This is a very intense book about technology gone wrong. The action starts from the start of the book and doesn’t let up. Thank you to net galley for an advanced readers copy.

I have absolutely loved all of Nelson DeMille's books! I enjoy his recurring characters like Scott and Maggie, who star in The Tin Men. And I do feel like Alex DeMille has his father's gift of writing.

The Tin Men is a fascinating tale of something that I think we all have some concerns about, and that is what happens when AI goes awry. I love that DeMille takes this on in the book, and makes it so real to the reader! Scott and Maggie must investigate a murder in a secret military base out in the desert. The base houses bots that are programmed to teach the rangers how to fight more effectively. But then the unimaginable happens. And it's bad.

Reading this book was a pleasure until about halfway through, or so, when there are a lot of characters, and a lot of military abbreviations which I was not familiar with. When things started to really heat up and get extremely "explosive", I tended to get a bit lost, and needed to reread some. Ultimately, I did not want the book to end the way it did, and I feel troubled by what happened.

I would recommend this book to those who love Nelson DeMille's previous books, and I look forward to reading more of Alex DeMille's writings!

Thanks to NetGalley for allowing me to read and review The Tin Men.

I really enjoyed this book. The pacing, the action, the dialogue all held my interest. It's rare to see me so engrossed in a book. The last half could make a great film. Shades of ' I, Robot' but military style.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC.

I've been waiting with a heavy heart for this book to come out, it would be the last novel of one of my favorite authors. Our intrepid CID investigative duo is tasked with a case that is at a desert camp where Rangers are training against robots which has culminated in the death of an officer working on the project. Brodie and Taylor have to find out what is going on and if the death was caused by robot malfunction or by human malevolence. Being isolated due to location and top secret equipment Brodie and Taylor are left to rely on only themselves to uncover the truth and follow where the investigation leads. This book is filled with the irreverence for stuffed shirts shown in DeMille's greatest character John Corey, Brodie can't help but have a smart mouth. The action is intense in this book which has become normal for this series. I have high hopes for this series continuing from here, I'm looking forward to seeing what's next for this team, and thankfully from the way Alex finished this book, the future looks very promising.

Wow! I loved this book! The third installment in a series featuring Scott Brodie and Maggie Taylor, two Army CID investigators, this was my favorite of the three novels, and I literally couldn't put it down. With themes that readers can certainly relate to nowadays, the plot involves a murder investigation on a remote army base where Army Rangers are testing a new type of lethal weapon. Scott and Maggie are likable, relatable characters that we have gotten to know pretty well from the prior two novels. i only regret that one of the co-writers passed away, so we won't be seeing these two in any future novels.

A must read for thriller lovers!

As one who has been reading Nelson DeMille since the beginning I am really enjoying this new work, and saddened to know it’s likely the last. As always, Nelson Demille, with his son, spins a gripping story, which is quite timely for our world right now. It captivates even as it makes the reader think about the technology we are living with and how it will change our world.

I already desperately miss Nelson DeMille. This installment of the Brodie and Taylor series is just not up to its predecessors (both 4 star rated by this reviewer). The subject matter of this novel is cutting edge robot super soldiers with quite a bit of technical focus which I think dragged down the beginning of the story. While the ending was exciting and certainly redeemed the novel somewhat, this was just a three star read. Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC.

In his foreword to The Tin Men Alex DeMille recognizes the importance his father, world renowned author Nelson DeMille, has brought to his own writing career and their co-authorship of a few highly praised best sellers. Sadly, Nelson DeMille passed away before the completion of The Tin Men but as an avid admirer of his father’s literary accomplishments I can see his father’s imprint throughout the book. Every fan of Nelson DeMille will embrace his final work as a welcome addition to his masterful storytelling.

I immediately thought of current drone warfare as I read The Tin Men. Silent mechanical warriors in the sky heading towards preprogrammed enemy targets waiting for an electronic command from thousand of miles away to drop their lethal weapons. Can the military apply such a technology on the ground with a goal of saving countless lives of soldiers? Such thinking leads us to a super secret military location in California’s Mojave Desert testing technologically advanced seven foot high robots to fight on the ground in place of human soldiers. It’s the tin men versus an elite group of army rangers in a variety of settings to view how both humans and man made machines react under tactical and psychological conditions. Testing is going well until one of the lead researchers is found dead in his laboratory.

Two of my favorite DeMille characters, Army CID investigators Scott Brodie and Maggie Taylor, are assigned the task to determine the how and why the researcher was killed. Scott brings his cynical view of life and sarcastic mouth along while a more serious and analytical Maggie who looks for answers to why the murder took place and who would benefit from the researcher’s death. Their interviews and observations quickly determine that a robot may have killed the researcher but human intervention in the robot’s software caused the robot to run amok. It was told to kill the researcher but who gave the order? Everyone on the base quickly becomes a suspect and Scott and Maggie quickly become targets that must be eliminated. Humans versus machines, AI assisting the machines, mental breakdowns by the army rangers, researchers and post officers in danger by machines and colleagues. How Scott and Maggie sort all of this out while battling the tin men, high ranking base officers, and rebellious army rangers is highly entertaining and a true page turner. Scott and Maggie see first hand that technology that gets in the wrong hands is dangerous but humans with instinct, creative response to machines, and grit can overcome any obstacle they face. The book has many interesting characters, a solid and believable plot, numerous twists and turns, and fantastic storytelling. All DeMille specialties.

My thanks to Simon & Schuster and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review this terrific book.

I have read every single Nelsoon DeMille book and sorry that this will be his last. This was a great read and not quite as good as his others but throroughly enjoyed this one.. I always looked forward to his next book.

