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.
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.
I would highly recommend this book, and in fact, I am looking for more of Greg Iles books as soon as possible.
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.
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.
Helpful Score: 1
One of the best novels I've read. Didn't want to set it down.
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.
Cheryl (boomerbooklover) -
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.
K B R. (hipposlovebooks2) 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!
Just don't know how there can be so much corruption in such a small town, but here it is -- and it always makes a good story!
Greg Iles books are really thick, but don't let that overwhelm you. He is such a good writer that you fly through the story because you can't put the book down. Devil's Punchbowl was excellent continuation of the Penn Cage series. I recommend reading "The Quiet Game" first if you can. There are quite a few references in Devil's Punchbowl to things that happened in Quiet Game, and it will only enhance your reading experience and enjoyment if you are familiar with them. Punchbowl definitely DOES stand alone as its own story, though, so if you can't read the other one first, it's not a problem at all.
I love anything Greg Iles writes and really like the Penn Cage series!
Great Book. Good from the start till the end, lot of action.
I stumbled upon Greg Iles about one month ago by reading True Evil. I was instantly hooked. Since then, I've devoured as many books as I can and he never fails to disappoint. This one was "edge of your seat" drama and kept me page-turning until the very end. On average, I'd say I can read his books from cover to cover in a couple of days... that's how good they are!
If you like thrills, chills, mystery and drama, you won't be disappointed!
If you like thrills, chills, mystery and drama, you won't be disappointed!
Great Book. I just discovered Greg Iles and he starts out with a rush and flurry of activity and you think how can this continue thru the whole size of this book. Yetit does. It is based in the south and I know from personal experience that the folks act true to his writing. The story is large but not so farfetched as to be unbelievable. Good Job!
Janice C. (janclarktexas) reviewed The Devil's Punchbowl (Penn Cage, Bk 3) on + 13 more book reviews
This is a good book, but is a large book with lots of pages. I think if you are from the south, or ever lived in the south you can relate to the story even more then other readers.
Action, but not to much blood/gore. I really enjoyed it
Action, but not to much blood/gore. I really enjoyed it
2 Words that describe the book: Suspenseful thriller
3 Settings where it took place or characters you met:
1. Setting: Natchez, Mississippi, modern times
2. Penn CageA former DA and now mayor of his hometown of Natchez, Mississippi, Penn returns for another thriller, accompanied by Caitlin Masters (his beautiful newspaper reporter ex-girlfriend) and other characters we've met in previous Penn Cage books. (This book can stand-alone but does reference previous books at times.)
3. Jonathan SandsThe local head of a riverboat gambling operation (which has brought corruption to Natchez since its arrival), Sands is a ruthless and chameleon-like bad guy who seems to have his fingers in quite a few pies, including dogfighting and prostitution. Plus he seems to have "friends in high places" who seem willing to protect him despite his corrupt and violent behavior.
4 Things you liked and/or disliked about it:
1. I liked how Iles keeps the story moving. This particular book was 577 pages (!), but it moves along at a good clip, and the plot is always branching off into some new area.
2. I liked revisiting the characters and locations that Iles have written about in previous books. This is the third Penn Cage book he's written, and he even incorporates a character (Danny McDavitt) from one of his previous Natchez-based books that didn't feature Penn Cage.
3. Greg Iles is one of my "go to" thriller writers, along with Nelson DeMille. Although he used to mix it up a bit more at the start of his writing career, lately he's focused on Natchez and Penn Cage. I think I've read every book he's written, and he is one of the few fiction writers that Mr. Jenners will read regularly. He comes out with a book every few years, and we always pick them up.
4. I liked knowing that there will be another Penn Cage book on the horizon based on the ending of this book, which ends with a bit of a cliffhanger for Cage's personal life.
5 Stars or less for your rating?
I'm giving the book 3.5 stars. Like I said, Iles writes a decent thriller, and if you're in the market for a well-done, not too gruesome story with an author who has a decent backlog of books, Iles is the writer for you. This isn't great literature by any means, but it is a great candy bar book to occupy the time when you're between "heavier" books.
3 Settings where it took place or characters you met:
1. Setting: Natchez, Mississippi, modern times
2. Penn CageA former DA and now mayor of his hometown of Natchez, Mississippi, Penn returns for another thriller, accompanied by Caitlin Masters (his beautiful newspaper reporter ex-girlfriend) and other characters we've met in previous Penn Cage books. (This book can stand-alone but does reference previous books at times.)
3. Jonathan SandsThe local head of a riverboat gambling operation (which has brought corruption to Natchez since its arrival), Sands is a ruthless and chameleon-like bad guy who seems to have his fingers in quite a few pies, including dogfighting and prostitution. Plus he seems to have "friends in high places" who seem willing to protect him despite his corrupt and violent behavior.
4 Things you liked and/or disliked about it:
1. I liked how Iles keeps the story moving. This particular book was 577 pages (!), but it moves along at a good clip, and the plot is always branching off into some new area.
2. I liked revisiting the characters and locations that Iles have written about in previous books. This is the third Penn Cage book he's written, and he even incorporates a character (Danny McDavitt) from one of his previous Natchez-based books that didn't feature Penn Cage.
3. Greg Iles is one of my "go to" thriller writers, along with Nelson DeMille. Although he used to mix it up a bit more at the start of his writing career, lately he's focused on Natchez and Penn Cage. I think I've read every book he's written, and he is one of the few fiction writers that Mr. Jenners will read regularly. He comes out with a book every few years, and we always pick them up.
4. I liked knowing that there will be another Penn Cage book on the horizon based on the ending of this book, which ends with a bit of a cliffhanger for Cage's personal life.
5 Stars or less for your rating?
I'm giving the book 3.5 stars. Like I said, Iles writes a decent thriller, and if you're in the market for a well-done, not too gruesome story with an author who has a decent backlog of books, Iles is the writer for you. This isn't great literature by any means, but it is a great candy bar book to occupy the time when you're between "heavier" books.
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!
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.
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.
Another excellent read from Greg Iles!
Enthralling front to back.
I felt The Quiet Game and Turning Angel of the Penn Cage series were better written
Like all of Greg's books this one holds you right from the first chapter to the end.I rate this book as Fanstastic I've read almost all of his books..
Great as usual..........can't wait for the next in the series.
This guy can write!!!!!!
This guy can write!!!!!!
Julie G. (renegadespiritcat) reviewed The Devil's Punchbowl (Penn Cage, Bk 3) on + 198 more book reviews
Fast reading grabs you from the first chapter and takes you on a helluva ride. this book kept me reading well into the wee hours of the night and was challenging as well due to plot and characters all of whom kept you enthralled.
