Nelson (and Alex) DeMille does it again. Scott Brodie back from purgatory after a near death experience in Venezuela is reunited with his partner Maggie Taylor to investigate the murder of his former instructor Harry Vance in a deserted park in Berlin. Hitting blockades every step of the way from the American Consulate in Berlin, the FBI and his nemesis and his partner’s ex lover from the CIA and the Berlin Police, Brodie is dead set on finding the truth about what happened - even if everyone else doesn’t seem to care about the truth - only about closing the case. With DeMilles amazing twists and turns, this spellbinding book is yet another classic. I love Scott Brodie who doesn’t care whose toes he steps on in every twist and turn in this totally absorbing and impossible to put down book!

This was one of my favorite Demille novels to date. I have always loved his style and he always entertains. The content of this novel was scary real. I got chills during the interview with the co-founder of the genetics company at the climax of the story. (Sorry for the vague description. I don’t want to give anything away). There was just enough fighting authority, sexual tension, and humor to lighten the mood and a brilliantly developed story with plenty to uncover to keep the pages turning.
A modern renewal of a historical evil that will make the holocaust feel mild compared to what could happen in the future.

I received this book as an ARC from NetGalley.

Although this is the second Scott Brodie & Maggie Taylor book in the series, it can be read as a standalone. The investigators are both Warrant Officers in the Army's Criminal Investigation Division (CID).

While Scott and Maggie have successfully worked together in the past, there is a degree of tension in their relationship. Maggie takes a more conventional approach to solving crimes, but Scott is more free-wheeling and tends to buck authority. In this case, they have been brought together again in Berlin to discover who killed Harry Vance, a colleague whose body is discovered in a park in the Arab section of the city. What was Harry doing in Berlin? Who killed him?

Blood Lines by Nelson and Alex DeMille was an unputdownable thriller about two CID officers, or Army Criminal Investigation Agents, (Scott and Taylor) who have worked together in the past, but were separated after their last assignment. Their Commanding Officer bring them back together to search for and bring to justice a person who murdered one of their own, an agent in Berlin.

Scot is a bit of a maverick and Taylor is a firecracker, their pairing makes them perfect for solving complex cases, and this is a very complex case. The FBI is involved, as well as two different German police agencies, and of course the Army investigators.. No one is able to draw a straight line from a murderer to the victim. Scott and Taylor have some ideas, which get them removed from the case and sent home to the United States.

There is a lot of action, many fascinating characters, and twists and turns you will never see coming. In the end, it is all about serving justice for the victim. Scott and Taylor are up to the task. I enjoyed reading this book so much that I will be reading the first book about Scott and Taylor, although it is not necessary to read Blood Lines. You will want to read both, too!

Scott Brodie and Maggie Taylor are back in this new book from the father/son team of Nelson and Alex DeMille.

"Brodie and Taylor are reunited in Berlin to assist in the investigation of another CID officer. The local police believe this is an act of Islamic terrorism but Brodie and Taylor believes there's more to it. Their efforts lead them to the Stasi files and a long undiscovered traitor. They are pulled off the case when a bombing is linked to the murder of Vance. But Brodie is not going anywhere until he gets justice for Vance."

If you've read a DeMille book you will recognize the Brodie character - the one who ignores the rules but gets things done. Taylor is the conscience - the one who says "Let's think about it" This is a complex plot. I think it could have been shortened a little. DeMille gives us a mashup of Cold War/Terrorism/Spies/Police procedural. The ending is not what you expect and the final scene is wild.

There are actually two Brad characters. One is described as a "dud" The other gets a paragraph.

A good book from Alex and Nelson DeMille.

Scott Brodie and Maggie Taylor make an interesting duo who investigate the death of Brodie's former teacher in Germany. The past rises as NeoNazis become implicated and a threat of a greater attack develops. My feeling is that author Alex DeMille does a good job with the story, but some editing would have helped a lot. So many details that are unhelpful can be eliminated.
Thanks NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC.

