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Penn Cage #5
The Bone Tree
Former prosecutor Penn Cage and his fiancée, reporter and publisher Caitlin Masters, have barely escaped with their lives after being attacked by wealthy businessman Brody Royal and his Double Eagles, a KKK sect with ties to some of Mississippi’s most powerful men. But the real danger has only begun as FBI Special Agent John Kaiser warns Penn that Brody wasn’t the true leader of the Double Eagles. The puppeteer who actually controls the terrorist group is a man far more fearsome: the chief of the state police’s Criminal Investigations Bureau, Forrest Knox.
The only way Penn can save his father, Dr. Tom Cage—who is fleeing a murder charge as well as corrupt cops bent on killing him—is either to make a devil’s bargain with Knox or destroy him. While Penn desperately pursues both options, Caitlin uncovers the real story behind a series of unsolved civil rights murders that may hold the key to the Double Eagles’ downfall. The trail leads her deep into the past, into the black backwaters of the Mississippi River, to a secret killing ground used by slave owners and the Klan for over two hundred years . . . a place of terrifying evil known only as “the bone tree.”
The Bone Tree is an explosive, action-packed thriller full of twisting intrigue and deadly secrets, a tale that explores the conflicts and casualties that result when the darkest truths of American history come to light. It puts us inside the skin of a noble man who has always fought for justice—now finally pushed beyond his limits.
The only way Penn can save his father, Dr. Tom Cage—who is fleeing a murder charge as well as corrupt cops bent on killing him—is either to make a devil’s bargain with Knox or destroy him. While Penn desperately pursues both options, Caitlin uncovers the real story behind a series of unsolved civil rights murders that may hold the key to the Double Eagles’ downfall. The trail leads her deep into the past, into the black backwaters of the Mississippi River, to a secret killing ground used by slave owners and the Klan for over two hundred years . . . a place of terrifying evil known only as “the bone tree.”
The Bone Tree is an explosive, action-packed thriller full of twisting intrigue and deadly secrets, a tale that explores the conflicts and casualties that result when the darkest truths of American history come to light. It puts us inside the skin of a noble man who has always fought for justice—now finally pushed beyond his limits.
Just how far will Penn Cage, the hero we thought we knew, go to protect those he loves?
832 pages, Paperback
First published April 21, 2015
3418 people are currently reading
22255 people want to read
About the author
Greg Iles
123 books7,218 followersGreg 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.
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.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 2,334 reviews
November 7, 2019
The Bone Tree by Greg Iles is a 2015 William Morrow Publication.
For two years, this book has languished in my TBR pile. I have started reading it on three different occasions, and abandoned it all three times, for many reasons- the main one being that these books are usually pretty dense, and I don’t mean that in a bad way. It is just not the type of book you can read on autopilot, and since the book is so long, I decided to wait until I could give it the attention it deserves.
However, now that the latest book in the saga has been released, I finally found myself feeling up to the challenge of tackling this one.
This book can not be read as a stand alone. So, for those who have not read the previous installments, it is definitely worth your while to do so. For those who have been following along, brace yourselves!!
As one might expect, the book starts off being centered around the death of Viola, Tom Gage’s one time nurse and possibly his mistress, many years ago. Tom has been accused of her murder and is on the run. Meanwhile, Caitlyn is in search of the ‘Bone Tree’, and nothing will get in her way, despite the risks.
Penn is searching for his father, trying to keep his mother and daughter safe, and looking to make sense of the newly revealed information concerning the JFK assassination and his father’s role in it.
This is a very busy book, well thought out and plotted, with some very interesting and very detailed JFK conspiracy theories that one might even buy into if this wasn’t a work of fiction. There are a few shock and awe moments, but while I normally understand Iles’ writing style, there were several chunks of the novel that turned out to be repetitive and mostly unnecessary and upset the flow and pacing, which really tempted me a time or two, to skip ahead because the story seemed stuck or had stalled.
In the end, the story took on an unexpected tone and veered off onto a different path than where we started out. The JFK theories are very prominent, and while Viola's murder is weaved around that, and many burning questions were answered, it wasn't the main attraction, and there are still questions left unexplored which I am sure the next book will answer.
There are some developments that took me totally by surprise, and I am really, really curious how Penn and his father are going to worm their way of the jam they find themselves in by the book’s end.
Overall, this book is quintessential Greg Iles, with a thick southern atmosphere, lots of historical speculation, high drama and action, and packed with emotional turmoil, leaving you holding your breath with a hand over your heart.
There is a lot more I would like to say, but will wait to read the last installment before expounding further on some the surprising developments that took place in this novel.
Overall, this installment was not as tightly constructed as the previous chapters, but this is still an exceptional addition to the saga!!
4 stars
For two years, this book has languished in my TBR pile. I have started reading it on three different occasions, and abandoned it all three times, for many reasons- the main one being that these books are usually pretty dense, and I don’t mean that in a bad way. It is just not the type of book you can read on autopilot, and since the book is so long, I decided to wait until I could give it the attention it deserves.
