And he’s done it again. Nelson DeMille, best-selling author of 22 novels, has brought back John Corey for a long-awaited 8th appearance. A former NYPD detective, and a real dick at times, Corey is lodged at his uncle’s Long Island cabin. Following forced retirement from his position as a Federal Agent and still dealing with complications of ex-wives and ex-girlfriends, he receives a phone call and is offered a deal with benefits. As usual, he follows the advice of little John and finds himself in the midst of a mysterious web of murder, inspired and based on the unsolved Gilgo Beach murders. John Corey, and probably the author himself, has a sizeable ego and a sexist/macho personality. But he’s a member of Mensa—DeMille, not Corey, so the prose is sharp, sarcastic, and side-splittingly witty. It is precisely this, the writing, that draws me again and again to DeMille’s work. John Corey remains true to his character and is vulgar (but charming when needed) and able to schmooze his way into a friendship with the most corrupt of men and into the hearts (and lingerie) of unsuspecting females. Will there be a 9th book in this series? Knowing John Corey the way I do, I am pretty sure he’ll come again. It’s all good.
As a long time DeMille fan, I was ecstatic to receive an ARC of his new book "The Maze". Many thanks to NetGalley and Simon and Schuster for providing an advanced copy.

I’ve enjoyed the John Corey series since his first appearance in Plum Island. I think possibly he’s grown up a bit, but he’s still the very sarcastic guy, and still attracts the women! This story has him joining up with Max and Beth from the first book, and what a twisted story it is! Hard to put down and highly recommended!

I want to thank Net Galley and Simon & Schuster for the digital ARC of Nelson DeMille's, The Maze.

I am a huge fan of DeMille and the return of former NYPD Homicide Detective John Corey was greatly anticipated.

I started reading the Arc with gusto. I was so stoked by Corey's return to print that I was more that 25 percent into the story when I realized that absolutely nothing had happened in the plot.

As I continued to read, because the John Corey character is a favorite of mine and I'd hoped eventually something exciting and interesting would happen, I realized at the 50 percent mark how wrong I actually was.

First of all, at 50 percent in there was still no movement, good and or bad, in the plotline. The story was going nowhere. And to make matters worse John Corey suffered a severe character assassination.

Where the John Corey of old was a wise cracking smart-ass, this John Corey was over the top obnoxious, rude and self obsessed.

I might also add that the plot left something to be desired.  I was extremely disappointed in The Maze, but out of respect for Mr. DeMille who still remains one of my favorite author's I have given this work three stars.

Contains some minor spoilers.

DeMille delivers another great John Corey story. While much of the book may seem a bit redundant to readers who know the background, it will be very accessible to new readers. The slow build of the suspense gives way to a cascade at the end which can feel a little rushed. The way the story ended was superb, since it left things open ended with Corey and his personal and professional life. The Maze is a solid addition to John Corey’s story that will leave readers wanting more.

Nelson Demille is a great writer who knows how to write action scenes. I love Jon Corey's first person view as well. Corey is funny, witty and knows how to take care of himself. For this reasons, this novel was a success. Unfortunately, we also get Corey's other side which is not treating women with a lot of respect.
Once the action gets going, its quick and fierce, but this book took a long time to set up.
All in, this is a good quick read but John Corey definitely needs some counseling.
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the ARC

John Corey is back. This wise cracking, irreverent , and determined, ex-NYPD detective, ex-ATTF, and ex-Diplomatic Surveillance Group employee, has joined a shady security agency. His ex-girlfriend, Detective Beth Penrose, has persuaded him to live with her in Mattituck, and work at the mysterious Security Solutions, which hires ex-cops and ex-military. As John investigates this company, he realizes he is in danger not only from the Russian Foreign Intelligence Service, but also some local politicians and cops. This is a fun read, and a welcome return for one of my favorite fictional characters.

As lead character John Corey muses about a female police detective: “Somewhere under her form-fitting jacket was a forty-caliber Glock, with room left over for her big guns. Sorry”. I’m sorry, too. Who is the target reading audience?

“Plum Island,” the first John Corey story, was written 25 years ago at a time when Sebastian Junger’s “The Perfect Storm” and Jon Krakauer’s “Into Thin Air” (non-fiction accounts of brave men doing extraordinarily daring and foolish things) were also on the best-seller lists. John Grisham and Patricia Cornwell were also starting out with their series and recurring characters, but since then, their characters have evolved with 21st century sensibilities. DeMille’s John Corey, however, has only aged 7 years and the character is still absolutely irresistible to all women, who are all good-looking, who he wants to bed, and all want to get in bed with him (and his, ugh, self-described “pocket rocket”). Like a male character stuck in the 1950s, but with a cell phone. We are witness to a recounting of all Corey’s female partners since the Plum Island adventure in the very first chapter. However, he is a tad paranoid and currently sees Russian assassins hiding everywhere. So, try to ignore unlikeable John Corey and get involved in the advertised plot, which is inspired by the real life (and unsolved) Gilgo Beach murders.

