Wild Fire by Nelson DeMille is about a secret society that runs and influences America. They plot to make America start a nuclear war by launching the Wild Fire protocol. Wild Fire is book four in the John Corey series. John Cory is a retired police detective and current member of the Anti-Terrorist Task Force. John Corey is back to his wisecracking ways. The last book, Night Fall, was written right after 9/11, and the character was a bit too serious. I understand why he was more serious, but I wanted the old John Corey back, and Wild Fire delivered on that. Wild Fire has a wild plot and a great villain in Bain Maddox.
I always say that what makes a great villain is that they see themselves as the hero of the story. Bain Maddox is an ultra-rich oil baron who is angry at 9/11 and wants to obliterate Islam. He has the political pull and backing to accomplish it, but at the price of millions of dead Americans, he can blame it on Islam. Bain Maddox is written with such confidence and arrogance that his persona feels as slick as his greased back hair. Maddox and Corey have some explosive scenes together as the two alpha personas duke it out. John Corey says, “I might just like the guy if I didn’t think he murdered my friend.”
I like that the book follows two perspectives: Harry Mullens, who is the first investigator into Bain Maddox, and John Corey, who takes over the investigation. The pacing of the story was steady. DeMille does tend to overexplain, but I found the information interesting. DeMille will repeat plot points but will throw in something new or have a new way to look at things. The ending of the novel was tense and very satisfying. Wild Fire by Nelson DeMille was first published on November 6, 2006.

Why did I read Wild Fire by Nelson DeMille? I have read 4 Nelson DeMille books before Wild Fire. The books are very easy to picture and read, but he writes inter-agency bureaucracy so well. The turmoil feels very real and lived in. Wild Fire is the fourth book in the John Corey series. I have read and enjoyed most of the books so far. I read and share most of my books with my older father-in-law. He comes from John Corey’s era and loves the character. I like reading and sharing our thoughts.

Plot Summary: Harry Mullens and John Corey are both current members of the Anti-Terrorist Task Force, but both men are retired police detectives. That bond is special. Harry Mullens takes an assignment originally meant for John Corey and does not come back. The details about the Custer Hill Club are sparse. The leader of the club is Bain Maddox, a conservative oilman with many political and business ties. He has a lot of wealth and power. Harry was ordered to infiltrate the premises without a warrant and to record and report on all the members who showed up at the meeting. Harry is caught and learns Bain Maddox’s plot to nuke America and blame it on Islam. America has a program that will retaliate with Nuclear force called Wild Fire. Wild Fire is an automatic nuclear response to America’s enemies after an American attack. John Corey has to solve the case of Harry Mullins and Bain Maddox’s master plan.

What I Liked: The bad guy, Bain Maddox, is good. The arrogance and confidence ease out of him. He believes he is untouchable. I like that Kate is starting to match John’s sass. I loved how they worked as a team. The ending gives Kate a truly badass moment. The plot is very smart. DeMille might repeat him self a little too often, but I was never lost on what was going on. The way the story is told was bold. The reader knows mostly everything in Maddox’s plan. But the tension is in, can John and Kate solve it before the bomb goes off? John Corey, the character, is very politically incorrect, but his sense of right and wrong is morally sound. He doesn’t play by anybody’s rules but his own. My favorite line exchange is: “Why do you like to play stupid?” “It’s a good cover for when I really am stupid.”

What I Disliked: The repetition is sometimes a little too much. The bear jokes are funny for a little while, but they have grown old. I was bummed we never saw John meet a bear. I thought that was what the jokes were setting up. At the end, something has to do with bears, just not that. I wanted more of a sense of urgency. Nuclear war is on the brink.

Recommendation: Wild Fire by Nelson DeMille is a humor-filled thriller with a steady pace. Demille possesses the political inside knowledge of Tom Clancy. His lead investigator adds humor reminiscent of a drunk uncle. I think this is the best book in the series in terms of balancing political intrigue and humor. Wild Fire is my favorite John Corey book so far.

Rating: Wild Fire by Nelson DeMille. I rated 4.2 out of 5.

Ranking: I have read 5 books by Nelson DeMille. Four of the books are a part of the John Corey series. I will first rank the three books in the John Corey series. Then I will do a full ranking of all the Nelson DeMille books. John Corey series ranking: 1) Wild Fire, 2) The Lion’s Game, 3) Plum Island, and 4) Night Fall. All Nelson DeMille books ranking: 1) Wild Fire, 2) The Lion’s Game, 3) Cathedral, 4) Plum Island, and 5) Night Fall.