However, now that the latest book in the saga has been released, I finally found myself feeling up to the challenge of tackling this one.
This book can not be read as a stand alone. So, for those who have not read the previous installments, it is definitely worth your while to do so. For those who have been following along, brace yourselves!!
As one might expect, the book starts off being centered around the death of Viola, Tom Gage’s one time nurse and possibly his mistress, many years ago. Tom has been accused of her murder and is on the run. Meanwhile, Caitlyn is in search of the ‘Bone Tree’, and nothing will get in her way, despite the risks.
Penn is searching for his father, trying to keep his mother and daughter safe, and looking to make sense of the newly revealed information concerning the JFK assassination and his father’s role in it.
This is a very busy book, well thought out and plotted, with some very interesting and very detailed JFK conspiracy theories that one might even buy into if this wasn’t a work of fiction. There are a few shock and awe moments, but while I normally understand Iles’ writing style, there were several chunks of the novel that turned out to be repetitive and mostly unnecessary and upset the flow and pacing, which really tempted me a time or two, to skip ahead because the story seemed stuck or had stalled.
In the end, the story took on an unexpected tone and veered off onto a different path than where we started out. The JFK theories are very prominent, and while Viola's murder is weaved around that, and many burning questions were answered, it wasn't the main attraction, and there are still questions left unexplored which I am sure the next book will answer.
There are some developments that took me totally by surprise, and I am really, really curious how Penn and his father are going to worm their way of the jam they find themselves in by the book’s end.
Overall, this book is quintessential Greg Iles, with a thick southern atmosphere, lots of historical speculation, high drama and action, and packed with emotional turmoil, leaving you holding your breath with a hand over your heart.
There is a lot more I would like to say, but will wait to read the last installment before expounding further on some the surprising developments that took place in this novel.
Overall, this installment was not as tightly constructed as the previous chapters, but this is still an exceptional addition to the saga!!
4 stars
May 4, 2015
This is the first time I'm reviewing any book in Goodreads. I liked the first Penn Cage book I read so continued with the series. I thought Natchez Burning was too long and had no idea it was part one of a trilogy til I was done and the story was left unresolved. I wasn't thrilled with it but decided to continue because I was interested to see how the story would end. As I read The Bone Tree, I felt completely manipulated by the author - forced to read an overwrought story just to try to get some resolution. The story has potential but the life-threatening situations these characters find themselves in - over and over and over again - are so unbelievable it got to the point it just wasn't enjoyable anymore. And the fact that they continuously put themselves in harm's way when they could, for instance, turn to the FBI who is begging to assist them just drove me crazy! I will read book 3 just to know why and how Viola died but I'm quite sure I'll be annoyed the entire time. Good thing I have a library card. I would never reward Iles' manipulation by spending money to buy the book.
March 17, 2019
A stellar follow up to Natchez Burning. One of the best middle installments of a trilogy I have ever come across. The heart of these books is family - not just one family - several. And the deceit and lies they tell and the lengths they will go to love and protect their own. The Cage family (one that has been prominent in several books written by the masterful Greg Iles), is revered by most in Natchez - even when their choices are not understood; while the Knox family incites fear in women and men alike. Good does not just battle evil in the Bone Tree. It is not a place that most can find. And is not a place you want to visit. For most do not escape.
Hard choices are made daily and evil wins out... most of the time. But champions like Dr. Tom Cage, Penn Cage and Caitlin Masters take up the cause to fight for those who cannot fight for themselves, like Viola Turner and Henry Sexton. Dr. Tom Cage, having suffered more than most will stop at nothing to protect what he holds dear. Caitlin Masters works tirelessly to try and discover the mysteries of the Bone Tree. She finds it and discovers the true evil that lurks there.
And Penn Cage - he learns a hard lesson that justice and right and wrong aren't always clear cut. He will be tested at every turn. And he will be left questioning everything.
The themes in this book are riveting and heartbreaking: the roots of racism/modern-day racism in the south; and a conspiracy theory regarding the death of JFK (and the deaths of RFK and MLK). It is these themes interwoven with the beloved characters of Tom and Penn Cage that make this book impossible to put down.
There were parts of this novel that had me in hysterics sobbing. I was divorced but living in the house with my ex-husband when I read it. At one point, I was reading it and was sitting at our kitchen table and found myself reading a part that stunned me. I cried hysterically and could not stop. I read one page over and over and was un-consolable. I could not continue on in the book. My ex happened to be in the room. We were on good terms at the time.. and he came over and even tried to comfort me.. it was not possible.
This book is gut wrenching, suspenseful novel and will turn your insides out. It will have you smiling one minute and crying and/or yelling the next. It is Greg Iles at his absolute best and one of the best novels I've read this year.
I recommend this to anyone who loves a good suspense novel and wants to read about characters who stay with you forever.
