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Scott Brodie & Maggie Taylor #3
The Tin Men
At a top-secret Army training facility in the Mojave Desert, Special Agents Scott Brodie and Maggie Taylor plunge into a deadly web of military suspense, AI technology, and robot soldiers as they unravel the shocking murder of a senior scientist in this gripping thriller from New York Times bestselling authors Nelson DeMille and Alex DeMille.
Army CID Special Agents Scott Brodie and Maggie Taylor team up for their toughest assignment yet as they are dispatched to Camp Hayden to investigate the death of Major Roger Ames, the chief scientist in charge of the top-secret war games being conducted between a platoon of Army Rangers and a fleet of “lethal autonomous weapons.” Brodie and Taylor find themselves at ground zero of the next generation of warfare, and must untangle the complex web of alliances, animosities, and secret agendas among the men and women of the isolated facility.
In a place cut off from the world and exposed to the harsh desert elements, everyone is a suspect—from the zealous camp commander who pushes his men to the limit, to the Rangers slipping into madness due to isolation, grueling training, and rampant abuse of performance-enhancing drugs, to the late Major Ames’s own research colleagues. Brodie and Taylor must uncover layers of deception to find the hidden hand behind the murder of Major Ames, and the real purpose of the activities at Camp Hayden and its terrifying arsenal of next-generation weapons.
This gripping thriller, the final novel from the legendary Nelson DeMille, coauthored with his son Alex DeMille, is a masterful blend of suspense and cutting-edge technology. It is a page-turning and thought-provoking exploration of the implications of AI in modern warfare and is a must-read for fans of military thrillers.
Army CID Special Agents Scott Brodie and Maggie Taylor team up for their toughest assignment yet as they are dispatched to Camp Hayden to investigate the death of Major Roger Ames, the chief scientist in charge of the top-secret war games being conducted between a platoon of Army Rangers and a fleet of “lethal autonomous weapons.” Brodie and Taylor find themselves at ground zero of the next generation of warfare, and must untangle the complex web of alliances, animosities, and secret agendas among the men and women of the isolated facility.
In a place cut off from the world and exposed to the harsh desert elements, everyone is a suspect—from the zealous camp commander who pushes his men to the limit, to the Rangers slipping into madness due to isolation, grueling training, and rampant abuse of performance-enhancing drugs, to the late Major Ames’s own research colleagues. Brodie and Taylor must uncover layers of deception to find the hidden hand behind the murder of Major Ames, and the real purpose of the activities at Camp Hayden and its terrifying arsenal of next-generation weapons.
This gripping thriller, the final novel from the legendary Nelson DeMille, coauthored with his son Alex DeMille, is a masterful blend of suspense and cutting-edge technology. It is a page-turning and thought-provoking exploration of the implications of AI in modern warfare and is a must-read for fans of military thrillers.
384 pages, Hardcover
Published October 28, 2025
1334 people are currently reading
7798 people want to read
About the author
Nelson DeMille
260 books7,367 followersNelson Richard DeMille was an American author of action adventure and suspense novels. His novels include Plum Island, The Charm School, and The General's Daughter. DeMille also wrote under the pen names Jack Cannon, Kurt Ladner, Ellen Kay and Brad Matthews.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 249 reviews
October 29, 2025
In the third book in the Brodie and Taylor series, Nelson and Alex DeMille have Army CID Special Agents Scott Brodie and Maggie Taylor team up for an unusual assignment, which offers shades of Isaac Asimov’s “The Caves of Steel” and that tagline from the original Westworld movie, “Nothing can go wrong.”
With Nelson passing on in 2024, this is the last novel in the series from the father and son team, although perhaps not the final in the series, which includes “The Deserter” and “Blood Lines.” Set in a top secret Army facility in the Mojave Desert (Camp Hayden), the title of the story (“The Tin Men”) refers to the sixty “lethal autonomous weapons” being battle-gamed by a platoon of Army Rangers. The chief scientist in charge of the war game has died at the hands of one of the robots (who have been nicknamed with the names of legendary baseball players – this one being Bucky) and no one is sure if it is a training accident or murder.
But, as Brodie and Taylor dig into the evidence, there is a third possibility that they barely want to acknowledge – that Bucky, the tin man without a heart, killed Roger Ames on purpose and has his own agenda. The writers of the novel even give a token nod in the beginning to HAL 9000 , the intelligent supercomputer that shocked the world in “2001 A Space Odyssey.”
The setting plays a major role in this novel as it, not only an isolated Army base, but Brodie and Taylor are cut off from the outside world with no telephone or internet access to maintain the top-secret world of the base. Also, it is an odd place in its isolation where the men are for 18-month shifts with no outside contact. And, this platoon waged against an army of actual robots is not faring well – not at all – and they are all near or past the breaking point. Some are even past the breaking point and want nothing more than to tune in and drop out on a nearby plateau.
This reader is not so sure this should be classified as crime fiction so much as an action-packed adventure novel that should slide in well with science fiction fare. Nevertheless, it is a terrific read.
With Nelson passing on in 2024, this is the last novel in the series from the father and son team, although perhaps not the final in the series, which includes “The Deserter” and “Blood Lines.” Set in a top secret Army facility in the Mojave Desert (Camp Hayden), the title of the story (“The Tin Men”) refers to the sixty “lethal autonomous weapons” being battle-gamed by a platoon of Army Rangers. The chief scientist in charge of the war game has died at the hands of one of the robots (who have been nicknamed with the names of legendary baseball players – this one being Bucky) and no one is sure if it is a training accident or murder.
But, as Brodie and Taylor dig into the evidence, there is a third possibility that they barely want to acknowledge – that Bucky, the tin man without a heart, killed Roger Ames on purpose and has his own agenda. The writers of the novel even give a token nod in the beginning to HAL 9000 , the intelligent supercomputer that shocked the world in “2001 A Space Odyssey.”
The setting plays a major role in this novel as it, not only an isolated Army base, but Brodie and Taylor are cut off from the outside world with no telephone or internet access to maintain the top-secret world of the base. Also, it is an odd place in its isolation where the men are for 18-month shifts with no outside contact. And, this platoon waged against an army of actual robots is not faring well – not at all – and they are all near or past the breaking point. Some are even past the breaking point and want nothing more than to tune in and drop out on a nearby plateau.
This reader is not so sure this should be classified as crime fiction so much as an action-packed adventure novel that should slide in well with science fiction fare. Nevertheless, it is a terrific read.
November 15, 2025
I’ve been enjoying Nelson DeMille’s particular brand of high drama delivered with a comic touch for many years. So I was devastated when he died in September 2024, and I’d naturally I’d assumed that we’d see no more new titles from him. However, this tale is something he and his son Alex were working on the period leading up to his death. In fact, Alex had also co-authored the two previous books in this series. In this instance, the book was ultimately finished by Alex as Nelson passed away before the piece had been completed.
Scott Brodie and Maggie Taylor are a pair of military CID special agents. There is a bubbling mutual attraction here, an unresolved sexual tension. But by and large they’re all about the job. From Scott’s point of view, if he can upset a few people and kick some ass, so much the better. Maggie’s a bit more subtle – though quite capable of handling herself – she’s more the thinker of the pair. After a couple of action filled adventures outside of America (i.e. in the previous two books), when they’re summoned to the office of their commanding officer they’re ready for another trip abroad. But this time, their mission is to investigate something within the borders of the USA – in the middle of the Mojave Desert.
Camp Hayden is a top secret place where a brand of automated combat soldiers is being developed, refined, and tested. But it seems that one of these automatons may have gone rogue, resulting in the death of an officer at the camp. Brodie and Taylor’s mission is to find out what happened. The camp is, without doubt, an atypical and somewhat spooky environment. They’ll be on their own, too, as communications to and from this site are pretty much prohibited.
There are a raft of stories featuring AI in one guise or another doing the rounds at the moment - I’ve read three such novels (all recently released) in the past couple of months. This is another take on the topic. Has what’s happened in this camp been caused by human or machine? Where are the links between the two, and who is in control? How do the gains to be had and the costs to potentially be borne weigh up? It’s a fascinating topic that plays out in an informative and entertaining way in this tale. And throughout we’re royally entertained by Brodie and Taylor as they do their thing.
