Natchez Burning: Part 1 of 6

Penn Cage #4A

by Greg Iles

‘Extraordinarily entertaining and fiendishly suspenseful’ (Stephen King). The stunning new Penn Cage thriller in which a shocking murder from the 1960s finds new life - and victims - in the present.

The sins of the past never die…

Raised in Natchez, Mississippi, former prosecuting attorney Penn Cage learned all he knows of honour and duty from his father, Dr. Tom Cage.

But now Tom stands accused of murdering on African-American nurse with whom he worked in the 1960s, when racist violence was at its peak.

As he hunts for the truth, Penn uncovers a long-buried secret that could place his family in mortal danger- a conspiracy of greed and murder connected to a vicious sect of the KKK.

Up against the most powerful men in the state, Penn faces an impossible choice: does a man of honour choose his father or justice?

Genres: Fiction, Mystery, Thriller, Audiobook

134 pages, Kindle Edition

Published February 20, 2014

About the author

Greg Iles spent most of his life in Natchez, Mississippi. His first novel, Spandau
Phoenix, was the first of seventeen New York Times bestsellers. His Natchez
Burning trilogy continued the story of Penn Cage, the protagonist of The Quiet Game,
Turning Angel, and #1 New York Times bestseller The Devil’s Punchbowl. Iles’s novels have been made into films and published in more than thirty-five countries. He was a
member of the lit-rock group The Rock Bottom Remainders.

Reviews

[Nikki Corn · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book came recommended to me by two respected friends, so even though it’s a little different from my typical read, I excitedly downloaded it. I love the themes of family, racism, justice, and small-town Southern life, but the book got just a bit too unrealistic for me. I think Natchez Burning could make a riveting, action-packed movie, but as far as books go, for me, I wanted more time spent on character development and less on the flame-throwing antics of villains and perfectly ridiculously timed surprise heroes. I wanted to love this book, but I can only say that I liked it. It was entertaining, but the final action scene(s) jumped it right over the shark. There are more books in this series, and I don’t feel compelled to read them.

[Laurence O'Bryan · Rating 5 out of 5]

An engaging and fascinating read. Greg has done a great job with Natchez Burning. I highly recommend it and I am only 100 pages in.

[Mario Gonzalez · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great book, easy to read, and it is fast-moving. I think that I will read a few more Greg Iles books.

[Eileen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Rating 5/5
Natchez Burning by Greg Isles is a novel that I highly recommend. From start to finish, I was engrossed in this compelling thriller set both in the 1960s and the present day. Very strong, believable characters: even the ones I definitely would stay clear off.
Who do you trust? Who are the egotistical, murderers? Who turns a blind eye? Power, corruption, politics and racism are key to the novel but so are the unsung heroes and those who were victims.
Some political thrillers can be "dry" but not Natchez Burning with the well rounded characters bringing it to life. The perceptively, well thought out plot and writing style shows Greg Iles is a novelist at the top of his game.
I was given a copy of Natchez Burning for an unbiased review. Thank you NetGalley and to you, Greg Iles.

[Carole Millar · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm not usually interested in stories which aren't set in the current time but Natchez was mentioned in another Greg Isles book I happened to be reading, so I decided to give this a try. I really enjoyed it. The descriptive writing style is right up my alley and the characters are so life-like and believable they grab the reader's attention and hold it right to the final page. Will definitely be reading more from this author.

[Ted Tayler · Rating 5 out of 5]

"An epic tale"

This is the best book I've read in a long time. You need to have some stones to write a six-book saga. It helps if you're a great story-teller and this first part alone is something that will stay with me for a very long time. On to the next part.

[Rick B · Rating 2 out of 5]

Good story but way too long and ridiculously gratuitous violence. One star would not have been out of the question but I usually save those for books that I don't finish.

[Kathleen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Entertaining and compelling but as with all fiction too much happens to the same people.
Nevertheless, it is a story that ties big events in the civil rights movement to history past and present.
The villains do not seem overstated in any way. I believe there are too many like them everywhere in this country and the world.