Review revised on 4/7/17
Hard choices are made daily and evil wins out... most of the time. But champions like Dr. Tom Cage, Penn Cage and Caitlin Masters take up the cause to fight for those who cannot fight for themselves, like Viola Turner and Henry Sexton. Dr. Tom Cage, having suffered more than most will stop at nothing to protect what he holds dear. Caitlin Masters works tirelessly to try and discover the mysteries of the Bone Tree. She finds it and discovers the true evil that lurks there.
And Penn Cage - he learns a hard lesson that justice and right and wrong aren't always clear cut. He will be tested at every turn. And he will be left questioning everything.
The themes in this book are riveting and heartbreaking: the roots of racism/modern-day racism in the south; and a conspiracy theory regarding the death of JFK (and the deaths of RFK and MLK). It is these themes interwoven with the beloved characters of Tom and Penn Cage that make this book impossible to put down.
There were parts of this novel that had me in hysterics sobbing. I was divorced but living in the house with my ex-husband when I read it. At one point, I was reading it and was sitting at our kitchen table and found myself reading a part that stunned me. I cried hysterically and could not stop. I read one page over and over and was un-consolable. I could not continue on in the book. My ex happened to be in the room. We were on good terms at the time.. and he came over and even tried to comfort me.. it was not possible.
This book is gut wrenching, suspenseful novel and will turn your insides out. It will have you smiling one minute and crying and/or yelling the next. It is Greg Iles at his absolute best and one of the best novels I've read this year.
I recommend this to anyone who loves a good suspense novel and wants to read about characters who stay with you forever.
Review revised on 4/7/17
April 14, 2017
Loved Natchez Burning But Disappointed In The Bone Tree!
I've been a big fan of Greg Iles since his first book, Spandau Phoenix, which was published over 20 years ago. One of my favorite of Iles' books is Natchez Burning, which is the massive-sized first installment of a trilogy. In my 5-star review of Natchez Burning I considered it to be a mostly captivating, richly entertaining, highly memorable book; and viewed it to be his most ambitious novel to-date in that it not only delivers the suspense, action and twists and turns fans have come to expect from his books, but one that serves as a historical document centering on the racial politics of the last fifty years. As a result of my high opinion of this first installment I was anxious to read The Bone Tree, the second installment in this trilogy.
Having now finished The Bone Tree, my opinion is that while it is not a bad book (I don't think Iles has it in him to write bad book), it is a book that, for the most part, left me disappointed. As a matter of fact the extent of my disappointment is such that, at this point in time, I am undecided as to whether I'll want to make the time investment to read the final book in the trilogy. However, given my sense of loyalty to Iles, there's a decent probability that I will change my mind when Unwritten Laws comes out in about a year or so.
So why was I disappointed? One reason is that the book, at 816 pages (which was even a little longer than Natchez Burning) was much too long, given that very little action of consequence occurs between the characters until the last couple of hundred pages. As such, I found myself at times skimming through large passages. Much of the book is talk, talk, talk with little action and few surprises. A second reason for my disappointment is that I found the book's jumping around between the sub-stories of its many characters to be convoluted and distracting, but even more importantly, somewhat unbelievable. While I don't want to get into any details to avoid spoiling anything for the reader, I will say that the events between two of the main characters while at the bone tree, both of whom were in extremely dire straits, was so unbelievable that I found myself rolling my eyes in disbelief. A third reason for my lukewarm feeling for The Bone Tree is that I found myself starting to not care much for the main character and for several of the other "good guy" characters very much; realizing that there really was just a thin grey line between their actions and the "real bad guys." Finally, the last major reason for my feeling let down is that Iles spent so much time writing about who killed JFK and why without providing sufficient suspense and surprises to justify the amount of pages devoted to this event. For me, by the time the 'big reveal' is made known, my reaction was "big whup".
Look, I know that if you read and enjoyed Natchez Burning you are most likely going to want to read The Bone Tree no matter what my review says. Further, although hopefully not, some people reading this review are probably going to give it a "no/not helpful" vote because they don't want to believe what I've said is true. Nonetheless, I hope my review provides you with some food for thought to help in deciding if The Bone Tree is a book for you.
I've been a big fan of Greg Iles since his first book, Spandau Phoenix, which was published over 20 years ago. One of my favorite of Iles' books is Natchez Burning, which is the massive-sized first installment of a trilogy. In my 5-star review of Natchez Burning I considered it to be a mostly captivating, richly entertaining, highly memorable book; and viewed it to be his most ambitious novel to-date in that it not only delivers the suspense, action and twists and turns fans have come to expect from his books, but one that serves as a historical document centering on the racial politics of the last fifty years. As a result of my high opinion of this first installment I was anxious to read The Bone Tree, the second installment in this trilogy.
Having now finished The Bone Tree, my opinion is that while it is not a bad book (I don't think Iles has it in him to write bad book), it is a book that, for the most part, left me disappointed. As a matter of fact the extent of my disappointment is such that, at this point in time, I am undecided as to whether I'll want to make the time investment to read the final book in the trilogy. However, given my sense of loyalty to Iles, there's a decent probability that I will change my mind when Unwritten Laws comes out in about a year or so.
