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John Corey #1
Plum Island
#1 NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER
CELEBRATING THE 20th ANNIVERSARY WITH A NEW FOREWORD BY THE AUTHOR
Wounded in the line of duty, NYPD homicide detective John Corey convalesces in the Long Island township of Southold, home to farmers, fishermen -- and at least one killer. Tom and Judy Gordon, a young, attractive couple Corey knows, have been found on their patio, each with a bullet in the head. The local police chief, Sylvester Maxwell, wants Corey's big-city expertise, but Maxwell gets more than he bargained for.
John Corey doesn't like mysteries, which is why he likes to solve them. His investigations lead him into the lore, legends, and ancient secrets of northern Long Island -- more deadly and more dangerous than he could ever have imagined. During his journey of discovery, he meets two remarkable women, Detective Beth Penrose and Mayflower descendant Emma Whitestone, both of whom change his life irrevocably. Ultimately, through his understanding of the murders, John Corey comes to understand himself.
Fast-paced and atmospheric, marked by entrancing characters, incandescent storytelling, and brilliant comic touches, Plum Island is Nelson DeMille at his thrill-inducing best.
CELEBRATING THE 20th ANNIVERSARY WITH A NEW FOREWORD BY THE AUTHOR
Wounded in the line of duty, NYPD homicide detective John Corey convalesces in the Long Island township of Southold, home to farmers, fishermen -- and at least one killer. Tom and Judy Gordon, a young, attractive couple Corey knows, have been found on their patio, each with a bullet in the head. The local police chief, Sylvester Maxwell, wants Corey's big-city expertise, but Maxwell gets more than he bargained for.
John Corey doesn't like mysteries, which is why he likes to solve them. His investigations lead him into the lore, legends, and ancient secrets of northern Long Island -- more deadly and more dangerous than he could ever have imagined. During his journey of discovery, he meets two remarkable women, Detective Beth Penrose and Mayflower descendant Emma Whitestone, both of whom change his life irrevocably. Ultimately, through his understanding of the murders, John Corey comes to understand himself.
Fast-paced and atmospheric, marked by entrancing characters, incandescent storytelling, and brilliant comic touches, Plum Island is Nelson DeMille at his thrill-inducing best.
704 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published April 1, 1997
4513 people are currently reading
17945 people want to read
About the author
Nelson DeMille
259 books7,358 followersNelson Richard DeMille was an American author of action adventure and suspense novels. His novels include Plum Island, The Charm School, and The General's Daughter. DeMille also wrote under the pen names Jack Cannon, Kurt Ladner, Ellen Kay and Brad Matthews.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 2,919 reviews
June 19, 2019
Keep in mind that I read this book a little over a decade and a half ago, yet the story is as vivid today as it was then. Damn. That is the genius that is Nelson Demille.
The book starts with a convalescing John Corey, formerly of the NYPD, who wants nothing more than to drink beer while relaxing at his Uncle's Long Island beach house. When two prominent scientists (who worked at a secret research facility on Plum Island) are murdered, John is drafted to investigate the deaths. With acerbic wit and deliberate misdirection, he goes on to solve the case.
The humor in this book was unexpected yet it was exactly what was required in order to elevate the story beyond the mundane.
Be sure to read The Lion's Game as well, which is a book that, although published in 2000, portends the 9/11 tragedy with uncanny accuracy.
June 14, 2020
I really enjoyed this book. It's my second favorite by DeMille after Gold Coast. Gold Coast is an excellent read and I have read it twice, which I don't do too often-rarely in fact. But Plum Island is great because of the main character's wry sense of humor. This kind of humor that does not overshadow the story or cast shade on the character makes this book unique. I had to set the book down on my chest to laugh out loud a few times. This book is also unique because it has a ninety page boat chase that did not grow tiresome. Only a true wordsmith can pull this off.
If you like a great thriller I highly recommend this one.
David Putnam author of The Bruno Johnson series.
If you like a great thriller I highly recommend this one.
David Putnam author of The Bruno Johnson series.
![Profile Image for Terence M [on a brief semi-hiatus].](/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fi.gr-assets.com%2Fimages%2FS%2Fcompressed.photo.goodreads.com%2Fusers%2F1712357414i%2F6658001._UY200_CR4%2C0%2C200%2C200_.jpg&w=128&q=75)
June 7, 2023
3-Stars again -
"I Liked It" second time around.
Finished listening March 11, 2023 - Second review follows:
(Scott Brick, 19 hrs:43 mins - 16 CDs)
First published in 1997, the "Plum Island" paperback was about 600 pages long, which I read sometime in about 2002, well prior to joining Goodreads in 2011. Scott Brick recorded it as an audiobook, produced on cassettes by "Books on Tape" in 2004 and later transferred to CDs as a 'proper' audiobook by Hachette in 2010. I can only imagine the mind-boggling inconvenience of trying to listen to this book via about 28 double-sided cassettes!
At close to 20 hours this was a very long audiobook and there were some periods when the story lagged unmercifully. 'Skimming' is not that easy with an audiobook and I resisted the urge to try it, but I will confess to having nodded off during a couple of the more boring passages. However, I always back-tracked the next day, found my 'nodding-off' point and recommenced from there. I was determined to complete Plum Island and that it would not be yet another DNF by TerenceM!
I think Scott Brick is an excellent narrator and Plum Island is one of his earlier narrations. He has established himself as very much a "go-to" reader and his reputation is well-deserved. He created just the right vocal characterisation for John Corey, the MC of Plum Island, addressing perfectly the inherent snarkiness and sardonic wit of the character.
Of course, the story arc, plot, or whatever one calls it, is mostly implausible, especially for such a long novel. Nonetheless for the most part it was an enjoyable listen and certainly worth my 3-Stars rating. Fortunately I remembered very little from my paper-back read twenty years ago and this contributed to my general enjoyment of the audiobook.
I do not plan to delve back into my years-old collection of DeMille audiobooks (except, maybe, to see if the John Corey character is worth pursuing further), but I remain satisfied that GR friend MarilynW was on the money with her own review of Plum Island and it was well worth my re-visit.
******************************************
Read as paperback in very early 2000s.
Addendum 05 March 2023:
An enthusiastic and recent review by MarilynW, whom I follow on GR, has encouraged me to listen to the book for the first time, as I had read the paperback some twenty plus years ago.
Marilyn writes: " I enjoyed this audiobook despite it's length and it was because of John's goofy snarkiness and Brick's narration. ".
I am hopeful her assessment is spot-on as usual :)
******************************************
"I Liked It" second time around.
Finished listening March 11, 2023 - Second review follows:
(Scott Brick, 19 hrs:43 mins - 16 CDs)
First published in 1997, the "Plum Island" paperback was about 600 pages long, which I read sometime in about 2002, well prior to joining Goodreads in 2011. Scott Brick recorded it as an audiobook, produced on cassettes by "Books on Tape" in 2004 and later transferred to CDs as a 'proper' audiobook by Hachette in 2010. I can only imagine the mind-boggling inconvenience of trying to listen to this book via about 28 double-sided cassettes!
At close to 20 hours this was a very long audiobook and there were some periods when the story lagged unmercifully. 'Skimming' is not that easy with an audiobook and I resisted the urge to try it, but I will confess to having nodded off during a couple of the more boring passages. However, I always back-tracked the next day, found my 'nodding-off' point and recommenced from there. I was determined to complete Plum Island and that it would not be yet another DNF by TerenceM!
I think Scott Brick is an excellent narrator and Plum Island is one of his earlier narrations. He has established himself as very much a "go-to" reader and his reputation is well-deserved. He created just the right vocal characterisation for John Corey, the MC of Plum Island, addressing perfectly the inherent snarkiness and sardonic wit of the character.
Of course, the story arc, plot, or whatever one calls it, is mostly implausible, especially for such a long novel. Nonetheless for the most part it was an enjoyable listen and certainly worth my 3-Stars rating. Fortunately I remembered very little from my paper-back read twenty years ago and this contributed to my general enjoyment of the audiobook.
I do not plan to delve back into my years-old collection of DeMille audiobooks (except, maybe, to see if the John Corey character is worth pursuing further), but I remain satisfied that GR friend MarilynW was on the money with her own review of Plum Island and it was well worth my re-visit.
******************************************
Read as paperback in very early 2000s.
Addendum 05 March 2023:
An enthusiastic and recent review by MarilynW, whom I follow on GR, has encouraged me to listen to the book for the first time, as I had read the paperback some twenty plus years ago.
Marilyn writes: " I enjoyed this audiobook despite it's length and it was because of John's goofy snarkiness and Brick's narration. ".
I am hopeful her assessment is spot-on as usual :)
******************************************
May 23, 2020
I read this back when I only gave star ratings. It was enjoyable, but I have never tried more in the John Corey series.
The main reason for writing this is because someone liked my star only rating today and it made me remember that this book holds a very high honor: It was my very first audiobook!
I finished it on May 20th, 2014 and it is now May 22nd 2020 and I have read 365 audiobooks in that time. So, I guess you could say that this book created a monster!