Corey is encouraged by current girlfriend and a cop friend to take a lucrative PI job (although it takes him a full third of the book to decide on the job). But all is not what it seems and he gets suspicious about the firm he’s working for while finding a connection to what they call the Fire Island murders in the book.

In the end, Corey was just a bit too toxic male for my taste, but DeMille knows how to write an action scene. The final chapter is worth the wait (and the maze of the title gets a starring role). 3 stars.

Thank you to Scribner and NetGalley for an advanced reader copy in exchange for an honest review!

Literary Pet Peeve Checklist:
Green Eyes (only 2% of the real world, yet it seems like 90% of all fictional females): YES Beth has blue-green eyes.
Horticultural Faux Pas (plants out of season or growing zones, like daffodils in autumn or bougainvillea in Alaska): NO Although the book is named after a hedge, there were references to potato farms (truly a local thing) and strawberry fields that are naturally grown on Long Island.

The Maze by Nelson DeMille
Starred review.

Summary: John Corey is back on Long Island resting away at his rich uncles house when former lover Beth Penrose shows up with a offer for a PI job nearby. Corey is reluctant but because he gets an offer to reacquaint with Beth he follows through with and interview. Obviously Corey spots the trap pretty quickly.

Comments: DeMille starts the book out a tad slow, but he quickly turns on the jets and John Corey is back, funny, and rage filled as ever. Great stuff from a master writer.

Full Disclosure: I received an Advanced Reader's Copy from Scribner of The Maze, the eighth book in the John Corey series, by Nelson DeMille. I planned to read it either way. You could read this book as a standalone but there is much mention of things that happen in previous books. This felt like a bit of a departure from the previous books simply because it is not about John taking on some Big Bad. But the bad guys in this are still bad. It isn't that much of a departure. It also ties up some loose ends from previous books in case you are wondering about his tangled web of relationships.

These books are not for everyone. If you like your protagonists to be politically correct, that's not John Corey. John Corey is a former NYPD officer and talks like one. That might be triggering for some people. John Corey reminds me a lot of my father. He is rough around the edges, vengeful, full of hubris, and prone to saying offensive things wittingly and unwittingly; but at the same time, he's got a strong sense of duty and justice and is ultimately on the side of good. He tells terrible jokes that you sometimes will laugh at anyway. He loves women even his his approach is antiquated. He's complicated and human, which I think makes him a compelling character even if I don't always like him.

I was delighted to have the opportunity to read an advance copy of DeMille's latest and long-awaited book, thanks to the publisher and Netgalley. He has been one of my favorite authors from the beginning of his career. As always, I loved the sarcasm of John Corey's imaginary conversations. It took a long time for the action of the book to get going, and I think it could have been edited better to improve the pace. I agree with some of the other reviewers that a lot of the humor seemed juvenile and repetitive. It wasn't clear to me what year this was supposed to be or how old John Corey was in this book, but I was surprised at some of the old technology and that Corey would have been considered so desirable by the women in the book and how subservient they were. I would have liked to know the consequences of the events of the book, but perhaps that will be in a sequel. Although this isn't his best book, DeMille's fans will still want to read The Maze.

I have to start by admitting that, yes this is book 8 in the series and, yes, this is *my* first time reading the series. And I’m happy to say that it works for a complete series n00b.

I will admit that John Corey is a lot. He seems to think with his penis a lot of the time and his relationships with women leave much to be desired. And, as a note to male authors everywhere, there is not a man on earth who can get every woman to drop to her knees with a smile and a quip. Does. Not. Happen.

Aside from his ‘every woman wants to sleep with him’ personality, John is actually pretty funny and likeable. He’s rakish, daring, and fun. He’s just kind of a tool.

Our mystery was an interesting one. I was definitely curious to see who was involved in what. I wasn’t surprised by the answers, but I enjoyed the read regardless.

Am I done with John Corey? Nope. In fact, I want to go back and read the prior books.

A fun read – just prep yourself for the fact that all the characters are horny and kind of stupid.

*ARC via Net Galley

Snarky, irreverent, and brilliant, John Corey is back--in a thriller which takes some time before it catches fire. No one can quite craft a suspense novel as twisty as Nelson DeMille, but in this "sequel" to the wonderful PUMM ISLAND, Corey perhaps talks a bit too much and takes too long to plunge into what could have been a fascinating mystery.

Many thanks to Scribner and to Netgalley for the opportunity of an early read.

