What do you think?
Rate this book
Scott Brodie & Maggie Taylor #3
The Tin Men: A Novel
NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER
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 intrigue, 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.
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 intrigue, 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.
384 pages, Kindle Edition
Published October 28, 2025
1443 people are currently reading
7820 people want to read
About the author
Nelson DeMille
261 books7,398 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.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 338 reviews
January 24, 2026
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 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.
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
January 30, 2026
The Tin men by Nelson Demille and Alex Demille is set on a top secret army base near Los Angeles and 2 agents are sent to investigate the murder of a scientist by a robot. In my opinion this book is very well written. They finally are able to escape from this army base and bring the people who are responsible for this to justice. I would recommend anyone who wants a good fiction book to read this one.
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.
January 5, 2026
Rip (literally) to one of my favorite authors. It's clear that his son (co-author) wrote most of this and it's not great. An overly simplistic linear storyline, shallow characters, insipid humor, less of the classic snark and just kind of hollow. I should have stopped at the first Siri + robot joke. Time for new things and we’ll always have the memories and stories of classic DeMille.
January 30, 2026
Outstanding!!!!! Scary and thought provoking. Are we really headed down this road? I really enjoyed this book. I’m gonna miss Alex‘s dad‘s, but it looks to me like Alex is going to do just well on his own and make his dad proud. Highly recommend this book and series with Brodie and Maggie
January 6, 2026
Nelson DeMille has been among my favorites and sad to hear of his passing. His son however seems promising and likely to keep the legacy alive. The book is about using modern technology in warfare. Why not use robots or autonomous weapon systems. And if properly programmed with the right directives, what could go wrong?
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.
January 11, 2026
I’ve loved Nelson DeMille since the 80’s. Sad that this will be his last work.
DeMille is as prescient as ever in this tale of artificially intelligent war fighters. Absolutely chilling.
I listened to a great portion of this because I was on a road trip and the narrator was awful. Cueing off the military involvement, he leaned into a very rigid, super assertive tone. Completely missed the jazzy swagger of Scott Brodie.
DeMille is as prescient as ever in this tale of artificially intelligent war fighters. Absolutely chilling.
I listened to a great portion of this because I was on a road trip and the narrator was awful. Cueing off the military involvement, he leaned into a very rigid, super assertive tone. Completely missed the jazzy swagger of Scott Brodie.
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
December 7, 2025
AI is scary as hell! The first book I read of Nelson DeMille’s was “The Gold Coast” and I’ve been hooked ever since. Though my favorite is “By the Rivers of Babylon.” Rest in peace Mr DeMille. I particularly enjoy reading books about the military, I am a veteran and know all the ranks, acronyms, and weapons referenced, and the oath to the Constitution that is sadly being trampled upon by some in the administration and government. Longing for the day our country is at peace and respected around the world again.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 338 reviews