I can only hope that Alex DeMille decides to take this series forward on his own, as I suspect he will. I loved this story. I want more.
R.I.P. Nelson, you gave so much pleasure to so many.
My thanks to Little Brown Book Group UK for supplying a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Scott Brodie and Maggie Taylor are a pair of military CID special agents. There is a bubbling mutual attraction here, an unresolved sexual tension. But by and large they’re all about the job. From Scott’s point of view, if he can upset a few people and kick some ass, so much the better. Maggie’s a bit more subtle – though quite capable of handling herself – she’s more the thinker of the pair. After a couple of action filled adventures outside of America (i.e. in the previous two books), when they’re summoned to the office of their commanding officer they’re ready for another trip abroad. But this time, their mission is to investigate something within the borders of the USA – in the middle of the Mojave Desert.
Camp Hayden is a top secret place where a brand of automated combat soldiers is being developed, refined, and tested. But it seems that one of these automatons may have gone rogue, resulting in the death of an officer at the camp. Brodie and Taylor’s mission is to find out what happened. The camp is, without doubt, an atypical and somewhat spooky environment. They’ll be on their own, too, as communications to and from this site are pretty much prohibited.
There are a raft of stories featuring AI in one guise or another doing the rounds at the moment - I’ve read three such novels (all recently released) in the past couple of months. This is another take on the topic. Has what’s happened in this camp been caused by human or machine? Where are the links between the two, and who is in control? How do the gains to be had and the costs to potentially be borne weigh up? It’s a fascinating topic that plays out in an informative and entertaining way in this tale. And throughout we’re royally entertained by Brodie and Taylor as they do their thing.
I can only hope that Alex DeMille decides to take this series forward on his own, as I suspect he will. I loved this story. I want more.
R.I.P. Nelson, you gave so much pleasure to so many.
My thanks to Little Brown Book Group UK for supplying a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
October 25, 2025
Great read! Dealt with real contemporary themes, including AI and robotics. As a Nelson DeMille fan (Gold Coast is my favorite) I believe this felt more like it was written by Nelson than his son, which I enjoyed. This was the best of the three books in the series, IMO.
4.1 rounded down to 4.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the arc.
4.1 rounded down to 4.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the arc.
December 16, 2025
Eager to delve into the latest collaborative novel by Nelson and Alex DeMille, I rushed to get my hands on a copy. On a sad note, this is also the final novel by Nelson DeMille, who died in the late stages of the book's preparation for publication. The call comes out for Army CID Special Agents Scott Brodie and Maggie Taylor to attend another assignment. They are on their way to Camp Hayden, where Major Roger Ames has been killed. Ames is a scientist in charge of a highly secretive war games situation, where Army Rangers are being pitting against a group of "lethal autonomous weapons". When Brodie and Taylor arrive at the scene, they witness what some call the next generation of warfare, in which human soldiers are left in the rearview mirror. Working to better understand these automatons, Brodie and Taylor learn of their specifications and the programming they use to fight for the country that made them. There are many suspects who would have wanted Major Ames dead in this isolated community. A handful of Rangers tell of going mad out there and the mind-altering things that push them over the edge. Before long, Brodie and Taylor learn that Ames was at the centre of a highly secretive plan that could turn war on its head and provide little time for anyone that stands in their way. While Ames made the ultimate sacrifice, someone is to blame for all this, though the human nature of the killer remains the greatest question of all. A chilling and brilliant piece by Nelson and Alex DeMille, showing that the former's final novel was perhaps his most impactful of all!
The DeMille men have penned a trio of novels well worth my time. The narrative introduces a busy story that keeps the reader thinking from the opening pages. While the themes on offer leave much for the reader to ponder, the story has little time to pause. Clipping along, the narrative captivates the reader and does not stop until all the pieces come together. The authors provide great ideas to push the reader forward, helped by short chapters that keep the reader fully engaged. This is likely one of the best Nelson DeMille stories I have ever read and surely highly impactful. His last is surely one that will stick in my craw for years!
Characters develop easily, keeping the reader eager to learn more about what is going on. There is a sly humour that the authors always bring to their novels and this story did not lack any of it. Scott Brodie and Maggie Taylor have long made themselves known to attentive readers and their presence offers a little more development for all to enjoy. I could not help but wonder how much of what the authors said about some of the non-human characters was real, but I lapped it all up and am left to see if other authors pick up the thread. Even the secondary characters were high impact and left me so excited to see what they would do. Never has Nelson DeMille shirked his duties and I am sure series (and overall) fans would agree this was top-notch again.
The plot points of the book develop intensely and leave an unsettling aspect for the reader to ponder. I loved the twists on offer and can only hope that Alex DeMille will keep writing to add more surprises to future books. I loved that I could not predict where things were headed or how the technology left everyone ill at ease as it related to the larger issues or murder, war, and human control of lethal autonomous weapons. While I am sad to see that there will never be another Nelson DeMille novel to enjoy, this was surely one that will stay with me. Perhaps a binge of the elder DeMille's earlier work will keep a smile on my face!
Kudos, Messrs. DeMille, for going out with the loudest bang possible.
Love/hate the review? An ever-growing collection of others appears at:http://pecheyponderings.wordpress.com/
The DeMille men have penned a trio of novels well worth my time. The narrative introduces a busy story that keeps the reader thinking from the opening pages. While the themes on offer leave much for the reader to ponder, the story has little time to pause. Clipping along, the narrative captivates the reader and does not stop until all the pieces come together. The authors provide great ideas to push the reader forward, helped by short chapters that keep the reader fully engaged. This is likely one of the best Nelson DeMille stories I have ever read and surely highly impactful. His last is surely one that will stick in my craw for years!
Characters develop easily, keeping the reader eager to learn more about what is going on. There is a sly humour that the authors always bring to their novels and this story did not lack any of it. Scott Brodie and Maggie Taylor have long made themselves known to attentive readers and their presence offers a little more development for all to enjoy. I could not help but wonder how much of what the authors said about some of the non-human characters was real, but I lapped it all up and am left to see if other authors pick up the thread. Even the secondary characters were high impact and left me so excited to see what they would do. Never has Nelson DeMille shirked his duties and I am sure series (and overall) fans would agree this was top-notch again.
The plot points of the book develop intensely and leave an unsettling aspect for the reader to ponder. I loved the twists on offer and can only hope that Alex DeMille will keep writing to add more surprises to future books. I loved that I could not predict where things were headed or how the technology left everyone ill at ease as it related to the larger issues or murder, war, and human control of lethal autonomous weapons. While I am sad to see that there will never be another Nelson DeMille novel to enjoy, this was surely one that will stay with me. Perhaps a binge of the elder DeMille's earlier work will keep a smile on my face!
Kudos, Messrs. DeMille, for going out with the loudest bang possible.
Love/hate the review? An ever-growing collection of others appears at:http://pecheyponderings.wordpress.com/
October 29, 2025
This is not my favorite DeMille.
55% of the way through, or 205 pages in, I’m still stuck on a small Army base in the California desert with Brodie and Taylor as they investigate the murder of an Army major tasked with programming and testing a force of 7-foot-tall combat robots who aren’t supposed to be self-actuating, but actually might be.
Much of the story revolves around the efficacy/morality/advisability of replacing soldiers with robots. I realize that AI is a “hot topic” these days, but hasn’t the idea of “killer robots/computers” been done to death? (E.g., the “Terminator” series, “West World,” “Blade Runner,” “I, Robot,” “War Games,” etc.)
The characters are not all that deeply drawn. So far, there’s not much going on between Brodie and Taylor, and they seem to lack the charm they displayed in prior outings. Other characters are so thinly described that it’s tough to care about what happens to them.
The small-army-base-in-the-desert setting is depressing. Brody and Taylor being tricked into a magic mushroom trip on top of a mesa by an emotionally disturbed Army Ranger they’re pursuing strains credulity.