One bone of contention: One character moved to Detroit and is a big Gates Brown fan. He wears a Tigers hat and the author says it has a Gothic d on it, instead of saying it has an Old English d on it.

[Kent Kauffman · Rating 4 out of 5]

"Natchez Burning" is an ambitious and unbelievable book that chronicles the exploits of some African American sympathizes during the '60s and '70s in the deep South. Penn Cage, the mayor of Natchez, Mississippi, is assisted by several journalists as they battle an ultra violent sect of the Klu Klux Clan. It's long, over 800 pages, and is the first book of an ambitious series of six books about race, then and now, in the south in general and Natchez in particular. Highly recommended.

[Candice · Rating 3 out of 5]

I started this book with the intent of reading the Bone Tree Trilogy. I did finish this first book but I won't be reading the others. It's simply not my genre! It did have redeeming qualities, but not enough to make me read the others! If you're into complicated, fast moving FBI/CIA stuff you will probably love this!

[Ulana · Rating 4 out of 5]

Natchez Burning was an exciting novel with a lot of violence and history taking place in the South. It involved the Klu Klux Klan and the Double Eagles, the local mayor, a newspaper reporter, and his girlfriend. The mayor wanted to prove that his Dad, the town doctor, was innocent in the death of his former nurse who was African-American.

[Carol Pucak · Rating 3 out of 5]

First two thirds very good, interesting characters and plot. The last third was ridiculous, single guy against all the odds, just the right people come time and again to help him and his dad.
Wish he could have ended it more realistically. I may read one more but sceptically

[Joyce A Munz · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was an amazing series to read! I have never believed the government version of the Kennedy assassination. This series presents another possible idea. This series is fast paced, good character development. Highly recommend!

[Sue Kelly · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good (although lengthy) book except for the outrageous, over the top, and unrealistic ending, along with readers left hanging about outcomes of main characters. Things are definitely not 'wrapped up'. Because of this bizarre ending, I don't think I want to read any more of Greg Iles's books.

[SherleyB · Rating 5 out of 5]

Started slow for the first few chapters, then it just got better and better as the story unfold, a great read, I need to read more of
Greg lles books...
aka. SherleyB

[Jennifer · Rating 3 out of 5]

I don't know why I can't add the whole book so I am just putting up Part 1 of 6...I have listened to the whole thing. It was a really good book until the end...too dramatic and unrealistic.

[Bookclubcheerleader · Rating 3 out of 5]

Longest book in the world...or so it seemed...Did this book have an editor?

[Joyce Robinson · Rating 5 out of 5]

All 791 pages. Great character building, suspense and fiction giving us a glimpse of history of the American south and race relations. Well written story that kept my attention and interest.

[Heidi · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved thi and all the sequels. Its a page turner. It is fiction but borrows from real events.

[Mary Berger · Rating 1 out of 5]

Violence, repeated over and over. took too long to get to the point.

[Alli B · Rating 2 out of 5]

DNF

[Kathy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love all of this series. Penn Cage is a favorite character.

[Rosa · Rating 2 out of 5]

Too long! KKK, family doctor falls in love with Black nurse.

BFBC selection

[Elaine Walters · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fun series of books! Tense. Dramatic.

[Debby Gwyllt-smith · Rating 4 out of 5]

Loved this book. I was captivated from beginning to end. Now onto The Bone Tree…book #2.

[Lisa Hunter · Rating 2 out of 5]

Too much going on
Too many characters with unbelievable interactions and motivations.

[Kristine Mitchell · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved this series, but beware… VERY long

[Greig · Rating 3 out of 5]

Great action and sad story at the start, felt it took along time to get the action to build up for a good ending, and get their justice against members of kkk.

[Patti · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good story, but entirely too long.

[KG · Rating 4 out of 5]

Always a great re-read.