The main reason for writing this is because someone liked my star only rating today and it made me remember that this book holds a very high honor: It was my very first audiobook!
I finished it on May 20th, 2014 and it is now May 22nd 2020 and I have read 365 audiobooks in that time. So, I guess you could say that this book created a monster!
July 10, 2021
Many GR friends enjoyed this series and that's how I got into starting this book. I really like the main character, John Corey, a smartass and sorta cocky NYPD homicide detective. He might not be a guy I'd like to know or work with in real life, but he's a good book hero. He's a likable guy and the book is entertaining but too drawn out.
This is the first book in the series and Corey is recovering from a job-related injury at his uncle's summer home on Long Island when he's pulled into a double murder investigation. The murdered couple, biologists from Plum Island is someone Corey knew. I like that he's working with Suffolk County detective Beth. Their bantering added humor to the story. I very much enjoyed the characters that I'll be reading more of this series.
This is the first book in the series and Corey is recovering from a job-related injury at his uncle's summer home on Long Island when he's pulled into a double murder investigation. The murdered couple, biologists from Plum Island is someone Corey knew. I like that he's working with Suffolk County detective Beth. Their bantering added humor to the story. I very much enjoyed the characters that I'll be reading more of this series.
May 15, 2011
I will forever remember this book as the one I painstakingly read in tiny font, all 574 pages of it, and found that it could have been shortened to less than half of the pages without reducing any substance or plot whatsoever. What a waste of time.
I was expecting some big story or conspiracy to unfold, as that's what I was lead to believe by reading the back cover. Dead scientists who used to work in an animal research facility, dealing with viruses and bacteria--sounds promising isn't it? Too bad, the problem and investigation part of the story filled probably only half of the book. The rest? An overly-deep exploration into the main character's thinking. No kidding. If you want to read this book, expect to read the main character's dialectical dialogue with himself throughout most of the book. Though thankfully this main character's pretty funny, so I did find myself still being entertained at times.
However, back to my expectation about how the story's going to unfold, I got disappointed again. I was expecting something big in the plot, maybe a twist, maybe something that involves risk to the bigger community, maybe some more action, maybe some secret--but the answer to the mystery was just personal, relating to the victims themselves.
The way the story unfolds is slow; and there's lots of "spaces" in the story that are filled with the main character's conversation with himself. I couldn't believe I was already past halfway and the story told very little about the mystery itself. At that point though, I felt that I knew the main character so well I could predict what he's going to do next.
All in all, don't expect this to be a fast-paced thriller/mystery but expect this to be a light read about your usual murder investigation with a somewhat-funny main character that you'll know better than your mum by the end of this book.
I was expecting some big story or conspiracy to unfold, as that's what I was lead to believe by reading the back cover. Dead scientists who used to work in an animal research facility, dealing with viruses and bacteria--sounds promising isn't it? Too bad, the problem and investigation part of the story filled probably only half of the book. The rest? An overly-deep exploration into the main character's thinking. No kidding. If you want to read this book, expect to read the main character's dialectical dialogue with himself throughout most of the book. Though thankfully this main character's pretty funny, so I did find myself still being entertained at times.
However, back to my expectation about how the story's going to unfold, I got disappointed again. I was expecting something big in the plot, maybe a twist, maybe something that involves risk to the bigger community, maybe some more action, maybe some secret--but the answer to the mystery was just personal, relating to the victims themselves.
The way the story unfolds is slow; and there's lots of "spaces" in the story that are filled with the main character's conversation with himself. I couldn't believe I was already past halfway and the story told very little about the mystery itself. At that point though, I felt that I knew the main character so well I could predict what he's going to do next.
All in all, don't expect this to be a fast-paced thriller/mystery but expect this to be a light read about your usual murder investigation with a somewhat-funny main character that you'll know better than your mum by the end of this book.
December 13, 2022
John Corey ... what a piece of work!
Take Michael Connelly's Detective Harry Bosch, a hard-boiled, talented, nearly burnt-out loner with lots of psychological baggage and absolutely no respect for superiors or procedure. Add the self-deprecating faux stumble-bum approach of Peter Falk's Columbo and toss in a heaping helping of smart-aleck motor mouth Rodney Dangerfield complete inability to control the flow of virulent sarcasm and wisecracks! Sounds a little much, doesn't it? But he's our hero for Nelson DeMille's Plum Island.
John Corey, NYPD homicide detective, is on medical leave recovering from bullet wounds when his friend, chief of the Southold Police Department, enlists his aid looking into the double homicide of Tom and Judy Gordon, also friends of Corey, and employees of Plum Island, the nearby high-level bio-containment facility studying deadly animal diseases such as anthrax and simian Ebola. First terrifying appearances were that some sort of biological terrorist threat had gone sour but the old rule of "follow the money" lead to a somewhat more tolerable line of investigation. It seemed the Gordons had stolen a vaccine with the motive of peddling it to the pharmaceutical world for billions.
But Corey's in-your-face persistence was uncovering clues and details that just didn't seem to mesh with that story. Simple drug-running was a possibility but even that didn't quite click. Eventually, Corey uncovers an amazingly entertaining story of greed, money, murder, mayhem and political skullduggery spanning three hundred years of history and ranging geographically from New York, to the Caribbean, to England and back again.
In a style that reminded me of Douglas Preston and Lincoln Child's incurable penchant for technical sidebars, DeMille has tossed off a bewildering variety of essays that entertained, informed and, at the same time, moved the story forward. The staged lecture tour of Plum Island's hazardous facility, hosted first by Security Chief Paul Stevens and followed by the facility's director Dr Zollner was worth the reading of the book all by itself. But you'll also be treated to snippets of detail on coastal marine navigation, a cornucopia of procedural information on the necessary foundation police work to solving a homicide and (are you ready for this?) a rather extensive history of Captain Kidd and his 17th century privateering exploits that ultimately ended in his execution in England!
Lots of promise to be sure and there's certainly no doubt about DeMille's skill as a writer! But, just as a little bit of someone like John Corey would go a long, long way in real life, his constant cracking wise left me cold on the printed page as well! If DeMille had seen his way to lopping 100 pages off the final draft, it would have been just right and I would have ended the story not only entertained by the police procedural but laughing at Corey's antics in the bargain. Just three stars but recommended as a quick and entertaining piece of brain candy anyway! Enjoy!
Paul Weiss
Take Michael Connelly's Detective Harry Bosch, a hard-boiled, talented, nearly burnt-out loner with lots of psychological baggage and absolutely no respect for superiors or procedure. Add the self-deprecating faux stumble-bum approach of Peter Falk's Columbo and toss in a heaping helping of smart-aleck motor mouth Rodney Dangerfield complete inability to control the flow of virulent sarcasm and wisecracks! Sounds a little much, doesn't it? But he's our hero for Nelson DeMille's Plum Island.
John Corey, NYPD homicide detective, is on medical leave recovering from bullet wounds when his friend, chief of the Southold Police Department, enlists his aid looking into the double homicide of Tom and Judy Gordon, also friends of Corey, and employees of Plum Island, the nearby high-level bio-containment facility studying deadly animal diseases such as anthrax and simian Ebola. First terrifying appearances were that some sort of biological terrorist threat had gone sour but the old rule of "follow the money" lead to a somewhat more tolerable line of investigation. It seemed the Gordons had stolen a vaccine with the motive of peddling it to the pharmaceutical world for billions.
But Corey's in-your-face persistence was uncovering clues and details that just didn't seem to mesh with that story. Simple drug-running was a possibility but even that didn't quite click. Eventually, Corey uncovers an amazingly entertaining story of greed, money, murder, mayhem and political skullduggery spanning three hundred years of history and ranging geographically from New York, to the Caribbean, to England and back again.
In a style that reminded me of Douglas Preston and Lincoln Child's incurable penchant for technical sidebars, DeMille has tossed off a bewildering variety of essays that entertained, informed and, at the same time, moved the story forward. The staged lecture tour of Plum Island's hazardous facility, hosted first by Security Chief Paul Stevens and followed by the facility's director Dr Zollner was worth the reading of the book all by itself. But you'll also be treated to snippets of detail on coastal marine navigation, a cornucopia of procedural information on the necessary foundation police work to solving a homicide and (are you ready for this?) a rather extensive history of Captain Kidd and his 17th century privateering exploits that ultimately ended in his execution in England!
Lots of promise to be sure and there's certainly no doubt about DeMille's skill as a writer! But, just as a little bit of someone like John Corey would go a long, long way in real life, his constant cracking wise left me cold on the printed page as well! If DeMille had seen his way to lopping 100 pages off the final draft, it would have been just right and I would have ended the story not only entertained by the police procedural but laughing at Corey's antics in the bargain. Just three stars but recommended as a quick and entertaining piece of brain candy anyway! Enjoy!
Paul Weiss
January 28, 2009
My dad works on Plum Island...the real one. I was dying to read this book because it's about my home on Long Island and because I know quite a bit about PLum Island, so I wanted to see what Demille would do with the story. Indulge my rant, if you will...