Their investigation lacks focus at times and is confusing at others. Equally confusing are the technical explanations of what might be wrong with the robots.
There is a story here. And the prose and dialogue seem realistic. But so far, I’m finding very little to care about and nothing to put me on the edge of my seat.
2.5 stars rounded up to 3.
55% of the way through, or 205 pages in, I’m still stuck on a small Army base in the California desert with Brodie and Taylor as they investigate the murder of an Army major tasked with programming and testing a force of 7-foot-tall combat robots who aren’t supposed to be self-actuating, but actually might be.
Much of the story revolves around the efficacy/morality/advisability of replacing soldiers with robots. I realize that AI is a “hot topic” these days, but hasn’t the idea of “killer robots/computers” been done to death? (E.g., the “Terminator” series, “West World,” “Blade Runner,” “I, Robot,” “War Games,” etc.)
The characters are not all that deeply drawn. So far, there’s not much going on between Brodie and Taylor, and they seem to lack the charm they displayed in prior outings. Other characters are so thinly described that it’s tough to care about what happens to them.
The small-army-base-in-the-desert setting is depressing. Brody and Taylor being tricked into a magic mushroom trip on top of a mesa by an emotionally disturbed Army Ranger they’re pursuing strains credulity.
Their investigation lacks focus at times and is confusing at others. Equally confusing are the technical explanations of what might be wrong with the robots.
There is a story here. And the prose and dialogue seem realistic. But so far, I’m finding very little to care about and nothing to put me on the edge of my seat.
2.5 stars rounded up to 3.
May 24, 2025
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 non 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.
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 non 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.
September 21, 2025
reviewed by Lou Jacobs
readersremains.com | Goodreads
They’re back! Army Criminal Investigation Division (CID) agents Scott Brodie and Maggie Taylor return in this cinematic, high-octane thriller — a welcome reunion for fans of the series. Scott Brodie is a razor-sharp blend of James Bond and Rambo, armed with wit, sarcasm, and a knack for getting into trouble, while Maggie Taylor is equally lethal, brilliant, and tough as nails.
Their chemistry crackles on the page, and you can easily imagine Bradley Cooper and Scarlett Johansson bringing them to life on screen.
Though this is the third novel featuring Brodie and Taylor, it works perfectly well as a standalone — the DeMilles provide just enough backstory to orient new readers. This installment is bittersweet, as it marks the final collaboration between Nelson DeMille and his son Alex, following Nelson’s passing. The majority of the writing credit goes to Alex, and he proves that the torch has been successfully passed.
The story begins with Brodie and Taylor sent to investigate the brutal murder of Major Roger Ames, head administrator of a top-secret — and possibly black ops — project at Camp Hayden, deep in the Mojave Desert. The project involves a platoon of lethal autonomous weapons: seven-foot-tall titanium robots equipped with speed, strength, and deadly precision. These AI-powered machines, nicknamed “Tin Men” and given sardonic names of legendary baseball players, are designed to be unfeeling and unthinking. And yet, they repeatedly annihilate their Army Ranger opponents during training exercises, wearing down morale and raising an unsettling question: who’s really training whom?
When Ames is found with his skull crushed and a massive robot, “Bucky” (Unit 20), standing over his body with blood on its titanium frame, suspicion spreads like wildfire. Was this a malfunction, sabotage, or evidence of something far more disturbing — that these machines have learned to think for themselves?
The investigation pulls Brodie and Taylor into a tangle of corporate intrigue, military secrecy, and philosophical dilemmas about AI and autonomy. The pacing is relentless, the action intense, and the suspense ratchets higher with every chapter. The climax is explosive and satisfying, cementing The Tin Men as one of the most adrenaline-charged entries in the series.
The DeMille team delivers a masterful mix of action, mystery, and thought-provoking questions about technology and warfare. Fans of military thrillers, techno-thrillers, and character-driven crime fiction will find this impossible to put down.
Thanks to NetGalley and Simon & Schuster for providing an Uncorrected Proof in exchange for an honest review. I can’t wait to see where Alex DeMille takes Brodie and Taylor next.
....Published at MysteryAndSuspenseMagazine.com...
July 23, 2025
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.
November 23, 2025
The gifted father and son author team of Nelson and Alex DeMille provide a chilling display of how AI robots trained to be "lethal autonomous weapons" could be used in military situations. A futuristic possibility that is also terrifying!
Special Agents in the US Army Criminal Investigation Division (CID), Scott Brodie and Maggie Taylor are once again united in their third thrilling military crime fiction book, The Tin Men. This book reads like a cinematic thriller!
A Major at a top-secret military facility in the Mojave Desert was killed by one of the AI bots that were being tested there for possible use in warfare. Scott and Maggie are assigned the task of figuring out how and why that happened, as well as to find who knows more about what is going on than they are saying. There are many twists and red herrings to make it all very interesting.
This captivating military suspense novel kept me enthralled from the beginning to the end. I have been a fan of Nelson DeMille since I read his book The General's Daughter in 1993. His storytelling acumen, attention to detail, and acerbic wit will be greatly missed. I hope that Alex DeMille will continue this series and carry his father's legacy forward.
My sincere thanks to Simon & Schuster and NetGalley for giving me the opportunity to read a DRC of this novel in exchange for an honest review.
Special Agents in the US Army Criminal Investigation Division (CID), Scott Brodie and Maggie Taylor are once again united in their third thrilling military crime fiction book, The Tin Men. This book reads like a cinematic thriller!
A Major at a top-secret military facility in the Mojave Desert was killed by one of the AI bots that were being tested there for possible use in warfare. Scott and Maggie are assigned the task of figuring out how and why that happened, as well as to find who knows more about what is going on than they are saying. There are many twists and red herrings to make it all very interesting.
This captivating military suspense novel kept me enthralled from the beginning to the end. I have been a fan of Nelson DeMille since I read his book The General's Daughter in 1993. His storytelling acumen, attention to detail, and acerbic wit will be greatly missed. I hope that Alex DeMille will continue this series and carry his father's legacy forward.
My sincere thanks to Simon & Schuster and NetGalley for giving me the opportunity to read a DRC of this novel in exchange for an honest review.
July 26, 2025
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!
A must read for thriller lovers!
August 14, 2025
“So what are we training for? What are they training for?” Two-thirds into this novel, everything about this training base in the middle of the desert comes into question. This is the 3rd installment of the collaboration between Nelson DeMille (God rest his soul) and his son, Alex telling the adventures of Scott Brodie and Maggie Taylor.
I was fortunate to be able to get an advanced reading copy of this novel, but I will say that when it is released for publication in October of this year? Run, rush to your bookstore. Put it in your online shopping cart. Heck, pre-order it. Electronic or hard-copy? You’re going to want to read this one.
It is certainly a page-turner from beginning to end. But I have to say that from the mid-point on in this 364 page novel? I wasn’t going to put it down.
The Tin Men – an automaton army, robots. Considered Lethal Autonomous Weapons (LAWs), who have been trained, wait, programmed, to learn how to neutralize the enemy in war zones, so not as many soldiers come home in coffins. AI? Of course not. They are not that sophisticated, nor are their neural transmitters linked.
But wait? Aren’t they? In our desert camp, there is not one, but two murders, both attributed to a rogue unit. Scott and Maggie come in as CID agents to put the pieces together and decide if the machine or a man is responsible. There are twists and turns throughout this novel. In one moment, the reader thinks it’s the machine. In the next, it’s a human who has installed rogue programming. Reminiscent of Hal in 2001 – A Space Odyssey or Colossus – the Forbin Project, Star Wars – The Clone Wars, or Terminator 3 – Rise of the Machines? We are plunged into the depths of what could, may and will happen if we allow technology to override basic human reasoning.
Alex has done his father proud by bringing this one home and I, for one, look forward to him continuing the legacy of these novels. This fall...the book you want to read is The Tin Men.
PS: Let’s hope this one can become a movie!
