William Harris
152 reviews
14 followers

June 23, 2025
Simon and Schuster recently provided me with an ARC of Nelson DeMille's most recent collaboration with his son Alex. "The Tin Men" is a technothriller which actually calls to mind some of Michael Crichton's work (high praise indeed). Thematically, the book is a timely attempt to look at some of the frightening implications of recent A.I. and robotic applications in modern warfare. All of this is wrapped up in a mystery and packaged as a thriller (it is). Mr. DeMille senior, who recently passed, was well known for his viciously sarcastic with and sense of humor. I, for one will miss him. This text shows a lot of potential, but it lacks the full blown laugh out loud humor which often characterized DeMille's canon. Still, it is obvious that his son is aware of that wits importance to Nelson's audience, and I am hopeful that he will ultimately come through. Meantime, this is a thoroughly entertaining and thought provoking read. I recommend it for all collections.

I have enjoyed the Brodie/Taylor series. This entry is a bit blah though. It takes a long time to build up to the action but the details on the training program a very, very thorough. You don't really get much of a feel for the ancillary characters because there are way too many of them and you only get a surface glimpse. I actually had to think hard when the villain was finally identified to remember who he was, which is not a great sign. The D-17s were terrifying though. Definitely influenced by The Terminator!

I was both privileged and saddened to read the author's final book. Once more,he outdid himself with a phenomenal novel. The lead characters are favorites from prior books and who find themselves in the midst of a mystery beyond their comprehension.

The plot is tightly woven and very disturbing. It captured my attention from the first page and kept me hooked until the very last page. One thing I've always enjoyed in the author's books are the bits of sarcastic humor that pop up when least expected. He executes that perfectly through Brodie's character.

Nelson DeMille, you will be missed, however your characters are in your son's good hands. I look forward to reading his next book.

This started out with a shock...I didn't know Nelson had died. .so sad but glad to read his last book (cowrote with the son). This is as vintage Nelson as it gets, loved it so much! I assume the son keeps it going but...I hope we don't notice too much!

"The Tin Men" is a true Nelson DeMille thriller where he keeps the reader guessing. He and his co-author Alex DeMille give a lot of factual elements in the story. The plot was very realistic and could happen in the not-too-distant future. I love the character of Scott Brody, who is sarcastic and witty. His funny lines help relieve some of the tension while you're reading. The book was a good length, not too long or short, and the plot was very interesting. I would recommend this book to people who like mysteries and thrillers, and who like to read interesting facts.

5 stars.

Nelson DeMille is one of my all time favorite authors and John Corey (from other Nelson DeMille books) one of my all time favorite characters. I was so excited to get an ARC of this book, especially as this is unfortunately his last book. A strong 4.5 stars for this rip-roaring adventure with well thought out characters, setting, and themes. It was a bit hard to keep everyone straight at times but the storyline and ending were well done and made this book a really fun read. I love the two main characters and their relationship and how it all plays out. I will miss Nelson DeMille new books but am happy to have all his past books to re-read anytime I want. Many thanks to the Authors, publisher and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this ARC in exchange for a honest review. Fair winds and following seas Mr. DeMille - you are missed.

Nelson DeMille has always been one of my favorite authors. I was saddened to learn of his passing. He left behind a treasure trove of exciting novels. He left the completion of The Tin Man in the capable hands of his son, Alex, since they had previously coauthored books. The Tin Men is the story of 60 robots with AI. After the death of an army officer by one of the robots, Scott Brody and Maggie Taylor are sent to investigate the murder. Was it an accident…something gone wrong or was it more? So the mystery begins. Lots of action in the last section of the story. It was a good read and nice tribute from son to father…carrying on his legacy.

It was a little sad reading THE TIN MEN, knowing that it was Nelson DeMille's last book. But what a way to go out.

All of the flavor that has always made DeMille's books such fun to read was here, but this time that flavor was also joined with a deliciously creepy narrative about the military and its drive to create autonomous combat devices. In the hands of a lesser writer, it's a plot that could have quickly turned silly, but in DeMille's hands it was a page-turner from start to finish.

We'll miss you, Mr. DeMille, but thank you for such a wonderful parting gift.

Five Star Gold read from start to finish.
The late Nelson DeMille, with his son Alex DeMille have set the bar higher than ever with this fabulous thrilling read.
Special Investigators, Scott Brodie and Maggie Taylor are sent to a top secret Army base, in the Mojave Desert, to look into the death of a Major who was killed by an army training robot from a force of bots known as the tin men.
Determining why one apparently went rogue is their task and it is immediately complicated by reluctant Army Rangers, as well as base commanders, who refuse to totally cooperate.
A great read with thrilling intrigue as well as suspense and on stop action.
The characters are as well defined, as ever, in a DeMille novel.
Great, topical story line that really comes alive and is easily relatable in today's ever changing hi tech and AI landscape.
The Tin Men.
Not so hard to believe.
Not at all.
Fantastic story.

As a fan and reader of most, if not all, of Nelson DeMille’s novels, I found this one to be far inferior to his other efforts. I missed the humor and sarcasm which punctuated his usual novels. I am also not a fan of fantasies and computer wizardry and found the tin men (robots) not to be believable. The human elements in the story were interesting and highlighted instances of military squabbling, abuse of power, a mutiny and other infighting between levels of command and with civilians in this hidden Army base where murders took place and was the reason that investigators were sent there. I found the ending somewhat contrived and not wholly unexpected or satisfying.
I thank NetGalley and Simon and Shuster for the opportunity to read and review this book prior to publication.

Another great book but so sorry to learn of Nelson demille death. This book is well written with good characters and interesting plot. It does make you think about unregulated AI.

I received an ARC of this upcoming novel through NetGalley.

The late Nelson DeMille was my favorite author. He passed away in 2024, prior to the completion of this book. His son, Alex, soldiered on to complete this third novel which they co-authored.

The tin men are a group of sixty robots. The robots were designed, using some amount of artificial intelligence, to be military combatants at an army base in the Mojave Desert. Investigators Scott Brodie and Maggie Taylor are told to drop everything they were doing to go there to investigate a murder. An army officer was found dead at the hands of one of the robots. What caused the robot to do this? Was someone at the base out to get that officer?

The plot takes place almost entirely at the army base. In introducing the many characters at the base, the reader is treated to a good amount of trademark DeMille humor. For example, all of the robots are numbered 1 to 60. Number 20 was the murderer and he was nicknamed Bucky, as #20 was Bucky Dent's number when he played for the Yankees. You can guess the nickname of #7.

I stop short of rating this five stars because I didn’t love the bedlam of the last quarter of the book, when (without spoiling anything) all hell broke loose.

This very well-written and a fine tribute by Alex to his father’s legacy.

This was a triumphant last novel for Nelson DeMille, and I applaud his son for finishing it. What a solid, and suspenseful book,using the growing industry of robotics and AI. I am going to up-sell to all, and hope that the Scott and Maggie team will continue. Exciting and escapist in the best way.

I have been reading Nelson DeMille for the last 35 years and have read every single one of his books. The combat AI and technology in this book was way over the top and I found it all a bit difficult to follow-- especially given the outcome. I will miss the author now that he is gone and am sorry to say his last was not his best and the characters not their usual salty and colorful selves. I wondered at times if the book really was barely done when the author died and his son wrote the whole thing .