Plum Island is a biosafety level 3 lab off the coast of the north fork of LI that studies animal deseases like Foot & Mouth, Mad Cow, etc., and does everything they can to keep these diseases out of the US and protect the livestock in our country. The island is shrouded in mystery because the public is not allowed there and much of what they work on is only know in the world of science. People in the local community are often skeptical of the work they do, creating such lovely rumors of animal abuse and biological warfare studies.
DeMille takes hysteria to new levels and heights of impossibility by fabricating a story that is not only dull at times, but completely UNbeleivable at others. In the story, the lab is classified as a Zone 5 (which doesn't exist in the real world), and contains such lovely biohazards as ebola, anthrax, and every other weapon known to science that can wipe out entire populations with a sneeze. The scientists on the island are also allowed to bring their own boats to work, and people from the local historical society have been conducting archaeological digs around the island. Ridiculous.
The main character of the book is trying to solve a murder, but don't bother reading the story if you don't like chauvinistic males who characterize themselves as close-minded pricks who only want a good lay. I was annoyed through most of the book simply because of the main character's inner dialogue. Not to mention the fact that he is a cop who sleeps with witnesses, and nearly murders the main suspect. REALLY?! Is this a joke?
Anyway, if you're from the North Fork, this book will annoy you. If you're from anywhere else and you're a woman, this book will annoy you. If you're a dude who sleeps around, and lives by the mantra "ignorance is bliss" this book is for you.
Plum Island is a biosafety level 3 lab off the coast of the north fork of LI that studies animal deseases like Foot & Mouth, Mad Cow, etc., and does everything they can to keep these diseases out of the US and protect the livestock in our country. The island is shrouded in mystery because the public is not allowed there and much of what they work on is only know in the world of science. People in the local community are often skeptical of the work they do, creating such lovely rumors of animal abuse and biological warfare studies.
DeMille takes hysteria to new levels and heights of impossibility by fabricating a story that is not only dull at times, but completely UNbeleivable at others. In the story, the lab is classified as a Zone 5 (which doesn't exist in the real world), and contains such lovely biohazards as ebola, anthrax, and every other weapon known to science that can wipe out entire populations with a sneeze. The scientists on the island are also allowed to bring their own boats to work, and people from the local historical society have been conducting archaeological digs around the island. Ridiculous.
The main character of the book is trying to solve a murder, but don't bother reading the story if you don't like chauvinistic males who characterize themselves as close-minded pricks who only want a good lay. I was annoyed through most of the book simply because of the main character's inner dialogue. Not to mention the fact that he is a cop who sleeps with witnesses, and nearly murders the main suspect. REALLY?! Is this a joke?
Anyway, if you're from the North Fork, this book will annoy you. If you're from anywhere else and you're a woman, this book will annoy you. If you're a dude who sleeps around, and lives by the mantra "ignorance is bliss" this book is for you.
April 6, 2010
I probably wouldn't have picked up this book if it weren't for a group I was in suggesting it. I have never read anything by this author, and to be honest I never really heard of him before this.
I really enjoyed this book. It started off a little slowly, and the main character John Corey was such a sarcastic SOB that he was great! I liked his style and his humor... although I'm not sure I was really supposed to like him. John is a homicide detective with the NYPD and is currently recuperating in the North Fork of Long Island from being shot three times. He is approached by the local sheriff Max to help with a double murder. John is reluctant to help, and the only reason he does help is because he knows the victims.
The case itself, a wife and husband are found outside their home dead. The next door neighbor insists that they came home late on their boat, but never heard the gun going off. The problem that makes this case so dangerous, the couple worked on Plum Island which contains a virus and bacteria research facility. Of course they only look at diseases that affect animals, because the US government has signed a policy stating they do not do germ warfare research. Yeah. Okay. So the feds, the CIA, the local police and whoever else has a badge, is searching to see if the couple was killed because of their job on the island. Did they steal a deadly virus that can wipe out the world, did they steal a vaccine so they could make themselves billions of dollars or is this just a case of a home burglary gone wrong. John Corey thinks he knows, and he thinks that he is the only one who can solve this case.
After the beginning, maybe about 20-30 pages, the book really picked up the pace and John made the book interesting. His theories were intriguing, and his humor and sarcasm kept me in touch with his character. I liked that I wasn't able to guess what was really going on, and that there were a few surprises along the way. I also liked the setting of the book and that it's in close proximity to where I live, and I have actually been to some of the places mentioned.
I just found out that this is the first in a series, so I'm going to look into the next book.
I really enjoyed this book. It started off a little slowly, and the main character John Corey was such a sarcastic SOB that he was great! I liked his style and his humor... although I'm not sure I was really supposed to like him. John is a homicide detective with the NYPD and is currently recuperating in the North Fork of Long Island from being shot three times. He is approached by the local sheriff Max to help with a double murder. John is reluctant to help, and the only reason he does help is because he knows the victims.
The case itself, a wife and husband are found outside their home dead. The next door neighbor insists that they came home late on their boat, but never heard the gun going off. The problem that makes this case so dangerous, the couple worked on Plum Island which contains a virus and bacteria research facility. Of course they only look at diseases that affect animals, because the US government has signed a policy stating they do not do germ warfare research. Yeah. Okay. So the feds, the CIA, the local police and whoever else has a badge, is searching to see if the couple was killed because of their job on the island. Did they steal a deadly virus that can wipe out the world, did they steal a vaccine so they could make themselves billions of dollars or is this just a case of a home burglary gone wrong. John Corey thinks he knows, and he thinks that he is the only one who can solve this case.
After the beginning, maybe about 20-30 pages, the book really picked up the pace and John made the book interesting. His theories were intriguing, and his humor and sarcasm kept me in touch with his character. I liked that I wasn't able to guess what was really going on, and that there were a few surprises along the way. I also liked the setting of the book and that it's in close proximity to where I live, and I have actually been to some of the places mentioned.
I just found out that this is the first in a series, so I'm going to look into the next book.
January 25, 2013
I sat here for a good while considering what to rate this book. I came very close to giving it 5 stars and am still thinking it over (I reserve the right to come back and up the rating if I decide to, LOL).
This is an excellent book in a genre that I don't usually find my favorite. It's well written with a likeable yet infuriating protagonist. (Not too unlike Harry Dresden if that's a reference you're familiar with.) He does hit one of my annoyance buttons which I'll mention later under a spoiler warning.
What else, well the plot is a good one with hook that while not new can be tricky to use well . The characters while not exactly jumping off the page are painted in true and at times even vibrant colors and remain true to "themselves" throughout the book. You don't get deus ex machina kinds of "getting out of a corner" writing and the clues lead to an answer that works. In other words you don't put everything together and come to a conclusion only to find that there's some vital clue you never got and the culprit turns out to be the old gardener who you met and saw for 5 lines in the second chapter.
While not an action book this is an intense book and will I think hold your interest. The protagonist is snarky, sarcastic, and a generalsmart ass errr smart aleck...wise guy who can't tell the right time to just keep his mouth shut...a man after my own heart in other words, though even I rolled my eyes a few times. I mean why borrow trouble? And believe me, John does.
This is my introduction to DeMille's work which I've somehow missed up till now. I don't think it will be my last (baring unexpected demise or something). So well written, nice mystery/thriller with a satisfying hook and plot, I can recommend this one wholeheartedly.
***Major Spoiler Below****
This is an excellent book in a genre that I don't usually find my favorite. It's well written with a likeable yet infuriating protagonist. (Not too unlike Harry Dresden if that's a reference you're familiar with.) He does hit one of my annoyance buttons which I'll mention later under a spoiler warning.
What else, well the plot is a good one with hook that while not new can be tricky to use well . The characters while not exactly jumping off the page are painted in true and at times even vibrant colors and remain true to "themselves" throughout the book. You don't get deus ex machina kinds of "getting out of a corner" writing and the clues lead to an answer that works. In other words you don't put everything together and come to a conclusion only to find that there's some vital clue you never got and the culprit turns out to be the old gardener who you met and saw for 5 lines in the second chapter.
While not an action book this is an intense book and will I think hold your interest. The protagonist is snarky, sarcastic, and a general
This is my introduction to DeMille's work which I've somehow missed up till now. I don't think it will be my last (baring unexpected demise or something). So well written, nice mystery/thriller with a satisfying hook and plot, I can recommend this one wholeheartedly.
***Major Spoiler Below****
May 9, 2025
Meet John Corey. He's a wise-cracking, know-it-all detective recovering at his deceased relative's house in the Long Island area.
Wouldn't you know it there he is minding his own business when all of a sudden . . . you get the idea.
Well crafted murder mystery. DeMille gets the subculture of Long Island.
My third "reading" was the audio book narrated quite nicely by Scott Brick.
OVERALL GRADE: A minus to A.
Wouldn't you know it there he is minding his own business when all of a sudden . . . you get the idea.
Well crafted murder mystery. DeMille gets the subculture of Long Island.
My third "reading" was the audio book narrated quite nicely by Scott Brick.
OVERALL GRADE: A minus to A.
