The Deserter: A Novel

Nelson DeMille · Alex DeMille

Oct 2019 · Scott Brodie & Maggie Taylor Series Book 1 · Sold by Simon and Schuster

About this ebook

*NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER*

An “outstanding” (Publishers Weekly, starred review) blistering thriller featuring a brilliant and unorthodox Army investigator, his enigmatic female partner, and their hunt for the Army’s most notorious—and dangerous—deserter from #1 New York Times bestselling author Nelson DeMille and Alex DeMille.

When Captain Kyle Mercer of the Army’s elite Delta Force disappeared from his post in Afghanistan, a video released by his Taliban captors made international headlines. But circumstances were murky: Did Mercer desert before he was captured? Then a second video sent to Mercer’s Army commanders leaves no doubt: the trained assassin and keeper of classified Army intelligence has willfully disappeared.

When Mercer is spotted a year later in Caracas, Venezuela, by an old Army buddy, top military brass task Scott Brodie and Maggie Taylor of the Criminal Investigation Division to fly to Venezuela and bring Mercer back to America—preferably alive. Brodie knows this is a difficult mission, made more difficult by his new partner’s inexperience, by their undeniable chemistry, and by Brodie’s suspicion that Maggie Taylor is reporting to the CIA.

With ripped-from-the-headlines appeal, an exotic and dangerous locale, and the hairpin twists and inimitable humor that are signature DeMille, The Deserter is the first in a timely and thrilling new series from an unbeatable team of True Masters: the #1 New York Times bestseller Nelson DeMille and his son, award-winning screenwriter Alex DeMille.

Ratings and reviews

Loved this book! It has a tightly woven plot and engaging characters, from the rule ignoring, Scott, to the "good girl" Maggie, who has secrets of her own. When, as CID officers, they are assigned to go to Venezuela to find, arrest, and bring back to the US for trial, Kyle Mercer, a Delta Force operative that deserted his post and has not been found. A random siting in a bar brought them to Venezuela, but all the players involved seem to have multiple agendas. The characters are engaging and, especially Scott, funny at times, even as he is bucking authority as he does his job. I found myself engrossed in their story and wanting them to survive it intact. If you enjoy the genre, you will love this book. The author is a master at his craft and this book reflects that. Put this one on your must read list.

Good but ended too rushed without resolving how they get out of the jungle.

I loved this book. Could not put it down. Always at the edge of my seat waiting to find what happens next.

About the author

Nelson DeMille was the New York Times bestselling author of twenty-three novels, seven of which were #1 New York Times bestsellers. His novels include The Maze, The Deserter (written with Alex DeMille), The Cuban Affair, Word of Honor, Plum Island, The Charm School, The Gold Coast, and The General’s Daughter, which was made into a major motion picture, starring John Travolta and Madeleine Stowe. He has written short stories, book reviews, and articles for magazines and newspapers. Nelson DeMille was a combat-decorated US Army veteran, a member of Mensa, Poets & Writers, and the Authors Guild, and past president of the Mystery Writers of America. He was also a member of the International Thriller Writers, who honored him as 2015 ThrillerMaster of the Year. Nelson DeMille passed away in 2024.

Alex DeMille is a director, film editor, and author of the New York Times bestselling novel The Deserter (written with Nelson DeMille). He grew up on Long Island and received a BA from Yale University and an MFA in film directing from UCLA. He has won multiple awards and fellowships for his screenplays and films, including The Absence, which was named Best Film at Comic-Con in 2012. He has edited numerous commercials, shorts, and independent feature films, among them My Nephew Emmett, which was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Live Action Short in 2018. He lives in Brooklyn with his wife and daughter.