I was fortunate to be able to get an advanced reading copy of this novel, but I will say that when it is released for publication in October of this year? Run, rush to your bookstore. Put it in your online shopping cart. Heck, pre-order it. Electronic or hard-copy? You’re going to want to read this one.
It is certainly a page-turner from beginning to end. But I have to say that from the mid-point on in this 364 page novel? I wasn’t going to put it down.
The Tin Men – an automaton army, robots. Considered Lethal Autonomous Weapons (LAWs), who have been trained, wait, programmed, to learn how to neutralize the enemy in war zones, so not as many soldiers come home in coffins. AI? Of course not. They are not that sophisticated, nor are their neural transmitters linked.
But wait? Aren’t they? In our desert camp, there is not one, but two murders, both attributed to a rogue unit. Scott and Maggie come in as CID agents to put the pieces together and decide if the machine or a man is responsible. There are twists and turns throughout this novel. In one moment, the reader thinks it’s the machine. In the next, it’s a human who has installed rogue programming. Reminiscent of Hal in 2001 – A Space Odyssey or Colossus – the Forbin Project, Star Wars – The Clone Wars, or Terminator 3 – Rise of the Machines? We are plunged into the depths of what could, may and will happen if we allow technology to override basic human reasoning.
Alex has done his father proud by bringing this one home and I, for one, look forward to him continuing the legacy of these novels. This fall...the book you want to read is The Tin Men.
PS: Let’s hope this one can become a movie!
December 3, 2025
This surprised me in the best way!
I need to start by saying I have not read the first 2 books in this series (I didn’t even know it was a series) and it did not detract from my understanding in any way. There were occasional references to prior events, but this book and this case are not directly connected to those events.
Scott Brody and Maggie Taylor are assigned to a case at Camp Hayden, a secretive military research camp in the middle of the desert, when an Army researcher is found dead in his lab. Initial evidence points to one of the LAWs, Lethal Autonomous Weapons (robots) being tested at the facility as the cause of death. Was it a weapons malfunction or a malicious attack?
The authors did a phenomenal job navigating the military protocol and politics through the lens of Brody’s irreverent and sarcastic comments. As a civilian, it could be easy to get lost in military jargon, acronyms, and nuances of life in uniform that I would never know- but it was all addressed one layer/one tense situation at a time.
Similarly, they did an equally stellar job with the technology aspects. I don’t know much about AI or robotics or computer code, but I didn’t need to. The unfolding criminal investigation serves to enlighten both the reader and the MCs on the latest advancements in military tech being tested at Camp Hayden.
There’s a really great feeling of “wtf is actually going on around here?” that permeates this entire book as secrets and conspiracies come to light in each chapter. There’s great tension, really funny one liners, cut throat political jockeying, poignant moments of camaraderie and grief, creepy robots, and heart thumping action scenes. Can’t recommend this enough!
*Thank you Simon & Schuster for the gifted copy. All opinions are my own.
I need to start by saying I have not read the first 2 books in this series (I didn’t even know it was a series) and it did not detract from my understanding in any way. There were occasional references to prior events, but this book and this case are not directly connected to those events.
Scott Brody and Maggie Taylor are assigned to a case at Camp Hayden, a secretive military research camp in the middle of the desert, when an Army researcher is found dead in his lab. Initial evidence points to one of the LAWs, Lethal Autonomous Weapons (robots) being tested at the facility as the cause of death. Was it a weapons malfunction or a malicious attack?
The authors did a phenomenal job navigating the military protocol and politics through the lens of Brody’s irreverent and sarcastic comments. As a civilian, it could be easy to get lost in military jargon, acronyms, and nuances of life in uniform that I would never know- but it was all addressed one layer/one tense situation at a time.
Similarly, they did an equally stellar job with the technology aspects. I don’t know much about AI or robotics or computer code, but I didn’t need to. The unfolding criminal investigation serves to enlighten both the reader and the MCs on the latest advancements in military tech being tested at Camp Hayden.
There’s a really great feeling of “wtf is actually going on around here?” that permeates this entire book as secrets and conspiracies come to light in each chapter. There’s great tension, really funny one liners, cut throat political jockeying, poignant moments of camaraderie and grief, creepy robots, and heart thumping action scenes. Can’t recommend this enough!
*Thank you Simon & Schuster for the gifted copy. All opinions are my own.
October 29, 2025
Y’all. The Tin Men is part murder mystery, part military mind game, and part “holy AI apocalypse, Batman.” 🤖🔥 DeMille and DeMille throw us into the Mojave Desert, where the heat—and the secrets—are deadly.
Agents Scott Brodie and Maggie Taylor are back with razor-sharp banter, crackling chemistry, and zero patience for military nonsense. 💥 When a top scientist turns up dead amid robot war games, the duo dives into a maze of lies, tech, and testosterone.
You can taste the dust, smell the engine oil, and feel the AI tension humming in the air. The writing’s smart, punchy, and unsettlingly real. A touch long, but once it hits stride, it’s pure adrenaline.
Bottom line: smart, sweaty, and a little too close to our future for comfort. 💣
Thanks to Simon and Schuster for providing this copy via #NetGalley for my honest, voluntary review.
#TheTinMen
Agents Scott Brodie and Maggie Taylor are back with razor-sharp banter, crackling chemistry, and zero patience for military nonsense. 💥 When a top scientist turns up dead amid robot war games, the duo dives into a maze of lies, tech, and testosterone.
You can taste the dust, smell the engine oil, and feel the AI tension humming in the air. The writing’s smart, punchy, and unsettlingly real. A touch long, but once it hits stride, it’s pure adrenaline.
Bottom line: smart, sweaty, and a little too close to our future for comfort. 💣
Thanks to Simon and Schuster for providing this copy via #NetGalley for my honest, voluntary review.
#TheTinMen
October 10, 2025
The Tin Men marks the third outing for Army CID Special Agents Scott Brodie and Maggie Taylor, and, sadly, the final novel from Nelson DeMille, who passed in 2024. Co-written with his son Alex, this entry takes a turn no one saw coming: from military whodunit to full-on sci-fi actioner. Yes, sci-fi. Brodie and Taylor find themselves up against a platoon of K-2SO betas who clearly worship at the altar of the T-800. This is a bold swing for the DeMilles and mostly, it connects. The action is hot, Brodie and Taylor are cool, and there’s Dewars on ice.
When Brodie and Taylor are called to investigate the brutal murder of Major Roger Ames, head programmer of a top-secret project at the ultra-classified Camp Hayden, things go from “classified” to “completely unhinged.” The camp’s secret? A fleet of seven-foot-tall titanium soldiers straight out of LexCorp R&D, with each one faster, stronger, and deadlier than the last. Nicknamed the “Tin Men” and cheekily assigned baseball names (sadly, no John Kruk, or even an “A.I.-Rod”), these autonomous weapons were built for perfect combat execution. Naturally, that perfection comes with a body count that seems to be growing. But these AI bots are not supposed to be generative learning machines? Right.
The Tin Men carries the same investigative pulse as The Deserter and Blood Lines, but the robot uprising plot tilts it closer to James Cameron than classic DeMille. That said, Alex DeMille steps up admirably. He keeps the dialogue sharp, the pacing brisk, and gives Brodie and Taylor just enough new dimension to keep them interesting. Sure, Brodie’s juvenile one-liners are toned down, and Maggie disappears for a few too many chapters, but the transition of voice between father and son feels seamless and respectful.
The Tin Men is not quite Blood Lines strong — and yes, it sometimes plays out like an ‘80s action movie that escaped straight to VHS — but there’s charm in that. The Tin Men is clever, fast, and an adventurous read. For longtime readers, the thrill is less about the killer robots and more about the sendoff: a final mission for one of America’s most enjoyable thriller writers.
Godspeed, Nelson. Enjoy your heavenly Dewars.
And slainte to NetGalley and Simon & Schuster for the ARC. I am looking forward to what’s coming next from Alex DeMille.