October 9, 2015
Not entirely, but painfully close to being 100% awful. Even taking into account the not-PC era during which it was written, this was offensive... in too many ways and on multiple levels. The writing was very inconsistent - in chapter 16, the coarse NYC detective suddenly switches from his usual sarcastic, hard-boiled, sexist persona to sounding like a shrill teenage girl. The dead characters had more depth than the living ones - virtually no-one seemed plausible. The gut-wrenching (literally) climactic scene was, well, stupid. Ridiculously insipid dialogue. The only redeeming feature was the mildly interesting plot, but even it lacked effective telling. I was relieved to get through it and be shed of it.
November 2, 2025
Добра кримка, четвъртата звезда е защото съм я чел преди няколко години и успешно съм я забравил. За да я прочета отново сега и да ми е интересна до края си.
Главният герой - Джон Кори, е цапнато в устата ченге от Ню Йорк, възстановяващ се от три успешно надупчили го в престрелка куршума.
Когато двама негови познати, учени от секретната лаборатория разположена на близкия Плъм Айлънд са жестоко убити, местният шеф на полицията го вика на помощ. И започва едно страхотно разследване, естествено с неочакван край.
P.S. Неизвестно защо, книгата е озаглавена "Аз, детективът", вместо "Плъм Айлънд".
Сигурно на Кори му е писнало да отговаря, че не е обрулил много сливи на тоя остров. Само две де, за да сме точни. :)
Главният герой - Джон Кори, е цапнато в устата ченге от Ню Йорк, възстановяващ се от три успешно надупчили го в престрелка куршума.
Когато двама негови познати, учени от секретната лаборатория разположена на близкия Плъм Айлънд са жестоко убити, местният шеф на полицията го вика на помощ. И започва едно страхотно разследване, естествено с неочакван край.
P.S. Неизвестно защо, книгата е озаглавена "Аз, детективът", вместо "Плъм Айлънд".
Сигурно на Кори му е писнало да отговаря, че не е обрулил много сливи на тоя остров. Само две де, за да сме точни. :)
February 13, 2010
I was hoping that both of the main characters (especially the narrator) would drown so the book would end sooner.
May 9, 2018
One of my favorite all-time thrillers, this is a fantastic beach book with intrigue, smart-alec humor, biological warfare concerns, and even a touch of love. As a fan of everything Nelson Demille had written to that point, I read Plum Island in 1997, the very month it was published and chomped it down.
Since then, Demille has lately resurrected the main character John Corey another five times as the star of other thrillers, and you may have bumped into him. But this baby remains my fave.
John is a NY detective who was shot in the line of duty and is on temporary disability leave. His uncle has a house out on Long Island where Corey has visited over the years, and he spends his convalescence sipping some self-medication on the back porch and gawping at boaters who pass by. He's bored but healing up.
John gets pulled from this quiet by the local constable who asks him to consult on the double-murder of a couple he's familiar with, seemingly a house robbery gone wrong. Except, of course, the constable knows zippo about murder.
Because the husband and wife both work at Plum Island (former site for biological warfare research), the feds slip into the investigation under the auspices of the Department of Agriculture. A female homicide detective from an adjoining county enters the picture, and between the now-four investigators, all sorts of fire hydrants get peed on with most of the men jockeying for control.
What is so interesting about the story is the aspect of the bio-warfare lab - everybody has heard of Lyme Disease, right? Well, the town of Lyme, Connecticut is directly across the sound from Plum Island, and deer - carrying ticks they picked up from the experimental cattle yards on the island - are excellent swimmers. Was Lyme disease created by the USA as a weapon back in the 50s or something? Was anthrax being weaponized here? Dunno! Also, have you seen the movie Silence of the Lambs? The island that Clarice promises that Hannibal can visit is this one... he even comments on it in the movie.
At any rate, the intrigue is fun, and the smart-ass-cop-humor is macho and very snarky. Mark this as the very first (and last) time I ever heard a guy refer to his, um, tight pants as a "meat puppet." So yes, if you're a lady or gentleman who might be offended by foul language, sexual activity, touches of vulgarity, and violence - you might skip this.
For the rest of you sinners looking for solid entertainment, please introduce yourself to writer Nelson DeMille. Maybe take an antibiotic first. 5 stars, favorite-fluff shelf.
Since then, Demille has lately resurrected the main character John Corey another five times as the star of other thrillers, and you may have bumped into him. But this baby remains my fave.
John is a NY detective who was shot in the line of duty and is on temporary disability leave. His uncle has a house out on Long Island where Corey has visited over the years, and he spends his convalescence sipping some self-medication on the back porch and gawping at boaters who pass by. He's bored but healing up.
John gets pulled from this quiet by the local constable who asks him to consult on the double-murder of a couple he's familiar with, seemingly a house robbery gone wrong. Except, of course, the constable knows zippo about murder.
Because the husband and wife both work at Plum Island (former site for biological warfare research), the feds slip into the investigation under the auspices of the Department of Agriculture. A female homicide detective from an adjoining county enters the picture, and between the now-four investigators, all sorts of fire hydrants get peed on with most of the men jockeying for control.
What is so interesting about the story is the aspect of the bio-warfare lab - everybody has heard of Lyme Disease, right? Well, the town of Lyme, Connecticut is directly across the sound from Plum Island, and deer - carrying ticks they picked up from the experimental cattle yards on the island - are excellent swimmers. Was Lyme disease created by the USA as a weapon back in the 50s or something? Was anthrax being weaponized here? Dunno! Also, have you seen the movie Silence of the Lambs? The island that Clarice promises that Hannibal can visit is this one... he even comments on it in the movie.
At any rate, the intrigue is fun, and the smart-ass-cop-humor is macho and very snarky. Mark this as the very first (and last) time I ever heard a guy refer to his, um, tight pants as a "meat puppet." So yes, if you're a lady or gentleman who might be offended by foul language, sexual activity, touches of vulgarity, and violence - you might skip this.
For the rest of you sinners looking for solid entertainment, please introduce yourself to writer Nelson DeMille. Maybe take an antibiotic first. 5 stars, favorite-fluff shelf.
March 13, 2016
Plum island, truth be told, exceeded my expectations. Except in the humor department. The latter isn't the one thing I look forward to in a thriller anyway. Any book can be written in any style. There's one style, a bleak, grim and unapologetic style that I flee from like a vampire from the sun. Books that imitate life. It can crop up in any book. Fortunately, Plum Island is not like that; it is simply peachy. Oh, and if you want to read this book, you can omit Chapter 13. There's quite some delay tactic going on in Chapter 13, but after that it's all plain sailing.
In the past I would take issue with a hero like John Corey. He seems too loyal and kind, while being too egocentric, too flawed. I didn't really understand this type of person before. But now I've experienced it first hand; people that are incredibly generous and kind of kind, while being of ordinary mettle at their core. Nevertheless, I was dreading being cooped up in John Corey's mind for 500 pages. But the sharp cynicism and witticisms got relegated to the back of the decor and the intrigue took center stage. Although I AM wondering if I should give this book a perfect score. But though it was a good book, it didn't have the unexpected, the original, the ultra ribald, or the hair raise inducing bits. You know I still think that John Corey is not real. Like the saying goes, read it once, fooled me once, read it twice, will fool me twice. So there will be no re read. Ta.
In the past I would take issue with a hero like John Corey. He seems too loyal and kind, while being too egocentric, too flawed. I didn't really understand this type of person before. But now I've experienced it first hand; people that are incredibly generous and kind of kind, while being of ordinary mettle at their core. Nevertheless, I was dreading being cooped up in John Corey's mind for 500 pages. But the sharp cynicism and witticisms got relegated to the back of the decor and the intrigue took center stage. Although I AM wondering if I should give this book a perfect score. But though it was a good book, it didn't have the unexpected, the original, the ultra ribald, or the hair raise inducing bits. You know I still think that John Corey is not real. Like the saying goes, read it once, fooled me once, read it twice, will fool me twice. So there will be no re read. Ta.
Read
April 11, 2013With this novel I've got beef. Let's begin!
1. It's twice as long as it needs to be. 700+ pages is an absurd length for a standard suspense/detective novel. And there's nothing special about this novel from a narrative standpoint to warrant this kind of length. There's an initial mystery; some intriguing facts; the plot thickens; TWIST!; plot comes together; bad guy revealed; final encounter; resolution. I've read dozens upon dozens of books with this format, and I would be hard pressed to find any that cracked 400 pages.
2. So it's really long. What does DeMille do with all of that extra space? Well, faithful reader, I'm glad you asked. The answer is, he listens to himself talk. There is so much time spent on just how "witty" and "likeable" and street smart John Corey (our hero) is that you can't help but get the sense that DeMille wishes he were him.
I put "witty" and "likeable" in quotes because, after 300 pages of being inside John's head, he is anything but these things. First off, here's a guy who never met a bad or sexist or dirty or obvious joke he didn't like, and he dropped them every single chance he got.
What else about John Corey? Here is a list of adjectives you could apply to him easily (some of which he applied to himself directly): sexist, chauvinist, elitist, crude, rude, arrogant, offensive, antagonistic, alcoholic, cocksure, egotistic, and obnoxious.