So why was I disappointed? One reason is that the book, at 816 pages (which was even a little longer than Natchez Burning) was much too long, given that very little action of consequence occurs between the characters until the last couple of hundred pages. As such, I found myself at times skimming through large passages. Much of the book is talk, talk, talk with little action and few surprises. A second reason for my disappointment is that I found the book's jumping around between the sub-stories of its many characters to be convoluted and distracting, but even more importantly, somewhat unbelievable. While I don't want to get into any details to avoid spoiling anything for the reader, I will say that the events between two of the main characters while at the bone tree, both of whom were in extremely dire straits, was so unbelievable that I found myself rolling my eyes in disbelief. A third reason for my lukewarm feeling for The Bone Tree is that I found myself starting to not care much for the main character and for several of the other "good guy" characters very much; realizing that there really was just a thin grey line between their actions and the "real bad guys." Finally, the last major reason for my feeling let down is that Iles spent so much time writing about who killed JFK and why without providing sufficient suspense and surprises to justify the amount of pages devoted to this event. For me, by the time the 'big reveal' is made known, my reaction was "big whup".
Look, I know that if you read and enjoyed Natchez Burning you are most likely going to want to read The Bone Tree no matter what my review says. Further, although hopefully not, some people reading this review are probably going to give it a "no/not helpful" vote because they don't want to believe what I've said is true. Nonetheless, I hope my review provides you with some food for thought to help in deciding if The Bone Tree is a book for you.
June 14, 2015
The Bone Tree
You will never find a better writer than Greg Iles and this series proves it. This is the second book in the series that started with "Natchez Burning" and it is spell binding. I have never read anyone that can write about the South in the 1960's the way Iles can. The only thing I hate is having to wait for the third book to come out.
You will never find a better writer than Greg Iles and this series proves it. This is the second book in the series that started with "Natchez Burning" and it is spell binding. I have never read anyone that can write about the South in the 1960's the way Iles can. The only thing I hate is having to wait for the third book to come out.
December 9, 2015
After finishing Natchez Burning, I needed to take a bit of a break from this series. These books are long. I mean, really long. This one is over 800 pages.
Sometimes this can be an asset. I loved the first book. The length made it feel like an immersive experience and I got lost in the grand narrative of the characters. The detail made it seem more like history than fiction, especially as the plot was hung on significant events in America of the 1950s/60s. For the most part, the story remained focused and relevant.
However, in this book I thought it fell apart somewhat. So much of it was filler that I skimmed or skipped whole sections (JFK's assassination is rehashed again and again). Instead of being engrossed in the story, I was merely impatient for something to happen.
That is not to say that it is a bad book. Iles writes complex, clever fiction, and the scope of this series is incredible. I just feel that it needed a serious edit. The scenes that worked packed a serious punch, but they were buried by the endless chatter.
My negative opinion was further enhanced by the increasing stupidity and irrational behaviour of the main characters. I said in my last review that I was annoyed by Penn Cage, but it seems like he came to his foibles naturally: by the end of this book i'm still not sure what the hell his father Tom Cage has been trying to achieve. All he seems to have done is get people killed. Both men are assuming the immorality and violence of the 'bad guys'- the only thing they haven't done between them so far is rape someone.
I'm not entirely sure where this series is going and if the last book is as long, I probably won't find out. Even so, i'm not giving up on Greg Iles.
Many thanks to Killer Reads for offering this book in a Goodreads competition.
Sometimes this can be an asset. I loved the first book. The length made it feel like an immersive experience and I got lost in the grand narrative of the characters. The detail made it seem more like history than fiction, especially as the plot was hung on significant events in America of the 1950s/60s. For the most part, the story remained focused and relevant.
However, in this book I thought it fell apart somewhat. So much of it was filler that I skimmed or skipped whole sections (JFK's assassination is rehashed again and again). Instead of being engrossed in the story, I was merely impatient for something to happen.
That is not to say that it is a bad book. Iles writes complex, clever fiction, and the scope of this series is incredible. I just feel that it needed a serious edit. The scenes that worked packed a serious punch, but they were buried by the endless chatter.
My negative opinion was further enhanced by the increasing stupidity and irrational behaviour of the main characters. I said in my last review that I was annoyed by Penn Cage, but it seems like he came to his foibles naturally: by the end of this book i'm still not sure what the hell his father Tom Cage has been trying to achieve. All he seems to have done is get people killed. Both men are assuming the immorality and violence of the 'bad guys'- the only thing they haven't done between them so far is rape someone.
I'm not entirely sure where this series is going and if the last book is as long, I probably won't find out. Even so, i'm not giving up on Greg Iles.
Many thanks to Killer Reads for offering this book in a Goodreads competition.
July 5, 2020
It takes immeasurable talent to follow up a massive page turner (the first of a planned trilogy) with another massive page turner that picks up immediately where the first left off and doesn't let you go until eight hundred pages later. It's exhausting to read, so I can't begin to imagine what went into writing it. -And I mean exhausting in the best possible way.