Was a great way to continue the series. A good mix of plot action and technology. Sad that this was Nelson's last book

The Tin Men is an intensely terrifying look at the future of warfare that will freak you the hell out. This high-stakes, vivid and disquieting thriller will challenge your thought process on the use of AI and robots in the military setting, giving you consternation and a severe case of angina. This novel is a gift from Alex DeMille and his late father, Nelson DeMille, offering one final, profound and entertaining story from the pen of the great literary master for readers to devour.

Army CID Special Agents Scott Brodie and Maggie Taylor are sent to investigate the death of a chief scientist who oversees a deep black war games program featuring a platoon of Army Rangers and a few dozen lethal autonomous weapons – aka killer robots. Brodie and Taylor quickly ascertain that the situation they find themselves in is quickly deteriorating. The Rangers are being pushed to the limits of their physical and psychological well-being, the robots are acting well beyond their supposed software limits, deception is rampant, and everyone is a suspect. In the middle of the desert and without the ability to contact the outside world, Brodie and Taylor must not only determine who killed the scientist, but also find out who and what is behind this secret program. Because if they are unsuccessful, everyone on this base will die and these next-gen weapons systems will be unstoppable.

This is a military thriller wrapped inside a crime thriller with psychological thriller sprinkled on top. It is suspenseful, tension-filled and jam packed with misdirection and unanswered questions that keep you guessing until the end when it explodes in ruthless violence. It has fantastic characters, tests your views on morality, and moves at a breakneck pace. It also really messes with your head and makes you desperately hope that our government isn’t actually working on a program like this. Because if they are, no one is safe.

The Tin Men is a relentless thrill ride. Tight as a Terminator’s death grip, and just as impossible to escape. A brilliantly constructed story that will increase your heart-rate and exercise your brain.

The Tin Men is an excellent timely thriller with a fascinating subject matter and a killer execution by the DeMilles. The legacy of Nelson DeMille is in safe hands with Alex DeMille as clearly exhibited in The Tin Men.

4 out of 5 Stars
A thoughtful and timely techno thriller that invites reflection and a fitting tribute to a master storyteller whose legacy thankfully continues with son Alex.

As a longtime fan of DeMille, I approached The Tin Men with high expectations and a fair amount of excitement, though bittersweet was the anticipation, knowing it would be his final contribution to the literary world.
Co-written with his son Alex DeMille, this novel is a timely and sobering reflection on the collision of Artificial Intelligence with the modern military industrial complex and the impossible choices this impact creates for all those involved.
The story explores these provocative themes with chilling plausibility, offering the reader a stark warning about unchecked momentum of autonomous warfare tactics and AI decision making. The DeMilles have crafted a narrative that feels familiar to our current national and global trajectory and in that regard, the book provokes compelling and important cause for thought. The concept and relevance captivated me although I did find it missing some of the more layered character development and intrigue that is a hallmark of DeMilles early work. Some of the characters felt more like archetypes than fully realized individuals, and the intrigue, though present throughout, didn't quite reach simmering complexity for me. Still, the prose was sharp, pacing quick and dialogue from Brodie and Taylor carried the usual wit and grit.
It is clear that Alex DeMille brings his own voice and vision to the partnership and I sincerely hope that he continues in the footsteps of his fathers legacy while forging a path of his own.

The Tin Men is a sadly the last book for Nelson DeMille but a fitting tribute by his son Alex. It's The General's Daughter meets The Terminator, and a well-conceived mystery and thrill ride. I hope to read more from Alex in future, he must surely have made his father proud.

Scott is one of my favorite DeMille characters. I think English is his second language since sarcasm is his first. Teamed with Maggie once again, this story is the last of Nelson DeMille’s entertaining career and well worth the read.

This is Nelson DeMille’s last book and a fitting tribute to his successful career as a great storyteller.
I gave it the following SCORE:
Setting: Present day, Camp Hayden, a secret Army installation in a desert in the middle of nowhere, western USA
Characters: The third book starring Scott Brodie and Maggie Taylor, CID Warrant Officer special agents, the army cadre of Camp Hayden, and 60 ominous and wonderfully presented “Tin Men.”
Overview: Brodie and Taylor are assigned to investigate a mysterious death in the secret laboratory of Camp Hayden where AI technology is being used to develop the next generation of intelligent robot soldiers for future warfare. The question throughout is whether the “Tin Men” have advanced to think for themselves, apply their training and learning logically, and then have the ability or motivation to murder one of their creators.
Recommendation: I rate this book 5 stars
Extras: Typical of DeMille’s blend of suspense, mystery, and sarcasm, this book is a great read on many levels. Particularly delightful is the naming convention of the Tin Men, notably, the “star warrior,” Bucky. New England baseball fans should not miss this tale.
Thanx to NetGalley and Simon and Schuster for the opportunity to provide this candid review.

Overall, a great premise with good mystery and intrigue. Inclusion of the robots and AI made the book feel more like a mash-up of doomsday sci-fi and political thriller. I loved the Brodie/Taylor series, but inclusion of the robot’s development was somewhat lost on me and hard to follow. Thank you NetGalley and Simon & Schuster for the e-ARC in exchange for my honest review!

The Tin Men involves two CID agents going to a small military camp in the desert where soldiers are fighting robot soldiers and a scientist has apparently been killed by one. . It's hard to review the novel without spoilers, but I found it to be quite a disappointment. For one, I doubt very much that Nelson DeMille had anything to do with the writing of the novel. It doesn't have his style. With the robot battles, it is more science fiction. The robots did not interest me as I found the story of how they developed unbelievable. Toward the end I found myself skimming pages as it just became tedious.
Alex DeMille may become a good author. He had good inspiration. But this novel does not really deserve the Nelson DeMille name.
Thanks NetGalley for the ARC..

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!