novelesque_life's review against another edition
3.0
3 STARS
"The poster boy of southern gothic thrillers' (Kirkus review) delivers a powerful and unforgettable reading experience with The Devil's Punchbowl, and he marks the return of Penn Cage, the popular protagonist of The Quiet Game and Turning Angel. The Devil's Punchbowl refers to a deep pit near the river in Natchez, Mississippi. Not only have outlaws dumped numerous murder victims there, but there is also a long-standing rumor that it is where Jean Lafitte buried his treasure. This is a dangerous place, a kudzu-strangled, snake- rat- and armadillo-infested hole so deep that the bottom can't be seen. Against this backdrop, Iles plunges the reader into a mix of murder, racial tension, double-crosses, illicit sex.and all of the ensuing violent consequences." (From Amazon)
Glad Penn is back but this one was just okay.
"The poster boy of southern gothic thrillers' (Kirkus review) delivers a powerful and unforgettable reading experience with The Devil's Punchbowl, and he marks the return of Penn Cage, the popular protagonist of The Quiet Game and Turning Angel. The Devil's Punchbowl refers to a deep pit near the river in Natchez, Mississippi. Not only have outlaws dumped numerous murder victims there, but there is also a long-standing rumor that it is where Jean Lafitte buried his treasure. This is a dangerous place, a kudzu-strangled, snake- rat- and armadillo-infested hole so deep that the bottom can't be seen. Against this backdrop, Iles plunges the reader into a mix of murder, racial tension, double-crosses, illicit sex.and all of the ensuing violent consequences." (From Amazon)
Glad Penn is back but this one was just okay.
leannaaker's review against another edition
5.0
Another great Greg Iles mystery, set in Natchez, Mississippi. Penn Cage is now mayor and catches wind of a dog fighting/money laundering ring. This book involves murder, sex, mystery, chases, and good old fashioned Southern bravado. Great stuff.
yrsbrn's review against another edition
3.0
The main storylines were gruesome and more topical based on when the book was released, but some key characters are written bizarrely, to an extent that can easily detach you from the riveting plot. I found the climax a little disappointing, based on the timing in which the story starts wrapping up. It felt a bit rushed at around the 550-page mark, even if we do get *some* satisfying closure by the end.
narniaru's review against another edition
4.0
disturbing, exciting, the ultimate page-turner. Penn Cage and all the other characters are three dimensional but fantastic enough to take one away from reality. only read if you have nothing important to do
hawkeyegough's review against another edition
4.0
I like the main character, Penn Cage. He has a sort of hero complex but it is one of the most believable hero-type characters I've read about recently. He is backed up by a lineup of other believable characters, although I wish he had given several of them more detail. Overall an excellent book
itsmarkyall's review against another edition
3.0
This book is really enjoyable and could be a solid 4 star, but I hate stories written in the present tense. That was enough for me to knock off a whole star. Switching from first person narration to third person narration didn't accomplish what the author intended. I think this would have been even better if it were written in third person only.
lwalker77's review against another edition
4.0
7.8/10 In my opinion, Greg Iles books are very readable and I get into them very quickly. I enjoy that the Penn Cage series is set in Natchez, which I am familiar with. Penn Cage is a great character, but I may like his Dad even more, though he doesn’t play as much of a role in this one as in some of the others. The only criticism could have about this book is that it has many of the same beats that his other Natchez books have. Some may find it redundant, but I don’t mind it.
texasjules's review against another edition
1.0
Dog fighting and mistreatment of women and girls? No thank you.