Investigation Agents Scott Brodie and Maggie Taylor. The agents are reunited after being separated for five months following a reassignment after their last dangerous mission. Their new mission is to take part in a murder investigation in Berlin. One of their own CID Special Agents was found dead in a park in Berlin with a bullet hole in his head. Nelson and Alex DeMille fill the novel with interesting characters and exciting plot twists. The story moves quickly and the humor is appreciated. Some parts of the plot are confusing but it all gets sorted out in the end.

There's a good conspiracy thriller in here but I DNF. The CIA does not kill Army CID officers (or other members of the USG or US citizens) and unfortunately, trashing CIA is a recurrent theme of this novel about the murder of Harry Vance, a Army CID counterterrorism officer who had also, wait for it, revealed CIA misdeed in the interrogation of prisoners in the war or terrorism. But that's not why he was killed- the answer is far more realistic (not really, but thriller world realistic). While CID partners Scott Brodie and Maggie Taylor are thoughtful, albeit reckless, snappy characters and some of the interagency sniping (FBI, State Department etc) is a hoot, at root this is a mystery about who killed Vance. That part is interesting and very twisty. However, every few pages there's another sideways swipe at CIA for collecting signals (and this praises Snowden), how CIA officers allegedly dress, and so on. This was ok for the first novel (and really bothered me then) but this time the DeMilles have gone overboard against a USG Agency that is dedicated to protecting and serving. Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC. A pass from me.

In giving Nelson and Alex DeMille’s page turner “ The Deserter” a 5 star review, I ended by saying “ the team of Brodie and Taylor bring a cynical humor and an element of sexual tension to their actions that keeps the story from being just a slog through the jungle.. You never know what Brodie is going to say or do, and Taylor gets an education she wasn’t expecting while trying to stick to their orders. Each is a fine capable soldier and the two carry the action equally. As the book ends Taylor swears she will never work with Brodie again. I’m sure other readers will agree, this is a partnership that should stay intact.”
Obviously the DeMille team felt the same way and have now produced a second chapter in the saga of Brodie and Taylor. Unfortunately this one doesn’t quite hit the mark as effectively. Blood Lines tries to create the same philosophical and sexual tension as in The Deserter, but the novelty of the mismatch is gone. Except for an occasional mild reproof by Taylor, Brodie’s unorthodox methods are rarely challenged. The fact that both felt betrayed by the chain of command in their first partnership certainly explains their more unified approach in this story, but it does reduce the dramatic conflict between them.
My main complaint, however, is the amount of text dedicated to pedestrian explanation of tthe state of politics in Berlin and the whole issue of immigrant vs terrorist which really slow down the story, while the number of red herrings presented to the reader tend to dilute the power of the mission . Once we get the team pointed in the right direction and giving it their all, the tempo picks up and it it becomes the kind of thriller we have come to expect from DeMille. If I could give this a letter grade, I would go for a B-: If I hadn’t liked The Dester so much, I’m not sure I would have kept going with this one..

I was issued this book by NetGalley for my unbiased review.

I must admit I have a bias! I am hooked on DeMille books.

Every time I read a book from this author I completely enjoy it! This one is no exception. The book just keeps moving and twists and turns. Things seem to sneak up on you. His characters always have an edge to them. Mostly very honorable people with a different way about them and their way of getting the job done. No exception here.
I am always looking for a good read and DeMille delivers--time and again!

Thank you to NetGalley for an advanced digital copy of this book.

Army CID agent Scott Brodie has rarely seen a rule he didn't want to break, and his last partner, fellow CID agent Maggie Taylor knows this only too well after their last joint assignment. So when they are reunited and assigned to investigate the murder of a senior CID agent in Berlin, all bets are off.

The agent who was murdered, Harry Vance, was Scott's instructor years ago, so he feels a special need to solve the murder in the right way, and not necessarily the politically correct way. The area where the murder occurred is a mostly Muslim community, one of many such communities since Germany opened its borders for refugees. But now, there is a strong anti-Muslim sentiment rising, and a growing group of Germans are pushing to expel them and keep Germany only for true Germans. Sound familiar?

The biggest problem is that no one knows why Vance was in Berlin. He had no case there and it is widely believed that he had a mistress in the city somewhere, but no one knows who she is or where she is. And she has not come forward to help with the investigation. So what Scott and Maggie are trying to do is find her and whatever light she can shed on Vance's murder. When they do find her, she leads them in a completely different direction than the official investigation is taking, getting the agents in trouble AGAIN for straying outside the lines of their assignment.

The truth is much worse than anyone imagines and Scott and Maggie once again risk their lives and reputations to finally solve the case.

I love these agents and hope we continue to hear a LOT more from them, although I pray their cases remain in the realm of the author's imaginations and not into current events.

