The Maze by Nelson DeMille is book 8 in DeMille’s John Corey series and is likely to be the last. The author died in September of 2024. I picked up The Maze on a whim in September unaware of that. Several of DeMille’s books already grace my bookshelves and my Kindle, and I was excited to read one of his latest. I miss knowing he’s in the world.
DeMille’s books are labeled Mystery Action, Suspense, Action Thriller, Political Thriller—and more, and they are all that. If you are intrigued, I highly recommend checking out THIS SIGHT to find a list of all books by DeMille and I also highly recommend that you settle into a comfy chair and read them.
DeMille’s son Alex has co-written several novels with his dad, including The Tin Men, which will be released in 2025.
I am particularly fond of DeMille’s John Corey series. The Maze finds Corey recuperating from wounds received in the line of duty with the NYPD. He’s come full circle, back to Plum Island, where the series began. He may be older and wiser, but he’s still politically incorrect and arrogant, and he still attracts trouble like Cheez Whiz attracts hillbillies. (I am a hillbilly and can say this for a fact.)
All the way through this book, Corey’s white-male arrogance pissed me off more than once. I kept reading, in part, to see if he gets a good lesson in humility, but I can’t tell you whether that happens or not. I kept reading mostly because the book is so damn good.
The mystery involves small-town politics, a serial killer, corruption, suspense, shootings, fires, murders, suspicion, memorable characters, dark humor, and a little romance. What could be better? The fact that the story is inspired by a real-life case is just gravy. Look up the Gilgo Beach murders if you don’t plan to ever sleep again.
DeMille’s books are always intelligent—he’s the president of Mensa, for god’s sake–, well-written, and deeper than you might first imagine. As I taught my potential minions in public school, you can read a book on many levels. The plot is only one way to enjoy the story. Look deeper to find those universal themes that show you the world in a different way. That is the real magic of reading.
“The reading of all good books is like a conversation with the finest minds of past centuries.”
Rene Descartes
Well, Nelson DeMille was one of the finest minds. This winter, I’ll be having a conversation with him as I reread the John Corey books from start to, sadly, finish.