Greg Iles could have just made this book, this trilogy, about the deep seeded evil racism in the Southern town of Natchez Mississippi. How earnest lawyer turned author turned Mayor, Penn Cage, tries to get to the bottom of the accusation leveled at his father for allegedly murdering his former nurse, an African American woman whose history with Cage's dad is another layer on the onion to be peeled.
But Iles has a much bigger endgame at play that toys with American history in a convincing and unsettling way. Let's just say I had to crack Wikipedia a few times to see if some of the players he was referring were real. (They were.)
Lies doesn't flinch in the face of sometimes agonizing racial violence, and honestly some of it's terribly disturbing to read, but it's never feels overly gratuitous. By the end there are such massive plot movements in this book, it's hard to believe that there's one more to come. That said, I'll be waiting with anticipation to see how he wraps it all up.
Greg Iles could have just made this book, this trilogy, about the deep seeded evil racism in the Southern town of Natchez Mississippi. How earnest lawyer turned author turned Mayor, Penn Cage, tries to get to the bottom of the accusation leveled at his father for allegedly murdering his former nurse, an African American woman whose history with Cage's dad is another layer on the onion to be peeled.
But Iles has a much bigger endgame at play that toys with American history in a convincing and unsettling way. Let's just say I had to crack Wikipedia a few times to see if some of the players he was referring were real. (They were.)
Lies doesn't flinch in the face of sometimes agonizing racial violence, and honestly some of it's terribly disturbing to read, but it's never feels overly gratuitous. By the end there are such massive plot movements in this book, it's hard to believe that there's one more to come. That said, I'll be waiting with anticipation to see how he wraps it all up.
February 10, 2018
3.5 stars round up to 4
The fifth book starring former prosecuter Mayor Penn Cage is a well-written, enthralling Southern drama that continues the intensity of its predecessor, Natchez Burning. Penn is still fighting to rescue his fugitive father from an eager FBI agent with Kennedy assassination theories and his fiancee Caitlin is trying to break the journalist story of the year. A lot has happened in this series and new readers might find it confusing( there are tons of characters) if they haven't read the first book in the series.
From the few reviews I have read, I just might be the outlier who enjoyed book 2 more than book one. I didn't find this book as difficult to start as its predecessor. I must confess that I did find myself really preferring the narrative bits with Tom Cage and Caitlin Masters more than Penn Cage. The man was quite exasperating at times!
All in all, I am looking forward to the story's conclusion in "Mississippi Blood." But I am going to take a break from the heavy tomes for a bit.
The fifth book starring former prosecuter Mayor Penn Cage is a well-written, enthralling Southern drama that continues the intensity of its predecessor, Natchez Burning. Penn is still fighting to rescue his fugitive father from an eager FBI agent with Kennedy assassination theories and his fiancee Caitlin is trying to break the journalist story of the year. A lot has happened in this series and new readers might find it confusing( there are tons of characters) if they haven't read the first book in the series.
From the few reviews I have read, I just might be the outlier who enjoyed book 2 more than book one. I didn't find this book as difficult to start as its predecessor. I must confess that I did find myself really preferring the narrative bits with Tom Cage and Caitlin Masters more than Penn Cage. The man was quite exasperating at times!
All in all, I am looking forward to the story's conclusion in "Mississippi Blood." But I am going to take a break from the heavy tomes for a bit.
December 16, 2017
Top 30 Books of 2015 "Best Modern Southern Trilogy."
Southern storyteller, Greg Iles continues the powerful and compelling saga of Penn Cage, delivering THE BONE TREE, a hard-boiled explosive multi-layered follow up after sensational Natchez Burning which landed on my TOP 30 BOOKS OF 2014 Again, Greg does not disappoint his fans, with this complex and emotional conspiracy of greed, power, politics, civil rights, and racial injustice--spanning across history and generations.
Let me start by saying, the length of the novel is not intimidating (more to enjoy) as Greg is the “best of the best” of modern literary thriller writers; however, will say I typically listen to Greg’s books via audio, as it captures the full essence, emotion, and suspense-- David Ledoux was outstanding in NB and hoping Robert Petkoff can live up as narrator for TBT.
I just finished the audiobook, and even though good, I like Ledoux much better than Petkoff, so hoping Iles goes back to his original narrator for his next book. Since I am not a patient person, was thrilled to attain an ARC, and decided to dive in with the book, and listened again later—yes, that good as devoured it in a few days.
With the prologue summary, Greg quickly gets readers up to speed as a refresher since last year with Natchez Burning. This was helpful since it has been a while; however, would recommend to readers to read Natchez Burning first to grasp a good understanding of this mesmerizing riveting thriller.
Penn’s physician father, Tom is a fugitive suspected of murder and combined with the unsolved civil rights case from the sixties, Double Eagles, and the KKK--- may be linked to assassinations. In Penn’s quest for answers, he is sent into the dark past of conspiracy, greed, and murder involving some powerful, evil, and wealthy men. As he follows this bloody trail from decades past, these guys do not want any stones uncovered--will do anything to keep their dark secrets in the past.
