Another rousing adventure. Story is complex with lots of twists and turns. Characters are well written and good interaction. I highly recommend this book.

I received an early copy of this book from Netgalley and the publisher.

I am a fan of DeMille's books. You don't really know how someone's style will change when/if they start writing with a co-author but I'm pleased to say I've enjoyed both books in the new series, written with Alex DeMille. The case in this one is very interesting, very convoluted, mixing action with long set up and very visual descriptions of Berlin. I really enjoyed it.

In Nelson and Alex DeMille's second book in the Scott Brodie series, Blood Lines (Scribner 2023), Scot and Maggie, his partner from the prior assignment (who swore she'd never again work with him), again team up to solve the murder of a fellow CID officer in Germany. The investigation requires interagency cooperation across geopolitical and international lines. Scott's aggressive approach to crime solving is again out of sync with everyone else which causes him problems, even though he gets results. The biggest question became: Will he solve the murder of his friend before he is pulled off the case? Throughout the process, the reader is treated to lots of Scott's irreverent humor and Maggie's tough investigation skills. You can't go wrong with this book if you love international intrigue, lots of twists and turns, and clues that never lead where you think they should. The plot moves like an out of control rocket ship. Don’t take a nap because you’ll miss too much.

Why a 4 out of 5? If you read Book 1, you already know that Scott is not easy to like and his almost insulting and irritating approach to people makes it clear why other agencies don't want to work with him despite the effectiveness of his methods. And, it often made for cringe-worthy reading as he seemed to ignore his personal filter (or maybe didn't have one). Another reason is there were so many names and places, I had a hard time keeping track.

Still, it's a great read, especially for those who love geopolitical spiderwebs that keep you guessing at every turn.

Nelson DeMille always writes a great page turner and the quip language is always entertaining. Read this on flight from NY to Italy and it kept me going the entire time. Thanks for the advance read

I wasn't sure what to expect from a book coauthored by Nelson DeMille and his son, but Blood Lines was an entertaining, twisty mystery. I enjoyed the interaction between the two main characters, which was a good thing since there wasn't much interaction with any of the other characters that were introduced and who just seemed to pop up in phones calls or short briefings. The action seemed to be a bit over the top for the two of them at the end, but not enough to be annoying. I will definitely recommend this title to patrons looking for action and adventure or military thrillers. I was happy to see that this was the second in a series so I look forward to already reading another and to future adventures of Brodie and Taylor. Thank you to Scribner and NetGalley for the early access to this title in exchange for my honest opinion.

Thanks to NetGalley and Scribner for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an honest review.

I really liked this book. I’ve liked every Nelson DeMille book I’ve read over time and I think I’ve read most of them. Rarely do I read books out of order when it’s a series (this is book #2) but I will definitely go back and read the prior story with the same characters Scott Brodie and Maggie Taylor now. There’s a lot of the John Corey personality in Brodie which makes him very entertaining. Maggie is a good foil for his personality.

This is a very complex plot and intelligently written as well as fully researched against actual historic events that affected sentiment regarding refugees, German history and the Stasi influence.

In this story, Brodie and Taylor, both Army Criminal Investigator Special Agents, are brought in to solve the murder of colleague and Special Agent Harry Vance who was on assignment in Berlin and found shot dead in a local park. As Vance was a counterterrorism expert, authorities suspect the local Muslim/Arab community in his death but all is not as it seems and it quickly becomes apparent to Nrodie and Taylor that this is being rammed down their throats to the point that the alleged motive appears suspiciously like a scapegoat or trap.

The plot builds methodically and dramatically creating lots of suspense for the reader. Additional deaths add weight to an alternate motive - but Brodie and Taylor need to figure out what it is. Sinister bad guys and references to Nazi Germany, their quest for a master race and the importance of genetics figure prominently.

Highly recommend for DeMille fans and spy thriller fans. (Will add links later)

The new DeMIlle offering is vintage Demille. A good plot line. Brings back characters from early work and renews their reparte. It’s hard not to see a bit of John Corey in Scott Brodie though I find Brodie a bit more acceptable as recent Corey has worn thin. A good read.

Thanks to NetGalley and Scribner for the ARC edition.

Damn, this is a good book ... no, a great book!!

Believable storyline ... interesting characters ... blends historical issues with current events ... great dialogue with some snarky tongue-in-cheek comments from the main character (Scott Brodie) ...

I could say more but would have to divulge spoilers, so I suggest you read the book instead!!

I received an ARC of this novel through NetGalley. This is due for publication in October, 2023.

This was co-authored by Nelson DeMille, my very favorite author, and his son, Alex.

This is the second novel featuring Army Criminal Division special agents Scott Brodie and Maggie Taylor. They are on a mission to find the person who murdered a fellow agent found shot in Berlin, Germany. Their investigation leads the deeply into a more elaborate sinister plot, where they risk their lives to thwart.

This is a long (512 pages) one and the plot is complicated and involves numerous characters. The writing and research supporting the writing is outstanding, lending an air of authenticity to all the activity. The trademark DeMille humor is present, but less prevalent than in my favorite works. The story evolves into quite a thriller.