The problem with this is that DeMille presents most of these attributes as endearing, suggesting that Corey's just a regular guy you'd like to have a beer with. The problem is, he's an ass. He's a jerk to everyone. He gives attitude in every single interaction he has in the book, but he hates it when someone gives it back. He looks down his nose at the well off because they like wine and fine food when he just wants a beer and a burger. He's irresistible to no less than two women, and even though he's his usual self around them, they just can't help but love him. He hates old people. He hates smart people. He hates rich people. He hates other security people. And those he does like, you don't really know why.
Also, he's the greatest thing that's ever happened to police work. He knows all the right lines to work. He finds all the leads. He asks all the right questions and makes all the right assumptions. Now, granted, this is nothing new in stories like this. It's not much fun when your hero detective is clueless. But good novels allow a give and take. The hero gets the majority of the clues, but his colleagues and partners make significant contributions. In this novel? Corey's main partner is simply there. Any contributions she makes are ancillary and really don't add anything. Its the Superman problem. A flawless hero is boring.
3. The plot doesn't make much sense. If you just let the story wash over your without asking any questions, then sure, you won't notice anything. If you pause even briefly to poke at the mystery plot on which the novel is built, it's not long before water starts gushing through.
4. I could go on, but I won't...
5. Well, actually, one last thing, because it's a big one.
***HERE THERE BE SPOILERS***
At the end of the novel, Corey chases down the bad guy, intent on killing him. The bad guy's killed a lot of people and raped and killed Corey's girlfriend of 3 days. (The whole rape thing, while awful, seems out of place when it's presented. It's like DeMille wanted to really drive home how evil the bad guy is and need to tack something else horrific to his rap sheet because killing no less than 6 people wasn't enough.) Corey wants his revenge, and after outwitting the bad guy in an impossible situation, Corey takes a knife, breaks the bad guy's nose and mouth, scalps him (Corey didn't like that he had hair plugs.), and then guts him. Yes, that's right, he guts him. He takes the knife and slices open his abdomen; then grabs the bad guy's intestines, pulls them out, and throws them in the bad guy's face. Then he walks away leaving him to die.
First off, this is pretty brutal. Second, if the bad guy dies, it's 1st degree murder.
Anyway, the cops arrive, Corey tells them where the bad guy is and that he left him for dead. Surprise! The bad guy's still alive and is arrested and sent to prison to await trial. And now you'd expect Corey to be put in prison as well, right? Right? Wait, what? He gets pats on the back and is rewarded as a hero cop?!?
In what world would this fly? Corey didn't just try to kill him. He tortured and mutilated him. It's not as though he shot him with his service pistol in the line of duty. He sadistically tortured him with the intent to leave him dead. But the novel presents this as an OK thing! It's a mind-boggling ending!
Anyway, that's where the book ends. The world goes back to normal, and there are apparently more John Corey novels to come, because he's so great. I should point out that
Night Fall is one of those books, and THAT was maybe one of the most offensive books I've ever read in my life. (Also, surprisingly, a book that suffers from the same issues as this one. You'd think I'd learn my lesson.)
1. It's twice as long as it needs to be. 700+ pages is an absurd length for a standard suspense/detective novel. And there's nothing special about this novel from a narrative standpoint to warrant this kind of length. There's an initial mystery; some intriguing facts; the plot thickens; TWIST!; plot comes together; bad guy revealed; final encounter; resolution. I've read dozens upon dozens of books with this format, and I would be hard pressed to find any that cracked 400 pages.
2. So it's really long. What does DeMille do with all of that extra space? Well, faithful reader, I'm glad you asked. The answer is, he listens to himself talk. There is so much time spent on just how "witty" and "likeable" and street smart John Corey (our hero) is that you can't help but get the sense that DeMille wishes he were him.
I put "witty" and "likeable" in quotes because, after 300 pages of being inside John's head, he is anything but these things. First off, here's a guy who never met a bad or sexist or dirty or obvious joke he didn't like, and he dropped them every single chance he got.
What else about John Corey? Here is a list of adjectives you could apply to him easily (some of which he applied to himself directly): sexist, chauvinist, elitist, crude, rude, arrogant, offensive, antagonistic, alcoholic, cocksure, egotistic, and obnoxious.
The problem with this is that DeMille presents most of these attributes as endearing, suggesting that Corey's just a regular guy you'd like to have a beer with. The problem is, he's an ass. He's a jerk to everyone. He gives attitude in every single interaction he has in the book, but he hates it when someone gives it back. He looks down his nose at the well off because they like wine and fine food when he just wants a beer and a burger. He's irresistible to no less than two women, and even though he's his usual self around them, they just can't help but love him. He hates old people. He hates smart people. He hates rich people. He hates other security people. And those he does like, you don't really know why.
Also, he's the greatest thing that's ever happened to police work. He knows all the right lines to work. He finds all the leads. He asks all the right questions and makes all the right assumptions. Now, granted, this is nothing new in stories like this. It's not much fun when your hero detective is clueless. But good novels allow a give and take. The hero gets the majority of the clues, but his colleagues and partners make significant contributions. In this novel? Corey's main partner is simply there. Any contributions she makes are ancillary and really don't add anything. Its the Superman problem. A flawless hero is boring.
3. The plot doesn't make much sense. If you just let the story wash over your without asking any questions, then sure, you won't notice anything. If you pause even briefly to poke at the mystery plot on which the novel is built, it's not long before water starts gushing through.
4. I could go on, but I won't...
5. Well, actually, one last thing, because it's a big one.
***HERE THERE BE SPOILERS***
At the end of the novel, Corey chases down the bad guy, intent on killing him. The bad guy's killed a lot of people and raped and killed Corey's girlfriend of 3 days. (The whole rape thing, while awful, seems out of place when it's presented. It's like DeMille wanted to really drive home how evil the bad guy is and need to tack something else horrific to his rap sheet because killing no less than 6 people wasn't enough.) Corey wants his revenge, and after outwitting the bad guy in an impossible situation, Corey takes a knife, breaks the bad guy's nose and mouth, scalps him (Corey didn't like that he had hair plugs.), and then guts him. Yes, that's right, he guts him. He takes the knife and slices open his abdomen; then grabs the bad guy's intestines, pulls them out, and throws them in the bad guy's face. Then he walks away leaving him to die.
First off, this is pretty brutal. Second, if the bad guy dies, it's 1st degree murder.
Anyway, the cops arrive, Corey tells them where the bad guy is and that he left him for dead. Surprise! The bad guy's still alive and is arrested and sent to prison to await trial. And now you'd expect Corey to be put in prison as well, right? Right? Wait, what? He gets pats on the back and is rewarded as a hero cop?!?
In what world would this fly? Corey didn't just try to kill him. He tortured and mutilated him. It's not as though he shot him with his service pistol in the line of duty. He sadistically tortured him with the intent to leave him dead. But the novel presents this as an OK thing! It's a mind-boggling ending!
Anyway, that's where the book ends. The world goes back to normal, and there are apparently more John Corey novels to come, because he's so great. I should point out that
Night Fall is one of those books, and THAT was maybe one of the most offensive books I've ever read in my life. (Also, surprisingly, a book that suffers from the same issues as this one. You'd think I'd learn my lesson.)
March 16, 2015
John Corey is convalescing at his Uncle Harry's Victorian home in the North Fork of Long Island, NY. The Suffolk County Chief, Sylvester Maxwell (Max) has asked John to be a consultant in a double homicide. John learns it is friends of his, Tom and Judy Gordon. A delightful couple who worked at the infamous Plum Island Research Facility for the Department of Agriculture studying animal diseases, viruses and flu's. Immediately, there are several people involved, Foster (FBI), Nash (DOA), Detective Penrose, Detective Maxwell, and then there is John and it seems as though there are too many people in the 'kitchen', stepping on each others toes. Each character has their own theory, biological weapon of smuggled out Ebola virus, drugs and drug runners along the bay, archaeological weapons from the revolutionary war.
I really enjoyed the wide array of characters and their personalities. John Corey is an obnoxious, witty, sarcastic man who shoots his mouth off at the most inopportune times, but it made me laugh. I really liked his sense of humor throughout the whole book. His instinct is right on the money and he keeps these clues and conclusions to himself, most of the time. I also liked Emma, the the town's president of the Historical Society who had a lot of knowledge about 'old' Plum Island, Captain Kidd, Battles won and lost, Treasure maps and who settled where first. I absorbed it like a sponge hoping her knowledge would give me more clues to the possible suspects. Nash, who claims he is from the Department of Agriculture, is not who he seems and he is a cocky and arrogant who dislikes John at first sight. Beth Penrose was very smart, likable but serious about her job.
While everyone else is running around gathering evidence from town folk, John is doing his own thing and eventually solves the puzzle and I'm thinking, "Damn, why didn't I think of that?!". A couple of things I did not see coming, which made it that much more puzzling but enjoyable. It was a little sad, scary, had some suspense toward the end but had it not been for the humor of John, it would have been a tiring story with a lot of background and very long. It kept me entertained and I couldn't wait to find out what John figured out toward the end. I do believe this will be another one on my favorites list and will soon be picking up the next in the series.
