Skip to main content
PBS logo
 
 

Search - The Devil's Punchbowl (Penn Cage, Bk 3)

The Devil's Punchbowl (Penn Cage, Bk 3)
The Devil's Punchbowl - Penn Cage, Bk 3
Author: Greg Iles
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 on...  more »
Info icon
ISBN-13: 9780743292511
ISBN-10: 0743292510
Publication Date: 7/7/2009
Pages: 480
Rating:
  • Currently 4/5 Stars.
 74

4 stars, based on 74 ratings
Publisher: Scribner
Book Type: Hardcover
Other Versions: Paperback
Reviews: Member | Amazon | Write a Review

Top Member Book Reviews

sdcrystal avatar reviewed The Devil's Punchbowl (Penn Cage, Bk 3) on + 32 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 2
This was one of the best books I have read in a long time. It moved quickly, with plenty of on-the-edge-of-your-seat moments.

I would highly recommend this book, and in fact, I am looking for more of Greg Iles books as soon as possible.
reviewed The Devil's Punchbowl (Penn Cage, Bk 3) on
Helpful Score: 2
This book was fantastic! I really enjoyed the complexity that Iles put into this book. While the book touched upon dog fighting, Iles gave you just enough information to let your imagination fly. Definitely worth the read.
reviewed The Devil's Punchbowl (Penn Cage, Bk 3) on + 92 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 1
WOW! Iles does it again. This man cannot write a bad book. The cemetary again sets the scene. Casinos, dog fights, evil men and a hero. A winning recipe for a darn good book. There will be another Penn Gage book. Can't wait. This book is like good sex. I didn,t want it to end.
reviewed The Devil's Punchbowl (Penn Cage, Bk 3) on
Helpful Score: 1
This book, along with other Greg Iles books, is a very good read. It grabs your interest from the start and keeps it throughout the entire book, making it very hard to put down.
anncgrl avatar reviewed The Devil's Punchbowl (Penn Cage, Bk 3) on + 19 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 1
Well, I simply love to read Greg Iles so I like nearly all his books and have only rejected one that I can think of and that only because it was very frightening. This book does not disappoint though it seemed to start slow for me. I found the details to add value as the story continued. I do not consider Greg Iles to be an easy read. I hope you enjoy this book.
Read All 24 Book Reviews of "The Devils Punchbowl Penn Cage Bk 3"

Please Log in to Rate these Book Reviews

reviewed The Devil's Punchbowl (Penn Cage, Bk 3) on
As usual this is another great book by Greg Iles. Love the way he writes! The details make me want to sit down and open the book!
gigi avatar reviewed The Devil's Punchbowl (Penn Cage, Bk 3) on + 355 more book reviews
I love anything Greg Iles writes and really like the Penn Cage series!
perryfran avatar reviewed The Devil's Punchbowl (Penn Cage, Bk 3) on + 1223 more book reviews
This is the third novel in the Penn Cage series by Iles. I've read and enjoyed the first two in the series and this was another compelling read that I was able to read pretty quickly despite its length at over 700 pages. In this one, Penn Cage is now mayor of his hometown, Natchez, Mississippi which he returned to when his wife died to practice law and write. He has vowed to make changes in the city and his highest priority is to change the school system and try to encourage everyone to attend public schools as a means of desegregation. But he decides this is not going to happen anytime soon. In addition, the city needs revenue after the closing of many of its plants and businesses and he decides casino gambling is the best way to do this. But along with the needed revenue comes a myriad of other problems. One of his boyhood friends who works at the Magnolia Queen riverboat casino, comes to Penn with some very disturbing tales about dogfighting and underage prostitution being organized by the casino owners. This leads Penn on a very dark journey that puts him and his whole family in jeopardy. The casino is being run by an Irish thug and his cohorts who engage in anything to make money including the brutal spectacles of dogfighting. But Cage is no pushover and he has some connections who may be able to stand up to the evils of the casino organization. But is that all they need be concerned about? Evidently, the government is also involved in some way and warn Penn and his team to back off.

This novel had some very brutal scenes in it including descriptions of dogfighting and rape and torture. I've read some other reviews of this book and noted a few negative reviews based solely on its descriptions of dogfighting. This didn't make sense to me. I agree that dogfighting is brutal and can't see how anyone would want to participate in it but it is something that happens and people should be more aware of these animal abuses. The characters in this book that ran the casino were some of the most vile I have encountered in literature but the story was very compelling and was overall a very good crime novel that I would recommend. I'll be looking forward to the next books in the series which I understand are a long trilogy starting with Natchez Burning.
boomerbooklover avatar reviewed The Devil's Punchbowl (Penn Cage, Bk 3) on + 441 more book reviews
Another good novel from Iles. Book 3 involving Penn Cage, it doesn't matter if you've not read any other Penn Cage books. Fast-moving story of a man who returns to his Mississippi hometown and wants to improve his city as mayor. An old friend points him toward major criminal activity related to the riverboat gambling establishments, including underage prostitution/human trafficking and dog fighting. A good heroes-vs-villains tale.
hipposlovebooks2 avatar reviewed The Devil's Punchbowl (Penn Cage, Bk 3) on + 50 more book reviews
Greg Iles really knows how to write a great mystery. This one started just a little slow but once it got going, hold on to your hat!

Book Wiki

Common Title

Genres: