Brilliant, impetuous, arrogant, sexual, and sarcastic-as-all-hell Detective Corey is back in all his splendor after an interminable 7-year absence. And what a return it is! Nelson DeMille’s The Maze delivers a classic John Corey thriller filled with intrigue, romantic entanglements, impulsive actions, exceptional detective work and pulse-pounding action. And sarcasm. Tons and tons of trademark Corey sarcasm. Making it, page for page, perhaps the most sarcastic thriller ever written. It’s glorious!
John Corey is back on Long Island to recover from wounds received in the line of duty, when two old friends step back into his life. Police Chief Sylvester Maxwell and Detective Beth Penrose would like Corey to take a position as a private investigator for Security Solutions, a local firm run by and staffed with former detectives. Looking for some action – both professionally and romantically – Corey agrees and begins a PI consultancy trial period. However, Corey is a brilliant detective and knows there’s more to this than a couple of friends wanting to help him find a fulfilling outlet for his energy and skill set. So he goes along with it and isn’t surprised to find out Security Solutions is into some shady business. Agreeing to be the inside man to help Chief Maxwell and Detective Penrose build and solve a case that is being stonewalled by the powers that be, he will invariably do things his way, leading to hurt feelings, sexual encounters, shootouts and criminals brought to justice. In other words, John Corey at his finest and in his natural habitat.
As a loudmouth, wise-cracking native New Yorker myself, I can more than relate to John Corey. He’s my kindred spirit. My role model. Someone most men want to be and many women want to be with. An inspiring individual that speaks my language and exemplifies what I aspire to be when I finally grow up. And since it’s likely not in the cards at my advancing middle-age to become a world-class detective and ladies man, having John Corey novels to read is the next best thing. A literary hero and fictional mentor through whom we can live vicariously. And while I may be fanboying a bit much here, it’s no exaggeration to objectively say that John Corey is one of the all-time great characters in the crime novel genre. If you know, you know. And if you don’t know, then I challenge you to sprint to your favorite bookstore and get a copy of Plum Island right freakin’ now. Seriously, get off your ass and go buy that book immediately. Guarantee you’ll be hooked and will proceed to read the next seven novels in the series, or your money back.
(Disclaimer: Best Thriller Books and Steve Netter will in no way, shape or form reimburse you for their free and brilliant recommendations. So don’t even think about it.)
While John Corey is undeniably the star of the show, don’t let that distract you from the fact that The Maze is an excellent crime thriller written by one of the all-time greats. The story is methodical, realistic, and a perfect balance of fun and anxiety-inducing. The characters are impeccably developed in a way that evokes strong feelings about what should happen to them. And the writing is tremendous, proving once again that Nelson DeMille must be at the forefront of any conversation about the Mount Rushmore of crime novel writers.
Simply put, The Maze is fantastic! It’s everything I was hoping it would be and more. I just ask Mr. DeMille to please not wait another seven years for John Corey to reemerge into our lives. The thriller genre is much better off with Detective Corey in our lives, solving mysteries, bedding women and exhibiting his trademark New York wit.
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