This and many more reviews of Nelson DeMille thrillers can be chased up with scotch and ice on Read @ Joe's
When Brodie and Taylor are called to investigate the brutal murder of Major Roger Ames, head programmer of a top-secret project at the ultra-classified Camp Hayden, things go from “classified” to “completely unhinged.” The camp’s secret? A fleet of seven-foot-tall titanium soldiers straight out of LexCorp R&D, with each one faster, stronger, and deadlier than the last. Nicknamed the “Tin Men” and cheekily assigned baseball names (sadly, no John Kruk, or even an “A.I.-Rod”), these autonomous weapons were built for perfect combat execution. Naturally, that perfection comes with a body count that seems to be growing. But these AI bots are not supposed to be generative learning machines? Right.
The Tin Men carries the same investigative pulse as The Deserter and Blood Lines, but the robot uprising plot tilts it closer to James Cameron than classic DeMille. That said, Alex DeMille steps up admirably. He keeps the dialogue sharp, the pacing brisk, and gives Brodie and Taylor just enough new dimension to keep them interesting. Sure, Brodie’s juvenile one-liners are toned down, and Maggie disappears for a few too many chapters, but the transition of voice between father and son feels seamless and respectful.
The Tin Men is not quite Blood Lines strong — and yes, it sometimes plays out like an ‘80s action movie that escaped straight to VHS — but there’s charm in that. The Tin Men is clever, fast, and an adventurous read. For longtime readers, the thrill is less about the killer robots and more about the sendoff: a final mission for one of America’s most enjoyable thriller writers.
Godspeed, Nelson. Enjoy your heavenly Dewars.
And slainte to NetGalley and Simon & Schuster for the ARC. I am looking forward to what’s coming next from Alex DeMille.
This and many more reviews of Nelson DeMille thrillers can be chased up with scotch and ice on Read @ Joe's
October 25, 2025
Thank you to NetGalley for an advanced digital copy of this book.
Well, where do I start? This is Nelson DeMille's final book, written with and completed by his son, Alex. I have enjoyed Nelson DeMille's books for a long time and especially those featuring Army CID Special Agents Scott Brodie and Maggie Taylor. Although I HOPE this is not their last story, if it is, then it is a fitting ending to their saga.
When the story begins, Brodie and Taylor are sent to a very remote Army post hidden in the Mojave Desert, which few people in or out of the Army even know exists. A scientist assigned there to a top secret project has been brutally murdered and the Army needs answers. So their best investigative team is sent to find out what happened, why, and is there further danger. But finding out what happened is not as easy as it should be, as the place is so secretive that the various groups assigned to this project don't know what each other are doing. And someone, or a group of someones, knows too much.
The scientist's murder was done by a “lethal autonomous weapon”, most usually known as robots, and they are carrying out war games with an elite group of Army Rangers, who are losing, and losing badly to the robots EVERY TIME. The commanding general thinks the Rangers are just not trying hard enough, but the morale among the men is at rock bottom, and there has already been one suicide among them.
So what was the dead scientist working on in the middle of the night and in complete secrecy? Had he uncovered another, hidden, command built into the "autonomous weapons", and is that why he was killed by one of them? Or was he just careless in working the with weapon alone and got killed by accident?
This kept me glued to the book and as it went along I found it harder to put down. It also scared me, because some of this stuff seems to probably be actually in the works in the guise of "National Safety".
Well, where do I start? This is Nelson DeMille's final book, written with and completed by his son, Alex. I have enjoyed Nelson DeMille's books for a long time and especially those featuring Army CID Special Agents Scott Brodie and Maggie Taylor. Although I HOPE this is not their last story, if it is, then it is a fitting ending to their saga.
When the story begins, Brodie and Taylor are sent to a very remote Army post hidden in the Mojave Desert, which few people in or out of the Army even know exists. A scientist assigned there to a top secret project has been brutally murdered and the Army needs answers. So their best investigative team is sent to find out what happened, why, and is there further danger. But finding out what happened is not as easy as it should be, as the place is so secretive that the various groups assigned to this project don't know what each other are doing. And someone, or a group of someones, knows too much.
The scientist's murder was done by a “lethal autonomous weapon”, most usually known as robots, and they are carrying out war games with an elite group of Army Rangers, who are losing, and losing badly to the robots EVERY TIME. The commanding general thinks the Rangers are just not trying hard enough, but the morale among the men is at rock bottom, and there has already been one suicide among them.
So what was the dead scientist working on in the middle of the night and in complete secrecy? Had he uncovered another, hidden, command built into the "autonomous weapons", and is that why he was killed by one of them? Or was he just careless in working the with weapon alone and got killed by accident?
This kept me glued to the book and as it went along I found it harder to put down. It also scared me, because some of this stuff seems to probably be actually in the works in the guise of "National Safety".
September 3, 2025
It's the near-future, and a secret military base is involved in experiments with teams of autonomous, AI-powered, superhuman “Tin Men” combat robots that are being trained in combat scenarios against an elite military squadron. It's the promise of a bloodless war, where our soldiers are involved in the clean-up, not the combat. But something's gone wrong, a soldier has died, and no one's talking about what could have caused the death. Time for Army CID special agents Scott Brodie and Maggie Taylor to investigate, with their inimitable approach and Scott's crude and amusing commentary. Are the combat 'bots going rogue, or are there people on base who are conducting a completely different experiment with AI robots versus the elite military troops?
I found this topical thriller a great read: Alex has definitely found a way to slot into his father's writing style so that it ranks with one of the better Nelson DeMille action novels. The tech is believable, the dialogue is crisp and entertaining, and while the story gets a bit overblown, it's forgiven as part of what makes a solid summer read. If you're a fan of action thrillers with some sarcasm and snark regarding current political events and perspectives, I predict that you'll quite enjoy "The Tin Men".
I found this topical thriller a great read: Alex has definitely found a way to slot into his father's writing style so that it ranks with one of the better Nelson DeMille action novels. The tech is believable, the dialogue is crisp and entertaining, and while the story gets a bit overblown, it's forgiven as part of what makes a solid summer read. If you're a fan of action thrillers with some sarcasm and snark regarding current political events and perspectives, I predict that you'll quite enjoy "The Tin Men".
November 6, 2025
THE TIN MEN is the 3rd book in a series featuring CID Army investigators Scott Brodie and Maggie Taylor. Their relationship gives an extra layer of interest to this military thriller. On a remote army base, Army Rangers are perfecting a new type of lethal weapon, one much stronger than a human soldier. A murder occurs, and Scott and Maggie are sent in to investigate. I enjoyed the entire story and the true-to-life workings of the military with its chain of command.
Reading The Tin Men by Nelson and Alex DeMille was a nostalgic return to visit family. I began reading Nelson DeMille’s books over 30 years ago when I stumbled across THE GOLD COAST. The master writer collaborated with son Alex during the beginning outline and writing of this book, but sadly, he passed away before publication of THE TIN MEN. I still hear his voice, sarcastic and often bawdy, in many of these lines, especially in the words of Scott.
Reading The Tin Men by Nelson and Alex DeMille was a nostalgic return to visit family. I began reading Nelson DeMille’s books over 30 years ago when I stumbled across THE GOLD COAST. The master writer collaborated with son Alex during the beginning outline and writing of this book, but sadly, he passed away before publication of THE TIN MEN. I still hear his voice, sarcastic and often bawdy, in many of these lines, especially in the words of Scott.
September 8, 2025
Wow!! In the past I haven’t read a lot of thrillers or action-type books. However, this book captured my attention immediately with the writing style,
the timeliness of the story and well-developed characters who I could picture vividly in my mind. The authors had described them all so well. The narrative even has sprinkles of laugh out loud humor. Stocked full of suspense, there were times where I found myself holding my breath in anticipation of what was going to happen next. So many out of control moments ripe for explosions, driven by an expertly written plot. I was provided an ARC. Highly recommend!
the timeliness of the story and well-developed characters who I could picture vividly in my mind. The authors had described them all so well. The narrative even has sprinkles of laugh out loud humor. Stocked full of suspense, there were times where I found myself holding my breath in anticipation of what was going to happen next. So many out of control moments ripe for explosions, driven by an expertly written plot. I was provided an ARC. Highly recommend!