Penn, a former prosecutor, now Mayor of Natchez, MS, and his pregnant fiancée, reporter Caitlin Masters, are in the middle of danger with a flamethrower sadist.
There are old grudges, hatred, and revenge, and lives are at stake. Caitlin, publisher of the Natchez Examiner is busy trying to track down the bad guys and danger is lurking around every corner.
Penn’s dad, Dr. Cage, of course, has been the target for years regarding some long ago grudge and then there is his former African American nurse, and mistress Viola’s death and her son which may or not be Cage’s son, or could be the rapist’s son. Henry Sexton a fearless journalist has clues which they need to crack.
From the Deep South we have the KKK, the Double Eagles, Forest Knox, and Brody Royal – these are some evil bad ass guys, with some dirty dark secrets; and criminal behavior or murder does not phase this group of southern terrorists.
Special Agent FBI John Kaiser is the on the case in Natchez, Mississippi and he works his magic in many ways. Caitlin gets closer to learning about the illegal activity surrounding the bone tree and what it represents, putting her in immediate danger.
As the plot thickens you will be engrossed in the KKK, RFK, MLK, and JFK connection of racial violence and hatred. As a southern native, and a baby boomer, growing up in the sixties --seems like only yesterday when the teacher came in to inform us of JFK’s assignation. The evil and racial tension, which lurks inside these pages are spellbinding.
Greg grabs you with intensity, fear, and emotion surrounding the events which threaten Penn, his daughter, his family, his fiancé, and those he holds dear to his heart.
Cage and his supporters are hoping to find the key to old mysteries from nearly 40 years at the legendary “bone tree” deep in the swamps, a giant cypress, where Double Eagles took their victims—black men, women and even children, to be tortured and killed.
From the local police, the politicians, and the corrupt calculating feds—Dr. Cage accused of murder and now Penn, Caitlin, and a fearless investigative reporter; survival is on the line.
Will Penn be pushed to the brink to save his own life and his family? Can they be stopped, or will they die— trying? Will Walt Garrity and John Kaiser be able to save him, and his family?
THE BONE TREE is a multi-layered, richly plotted electrifying account of racial injustice and corruption, making you think twice about the cruelty of the South, clouding the lines between reality and fiction.
American History has never been so scandalous! No one does tells it better than Greg Iles- cannot wait for his next book. Southern Fiction at its FINEST!
Looking forward to Mississippi Blood, Coming 2017 as we continue this powerful trilogy.
A special thank you to HarperCollins, William Morrow, and LibraryThing for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
JDC Must Read Books
Congrats! Amazon Books ‘Natchez Burning’ Drama From Tobey Maguire, David Hudgins & Sony TV.
Southern storyteller, Greg Iles continues the powerful and compelling saga of Penn Cage, delivering THE BONE TREE, a hard-boiled explosive multi-layered follow up after sensational Natchez Burning which landed on my TOP 30 BOOKS OF 2014 Again, Greg does not disappoint his fans, with this complex and emotional conspiracy of greed, power, politics, civil rights, and racial injustice--spanning across history and generations.
Let me start by saying, the length of the novel is not intimidating (more to enjoy) as Greg is the “best of the best” of modern literary thriller writers; however, will say I typically listen to Greg’s books via audio, as it captures the full essence, emotion, and suspense-- David Ledoux was outstanding in NB and hoping Robert Petkoff can live up as narrator for TBT.
I just finished the audiobook, and even though good, I like Ledoux much better than Petkoff, so hoping Iles goes back to his original narrator for his next book. Since I am not a patient person, was thrilled to attain an ARC, and decided to dive in with the book, and listened again later—yes, that good as devoured it in a few days.
With the prologue summary, Greg quickly gets readers up to speed as a refresher since last year with Natchez Burning. This was helpful since it has been a while; however, would recommend to readers to read Natchez Burning first to grasp a good understanding of this mesmerizing riveting thriller.
Penn’s physician father, Tom is a fugitive suspected of murder and combined with the unsolved civil rights case from the sixties, Double Eagles, and the KKK--- may be linked to assassinations. In Penn’s quest for answers, he is sent into the dark past of conspiracy, greed, and murder involving some powerful, evil, and wealthy men. As he follows this bloody trail from decades past, these guys do not want any stones uncovered--will do anything to keep their dark secrets in the past.
Penn, a former prosecutor, now Mayor of Natchez, MS, and his pregnant fiancée, reporter Caitlin Masters, are in the middle of danger with a flamethrower sadist.
There are old grudges, hatred, and revenge, and lives are at stake. Caitlin, publisher of the Natchez Examiner is busy trying to track down the bad guys and danger is lurking around every corner.
Penn’s dad, Dr. Cage, of course, has been the target for years regarding some long ago grudge and then there is his former African American nurse, and mistress Viola’s death and her son which may or not be Cage’s son, or could be the rapist’s son. Henry Sexton a fearless journalist has clues which they need to crack.
From the Deep South we have the KKK, the Double Eagles, Forest Knox, and Brody Royal – these are some evil bad ass guys, with some dirty dark secrets; and criminal behavior or murder does not phase this group of southern terrorists.
