The Lion’s Game by Nelson DeMille is a tedious, nerve-racking thriller. The Lion’s Game is the second book in the John Corey series. In Plum Island, John Corey was just a New York detective. Thanks to the events in that book, John is now part of an Anti-terrorist Task Force. The book starts with a horrible plane incident. This will make you instantly hate the villain for a terrorist act. He’s just getting started. The book shows you just how many meetings you would have to have if there were an international terrorist attack. It also reveals how many agencies would still cling to their secrets. The story gives the hero and the villain equal time. We know exactly why the villain is committing the terrorist act and his plan. The heroes do not have all the information, but can they figure it out in time to stop the terrorist? The Lion’s Game moved pretty fast for a 926-page book, thanks to that terrifying opening. I feel the book could have lost 100 pages in detail alone. DeMille approaches this book with seriousness. He provides extreme detail on the implications of such an event. The Lion’s Game is a lot more detective work than Plum Island, which was a little more action-packed. The ending was good. I did want a little bit more. However, the story lived up to its cat-and-mouse game from the beginning. The Lion’s Game was published January 6, 2000.

Plot Summary: John Corey has been promoted from New York Detective to an Anti-Terrorist Task Force. John waits with his team. A Libyan informant, Asad, also known as The Lion, is flying from Paris to America. The Flight comes in on time but with radio silence. The radio has been dead the entire time. The agents bringing the Lion to America will not answer their cell phones. The Task Force calls the Port Authority and the FBI. John Corey and the task force have to stay away since they do not know the situation. The plane on the ground still has no contact. The captain and the co-pilot do not move. An investigator puts on a hazmat suit to check out the plane. When he enters, he finds all souls are lost. It seems to be a gas leak that has killed all. The investigator remains on board and has the plane towed to the hangar so they can set up a morgue. John Corey can feel something is off, and needs to get on the plane. Kate, an FBI agent and part of the task force he convinces them to override orders. The investigator on the plane finds out that not everyone has died, as he is quickly killed. John makes it to the plane. The medical crew and baggage handlers are all starting to get on the plane in hazmat suits. John says this is a crime scene, which makes everyone get off the plane. John finds out too late that he let the Lion off the plane. The Lion has a mission from the Libyan government, one that sends a message to America. The mission is also a personal one for the Lion, who relishes payback. John Corey must find out what the mission is and how to stop it.

What I Liked: the switchback style of this book, mainly from Detective Corey’s and the Lion’s perspective. DeMille did a great job of showing the terrorist’s motivation. At certain points, you feel sorry for him. You understand how religion and authority manipulate him and his view. The Lion is a scared kid who had to grow up to be a man one fateful day. One of the best scenes is when he starts feeling compassion for the female pilot. He begins to love her but she knows too much. The scene makes him question his mission for a brief moment. That flight and car ride is very tense. The audience knows how fast he can kill. This woman has broken something in him. Another great scene is when the pilot can’t keep his mouth shut about the secret mission. The Lion struggles not to kill him early. If he kills him, it would mess up his mission. The pilot even insults his family and religion. The plane scene was done very well. It is an excellent way to open this book. It establishes just how dangerous the Lion is. John Corey is a fun character; he is full of himself and not politically correct at all. Yet, there is some charm to him. He is an asshole to everybody and doesn’t pick sides. Corey is scary when he turns off the charm and acts serious. He has a scary interrogation scene. He needs the information that a suspect is keeping. He tells no jokes and brutally gets the information. The Lion’s plan is explained very well. The flashback was written very well. I liked the character of Boris, the ex-KGB. The character is a lovable snake, he reminded me of Villanelle’s handler from the TV show Killing Eve.

What I Disliked: John and Kate’s relationship was way too fast. Kate has never settled for anyone. Suddenly, she is all about marriage with John Corey. This is not a safe bet because he is still dating Beth Primrose. The book is a little too detailed. I liked the procedural detail, but could have gone without all the landscape detail when the Lion was flying. The book could have dropped 100 pages. It would have told the same story (note: I did say the same thing about Plum Island). This book was written a year and a half before 9/11. There is a storyline about a failed plot to destroy the Twin Towers.

Recommendation: The Lion’s Game is a very solid thriller. The story is more of chess moves than of action. The plot is simple but told very well. The story is a revenge thriller. However, instead of the guy taking revenge as the good guy, he is the bad guy. I would recommend this book to people who like the wisecracking detective novel with action and mystery. The story will make you feel some empathy for the villain. John Corey puts it best when he finds everything out, I understand, but also I don’t care. I will continue the John Corey series soon. There’s a book called I am Pilgrim by Terry Hayes that is similar to the style of The Lion’s Game. I feel they go hand in hand.

Rating: The Lion’s Game by Nelson DeMille 4.0 out of 5 stars. The Lion’s Game was a reread for me. The first time I read both Plum Island and The Lion’s Game, I liked Plum Island more. This time, I like The Lion’s Game a lot more.