I'd recommend this book to anyone who likes historical mystery thrillers, with a bit of humor and biological science mixed in.
I really enjoyed the wide array of characters and their personalities. John Corey is an obnoxious, witty, sarcastic man who shoots his mouth off at the most inopportune times, but it made me laugh. I really liked his sense of humor throughout the whole book. His instinct is right on the money and he keeps these clues and conclusions to himself, most of the time. I also liked Emma, the the town's president of the Historical Society who had a lot of knowledge about 'old' Plum Island, Captain Kidd, Battles won and lost, Treasure maps and who settled where first. I absorbed it like a sponge hoping her knowledge would give me more clues to the possible suspects. Nash, who claims he is from the Department of Agriculture, is not who he seems and he is a cocky and arrogant who dislikes John at first sight. Beth Penrose was very smart, likable but serious about her job.
While everyone else is running around gathering evidence from town folk, John is doing his own thing and eventually solves the puzzle and I'm thinking, "Damn, why didn't I think of that?!". A couple of things I did not see coming, which made it that much more puzzling but enjoyable. It was a little sad, scary, had some suspense toward the end but had it not been for the humor of John, it would have been a tiring story with a lot of background and very long. It kept me entertained and I couldn't wait to find out what John figured out toward the end. I do believe this will be another one on my favorites list and will soon be picking up the next in the series.
I'd recommend this book to anyone who likes historical mystery thrillers, with a bit of humor and biological science mixed in.
July 13, 2020
The opening of the Corey series. DeMille weaves a complicated, but credible plot. Two scientists working at a bio-hazard, isolated government lab are murdered. Could it be terrorism? Theft of horrible pathogens?
An excerpt, relevant to today's pandemic:
'The last big deadly human influenza epidemic in the world was in 1918. There were about twenty million dead worldwide, including five hundred thousand in the U.S. Based on our present population, U.S. dead would be one and a half million. And the 1918 virus wasn't particularly virulent, and of course travel was much slower and less frequent. Today, the highways and skyways can spread infectious virus around the world in days.'
Corey is the ultimate rude, snarky, intolerant New Yorker. He bashes his way through the investigation, abusing everyone in his path, but finding the secrets behind the murders.
DeMille does a wonderful job of revealing the layer of the plot and supplies heart-pounding action and a string of surprises in the last chapters.
In later books, Corey is married to his bright and long-suffering wife, Kate. He hasn't met her yet in this book, but Corey partners with Beth, a local detective, who is in every meaningful way a clone of Kate. Well, an author can come up with only so many truly distinct personalities. Scott Turow excepted.
An excerpt, relevant to today's pandemic:
'The last big deadly human influenza epidemic in the world was in 1918. There were about twenty million dead worldwide, including five hundred thousand in the U.S. Based on our present population, U.S. dead would be one and a half million. And the 1918 virus wasn't particularly virulent, and of course travel was much slower and less frequent. Today, the highways and skyways can spread infectious virus around the world in days.'
Corey is the ultimate rude, snarky, intolerant New Yorker. He bashes his way through the investigation, abusing everyone in his path, but finding the secrets behind the murders.
DeMille does a wonderful job of revealing the layer of the plot and supplies heart-pounding action and a string of surprises in the last chapters.
In later books, Corey is married to his bright and long-suffering wife, Kate. He hasn't met her yet in this book, but Corey partners with Beth, a local detective, who is in every meaningful way a clone of Kate. Well, an author can come up with only so many truly distinct personalities. Scott Turow excepted.
March 15, 2008
First book in the series, and I really liked it!
When I found out that DeMille wrote The General's Daughter, I did a little more research on his 'John Corey' series. It seems that he hadn't wanted to write a series, but there were too many of his readers who wanted another John Corey book. He'd been afraid of his female readers; what they'd think of John as a character. He's cocky, tactless, crude, and a real ass, but I adored him. I loved how his mind worked, how he processed what he saw, what he heard, what he read. As much of a jerk he can be, it made him who he is, and I don't think I could have asked for a better character.
I thought Beth as a good equal for him. She gave back as good as she got, and I think John needed that.
I was glad that John met Emma. He needed her in more ways that the obvious. I think it made him a better person.
There was a twist in this plot, one that I didn't see coming, and at first, I had the 'yeah, right' thought about it. But the more the direction of the story went that way, the more I believed and the more I liked the plot.
Wasn't all that surprised by who the killer was, but I liked how John dealt with him and the situation. The action was great. I'm definitely getting the rest of the series.
When I found out that DeMille wrote The General's Daughter, I did a little more research on his 'John Corey' series. It seems that he hadn't wanted to write a series, but there were too many of his readers who wanted another John Corey book. He'd been afraid of his female readers; what they'd think of John as a character. He's cocky, tactless, crude, and a real ass, but I adored him. I loved how his mind worked, how he processed what he saw, what he heard, what he read. As much of a jerk he can be, it made him who he is, and I don't think I could have asked for a better character.
I thought Beth as a good equal for him. She gave back as good as she got, and I think John needed that.
I was glad that John met Emma. He needed her in more ways that the obvious. I think it made him a better person.
There was a twist in this plot, one that I didn't see coming, and at first, I had the 'yeah, right' thought about it. But the more the direction of the story went that way, the more I believed and the more I liked the plot.
Wasn't all that surprised by who the killer was, but I liked how John dealt with him and the situation. The action was great. I'm definitely getting the rest of the series.
February 6, 2013
Lame, long and boring in comparison to his better works. 2 of 10 stars
April 13, 2024
John Corey, grizzled NYPD homicide detective, sits on the deck of his uncle’s house in Southold, NY, way out on the North Fork of Long Island. He’s been convalescing there for the last few months after being shot by perps that are still on the run. Up strolls his local buddy, Southold PD Chief Maxwell, who convinces him to take a look at a murder scene in a town where such crimes are rare. The Gordons were an attractive and nice couple, and the act doesn’t appear to be a burglary. They were also scientists at a government biohazard lab on Plum Island, a short boat ride away but also shrouded in secrecy. Right off the bat, the veteran investigator sees there’s more than meets the eye, and before long we’re off on a journey to find the killers…and maybe more than he bargained for.
This made it to my queue when I was on the search for a classic detective story on the longer side. I was also drawn to the setting, the sleepy town of Southold and the surrounding area. I have a sister who’s lived there with her family for thirty years, and it’s a lovely place. So lovely, in fact, that such crime and intrigue was a fascinating contrast to such a calm, beautiful landscape.
The progress, the action, the plot development? Very odd. It’s a straightforward, first-person account from the detective himself, so it’s easy to read: relatable, simple language, clear descriptions. What makes it strange, however, is the zippy dialogue and snappy banter along with mountains and mountains of detail. I like a book with lots of conversation, and this has it. But the first visit to Plum Island lasts, no lie, over a hundred pages. Corey, Maxwell, Suffolk Co. Detective Beth Penrose, and two federal stooges get a tour of the facility, meet with the shady security director and head scientist and learn lots (but maybe not all) of the secrets. It takes…a while. I suppose I get it: lots of red herrings, partial clues, dead ends as they see if the Gordons’ work could have contributed to their demise. But DeMille does the “ham sandwich” thing, literally. They sit for lunch…and we learn what they ate, even what utensils they used. Nearly every step is described. A bit much.
Same for the rest of the investigation: Corey barges into the vineyard of one Frederic Tobin, a local magnate and bon vivant who knew the Gordons well. It’s clear he knows more than he leads on, and Corey gives him the third degree. But the visit takes forty pages, or at least it felt that way. Perhaps I was expecting a swashbuckling adventure with exploding cars and sex and visits to fried chicken joints. (Oh, wait….that’s someone else.) We get there, and the pirate thing to which the summary alludes does show up, but again: it takes a while. About halfway. Mostly, it's dialogue, meetings, questioning, thinking. The danger really begins deep in the novel, maybe 70%. At nearly 600 pages, that could seem a little late. That said, the pacing and dialogue and character interaction make it OK.
I read the twentieth anniversary edition, which, because the original was published in 1997, was itself a little worn: yellowing pages, rough edges. It’s starting to get to me that things made around that time are getting old, that my first trip to the World Series was almost thirty years ago.
So should we be surprised that Corey himself seems like a relic? He’s in his mid-forties at the time, so even then he’s a little behind the times. He’s an all-star smart ass (so few of us) who can’t resist a passing barb even in the most gruesome moment. He’s irreverent, a little crass, and has a state-of-the art, built-in bullcrap detector. Budweiser is his favorite drink (say no more). He’s a smart detective and knows his stuff, using brains and experience to see what others don’t. Think Chevy Chase’s version of Fletch.
But the jokes, the mannerisms, the smarminess seemed a little dated. I can smell a dad joke a mile away (join the club; we have jackets), and his plentiful quips on every page are a little out of touch. Even his friends roll their eyes. The humor doesn’t land as perhaps it did in 1997. Would it have been different if I read it back then? Discuss.