July 7, 2025
READ MY FULL REVIEW AT Best Thriller Books
Make sure to check out the full review
Make sure to check out the full review
December 18, 2025
This absolutely cannot be the last Nelson DeMille! I was so sad to read of his death but am thankful he had the time with his son to write 3 books together. Alex, my most sincere condolences. You did a great job. Please continue this series. As with all Nelson DeMille's this was brilliant. I am going to go toss out all of the technology in this house. This book had me petrified!
December 19, 2025
I had taken a break for a number of years in reading Nelson DeMille books. In the ‘90 and ‘00’s I immediately went out and bought his books upon publication. I stop around 2010 because I felt his male characters were over the top sarcastic. When I heard about his death in 2024 I was saddened by it and heard he was working with his son on his last book as he was dying. Well I received a copy of Tin Men from NetGalley ( thank you) and I must Day this was an excellent mystery and thriller. Bot and AI are a key storyline on this one. Alex did an excellent job finishing the story for his dad. He would be very proud of Alex and the final product.
November 4, 2025
Great, plausible story of AI robots (and the humans connected to them) going awry. In particular, I loved the ending, and I was surprised by it.
November 22, 2025
3.75 I loved the concept- had me thinking! And of course terrified about the future, and use of technology in war.
December 1, 2025
I'm not into robots or autonomous warfare. DeMille is one of the best but this topic not for me. If not for Brodie and Taylor I wouldn't have read as much as I did. I had to quit. I just read Wild Robot and was much more enjoyable
October 27, 2025
Instead of continuing and advancing the franchise of the jacked-up and undefeatable killing machine, Sylvester Stallone left Rambo in the moondust of Afghanistan and turned instead to another jacked-up and undefeatable killing machine, albeit without the extrajudicial murders and executions. With one keen eye to the long walk, JUDGE DREDD took law to the lawless from the comics to the silver screen in the mid-90s, JUDGE DREDD brazenly declared that he IS the law in a futuristic new way to interpret and execute the judicial system in a failed society. They way things are going, Lethal Autonomous Weapons, the LAW in THE TIN MEN might as well become defacto law in western society. With murder most foul at a top secret project in the middle of the Mojave desert, it becomes clear that THE TIN MEN can't be reasoned with, can't be bargained with, they don't feel pity or pain or remorse, and that they will not stop. Ever. Unless someone pulls the plug. The US Army's best and brightest stand up for America's future in Nelson DeMille's latest and last thriller, a brutal, frightening, and shocking RAGE AGAINST THE MACHINE. And THE TIN MEN must be stopped.
In the dark recess of the national security state and far from the reach of military justice is where the U.S. Army and DARPA dream up one possible future deep in California's desert on federal land. Camp Hayden, somewhere east of Fort Irwin, is a place with more infighting than junior high, though it's stacked with Army brass, DARPA dudes, five dozen armed Rangers, and a PLATOON of killer robots. Initially hesitant, Scott Brodie and Maggie Taylor, the two most talented and hardworking special agents in US Army CID, know the case that's handed to them doesn't look good and what the military's top scientists and engineers do in the name of progress and preparedness is absolutely grim. Both owners of intense personalities, problems with authority, and a tendency to strike out on their own under dangerous circumstances, with no regard for personal safety or legal jurisdiction, Taylor and Brodie are trained but not tamed, and ready to pounce on the case, ensure that the truth isn't outrun by self-serving lies, and peer through the darkness that is the black hole at Camp Hayden and its military secrets. Until then, it's 'Trust no one' as they only have each other in what looks to be a salad bar full of Bronze Stars or better in the making.
Reiterating TERMINATOR 2's leitmotif that it's mankind's nature to destroy itself, THE TIN MEN argues that the LAWs (Lethal Autonomous Weapons) exist to protect the world from the tragedy of inevitable history, spewing, for plot purposes, the same snake oil of every tyrant in the world's past. A chilling homage to James Cameron's prophetic rise of the machines, a plague of armed robots to hunt the living, tech advances to make war more humane, THE TIN MEN is a ripping, mind-bending read. Arguing that killer robots must be built so that America can haunt the dreams of her enemies before they can do it first, THE TIN MEN chronicles a possible new arms race with robotics tech, reading in parts like a Crichton techno-thriller extraordinaire. In fact, the parallels to Michael Crichton's 2022 novel PREY are downright eerie among infighting, backstabbing, psychological torture and killer machines. Steeped in military culture thanks to DeMille's service during the Vietnam War, THE TIN MEN has quite the bone to pick with Junior NCOs, NCIS, military leadership, plus VR goggles and the people who use them. Somewhat like A FEW GOOD MEN minus the 'Code Red' and just a smidge different, THE TIN MEN insists that history doesn't end, that a reactionary mind is a closed mind, sex and murder often go hand in hand, that the world's a beautiful mess, and until you're dead there's always hope. Hinting that maybe everything about THE TIN MEN is a psy-OP, what remains is that the desert is the US Army's fav place to hide secret and bury mistakes--Pandora's box is open and violence and death was unleashed on Camp Hayden. It's a race against time and a horde of killer robots, and it's vintage DeMille with a savage modern twist. Honor the legacy, protect the future and face THE TIN MEN.
Big thanks to Alex DeMille, Nelson DeMille (RIP), NetGalley, Simon & Schuster for the ARC. <3
November 2, 2025
In this gripping thriller, the third to feature Scott Brodie and Maggie Taylor, the CID warrant officers are sent to Camp Hayden to investigate the death of Major Roger Ames. It’s been reported that Ames was killed by one of the camp’s autonomous weapons, a seven-foot-tall human-shaped titanium robot called a D-17.
Camp Hayden has been revived specially for this top-secret program. The military wants the D-17s tested for use in warfare, and the Rangers here provide the enemy combatants for the exercises. When Brodie and Taylor arrive, the score is Rangers 0 – Robots 67. That’s 67 combat engagements, and 67 times the Rangers have lost. To the army, it’s called success. To the Rangers, it’s called disaster. Morale is tanking, substance abuse is rising, and protocol is not being followed. All of this can --- and does --- lead to a catastrophic tragedy.
Both Brodie and Taylor have seen combat in their careers. Neither expected to see more of it at Camp Hayden. They’re aware that their job can be dangerous. But if this was a death caused by a machine that malfunctioned, finding out how it happened shouldn’t be too perilous for the likes of Brodie and Taylor. However, they are in uncharted waters when it comes to this sort of technology. By design, the D-17s are lethal, so safeguards had to be built in --- a key inserted in each one to turn it on; a two-person access to the Vault, where they are stored; manacles attached to each unit when they are dormant. But are the robots themselves stronger than the restraints placed on them? Brodie begins to suspect they are. Add in the almost perverted humor of naming these monsters after baseball greats. Are they trying to humanize their opponents, maybe in hopes that the Rangers will underestimate them?
The CID officers immediately launch their investigation. The sooner they can get out of there, the better. Something about the place feels sinister. Of course, now that one of the D-17s has gone rogue, all further combat exercises are suspended, and all personnel are confined to quarters. It makes it easy to interview whoever they wish but tough to see the normal activities and functions of the machines. To an extent, the people who want answers are also impeding their progress. Brodie and Taylor are convinced that at least one person on base sabotaged the system and set the fleet of robots on a future killing rampage. Finding out who will be the tough part. And once the programming of the D17s is modified, there is no safe place at Camp Hayden to hide.
THE TIN MEN is a grim look into the future of warfare, which I hope never comes to fruition. The robots in this novel terrify me to my core. Technology, though, is advancing so fast that I fear we already may be capable of creating automatons such as these. But a machine with the capacity to do what the D17s can do in this story, without the counterbalance of mercy, compassion or any number of other human emotions, just might foretell the end of us.