Special Agent FBI John Kaiser is the on the case in Natchez, Mississippi and he works his magic in many ways. Caitlin gets closer to learning about the illegal activity surrounding the bone tree and what it represents, putting her in immediate danger.
As the plot thickens you will be engrossed in the KKK, RFK, MLK, and JFK connection of racial violence and hatred. As a southern native, and a baby boomer, growing up in the sixties --seems like only yesterday when the teacher came in to inform us of JFK’s assignation. The evil and racial tension, which lurks inside these pages are spellbinding.
Greg grabs you with intensity, fear, and emotion surrounding the events which threaten Penn, his daughter, his family, his fiancé, and those he holds dear to his heart.
Cage and his supporters are hoping to find the key to old mysteries from nearly 40 years at the legendary “bone tree” deep in the swamps, a giant cypress, where Double Eagles took their victims—black men, women and even children, to be tortured and killed.
From the local police, the politicians, and the corrupt calculating feds—Dr. Cage accused of murder and now Penn, Caitlin, and a fearless investigative reporter; survival is on the line.
Will Penn be pushed to the brink to save his own life and his family? Can they be stopped, or will they die— trying? Will Walt Garrity and John Kaiser be able to save him, and his family?
THE BONE TREE is a multi-layered, richly plotted electrifying account of racial injustice and corruption, making you think twice about the cruelty of the South, clouding the lines between reality and fiction.
American History has never been so scandalous! No one does tells it better than Greg Iles- cannot wait for his next book. Southern Fiction at its FINEST!
Looking forward to Mississippi Blood, Coming 2017 as we continue this powerful trilogy.
A special thank you to HarperCollins, William Morrow, and LibraryThing for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
JDC Must Read Books
Congrats! Amazon Books ‘Natchez Burning’ Drama From Tobey Maguire, David Hudgins & Sony TV.
July 14, 2017
Wow! Long but very intense! Cliffhanger at the end, so on to the next (last?) in the series!
May 4, 2015
TRIGGER WARNINGS: Hate crimes, racism, rape, racial slurs, child abuse.
If your book is over 400 pages, every bloody page should deserve to be there.
Greg Iles's The Bone Tree is just over 800 pages (Australian trade paperback edition). And I'm sorry to report that an entire plotline didn't work for me at all. This is awkward because the interesting bits are awesome, but an entire plotline bored me so much that my attention was near nil.
The bothersome (for me) subplot involves political figures from the 1960s. One of the fictional characters even interviews, and is flirted with by, one of these people in the contemporary. And I just didn't care. I don't want real people in fiction.
Lincoln Turner makes an excellent point when he remarks that white people have become the focus. Penn Cage and everyone else are no longer concerned with the death of Viola Turner - Penn's single-mindedly driven towards keeping his father safe and out of prison. Caitlin Masters is focused on continuing the investigative journalism into the Double Eagles that Henry started.
Viola Turner's death launched this trilogy. Jimmy Revels, Pooky Wilson, Albert Norris, and countless other black people were abused, tortured, and murdered. And yet CIA agent John Kaiser cares more about the white political figures from the 1960s. *head-desk*
But the story really gets fascinating when Caitlin starts searching the swamp. And the DIY-surgery scenes are riveting.
The Bone Tree really packs a punch when it sticks to fictional characters. But when it involves real people, I lost interest. This novel could've been an absolute stunner. It still has flashes of brilliance, but interspersed are too many scenes that fail to engage.
If your book is over 400 pages, every bloody page should deserve to be there.
Greg Iles's The Bone Tree is just over 800 pages (Australian trade paperback edition). And I'm sorry to report that an entire plotline didn't work for me at all. This is awkward because the interesting bits are awesome, but an entire plotline bored me so much that my attention was near nil.
The bothersome (for me) subplot involves political figures from the 1960s. One of the fictional characters even interviews, and is flirted with by, one of these people in the contemporary. And I just didn't care. I don't want real people in fiction.
Lincoln Turner makes an excellent point when he remarks that white people have become the focus. Penn Cage and everyone else are no longer concerned with the death of Viola Turner - Penn's single-mindedly driven towards keeping his father safe and out of prison. Caitlin Masters is focused on continuing the investigative journalism into the Double Eagles that Henry started.
Viola Turner's death launched this trilogy. Jimmy Revels, Pooky Wilson, Albert Norris, and countless other black people were abused, tortured, and murdered. And yet CIA agent John Kaiser cares more about the white political figures from the 1960s. *head-desk*
But the story really gets fascinating when Caitlin starts searching the swamp. And the DIY-surgery scenes are riveting.
The Bone Tree really packs a punch when it sticks to fictional characters. But when it involves real people, I lost interest. This novel could've been an absolute stunner. It still has flashes of brilliance, but interspersed are too many scenes that fail to engage.
June 25, 2018
One star. I will try to do a book review down the road.
December 17, 2020
Not quite as gripping as the first one. It dragged, but there was still some great writing and surprises.
