A review by tdblaylock
The Death Factory by Greg Iles

emotional mysterious reflective sad tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? N/A
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.25

A really quick read, but still heavy. This novella bridges The Devil's Punchbowl and Natchez Burning by giving some background into Penn's final days with his wife, Sarah. It gives some incite to why he decided to leave Houston once and for all and move back to his hometown of Natchez. Of course it also a crime that needs solving. The way it was told is very creative. Instead of telling the story as it unfolds, Penn reveals the details in flashbacks as he retells the tale to his uncle Jack. The crime is interesting and shows Penn's turning point from hard-core prosecutor to "man of the people." This novella is somber and Iles delivers the tone extremely well. He doesn't let solving a crime overshadow the turmoil and grief of Sarah's death.