In his long and prolific writing career, the incomparable Nelson DeMille gave his readers a library of many excellent books. He was a master of espionage novels, thrillers and suspense. It will be hard to go on without Nelson, who passed away last year after a nine-month battle with esophageal cancer. In the last several years, he brought in his son, Alex DeMille, to write with him, which has made the stories even better.
Sadly, though, THE TIN MEN is Nelson’s final gift to us. But what a wonderful gift it is. I hope that Alex will continue to follow in his father’s footsteps. Sure, he has some big shoes to fill, but I am confident he will succeed.
Reviewed by Kate Ayers
Camp Hayden has been revived specially for this top-secret program. The military wants the D-17s tested for use in warfare, and the Rangers here provide the enemy combatants for the exercises. When Brodie and Taylor arrive, the score is Rangers 0 – Robots 67. That’s 67 combat engagements, and 67 times the Rangers have lost. To the army, it’s called success. To the Rangers, it’s called disaster. Morale is tanking, substance abuse is rising, and protocol is not being followed. All of this can --- and does --- lead to a catastrophic tragedy.
Both Brodie and Taylor have seen combat in their careers. Neither expected to see more of it at Camp Hayden. They’re aware that their job can be dangerous. But if this was a death caused by a machine that malfunctioned, finding out how it happened shouldn’t be too perilous for the likes of Brodie and Taylor. However, they are in uncharted waters when it comes to this sort of technology. By design, the D-17s are lethal, so safeguards had to be built in --- a key inserted in each one to turn it on; a two-person access to the Vault, where they are stored; manacles attached to each unit when they are dormant. But are the robots themselves stronger than the restraints placed on them? Brodie begins to suspect they are. Add in the almost perverted humor of naming these monsters after baseball greats. Are they trying to humanize their opponents, maybe in hopes that the Rangers will underestimate them?
The CID officers immediately launch their investigation. The sooner they can get out of there, the better. Something about the place feels sinister. Of course, now that one of the D-17s has gone rogue, all further combat exercises are suspended, and all personnel are confined to quarters. It makes it easy to interview whoever they wish but tough to see the normal activities and functions of the machines. To an extent, the people who want answers are also impeding their progress. Brodie and Taylor are convinced that at least one person on base sabotaged the system and set the fleet of robots on a future killing rampage. Finding out who will be the tough part. And once the programming of the D17s is modified, there is no safe place at Camp Hayden to hide.
THE TIN MEN is a grim look into the future of warfare, which I hope never comes to fruition. The robots in this novel terrify me to my core. Technology, though, is advancing so fast that I fear we already may be capable of creating automatons such as these. But a machine with the capacity to do what the D17s can do in this story, without the counterbalance of mercy, compassion or any number of other human emotions, just might foretell the end of us.
In his long and prolific writing career, the incomparable Nelson DeMille gave his readers a library of many excellent books. He was a master of espionage novels, thrillers and suspense. It will be hard to go on without Nelson, who passed away last year after a nine-month battle with esophageal cancer. In the last several years, he brought in his son, Alex DeMille, to write with him, which has made the stories even better.
Sadly, though, THE TIN MEN is Nelson’s final gift to us. But what a wonderful gift it is. I hope that Alex will continue to follow in his father’s footsteps. Sure, he has some big shoes to fill, but I am confident he will succeed.
Reviewed by Kate Ayers
October 27, 2025
There's always hope...until you're dead.
Army CID Special Agents Scott Brodie and Maggie Taylor have developed a reputation as the go-to team when assignments go beyond the run-of-the-mill, so when their boss calls them into his office they suspect they are about to get another of "those" cases. When they are told to completely clear the rest of their caseload in preparation for the new assignment, they know that it doesn't bode well. They are being sent to Camp Hayden, a highly classified and very remote military training facility in the Mojave Desert, to investigate the death of the head scientist there. The catch? He was killed by what is being called a lethal autonomous weapon...in layman's terms, a robotic soldier, a prototype for what could be the next platform of war. What everyone hopes was just an accident, an equipment malfunction or a computer glitz, may have been much more than that. Brodie and Taylor are about to find themselves in a quagmire of warring factions on the base, a small group of scientists who are passionate about their project and the possibilities it presents versus the commanding officer and his squads of Rangers who have grown increasingly frustrated at their inability to overcome the precision machines which are supposedly there to help train the Rangers but instead seem to be the ones benefitting from the training. Can the CID agents determine whether the scientist's death was in fact an accident or a cold-blooded murder? If the latter, which of the people on base was responsible....or did the intent to kill have a non-human origin, and if so will they make it off the base alive?
The Tin Men is the third in the Brodie/Taylor series co-written by Nelson DeMille and his son Alex, and after the death of the father iduring the writing of this outing it will be the last to be co-written by the pair (although one hopes that Alex will continue the series). Fans of the senior DeMille will recognize the wiseacre, politically incorrect type of protagonist (in this case Robie) for which he was well-known, as well as the timely and plausible theme that drives the thriller. In a world where AI is a topic of fierce debate and high interest, the thought of a fleet of AI-driven humanoid machines is hardly the stuff of science fiction anymore. The question here is posed...what are the pros and cons of the endeavor, and what happens if unexpected consequences arise? Not entirely new ethical ground (Jurassic Park, anyone?) but it is interesting to insert the man vs machine debate onto the (simulated) battlefield. The novel is a fast paced page turner, and while at times the people at Camp Hayden overseeing the project seemed to suffer from a surplus of idealism and a distinct lack of common sense (especially those responsible for ensuring the safety of the the personnel on base) I found it an enjoyable read that was hard to put down once started. Is it the very best Nelson DeMille? Probably not...but it was a very good one indeed, especially knowing that it was his last (my condolences to his son Alex and the rest of the family). In addition to fans of either Mr. DeMille and/or this series, readers of Lee Child, Mark Greaney and John Sandford will likely enjoy this tale of military intrigue, burgeoning technological advances and a pair of investigators whose sarcastic banter doesn't detract from their sharp skills. Many thanks to NetGalley and Simon & Schuster for allowing me access to this thought-provoking thriller in exchange for my honest review.
Army CID Special Agents Scott Brodie and Maggie Taylor have developed a reputation as the go-to team when assignments go beyond the run-of-the-mill, so when their boss calls them into his office they suspect they are about to get another of "those" cases. When they are told to completely clear the rest of their caseload in preparation for the new assignment, they know that it doesn't bode well. They are being sent to Camp Hayden, a highly classified and very remote military training facility in the Mojave Desert, to investigate the death of the head scientist there. The catch? He was killed by what is being called a lethal autonomous weapon...in layman's terms, a robotic soldier, a prototype for what could be the next platform of war. What everyone hopes was just an accident, an equipment malfunction or a computer glitz, may have been much more than that. Brodie and Taylor are about to find themselves in a quagmire of warring factions on the base, a small group of scientists who are passionate about their project and the possibilities it presents versus the commanding officer and his squads of Rangers who have grown increasingly frustrated at their inability to overcome the precision machines which are supposedly there to help train the Rangers but instead seem to be the ones benefitting from the training. Can the CID agents determine whether the scientist's death was in fact an accident or a cold-blooded murder? If the latter, which of the people on base was responsible....or did the intent to kill have a non-human origin, and if so will they make it off the base alive?
The Tin Men is the third in the Brodie/Taylor series co-written by Nelson DeMille and his son Alex, and after the death of the father iduring the writing of this outing it will be the last to be co-written by the pair (although one hopes that Alex will continue the series). Fans of the senior DeMille will recognize the wiseacre, politically incorrect type of protagonist (in this case Robie) for which he was well-known, as well as the timely and plausible theme that drives the thriller. In a world where AI is a topic of fierce debate and high interest, the thought of a fleet of AI-driven humanoid machines is hardly the stuff of science fiction anymore. The question here is posed...what are the pros and cons of the endeavor, and what happens if unexpected consequences arise? Not entirely new ethical ground (Jurassic Park, anyone?) but it is interesting to insert the man vs machine debate onto the (simulated) battlefield. The novel is a fast paced page turner, and while at times the people at Camp Hayden overseeing the project seemed to suffer from a surplus of idealism and a distinct lack of common sense (especially those responsible for ensuring the safety of the the personnel on base) I found it an enjoyable read that was hard to put down once started. Is it the very best Nelson DeMille? Probably not...but it was a very good one indeed, especially knowing that it was his last (my condolences to his son Alex and the rest of the family). In addition to fans of either Mr. DeMille and/or this series, readers of Lee Child, Mark Greaney and John Sandford will likely enjoy this tale of military intrigue, burgeoning technological advances and a pair of investigators whose sarcastic banter doesn't detract from their sharp skills. Many thanks to NetGalley and Simon & Schuster for allowing me access to this thought-provoking thriller in exchange for my honest review.