Book Review
Blood Lines
Alex DeMille & Nelson DeMille
reviewed by Lou Jacobs


readersremains.com | Goodreads


Never underestimate the insane; they may be crazy, but they’re not stupid. This phrase aptly describes several of the main protagonists encountered by Army Criminal Investigation Agents (CID) Scott Brodie and Maggie Taylor. This cinematic tour-de-force thriller marks the welcome return of this unconventional duo. Scott Brodie is a blend of James Bond and “Rambo”, endowed with wit and sarcasm, and is teamed with the equally dangerous and feisty Maggie Taylor, who is “tough as nails” and has a striking blonde appearance.

They have been apart for the last five months, following the successful yet controversial completion of their perilous mission to Venezuela to apprehend the infamous Army deserter, Captain Kyle Mercer of the elite Delta Force. This riveting sequel can be enjoyed as a standalone, as the authors expertly incorporate any necessary backstory into the narrative. They are tasked with investigating the murder of one of their own: CID Special Agent Harry Vance, a skilled and decorated counterterrorism agent found dead in a city park nestled in the heart of Berlin’s Arab refugee community. Discovered lying on his back with a single bullet wound to his temple, his right hand clutching his Beretta in his coat pocket, and his left eye “scooped out”, his cell phone was missing, but his wallet remained.

The reason for Vance’s presence in Berlin remains unknown, with no ongoing investigative case noted in available records. These two aggressive and rule-bending detectives have been enlisted to “assist” the alphabet soup of agencies already deeply entrenched in the investigation. In addition to the German federal police and Berlin Police, the FBI, CIA, and State Department are supposedly collaborating with the U.S. military to circumvent the impending political and diplomatic storm. Brodie and Taylor find themselves navigating the complex socio-political landscape of modern Germany, uncovering clues and evidence overlooked by other agencies. At the heart of their investigation is the ongoing Arab refugee crisis, the dark legacy of the Cold War with ties to the Stasi secret police, and the looming threat of a resurgent neo-Nazi movement. Will the murder be conveniently attributed to Muslims, or is it a precursor to a more sinister future event?

The DeMille team proves themselves master storytellers, weaving a high-octane action thriller teeming with intrigue, tension, and suspense. As the narrative unfolds, the reader’s anxiety escalates, with Brodie and Taylor traversing the dangerous streets of Berlin, embroiled in unraveling a convoluted tale of deceit and cunning that culminates in an exhilarating denouement. As nuanced conspiracies come to light, the identity of an American traitor is revealed. I can easily picture Bradley Cooper and Scarlett Johansson portraying the lead CID investigators. My gratitude to NetGalley and Scribner Books for providing an uncorrected proof in exchange for an honest review. I am eagerly anticipating further adventures featuring Brodie and Taylor.

Blood Lines by Alex DeMille is the second book in the Scott Brodie and Maggie Taylor series.
This one follows a few months after the first one. Scott and Maggie are Army CID detectives who have been on different assignments.
When Vance, a long time CID legend is killed in a racially charged area in Germany, Maggie and Scott are called to go help investigate. They are blocked at every turn. Every lead is murdered or disappears.
They use their unique talents to find out what happens. I really enjoyed this book – especially the interaction with their FBI counterpart who was sent from NY.
The book did have a lot of details that could have been removed but they were interesting, and I did not mind them. I recommend this series.

When Army CID Agents Scott Brodie and Maggie Taylor are reunited to assist in the hunt for the murderer of their CID colleague in Berlin, Brodie knows before the plane touches down that working as part of the joint task force is never going to go smoothly. There are too many players with too many agendas and vested interests and the narrow scope given to Brodie and Taylor’s role is just not going to suit their need to get justice for their fallen comrade. So, Brodie does as Brodie is known for doing and goes off script taking Maggie Taylor (and the eager reader!) along with him - with, for the most part, her full support.

The publisher’s book blurb clearly explains the storyline, so I am going to refrain from including the plot in my review. What I do want to say is that, although it seems cliche to write a review saying a thriller is an action-packed page-turner, in this case that is not hyperbole. This book is exactly what a reader of thrillers wants: it is precisely plotted and filled with fascinating characters, intrigue and full-on action. And I have to say that the city of Berlin was, for me, one of the main characters, as important to moving the plot along as were the investigators and the challenges they faced.

