The Devil's Punchbowl: A Novel
by Greg Iles
|
List Price: Our Price: $0.96 You Save: $26.03 (96%) Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days Buy Used: from $0.01 (click here) Category: Book See more book details and other editions |
|---|
Book Reviews of The Devil's Punchbowl: A Novel
Book Review: A letdown after Turning Angel
Summary: 3 Stars
I came back to Greg Iles and Penn Cage after Turning Angel. I found that story and its characters kept me hungry for more, but I was disappointed this time with The Devil's Punchbowl.
The premise is a good one, and I found I did want to read until the end. However, The Devil's Punchbowl is marred by gratuituous violence, especially against women and animals. One supporting character, Linda Church, takes so much abuse that I was sickened by it. I found myself questioning whether the plot existed to support the the violence or if the violence was needed as part of the plot.
Equally disturbing is what happened to the characters in The Devil's Punchbowl. In Turning Angel, I cared about Penn Cage, about Mia, his babysitter, Caitlin, and the supporting characters. Much that happened was the result of bad choices and human failings. This time out, the book is more like a battle between the superheroes and the super villains. The villains are all-powerful and all evil, and Penn Cage turns to special ops and the Texas Rangers to save the day. So much was lost as the novel became more and more cloak and dagger. Sadly with this approach, the action gets ramped up to the eye-rolling stage with daring fights and rescues that made me think of the Hollywood action movies I make a point of avoiding.
Greg Iles continues to make Natchez come alive, and he makes me care about the people who live there and struggle to call it home. I hope in his next Penn Cage novel, he is a little less sensational and focuses more on the struggles of character that made Turning Angel so good.
Book Review: Graphic & stomach churning ...
Summary: 3 Stars
Penn Cage, a recurring character in Greg Iles' novels, returns - this time as Mayor of Natchez, MS. A childhood friend who works on one of the casino boats brings him pictures that show dogfighting & various kinds of sexual cruelty to underaged girls - acts that are being facilitated & sponsored by the casino. This novel is the story of Mr. Cage & his friends & allies trying to stop these actions from continuing to poison their town.
Unlike his other thrillers, Greg Iles casts a wide net here - much of the action is global & plays out on a national security stage. I think his books are better when they deal with more local events & players, but this is a good thriller. Penn Cage can be a self-righteous martyr, but as this novel progresses those tendencies become minimized in the face of the utter depravity that our heroes (& heroines) are up against.
This book is filled with graphic violence - against animals, against women, against men - these are equal opportunity offenders. If you are squeamish about this sort of thing, this may not be the book for you. The violence is not gratuitous or entertaining. It is integral to the plot that Mr. Iles has built & it moves the story along. It also gave me a lot to think about with regard to bloodsport & its place in our culture.
A good well-written page-turner, although somewhat less successful than some of Iles' other books. As an argument for how awful the reality of dogfighting is, however, this scores a 15 on a 1 to 10 scale. That may or may not be what you want from a thriller, but I'm glad I read it.
Book Review: Lengthy? check. Good story? check. Exposure to something new & different? check!
Summary: 4 Stars
I'll start by saying that this is the first book I've read by Greg Iles. I definitely struggled in the beginning because the story just didn't seem to be moving - at least, no more than a snail's pace. I put it down and restarted at least three times, but I'm glad that I ultimately stuck with it, because the story just seemed to get deeper, increasingly interesting, and more entangled as it went on. You name the ingredients that make a good story, and I'd say this one has quite a few of them; love, murder, suspense, cops, bloodsport, mobsters 'n money, family, heroism, violence... I'll stop now, but you get the picture. I agree with some other reviewers who warn to bring a strong stomach. Some of the details and events created here are a bit gorey and disturbing, but so is the act that's being written about. Aren't we, as readers, more enthralled in the story when the picture is painted for us? And don't "details" act as "paint" in writing? I do feel that the book could and should have been shortened a tad, which is why I rated it 4 instead of 5 stars. Some scenes were overly explained, some parts dragged on (like the beginning.. it just didn't hold my attention well enough), and some conversations (between characters) dragged on unneccesarily, but overall I feel it was a good read. If you can strap in for a long ride/read, I say give this one a try. As mentioned previously, this was my first Iles experience, and now I'm looking forward to future ones.Book Review: The Punchbowl Holds a Fine Brew!
Summary: 5 Stars
"I just finished THE DEVIL'S PUNCHBOWL by Greg Iles and found it to be the best read I have had in a very long time."
So read the E-Mail from a good friend who often shares opinions on books with me and who's views on books I value. Luckily for me I did not have to wait long to start the book as it was already on my "To Read" table, as Isles is an author I keep tabs on.
This is his third novel featuring Penn Cage and given the end of the novel, it seems pretty clear it will not be the last. The story line is well set out by others, but what is more elusive to describe is the haunting way that Iles draws you into the life of his characters and holds your interest as events unfold. I once thought that Jeffrey Deaver probably has the best imagination for conjuring up evil, but I have to tell you that Iles is definitely a contender after this effort. Jonathan Sands and Seamus Quinn are more than a handful for Cage and the small cadre he assembles to get to the bottom of activities which are taking place on the floating casino, The Magnolia Queen.
I have only passed through Missisippi in my travels about the US, but after reading the Penn Cage novels, I feel as though I have spent a lot of time in Natchez.
If this book has any weakness, it does seem a tad long, but even that small complaint could not deprive it of the five stars I believe the exceptional writing clearly deserves.
Book Review: Intense, Disturbing, and Captivating, But Readers Should Be Forewarned About Subject Matters
Summary: 5 Stars
This was by far one of the most disturbing books I've ever read. Don't get me wrong--it was very, very good, and a captivating page-turner. However, the abuse to women and animals was almost too much to stomach. Virtually nothing was left to the imagination, the abuse recounted in vivid, frank and explicit detail. SO BE WARNED regarding subject matter: dog fighting, animal cruelty, torture, and abuse, rape and sexual abuse, extreme violence.
It was very good to revisit one of his recurring characters, Penn Cage. I love him as a hero. He is flawed, but he has integrity. That comes out loud and clear in this book. You'll meet some other characters that you've met before in "Turning Angel".
I can't say I really "enjoyed" the book--somehow, that seems like the wrong word. Let's just say the book captured my attention, and never let me go until the very last page. I had to take periodic breaks, because of my intense emotional responses to the subject matters, and of course, I was totally wrung out by the time I finished the book. Perhaps that was just Iles's purpose--to wring out every emotion, to make us take our heads out of the sand and see "what's what." Well, Mr. Ilse certainly got my attention. Very Well Done Indeed!!!!