Also, the romantic angles here seemed implausible. There’s something about his observations of women that’s borderline creepy. Then, he charms a beautiful woman into bed in a matter of hours. This guy, with his goofy phrases, blunt questions, terrible taste in alcohol, and 70s pickup lines. Really? This gave me vibes not of Bond or Fletch, but Michael Scarn.
But does this mean I didn’t like it? No. I was strongly invested in the murder. I wanted to know what happened. And the mystery was greatly enhanced with that secret government connection. The pirate treasure plot piece also takes a while to arrive, but when it does, it’s fascinating. OK, maybe because I love history, but I think anyone’d be interested in a link to Captain Kidd’s 300-year old treasure.
And when the action starts, it doesn’t let up. Stuff goes down, as I said, around the 70% mark, and every page has something special for you thriller fans out there. Dead bodies, whizzing bullets, startling discoveries, speeding boats and cars. Yeah, the chase scene at the end takes a little longer than I’d have liked, but it was gripping and scary, just like it should be.
By the way, feel free to point out the irony that this is one of my longest reviews for a book I thought was too long. You got me.
Anyway (see that? Corey says that all the time, and I just riffed on it. I’m so clever. Here all week, folks!), DeMille earned his best-seller badge with this one, and it’s easy to see why. All the mystery elements are there, and it’s a fun adventure worthy of a sunny afternoon beach read.
This made it to my queue when I was on the search for a classic detective story on the longer side. I was also drawn to the setting, the sleepy town of Southold and the surrounding area. I have a sister who’s lived there with her family for thirty years, and it’s a lovely place. So lovely, in fact, that such crime and intrigue was a fascinating contrast to such a calm, beautiful landscape.
The progress, the action, the plot development? Very odd. It’s a straightforward, first-person account from the detective himself, so it’s easy to read: relatable, simple language, clear descriptions. What makes it strange, however, is the zippy dialogue and snappy banter along with mountains and mountains of detail. I like a book with lots of conversation, and this has it. But the first visit to Plum Island lasts, no lie, over a hundred pages. Corey, Maxwell, Suffolk Co. Detective Beth Penrose, and two federal stooges get a tour of the facility, meet with the shady security director and head scientist and learn lots (but maybe not all) of the secrets. It takes…a while. I suppose I get it: lots of red herrings, partial clues, dead ends as they see if the Gordons’ work could have contributed to their demise. But DeMille does the “ham sandwich” thing, literally. They sit for lunch…and we learn what they ate, even what utensils they used. Nearly every step is described. A bit much.
Same for the rest of the investigation: Corey barges into the vineyard of one Frederic Tobin, a local magnate and bon vivant who knew the Gordons well. It’s clear he knows more than he leads on, and Corey gives him the third degree. But the visit takes forty pages, or at least it felt that way. Perhaps I was expecting a swashbuckling adventure with exploding cars and sex and visits to fried chicken joints. (Oh, wait….that’s someone else.) We get there, and the pirate thing to which the summary alludes does show up, but again: it takes a while. About halfway. Mostly, it's dialogue, meetings, questioning, thinking. The danger really begins deep in the novel, maybe 70%. At nearly 600 pages, that could seem a little late. That said, the pacing and dialogue and character interaction make it OK.
I read the twentieth anniversary edition, which, because the original was published in 1997, was itself a little worn: yellowing pages, rough edges. It’s starting to get to me that things made around that time are getting old, that my first trip to the World Series was almost thirty years ago.
So should we be surprised that Corey himself seems like a relic? He’s in his mid-forties at the time, so even then he’s a little behind the times. He’s an all-star smart ass (so few of us) who can’t resist a passing barb even in the most gruesome moment. He’s irreverent, a little crass, and has a state-of-the art, built-in bullcrap detector. Budweiser is his favorite drink (say no more). He’s a smart detective and knows his stuff, using brains and experience to see what others don’t. Think Chevy Chase’s version of Fletch.
But the jokes, the mannerisms, the smarminess seemed a little dated. I can smell a dad joke a mile away (join the club; we have jackets), and his plentiful quips on every page are a little out of touch. Even his friends roll their eyes. The humor doesn’t land as perhaps it did in 1997. Would it have been different if I read it back then? Discuss.
Also, the romantic angles here seemed implausible. There’s something about his observations of women that’s borderline creepy. Then, he charms a beautiful woman into bed in a matter of hours. This guy, with his goofy phrases, blunt questions, terrible taste in alcohol, and 70s pickup lines. Really? This gave me vibes not of Bond or Fletch, but Michael Scarn.
But does this mean I didn’t like it? No. I was strongly invested in the murder. I wanted to know what happened. And the mystery was greatly enhanced with that secret government connection. The pirate treasure plot piece also takes a while to arrive, but when it does, it’s fascinating. OK, maybe because I love history, but I think anyone’d be interested in a link to Captain Kidd’s 300-year old treasure.
And when the action starts, it doesn’t let up. Stuff goes down, as I said, around the 70% mark, and every page has something special for you thriller fans out there. Dead bodies, whizzing bullets, startling discoveries, speeding boats and cars. Yeah, the chase scene at the end takes a little longer than I’d have liked, but it was gripping and scary, just like it should be.
By the way, feel free to point out the irony that this is one of my longest reviews for a book I thought was too long. You got me.
Anyway (see that? Corey says that all the time, and I just riffed on it. I’m so clever. Here all week, folks!), DeMille earned his best-seller badge with this one, and it’s easy to see why. All the mystery elements are there, and it’s a fun adventure worthy of a sunny afternoon beach read.
July 24, 2015
Something, Whatever, You Know - 4 Stars
Despite a vocabulary that included more non-specific words than a valley girl, I found myself amused and entertained by John Corey. Both irreverent and brilliant, Corey is one of the most entertaining protagonists I have read in a long time. Because of my preference for reading lesser know authors, I have put off reading this series for a long time. Fortunately, it was well written and entertaining and I will certainly continue the series.
Plot Summary
John Corey is a New York Homicide Detective. After being shot in the line of duty, he head offs to his uncles house on Long Island while he convalesces. Rest does not come easy after a two recently made friends are murdered in what is initially called a bungled home invasion. Had this husband and wife duo been simple fishermen, the investigation would have ended there. In this case, the deceased are two brilliant scientists working on Plum Island. Plum Island is rumored to be working on everything from biological warfare research, vaccine research to planning the next plague. It becomes clear that the murders are tied in some way to plum island and John is brought in by the local sheriff to advise on the case. Never believing the official line, John Corey works with local detective Beth Penrose to follow his own line of reasoning while at the same time dodging the federal agents working the case. John battles man and nature as the case takes him down an unlikely path.
My Take
Overall, this is an exceptionally written and entertaining novel. John Corey is a funny and intelligent while occasionally being a jackass. Prior to this novel, I did not know that a place called Plum Island existed. It is in realty an island run by the USDA where they undertake research into animal disease. Take any government research facility and place it on a small island and people will spin rumors all day. I thought the setting of Long Island and Plum Island were excellent choice and vibrantly written.
Nelson DeMille is quite masterful in his use of dialogue. It is written in a manner that is captivating and is perfectly suited for audio (which is the format I used.) The character interactions are realistic and the exchanges are usually funny. John has a habit of using non specific narration. For example, "I looked to my left on the boat, or the starboard, or the stern or whatever the heck it's called". While entertaining in the first half, it does start to become annoying later in the book and is (in my opinion) overused.
I found the plot and the setup to be well crafted and realistic. My only issue was I didn't buy John's "Eureka" moment when he seemed to discovered what was really going on. I just don't know how the heck he figured out what was really happening. It seems as if he was relying on some sixth sense. Given the content, the plot could have easily degenerated into a hokey mess but the author did a great job of using plot elements that could have taken the story down.
Final Thoughts
Overall, Plum Island in an entertaining and very well written novel. There is nothing to complex or obscure in the novel and should appeal to a wide range of readers. I am a bit late in getting to the series but I will certainly be reading more.
Despite a vocabulary that included more non-specific words than a valley girl, I found myself amused and entertained by John Corey. Both irreverent and brilliant, Corey is one of the most entertaining protagonists I have read in a long time. Because of my preference for reading lesser know authors, I have put off reading this series for a long time. Fortunately, it was well written and entertaining and I will certainly continue the series.
Plot Summary
John Corey is a New York Homicide Detective. After being shot in the line of duty, he head offs to his uncles house on Long Island while he convalesces. Rest does not come easy after a two recently made friends are murdered in what is initially called a bungled home invasion. Had this husband and wife duo been simple fishermen, the investigation would have ended there. In this case, the deceased are two brilliant scientists working on Plum Island. Plum Island is rumored to be working on everything from biological warfare research, vaccine research to planning the next plague. It becomes clear that the murders are tied in some way to plum island and John is brought in by the local sheriff to advise on the case. Never believing the official line, John Corey works with local detective Beth Penrose to follow his own line of reasoning while at the same time dodging the federal agents working the case. John battles man and nature as the case takes him down an unlikely path.
