Blood Lines

U.S. Army Criminal Investigation Division agents Scott Brodie and Maggie Taylor return in this spirited follow-up to 2019’s The Deserter from father-son duo Nelson and Alex DeMille. This time out, Brodie and Taylor investigate the murder of fellow CID agent Harry Vance, who’s been shot in the head in a Berlin park. After ruffling feathers during their last case, Brodie and Taylor hope that solving Vance’s murder will get them back in the agency’s good graces. However, the more they learn about Vance’s killing, the closer they get uncovering powerful secrets that some of their superiors would prefer to keep hidden. Once again, Brodie and Taylor chafe at the obstacles put in their way and become even more interested in the case once they’re kicked off of it. The DeMilles supply the plot with brisk action, stirring procedural details, and edifying glimpses at contemporary German politics, but it’s the complicated relationship between their witty, intelligent leads that makes this a winner. Readers will eagerly anticipate future cases involving this fascinating duo. (Oct.)