I’ve been a reader of Nelson DeMille’s exciting books for decades and have thoroughly enjoyed everything he’s written. I can think of a number of favourite authors who have, in recent years, taken on co-authors with results being, in most cases, not as enjoyable as the books written by the authors I’ve loved. This is definitely NOT one of those cases. This is the first I have read with his son, Alex, as co-author. Somehow, I missed The Deserter but will be rectifying that oversight shortly. I am very much looking forward to more books from Alex and Nelson, whether they are written jointly or individually.

Thank you to NetGalley and Scribner for the ARC. My opinions are my own.

I really like the way Nelson DeMille’s writes, he tends to produce lengthy tales featuring spikey characters who always have a good deal to say for themselves. There’s always humour too, plenty of it. But dialogue – great dialogue – is unfailingly my favourite element. Here, U.S. based Army CID Agents Scott Brodie and Maggie Taylor, a typically forthright pair, are brought together to investigate (well, in a black ops kind of way) the murder of a colleague in Berlin. I’d missed the earlier novel featuring this pair, but I went in hoping that this story would be fine as a stand-alone read. It was. I was also slightly nervous about how teaming up with his son Alex to pen this tale would impact the style and feel of the story. Once again, I shouldn’t have worried, the familiar feel and flow is in clear evidence here.

It’s obvious from the start that there’s a simmering sexual tension between Scott and Maggie. By all accounts they’d come close to sharing a bed in their previous adventure; this would continue to be a background theme during their time in Berlin. Once in situ, it quickly becomes clear that Maggie is to be the more forward thinking of the pair, whilst Scott will continually operate based on the next thought that comes into his head. It’s also evident that the vast array of government agents, police, army officers and politicians assembled to oversee the formal investigative process neither appreciate the pair’s involvement or feel inclined to pass much useful information their way.

In consequence, the investigation proceeds largely based on groundwork (much of it unauthorised) carried out by Brodie and Taylor. Danger is an ever present companion, with racial tensions, a neo-Nazi group and even the spectre of the old East German Stasi secret police presenting a potential threat. But Brodie, barely controlled by Taylor, is intent on bullying his way to the truth. It’s all great fun as the pair scuttle around the city, constantly in search of clues and answers.

This isn’t my favourite DeMille novel – that goes to either of his brace of hilarious John Sutter books: Gold Coast and The Gate House. But the (perhaps unlikely) events in this book really are great fun. And in Brodie and Taylor the authors have definitely come up with a pair I’d be very happy to meet up with again.

The second book in the Scott Brodie and Maggie Taylor book is every bit as good as the first one. Great characters, a fast moving plot, and multiple twists kept me reading late into the night. I love the banter between the two main characters as they work to solve the murder of a colleague. This can be read as a stand alone but I highly recommend reading "The Deserter" then this one. Both books are excellent. Highly recommended

Thanks to NetGalley and Scribner for an advanced reading copy.

Five months ago (book time, not real time), Army CID detectives Scott Brodie and Maggie Taylor were sent separate ways following their mishaps in the search for an Army deserter in Venezuela. But they’ve been recalled. Harry Vance, a respected fellow CID officer stationed in Germany was found dead late late one night, killed by a sniper’s bullet in a dingy park in Berlin. And one of Vance’s eyes had been carved out of his head. Trophy? Warning? Message?

The park was adjacent to a middle east neighborhood. Terrorism is one theory. Collateral damage from a local gang war is another theory. Vance was amid a divorce and in Berlin unbeknownst to his senior CID agents or even his partner. Maybe his death was connected to that. Another theory. Vance could’ve been working another case on his own time. Still another theory.

It’s a jurisdictional nightmare. The Army, CIA, State Department, Berlin police and German federal police are expected to play nice with each other to find the killer. The Germans withhold information from the other investigators. The CIA is listening in on cell phone calls. The State Dept is more interested in following protocol and not offend their German hosts. And Scott and Maggie have been told, in no uncertain terms, that they must remember they have to jurisdiction, no weapons, no mandates, no permission to interview anyone, no specific task. Just keep their eyes and ears open and report back to their Army bosses.

