Nelson Demille

Nelson Richard DeMille was an American author known for his action-packed, suspenseful novels. DeMille's most notable works include Plum Island (1997), The Charm School (1988) and The General's Daughter (1992). He has been recognised as one of the leading writers of modern thrillers and has won awards such as ThrillerMaster of the Year 2015.

Nelson DeMille was born in New York City and raised on Long Island. He attended Elmont Memorial High School, participating in football and track.

After three years at Hofstra University, DeMille joined the United States Army, where he attended Officer Candidate School and served as an infantry platoon leader during the Vietnam War—his time in the military earned him the Air Medal, the Bronze Star and the Vietnamese Cross of Gallantry. Reflecting on this time, DeMille once said, "The military taught me discipline, which I carried into my writing career. After his service, he returned to Hofstra with a political science and history degree.

DeMille's writing career began with detective novels, but his first big success was By the Rivers of Babylon (1978), a political thriller set in the Middle East. The book remained in print for decades, as did his subsequent works. DeMille's novels are often characterised by their military or espionage themes, combining action with intelligent plotting. His sarcastic and world-weary protagonists, especially characters like John Corey, a recurring character in seven of his books, became fan favourites.

Plum Island (1997) introduced readers to Corey, an ex-NYPD detective, and marked the beginning of one of DeMille's most successful series.

Among his other successful works, The Charm School (1988) explored Cold War tensions by following an American who stumbles upon a Soviet camp where captured US pilots are being brainwashed. The novel cemented DeMille's reputation as a master of suspense. In The General's Daughter (1992), he tackled military corruption and a murder mystery. The book was later made into a 1999 Hollywood film starring John Travolta.

Throughout his career, DeMille co-wrote several works with his son Alex DeMille, including The Deserter (2019) and Blood Lines (2023).

DeMille died in September 2024 at the age of 81 from complications of oesophageal cancer. However, his work will continue posthumously with the release of The Tin Men in 2025.

Photo credit: nelsondemille.net