I have been. deMille fan since the start and always wait with baited breath for his next. I was honored to be given the chance to read The Maze early. It’s a great read. In spite of my busy schedule I am constantly being drawn back to it.

I’m a bit over halfway through and I am really enjoying it. Corey is as acerbic as ever. I guess that comes with that territory. A good yarn spun masterfully. Well worth reading.

I received an ARC from the publisher and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review, but honestly - and regrettably - my review is not positive. I have been a fan of Nelson DeMille for decades. I have enjoyed the John Corey character since his inception in Plum Island, twenty-five years ago.
Much has changed with his character in those twenty five years and therein lies the problem.

John Corey has always been brash and his self deprecating humor has been a highlight for readers. However, his persona has devolved into extreme crudeness, extreme vulgarity, and frequent profanity. Shockingly so and not humorous at all. I recall I would LOL ( literally) while reading previous books by this author. Not so in this installment. His incessant crass comments concerning his “little Jo” or “ browser in his trousers” as well as female privates is worn and tiring at best… or downright vile and despicable. 🤮

The pacing is slow and reading is laborious due to A LOT of redundancy. Corey’s past exploits in Plum Island were repeated and reiterated over and over and over. ( I lost count of the number of times Plum Island was referenced.) I loved Plum Island but filling the pages by rehashing a storyline from twenty five years ago -incessantly- is unnecessary and does nothing to project THIS storyline forward. 🥱 YAWN 🥱

The Maze storyline is about Corey acting as an informant to the local police department by infiltrating a corrupt corporation that caters to corrupt politicians, judges, and law enforcement. The plot seems interesting enough but the execution lags and drags. In addition to referencing Corey’s past exploits( especially Plum Island) the first half of the book is all about how the infiltration will be done - repeating the idea and repeating the plan of attack over and over in multiple scenarios by multiple characters. GET ON WITH IT ALREADY! 😳

Not until the 60% mark does Corey FINALLY begin his mission by starting his employment at the corrupt corporation. More talking. More telling. No action. No thrills. No chills. 🥱 YAWN🥱

It is not until the 85% mark that action picks up. Some suspense is built at this point, but really, it is way too little and way too late. The climax is the only excitement in the entire novel and it is brief. The denouement is unsatisfying…. no epilogue on the outcome of all the corruption that permeated the county’s high officials. Whaaat? When one takes all the time and effort in reading a story, one expects the story arc to have a conclusion, a resolution! Nope. Nada. 👎

To say this installment in the John Corey saga is a disappointment is an understatement.. This was not an exciting, suspenseful, page flipping, can’t-put-down thriller. It took six days to plod through. Of a truth, it was almost a DNF. Out of respect for this author and his previous stellar works, I plodded on… and on… and began skimming instead. I could not wrap my head around the fact that this was the writing of the esteemed Nelson DeMille. I just knew ( hoped) it would redeem itself somehow. Regrettably, my hopes were dashed when the bitter end arrived.

Nelson DeMille is a gifted, prolific writer and I have always been an avid reader of his works. I can recommend previous John Corey books or DeMille’s stand alone earlier works. To name a few: The Lion’s Game, The Lion, The Panther, Wildfire, Radiant Angel, Charm School, Gold Coast are all brilliant and electrifying thrillers!

I am truly flummoxed about The Maze. Not only is The Maze not on “par”with his other works, it is a “triple bogey”IMO 😱.
It causes me to pause and wonder if another person penned the prose. 🤔

John Corey is back with his snark. However, the Maze didn't hold my attention like his other books like Plum Island. Memorable female characters made a reappearance and Corey comes out of retirement for some sleuthing bit to be honest, the book didn't really hold my attention. Maybe my tastes have changed. Maybe I'm older and found some of the snark less snarky.

I’ve been reading Nelson deMille books for a long time – I first met Detective John Corey last century when I read and enjoyed Plum Island (1997). And I have often enjoyed a bit of wisecracking from my protagonists (think RBP’s Spenser). I REALLY enjoyed Plum Island and Lion’s Game – and Nightfall? Wow, an all-time favorite. But since about 2015 (Radiant Angel, The Cuban Affair, and The Deserter), I have been increasingly annoyed by the books, particularly by John Corey. One thing about Robert B. Parker’s Spenser is that yes, he did some wisecracking, but he ALSO could be serious and he made some excellent social commentary while chasing bad guys and solving mysteries.