None of that sits well with the two Army detectives who barely survived Venezuela and all the non-disclosures they had to sign that followed that debacle. They both want to find justice for Vance, capture the perps, and get back to the big cases they used to work.

The Germans have concluded that the hit was by a small cell of terrorists. Too simplistic considering this cell died in an explosion supposedly from an IED they were constructing. Amongst the debris are clues that (conveniently) point to these terrorists bring responsible.

For Brodie and Taylor, it’s all too neat. Despite being told to pack up and return to the US, they push on, coming across odd clues dating back to the old East Germany, its war plans vs. NATO, the Stasi, weapons manufacturing that boggles the imagination, and Vance’s Berlin girlfriend.

Hard to go wrong with DeMille (or should I say the DeMilles). The dad (Nelson) has a fistful of literary awards and honorary degrees to his credit (should have more of his work made into movies beyond The General’s Daughter). And if you’ve not read any of his books featuring NYPD detective John Corey, then just shame on you; those are the ones I look for. The son works behind the scenes in Hollywood. Nelson penned what I think is one of the very best spy novels I’ve ever read (The Charm School. Haven’t read it? Find it. Read it.). Guessing this won’t be the last we see of Brodie and Taylor. Compelling characters with their own flaws and demons that play/fight well with each other. Neither is all that willing to follow the chain of command when justice is the goal.

NetFlix? Prime? Hulu? Are you paying attention?

Thank you NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review. WOW. Nelson DeMille has written a lot of books and he still manages to pull out new stuff. This time a Federal Agent is killed in Berlin. Was he on his way to meet a lady friend, selling secrets, overthrowing the German government? Scott Brodie and Maggie Taylor are on the case and their banter is just as good as it was in The Deserter. It’s also obvious that DeMille does his homework and wants us to know what is going on in the world. He just happens to take us on a fun ride while he is doing it. Enjoy!

Blood Lines by Alex and Nelson DeMille
Wow, a “who done it” crime mystery with historical fiction and current day politics thrown in. Some very upsetting and scary topics around nazi Germany, east vs west Germany and current day neo-nazis vs refugees and immigrants. All very serious topics but Nelson and Alex DeMille make it very readable.
This is their second book with the main characters of US army warrant officers, Scott Brodie and Maggie Taylor. You do not have to read the first book to understand this one. Scott and Maggie are on the hunt for a murderer who killed one of their own agents. Ultimately they unravel an even bigger mystery that leads to a very dangerous situation.
Nelson DeMille is known for his quick witted banter and this book doesn’t disappoint. I found it to be a quick read that kept my interest. I am usually reading romcoms so this is a very different genre for me but I really liked it and enjoyed the change.
Four solid stars

Blood lines, the latest collaboration between Nelson DeMIlle and his writer/director son, was an engrossing detective novel set in modern day Berlin, but with mysteries wrapped in the pre-unification period of East Germany's Stasi smothering control of East Berliners' lives. I found the look back at the Cold War era an interesting reminder of the evils of totalitarianism.
The lead characters, two aggressive rule-bending, but successful army detectives who had their careers derailed by their discovery of certain CIA secrets during their investigation of a crime abroad, are paired together again, with a chance to redeem themselves, They've been assigned to assist the German police solve the mystery of the murder of one of the pair's colleagues.
Most of the tension in the book surrounds the success of their unorthodox methods uncovering clues the German police have overlooked and the backlash it creates from the U.S embassy and FBI officials worried about the impact on US-German relations. I found the authors to have expertly woven together a story about misdirection created by the culprits, the broader plot underlying the murder and how it was uncovered. I enjoyed the book a good deal and highly recommend it for anyone who likes a good mystery.

The body of a man is found in a Berlin Park that turns out to be a murdered member of the American Army's CID (Criminal Investigation Division). He is a counterterrorism specialist, and the neighbor-hood in which he is found is a restless Arab enclave that is watched by the German police for possible terrorist activity. The thing is that the agent is not assigned to any cases in the area and no one seems to no why he would be in a Berlin Park at 3am.

Brodie and Taylor who have both been in the doghouse after the fiasco of their previous assignment in Venezuela have been picked for this case by people who want them to fail. They have no power to do anything without the approval of the German Police, they can't even interview suspects on their own. Of course this doesn't stop them from doing just that and digging into what the Agent might have been doing "off the reservation".