My Take
Overall, this is an exceptionally written and entertaining novel. John Corey is a funny and intelligent while occasionally being a jackass. Prior to this novel, I did not know that a place called Plum Island existed. It is in realty an island run by the USDA where they undertake research into animal disease. Take any government research facility and place it on a small island and people will spin rumors all day. I thought the setting of Long Island and Plum Island were excellent choice and vibrantly written.
Nelson DeMille is quite masterful in his use of dialogue. It is written in a manner that is captivating and is perfectly suited for audio (which is the format I used.) The character interactions are realistic and the exchanges are usually funny. John has a habit of using non specific narration. For example, "I looked to my left on the boat, or the starboard, or the stern or whatever the heck it's called". While entertaining in the first half, it does start to become annoying later in the book and is (in my opinion) overused.
I found the plot and the setup to be well crafted and realistic. My only issue was I didn't buy John's "Eureka" moment when he seemed to discovered what was really going on. I just don't know how the heck he figured out what was really happening. It seems as if he was relying on some sixth sense. Given the content, the plot could have easily degenerated into a hokey mess but the author did a great job of using plot elements that could have taken the story down.
Final Thoughts
Overall, Plum Island in an entertaining and very well written novel. There is nothing to complex or obscure in the novel and should appeal to a wide range of readers. I am a bit late in getting to the series but I will certainly be reading more.
October 21, 2018
Muito bom..
Chega a uma altura da história que não se consegue parar de ler.
Chega a uma altura da história que não se consegue parar de ler.
March 14, 2024
I really like Nelson Demille and his John Corey novels. John Corey is a really good character, one of those lovable old-fashioned guys who talk tough and sees women as objectable figures, but also can work with one without problem, and seems he would never commit anything more than some stupid comments towards them. However, when it comes to the bad guys, Corey has no problem going after them. This is the first novel featuring DeMille's signature character, and the mystery reads differently today than it did in 1997. Basically, two friends of Corey, Tom and Judy Gordon turn up dead. It's unclear why exactly this young yuppie Long Island couple would befriend an old, right-wing guy like Corey. The explanation isn't great. He hit on the wife at a bar, and instead of walking out in disgust, the husband and wife are charmed and befriend him? Er. Sometimes DeMille's book reads a bit like an old-fashioned, conservative fantasy world, which is unrealistic, even for the mid-90s way before woke culture and the MeToo movement. However, the plot is they are murdered, and at first, there's suspicion that they were trying to sell chemicals to create a mass virus that infects America then they could become rich selling the cure to it. That's the part that reads differently today. However, there's a twist that their murder actually has to do with lost treasure buried on Long Island. Corey makes a ton of cracks and says some stupid things. His love of the death penalty, even for a right-winger, comes off more creepy than conservative un-PC humor. However, I like Corey and I like the writing of DeMille. He is the middle-aged guy's Nicholas Sparks, as in the total opposite of Sparks but read by middle-aged guys for the same reason women read Sparks. It's a male-centric fantasy where every attractive younger woman wants to sleep with an overweight, old-school, and much older former cop on Long Island. Also, this old-school former cop breaks a ton of rules to catch a killer, then simply walks away with a quiet deal to go on with his life. Corey is the opposite of every male character Sparks ever wrote but is read for the same reason women read about men in Sparks characters. He's a fantasy figure in a fantasy world where everyone is having an instant-made relationship for not a ton of reasoning. The main problem with this book, and a lot of DeMille's books, is they really need an editor. I mean this was almost 600 pages, and this being a pretty basic mystery, THAT IS WAY TOO LONG. By the end, you do want this guy to wrap it up, and he doesn't. This isn't a Stephen King or fantasy novel or some historical novel that needs a ton of explanation or world-building. I grew up on Long Island. I get it. Even if you never been to Long Island, it's not that hard to figure out. I was torn between three and four stars, while not ever thinking five. However DeMille has a whatever, it's all great and cranky charm I like and you don't see much in thriller writers anymore. However, because his book was so weirdly long to the point it became torture by the end, it is bumped down to three stars.
May 21, 2023
Probably one of his best. Not necesarilly a policier, the plot is thin, nothing important takes place for hundreds of pages, but "the little talk" makes all the money. Par example: "diplomacy is when you speak friendly to a mad ugly dog, meanwhile searching for a proper stick".
I really enjoyed reading this one and I recommend it.
I really enjoyed reading this one and I recommend it.
August 10, 2023
The story was in 3 star territory in the first third of my reading. Thank goodness it picked up and moved to 4 stars as I read more. The main character was obnoxious at times. The author was a bit wordy. The surge toward the end added excitement with a good resolution of the strife the characters had to endure. Yes, I would recommend this to a friend.
October 28, 2015
I read this a long time ago and liked it. Don't understand why it is being touted as a new book?
August 15, 2025
I first read this when I lived in New London, CT., where you could see the North Fork of Long Island across the sound. On Plum Island, a few miles off Long Island, a US gov. biological research center (no longer active) was the center of all kinds of conspiracy theory back in the day. DeMille introduces John Corey here as the main protagonist, an NYPD homicide cop, who starts the novel in North Fork recuperating from some gun shots at his uncle's mansion. Corey is really a piece of work to be sure, and one's enjoyment of the novel probably rests with how he is taken. Smart, and smart ass, his constant quips and jokes either will get old fast for move the novel along.
The novel starts with the local head cop Max stopping by to seen Corey. He has some bad news-- two people were murdered, and Corey know them both. Max asks Corey to be a consultant and takes him to the crime scene. The two murdered people were scientists at Plum Island so of course all kinds of Feds get involved. Yes, there is a murder, but why were they killed? Were they working with terrorists and something went wrong? Did they smuggle some nasty biological agent out the facility? DeMille keeps the reader guessing for some time...
I loved this when I first read it back around 2000, and the nostalgia from living in New London brought this one back. Nonetheless, DeMille is an author people will probably either love or hate. Besides the obnoxious Carey, DeMille takes his time telling the tale and this weighs in at close to 600 pages. While not exactly action packed, this mystery thriller slowly built up tension and foreboding. I do not want to say more about the plot (this is a thriller after all!), but DeMille packs a lot in here, including some romance. 3.5 stars, rounding up for nostalgia.
The novel starts with the local head cop Max stopping by to seen Corey. He has some bad news-- two people were murdered, and Corey know them both. Max asks Corey to be a consultant and takes him to the crime scene. The two murdered people were scientists at Plum Island so of course all kinds of Feds get involved. Yes, there is a murder, but why were they killed? Were they working with terrorists and something went wrong? Did they smuggle some nasty biological agent out the facility? DeMille keeps the reader guessing for some time...
I loved this when I first read it back around 2000, and the nostalgia from living in New London brought this one back. Nonetheless, DeMille is an author people will probably either love or hate. Besides the obnoxious Carey, DeMille takes his time telling the tale and this weighs in at close to 600 pages. While not exactly action packed, this mystery thriller slowly built up tension and foreboding. I do not want to say more about the plot (this is a thriller after all!), but DeMille packs a lot in here, including some romance. 3.5 stars, rounding up for nostalgia.
January 1, 2015
My first book my author Nelson De Mille, and also my first with the great witty character John Corley, and a great end to the 2014 book pal reads for me, so thank you Book Pal friends.
Wounded in the line of duty, NYPD homicide cop John Corey is convalescing in rural eastern Long Island when an attractive young couple he knows is found shot to death on the family patio. The victims were biologists at Plum Island, a research site rumoured to be an incubator for germ warfare. Suddenly, a local double murder takes on shattering global implications — and thrusts Corey and two extraordinary women into a dangerous search for the secret of PLUM ISLAND....
But beyond all of that lies at its heart one of the most engaging hero's ever conceived: John Corey. His manners are scratched and his jokes are annoying to everyone (except to himself and the reader), but still comes off as an intelligent and competent vacationing cop who gets embroiled in the mystery involving a couple who worked on Plum Island- an animal disease compound that hides more than Ebola and Anthrax.
Well written, great detail, a great main character in John Corley, just to me fifty to hundred pages to long mainly in the middle of the story, but a great rip roaring storm filled ending.
Must read the other John Corley books.
Wounded in the line of duty, NYPD homicide cop John Corey is convalescing in rural eastern Long Island when an attractive young couple he knows is found shot to death on the family patio. The victims were biologists at Plum Island, a research site rumoured to be an incubator for germ warfare. Suddenly, a local double murder takes on shattering global implications — and thrusts Corey and two extraordinary women into a dangerous search for the secret of PLUM ISLAND....
But beyond all of that lies at its heart one of the most engaging hero's ever conceived: John Corey. His manners are scratched and his jokes are annoying to everyone (except to himself and the reader), but still comes off as an intelligent and competent vacationing cop who gets embroiled in the mystery involving a couple who worked on Plum Island- an animal disease compound that hides more than Ebola and Anthrax.
Well written, great detail, a great main character in John Corley, just to me fifty to hundred pages to long mainly in the middle of the story, but a great rip roaring storm filled ending.
Must read the other John Corley books.
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