Brodie & Taylor are back together, this time investigating the murder of a CID Special Agent and friend on foreign soil. They have no authority in Berlin and are expected to mostly monitor the investigation and provide supportive information. But these two are motivated to solve this case out of respect for Harry and because they both need a boost in order to salvage their careers. Knowing the victim and knowing CID protocol, they are able to find clues that are withheld from them. With many possible motives, they are able to identify the scariest and most dangerous option and root out the truth. Short on allies, they put themselves in danger to stay on the case to the end. This novel is fiction, but the idea is as disturbing as it is possible. This is the story of nightmares, and I hope we have true heroes such as Brodie and Taylor watching our 6. I like that our main characters carry a lot of baggage and make plenty of mistakes, but their ethic keeps them climbing that hill! This story is a high octane thriller with a lot of danger and excitement - couldn't put it down once I started it!!

I enjoy the thrills and suspense of a good espionage and crime novel and this one, written by the father/son team of Nelson and Alex DeMille, fits the bill.

Scott Brodie and Maggie Taylor who are Special Agents in the US Army Criminal Investigation Division (CID), who worked together as the primary characters in the first book in this series, "The Deserter", are reunited to solve the murder of an Army CIC Agent in Berlin. The book lays down a good amount of backstory to start, in case the reader hasn't read the previous book. This can definitely be read as a standalone. There are enough military and investigative acronyms to fill the alphabet: CID, CIC, FBI, OCS, CIA, KIA, BKO, TCIC, DIA, JSOC, DMZ, CO, PFC, DOD, to name a few, and CVS (the pharmacy) for good measure.

Scott and Maggie's investigation in Germany takes them down a dark path of Islamic terrorism, organized crime, neo-Nazism, and the search for an American military double agent from the vestiges of the Cold War. They follow a murderous trail of subterfuge. Can they find out who the double agent is before they become the next targets? Are they on a path of seeking justice or does it end up being an act of revenge?

The brave and daring duo of Scott and Maggie walk a tightrope between helping the investigation and alienating everyone they work with. They attempt to put all the puzzle pieces together without losing their jobs or their lives.

This story's narrative has good flow and contains the perfect amount of excitement and mystery, underlined by DeMille's signature sharp wit and barbed humor. DeMille's fans are sure to enjoy this sophomore book in the series and I hope that there will be many more adventures in the future with Scott Brodie and Maggie Taylor.

My sincere thanks to NetGalley and Scribner for allowing me to read a digital ARC copy of this novel in exchange for my honest review.

This was a very exciting and interesting book. Alex Demille is following in his father's footsteps in a very good way. Brodie and Taylor are Army CID officers who barely made it out of Venezuela alive in the first book in this series, The Deserter, which I skimmed to remind myself of the story.
5 months later, after being sent to different cities, are reunited and sent to Berlin to solve a homicide of a CID officer there. The interactions of State Department personnel, FBI, CIA and NSA are quite fascinating to me. The discussions of German history, especially the Stasi and East Berlin were quite scary, yet sad.
Demille, as always writes stories right from the headlines that make me quite apprehensive about the world.
The last few chapters were just such worries, neo-nazis, biological warfare, fanaticism, hatred of the other, all come together for a particularly exciting climax. Will be looking forward to the next one.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for my EARC, in exchange for an honest review. I highly recommend this book.

Huge fan of Nelson DeMille!! It started with John Corey and Plum Island and now I can't stop. Unfortunately, I did not love this book. I read "The Deserter" four years ago and don't remember much about Brodie and Taylor's time in Venezuela. But I did enjoy the book, this one not so much. Harry Vance dies in the first chapter and then nothing happens until the last few chapters of the book. Hundreds of pages were dedicated to nothing. Brodie and Taylor drank a lot, Brodie argued with everyone, Brodie refused to listen to anyone, Brodie and Taylor discover information that the German police missed and finally the conclusion. So much stuff was repeated over and over. The story just got bogged down with so much extra information, which made it slow moving. Scott Brodie is no John Corey. (Although he wants to be.) Brodie thinks he's funny and smarter than everyone else and doesn't work well with others. His interaction with Anna just seemed wrong.

Definitely recommend giving the the book a try , especially if you are a fan of DeMille's previous books. It wasn't my favorite but I will read the next book in the series. I'm guessing there will be a show down between Trent and Brodie. They need to prove which of them is the biggest jerk. I look forward to reading more books by the author.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from Scribner through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

The story starts out slow but the pace does pick up.
This is the second book in the Scott Brodie & Maggie Taylor series. I think I enjoyed this book more than the first one. I enjoy the banter between Scott and Maggie.
Both books are recommended by me.
Thank you to NetGalley, the publisher and authors for the opportunity to read this book for my honest review. All opinions expressed are my own.