By following behind the German investigators and taking a different attitude towards those the speak with they are able to slowly piece together a secondary plot that has nothing to do with the CID in Berlin. They ruffle every feather they can get, near not to mention upsetting everyone in the "hen house". Their investigation brings them into conspiracies by Arab terrorists and German Right-Wingers, with everyone having competing agendas.

Once our two protagonists begin to pull pieces of the puzzle together, there is the competition with the German investigators and the CID powers that want the glory for themselves. The DeMilles do a great job of keeping the action moving without letting the burgeoning relationship between Brodie and Taylor get in the way. Good story, good writing.

Was disappointed with Blood Lines and the plot of counterterrorism. I am a huge fan of Mr. DeMille and his humor cannot be surpassed. It just seemed like your typical terrorist novel with none of his marvelous personality.

I'm sure others will be delighted with his book.

This is my favorite series by Nelson DeMille! I love the interaction between Scott and Taylor. This has all a thriller needs, great characters, interesting area, Berlin, and never ending action, suspense, and thrills. Go Nelson and son, on this one! i highly recommend this book.

Nelson DeMille has a formula. He also has a fanbase that enjoys this formula of quick-witted alpha males that treat life as an eighties action movie full of beer, blondes, and big booms. Yet over the past decade, the DeMille formula has slowly become tiresome with its repetitive cycle. Moments of joy, such as the release of a new John Corey novel, slipped into the ennui of been-there and done-that. Fortunately, the DeMille method gets a needed infusion with Blood Lines. Co-written with his son, Alex DeMille, this is the second book featuring CID agents Scott Brodie and Maggie Taylor. Yes, Brodie still thinks on his feet - and usually after a few beers - and Taylor is often exasperated at his exploits and attitude, but this one feels like a DeMille tale of old. Blood Lines is fresh, exciting, and contains a deep mystery that slowly, cleverly unfolds.


Blood Lines opens with murder, specifically that of a CID agent in Berlin. The DeMille father and son team immediately throws the reader into a new environment with a clean set up and plenty of questions. And these questions do not have the most direct of answers - as a reunited Brodie and Taylor quickly discover.


The DeMilles showcase a unique premise in a prime European location not yet used by father and son. The murder mystery unfolds into one of international intrigue as Brodie and Taylor discover that the deceased, Harry Vance, was involved with something well beyond the typical counterterrorism milieu. Their quest soon involves Arab refugees, Cold War era Stasi spies, and everyone’s go-to villain, neo-Nazis.


Outside of the usual ticking clock thriller, the style of Blood Lines is handled differently, too. Brodie and Taylor are at the top of their game and they get to showcase their know-how. Additionally, the DeMilles do away with the usual procedural where every minute is heavily counted and logged, like in The Panther and Cathedral. Although time is against them, the mystery is what counts as the DeMilles focus instead on the unraveling rather than forensics.


Recently, and most noticeably in the John Corey novel The Maze, DeMille’s narrative thought-process became circuitous, which was a daunting task given Corey’s one-track mind. In Blood Lines the exposition explodes as theory works its way into fact with each question presenting a new challenge. Brodie’s internal monologue serves as a path for the reader to play along as a detective - albeit with the occasional detour.

Mostly concerning Maggie.

And her bikini.

After all, as clever and entertaining as Blood Lines is, this is still a DeMille novel. This also happens to be one of DeMille’s best. Prost.


And Prost again to the fine folks at Scribner and NetGalley for the advance read. I love getting my hands on a new DeMille and I always appreciate your consideration.

Blood Lines by Nelson and Alex DeMille

Brodie and Taylor, Army CID chief warrant officers are reunited after a “hiatus” from their case in Venezuela where they uncovered some uncomfortable secrets.
Sent to Berlin to work with multiple agencies to help solve the murder they work in their unconventional and bureaucracy irritating manner. As bodies start to pile up so does the intensity.
Nelson DeMille has shown himself to be a top rated author. This work further cements his stature.
Get this book.
Thank to the author, publisher and NetGalley for the advance copy.