Now here we are in 2022, and I happily accepted the opportunity (thanks to Scribner and NetGalley) to read The Maze, the latest (#8, I think) in the John Corey series – in return for my honest review. I was debating whether to start this book or the latest from Scott Turow, and I chose The Maze, thinking it might be just what I needed to take my mind off the news…

Nelson, it’s not you, it’s me. I think. Or maybe it’s John Corey. I was only in Chapter 1, a paltry 2% into the book, and JC says, “I haven’t had sex in so long I can’t remember who brings the handcuffs,” followed rather quickly by “I try not to have impure thoughts, but my dick has been unemployed longer than I have.” <sigh>. I see where this one is headed, and I just cannot bear it. Again, I love thrillers with a male protagonist, even enjoy the wisecracks and politically incorrect stuff, and sex is always good when it fits the story. But the truth is I just don’t like John Corey and frankly I don’t care if he gets through the “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.” I’m sure there are many fans of deMille, John Corey, and serial killers who will like it. Just not for me. DNF. Two stars (and one of those is for good memories of earlier efforts by NdM. Bring on Scott Turow!

The first 50% of the book consists of the protagonist trying to decide if he’s a cop, lover, or stand-up comedian. Sarcasm lives in the insights John Corey provides about almost everything. Halfway through the book we eventually get to the plot about an agency that provides PI’s, protection, and parties. The parties are for politicians, police, and others who can help the owner. Is it on the up-and-up or are illegal activities involved? Corey is sent undercover to find out. Once the plot develops, it does so slowly, and I wished we could return to the jokes. This book was a real disappointment when compared to so many great books in the DeMille library.

Ebook/Fiction/ARC: Well, I have a lot of Netgalley ARCs to read this summer and when I was selected to get The Maze, my fictional boyfriend John Corey jumped ahead of the line. The book doesn't come out for a few months, so hopefully, no spoilers here.
First, let me say that I grew up on LI during the 70s and had school friends who lived on the beach, including Gilgo, and were bussed in every day. The discovery of the murdered women was long after I moved, but I have been keeping up with the story. There seems to be more than just a serial murderer at large with alleged police corruption.
The Maze is a good book with lots of narrative from John in first person. Johnny Boy is his usual snarky self, which I love. The issue I have is that nothing happens but narrative until the last 15% of the book. The maze on the cover hints, obviously, on how the book ends, but there is more than one kind of maze. I found the narrative repeating itself and waiting for John to start his first day of work. The story didn't really cover the "Fire Island" victims and it was more like John wanted something to do than get justice.
If it wasn't for John's comments inside his head that made me laugh and snort, I don't think I would have finished it. I can recommend it for John Corey fans.

Its always a good day for me when i start reading the latest Nelson DeMille novel and a sad day when I finish it because i have to wait to long for his next book. I'm a big fan of his and have read every book and have met him in person a few years ago with a meet/greet/book signing with his son Alex.. His personality is very similar to John Corey with his quick wit, humor, and personality.
This book started off a bit slow with for some to much back story from previous books, but I rather enjoyed it. His old flame Beth appears at his uncles cottage and as they rekindle their relationship she suggests that he interview with Security Solutions to be a private investigator. Not sure why she wants him to get involved he reluctantly interviews and excepts a 2 month position on atrial basis.
Beth who is a detective will not tell him why she wants him to work there until he agrees to do so, then explains what she think is really going on at this business. very quickly he try's to fit in as one of the boys but keep everything he does secret so he can explore the deep dark secrets that he uncovers. From the crazy Thursday night party's, the killing and missing 9 women and so much more.
This may not be the book for everyone but for me it was fantastic and at definite 5 stars.

I thank Mr. DeMille, Scribner and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this ARC and provide a review.

I have enjoyed the John Corey novels in the past, the earlier stories more than the more recent ones. John is in many ways a dinosaur, a man’s man in the age of woke angst. He’s back in Long Island, where the police and politicians are corrupt and the women do the housecleaning.

There’s a lot of re-hashing of his previous adventures, so it’s a pretty slow start. We hear John’s internal monologue (or dialogue) with his man parts. He reconnects with a former flame, and it looks like we’re setting up for marriage #3.

You don’t read John Corey for character development, you read him for deathless lines such as “she’s seen more meat than a Costco butcher.” I am still able to laugh with him, but it seems to be trending toward laughing at him.

There are trademark DeMille action scenes and John manages to triumph against seemingly impossible odds. The twists of “oh shit” as he deals with little problems (like his gun falling out of its holster while he runs for his life) really build the tension. In the end, there are bodies everywhere. But is there evidence that will end these criminal activities? Is there anyone left who is uncorrupted? And our man John is going to have to tapdance through landmines due to a sexual indiscretion. What will he choose to do? I suspect we’ll have a chance to find out in the next novel.

A quibble: this plot seems to be set in “current” time but there’s lots of discussion about VHS tapes and watching DVRs. That was jarring.

A fun diversion, 3 stars.