DeMille is back! Following a strange and disappointing last effort with John Corey, this book is a welcome relief in a complex, engaging, thoroughly researched, and exciting tale.
I gave it the following SCORE:
Setting: Present day Germany, including an interesting examination of the current political and civil situation
Characters: Returning protagonists from “The Deserter” – Military CID special agents Scott Brodie and Maggie Taylor, who play off each other with the expected difference of opinions and philosophies, including Brodie’s perpetual optimism and sarcasm. A wide supporting cast of FBI, CIA, State Department and various German police and military officials make this a story where attention to detail is required. Also, a mandatory appearance by Brodie’s old nemesis adds to the fun, excitement, and plot convolutions.
Overview: Brodie and Maggie are brought back together, despite opposition, to help solve the murder of a fellow agent in Berlin. Of course, Brodie goes well beyond his assigned task, breaks all the imposed regulations, and discovers there is a much more sinister, clandestine operation behind the supposed isolated murder. Where the story takes him against all odds and how it eventually ties in to the title of the book is a terrific tale.
Recommendation: I rate this book 5 stars and thoroughly recommend it.
Extras: Reading the first book in the series would be helpful for some of the backstory and the characters’ former relationship but not at all necessary since they are well covered in this book. There is no doubt at the conclusion of the story that Scott and Maggie will be welcomed in further tales. Thank you, Nelson and Alex.
In summary, thriller fans will definitely enjoy this great story.
Thanx to NetGalley and Scribner for the opportunity to provide this unbiased review.

A journey continues in engaging fiction -- wonderful and well worth the page-turning pulse-pounding. The world of Nelson DeMille still works well, and Blood Lines is ideal for thriller fans who want to be transported.

This was such a home run for DeMille, who always engages with fierce action, terrific characters and a dose of humor In a dark world. Mixing modern day, with the history of the Stasi police and biological weapons, it really was a standout this time, and I’m ready for the next one!

Blood Lines is another fabulous DeMille book! Great story with an evocative setting in Germany, deep character development and extreme drama. The beginning pace is somewhat slow and the history is somewhat boggy but so worth it to power through for the escalating action. Brodie and Maggie make a fun, intense team sifting through the information - some of which is decades old - to solve the complex mystery and to set us up for future exciting novels.

Thanks to NetGalley and Scribner for the opportunity to read this wonderful ARC.

DeMille follows his now witty sarcastic plotting with his second venture with narrator Scott Brodie Army CID investigator. This time DeMille takes Brodie and partner Maggie Taylor to Berlin to find out who killed a colleague.

Not shocking is the familiar plotting and dialogue but somehow DeMille keeps you turning the pages novel after novel. Great stuff.

Another outstanding book coauthored by the fantastic Nelson DeMille and his son Kyle,
Scott Brodie is called back into action with his co worker Maggie Taylor who last appeared together in Venezuela.
They are sent to Germany to try to uncover why Vance is suddenly murdered and keep digging to unravel the mystery, As the trade mark for their books lots of twists, turns and lose ends eventually solve what took place,
A little drawn out at parts but all in all another winner from this team. Can't wait for the next DeMille book to be written.

So nice to have CID investigators Scott and Maggie back after their forced hiatus following their adventures in Venezuela. This time they’re sent to Berlin to investigate the death of a colleague. In their search for truth, they spend a lot of time fighting each other, bad guys, and “good” guys. Together they continue to be a great team, and I look forward to their next case.

I have always loved books by Nelson Demille , so I was pleased to get an advanced copy. Thank you to NetGalley!

The story was so intriguing and the character interaction was spot on. I look forward to future stories with this pair!
While parts were a bit slow - lots of history and I felt a bit glazed over. But the action kept me turning the pages and wanting more.

This novel started a bit slowly, but then continued at a frantic pace as Maggie and Scott try to solve a homicide, instead, uncovering multiple other horrific crimes. The plot was tightly woven and kept me engaged....by the end I was turning pages just as quickly as possible to see what happened next.

If you enjoy the genre, you will love this book. Because it started a bit slowly, I don't think it was quite as good as some of the authors' prior work, but is still a great read. I'm giving it 4.5 stars.

series about Army CID Agents Scott Brodie and Maggie Taylor, set five years after the first novel, The Deserter, we find that Brodie at least has spent the last few years doing routine cases in the hinterland with worthless partners. There has been no contact with Maggie at all and he has been warned in the strongest terms not to discuss what took place in Venezuela. The setting for the latest novel in this series, which is a detective series that has elements of espionage and black ops military action, we travel to unified Berlin. Though the city was unified over twenty years earlier and the only remnants of the wall are found in museums, presidential libraries, or a thin line painted in the roadway, it is difficult to escape the ghosts of the past. As Scott and Maggie investigate the death of one of their own in a park at night without backup, there is little that makes sense. The death may be related to the Islamic terror cells that have immigrated to Germany in the wake of a refugee crisis from the Syrian Civil War or it might be related to other secrets. Scott and Maggie play the role of tireless investigators, but they are out of their element and without much authority or jurisdiction to accomplish much other than to piss off their host country or their superiors in Washington, D.C. This is a well-written and exciting novel that is hard to put down once you open it up.