July 23, 2025
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 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.
December 30, 2025
The Tin Men opens on reports of homicide on the grounds of a remote desert Army outpost. Calls are exchanged at the highest command levels, and a pair of headstrong investigators, “both famous and infamous within the CID,” are assigned to the case. We meet Special Agents Scott Brodie and Maggie Taylor, described as “…two of the most talented and hardworking special agents,” reporting to their superior’s office.
We learn that the murder they are to investigate was committed by an AI-weaponized robot prototype right after Agent Taylor’s “effortless beauty” and “effortless intellect” is noted. Combine their brash independence and smart instincts with Agent Taylor’s plainly stated attractiveness (another female character is even dubbed “a real looker”), and it’s hard not to picture the rest of The Tin Men as an NCIS episode.
And when the Special Agents are introduced to the suspect robots, it’s hard not to recall scenes from the film I, Robot:
While solidly executed, The Tin Men reads like it was written for the screen, a limitation more of its genre than of the novel itself. Whereas the upcoming Wuthering Heights film has the capacity to reflect the depth of the novel, The Tin Men is confined by its on-screen counterparts. To be fair, with military investigators and artificial intelligence at its core, it was destined to default to NCIS. Again, the criticism lies more in how thoroughly the screen has reduced mass-market genres—thriller, mystery, suspense—into canned formula.
There’s even a stray HAL 9000 reference to set the AI tone. Expect mass-market genres to increasingly traffic in Artificial Intelligence narratives just as fears of nuclear war rippled through Cold War-era fiction. In the case of The Tin Men, the story isn’t grounded in much technical detail; a brief definition of Artificial General Intelligence is all we get early on. Instead, its murder mystery unravels as a cautionary tale of what might go wrong when a squad of AI-enabled combat robots breaks its human chain of command.
"They also had intense personalities, problems with authority, and a tendency to strike out on their own under dangerous circumstances, without regard for personal safety or legal jurisdiction.”
We learn that the murder they are to investigate was committed by an AI-weaponized robot prototype right after Agent Taylor’s “effortless beauty” and “effortless intellect” is noted. Combine their brash independence and smart instincts with Agent Taylor’s plainly stated attractiveness (another female character is even dubbed “a real looker”), and it’s hard not to picture the rest of The Tin Men as an NCIS episode.
And when the Special Agents are introduced to the suspect robots, it’s hard not to recall scenes from the film I, Robot:
“Running along each of the two long walls was a series of bays, thirty on either side, with each bay holding what could only be described as a robot – seven-foot-tall metallic humanoid machines with two arms, two legs, large torsos, and bucket-shaped heads.”
While solidly executed, The Tin Men reads like it was written for the screen, a limitation more of its genre than of the novel itself. Whereas the upcoming Wuthering Heights film has the capacity to reflect the depth of the novel, The Tin Men is confined by its on-screen counterparts. To be fair, with military investigators and artificial intelligence at its core, it was destined to default to NCIS. Again, the criticism lies more in how thoroughly the screen has reduced mass-market genres—thriller, mystery, suspense—into canned formula.
There’s even a stray HAL 9000 reference to set the AI tone. Expect mass-market genres to increasingly traffic in Artificial Intelligence narratives just as fears of nuclear war rippled through Cold War-era fiction. In the case of The Tin Men, the story isn’t grounded in much technical detail; a brief definition of Artificial General Intelligence is all we get early on. Instead, its murder mystery unravels as a cautionary tale of what might go wrong when a squad of AI-enabled combat robots breaks its human chain of command.
November 4, 2025
The Tin Men is the third collaboration between Nelson DeMille and his son, Alex DeMille — and sadly, it stands as Nelson DeMille’s final work. It continues the thrilling series featuring U.S. Army CID agents Scott Brodie and Maggie Taylor, following The Deserter and Blood Lines.
In this installment, Brodie and Taylor are sent on what might be their most dangerous assignment yet: investigating the mysterious death of a soldier at a remote desert military base known as Camp Hayden. The base is home to a classified program testing robotic soldiers designed for special operations missions. When one of these experimental machines reportedly goes rogue, killing a human soldier, Brodie and Taylor must determine whether the malfunction was accidental — or the result of something far more sinister.
Cut off from outside communication — with no cell phones, no computers, and only limited access to landlines — the investigators find themselves isolated and under surveillance, unsure whom they can trust. As they dig deeper, it becomes clear that both the human and robotic forces at Camp Hayden may pose deadly threats.
The DeMilles have crafted a fast-paced, suspenseful story filled with tension, smart dialogue, and the sharp wit fans expect from Nelson DeMille’s writing. The novel not only delivers gripping action but also raises timely and thought-provoking questions about artificial intelligence, ethics, and the militarization of technology. The way the book explores AI’s potential dangers — especially when used as a weapon — feels both relevant and unsettling in today’s world.
Scott and Maggie’s chemistry continues to shine. Their banter, contrasting personalities, and deep mutual respect bring heart and humor to the story. Scott’s experience and impulsive nature balance perfectly with Maggie’s discipline and insight, making them one of the more dynamic investigative duos in modern thrillers.
Although The Tin Men has been described as the final book in the Brodie and Taylor series, I hope Alex DeMille will continue his father’s legacy and carry the series forward. The characters and world they’ve built together still have plenty of life — and readers will certainly want more.
I want to thank Simon & Schuster for providing an advance copy of this novel. The Tin Man is a gripping, intelligent, and action-packed thriller that honors Nelson DeMille’s legacy while showcasing Alex DeMille’s growing voice as a writer. It’s a must-read for fans of military and techno-thrillers.
In this installment, Brodie and Taylor are sent on what might be their most dangerous assignment yet: investigating the mysterious death of a soldier at a remote desert military base known as Camp Hayden. The base is home to a classified program testing robotic soldiers designed for special operations missions. When one of these experimental machines reportedly goes rogue, killing a human soldier, Brodie and Taylor must determine whether the malfunction was accidental — or the result of something far more sinister.
Cut off from outside communication — with no cell phones, no computers, and only limited access to landlines — the investigators find themselves isolated and under surveillance, unsure whom they can trust. As they dig deeper, it becomes clear that both the human and robotic forces at Camp Hayden may pose deadly threats.
The DeMilles have crafted a fast-paced, suspenseful story filled with tension, smart dialogue, and the sharp wit fans expect from Nelson DeMille’s writing. The novel not only delivers gripping action but also raises timely and thought-provoking questions about artificial intelligence, ethics, and the militarization of technology. The way the book explores AI’s potential dangers — especially when used as a weapon — feels both relevant and unsettling in today’s world.
Scott and Maggie’s chemistry continues to shine. Their banter, contrasting personalities, and deep mutual respect bring heart and humor to the story. Scott’s experience and impulsive nature balance perfectly with Maggie’s discipline and insight, making them one of the more dynamic investigative duos in modern thrillers.
Although The Tin Men has been described as the final book in the Brodie and Taylor series, I hope Alex DeMille will continue his father’s legacy and carry the series forward. The characters and world they’ve built together still have plenty of life — and readers will certainly want more.
I want to thank Simon & Schuster for providing an advance copy of this novel. The Tin Man is a gripping, intelligent, and action-packed thriller that honors Nelson DeMille’s legacy while showcasing Alex DeMille’s growing voice as a writer. It’s a must-read for fans of military and techno-thrillers.
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