January 31, 2021
If you can get back the unbelivable premise that an alcoholic good old Southern boy could somehow manage to kill both kennedy and assassinate Martin Luther King AND pin the crimes on 3 other people, this would be a 5 star rating.
The thrill a page a minute and intriguing dialogue saved this novel.
The thrill a page a minute and intriguing dialogue saved this novel.
July 8, 2021
The trunk of the Bone Tree was so vast that the johnboat disappeared as she worked her way around it. Again she thought of the Tree of Life in the Animal Kingdom at Walt Disney World. But this tree had been made by God, or nature. And it was no tree of life, but of death.
Really? That's the Tree of Life she's reminded of? The one at Walt Disney World?
Okay then.
Greg Iles takes nary a breath from the last page of Natchez Burning to the first of its equally hefty sequel, tracking the trials and tribulations of Penn Cage. (I hesitate to grant him the moniker of Mayor as, to date, this amounts to little more than an honorary title.) You may remember Penn's dad, the elderly doctor Tom, accused of euthanizing his nurse and on the run from both the law and some pretty violent white supremacists - with whom it appears our doc has had a long working acquaintance. As difficult as it is for Penn to reconcile the many murky truths coming to light with the stalwart image of his father, you won't find him brooding on the matter overmuch. The FBI has arrived on the scene with a shadowy secret of its own. Still smarting over the black eye acquired by the assassination of JFK, the feds have unearthed some startling connections that promise to reveal the real culprits behind that dark day in Dallas so many years ago.
This is, I have to say, a very long way to go for another JFK conspiracy theory. But go our author does, barreling down country roads to shoot straight into the bloody past of the Deep South and its shameful history of racial injustice. How this ties to Tom and Penn, to Oswald and Castro and Kennedy himself, makes for a headache or two in the processing - yet those pages turn, yes they do.
Sadly, everyone's still a bit of a fool.
Really? That's the Tree of Life she's reminded of? The one at Walt Disney World?
Okay then.
Greg Iles takes nary a breath from the last page of Natchez Burning to the first of its equally hefty sequel, tracking the trials and tribulations of Penn Cage. (I hesitate to grant him the moniker of Mayor as, to date, this amounts to little more than an honorary title.) You may remember Penn's dad, the elderly doctor Tom, accused of euthanizing his nurse and on the run from both the law and some pretty violent white supremacists - with whom it appears our doc has had a long working acquaintance. As difficult as it is for Penn to reconcile the many murky truths coming to light with the stalwart image of his father, you won't find him brooding on the matter overmuch. The FBI has arrived on the scene with a shadowy secret of its own. Still smarting over the black eye acquired by the assassination of JFK, the feds have unearthed some startling connections that promise to reveal the real culprits behind that dark day in Dallas so many years ago.
This is, I have to say, a very long way to go for another JFK conspiracy theory. But go our author does, barreling down country roads to shoot straight into the bloody past of the Deep South and its shameful history of racial injustice. How this ties to Tom and Penn, to Oswald and Castro and Kennedy himself, makes for a headache or two in the processing - yet those pages turn, yes they do.
Sadly, everyone's still a bit of a fool.
September 13, 2015
Somewhere in this sprawling, rambling mess is a good book. Unfortunately, I couldn't find it amongst the contrived angst and melodramatic dialog. Too long, too repetitive, as was the first in this trilogy. Never been a fan of conspiracy theory books and this one takes one the nth degree. As for the ending, way too contrived and ridiculous, somewhat anticlimactic.
June 22, 2015
I’ll start with full disclosure – I am a Greg Iles fan. I have read or listened to most of his books. I’m slowing going back and reading or listening to the ones I have not consumed. All of his books are page turners , intelligently written and have interesting storylines. Sometimes he gets a little over dramatic or his star character survives situations or timelines that would kill a mere mortal. As with prolific writers, some books are much better than others. I also tend to read him in the summer because for some reason I like to sit on my patio and sweat in the heat and humidity with the characters. He writes about Mississippi and I live in Nashville. It’s all hot and humid.
The Bone Tree is the second in a trilogy staring Penn Cage, the superhuman lawyer, mayor and all around great guy. The first book in the trilogy is Natchez Burning. You have to read it first – it lays out a great storyline of racial tensions and murders in 1960’s Mississippi. The first book lays out aninteresting storyline of racial tension and hatred that is still a part of American life.
The Bone Tree continues the storyline and gives more detail on the murders mentioned in the first book. It also begins and interesting story about what lead to the assignation of John F. Kennedy. While it has some interesting added details and conspiracy theories, The Bone Tree suffers from middle book syndrome. I loved this book until I hit the last 1/3. Then it became over dramatic and at least 100 pages too long. I skimmed a fair amount. I am used to his good guys being super humans of extraordinary strength and moral character, but Iles went over the top here. It was just too much. No one is that good or that lucky.
With all that said, I am looking forward to and will read book three. I have absolute faith it will tie up the great foundation of Natchez Burning and the wandering ways of The Bone Tree.
I give this book 2.5 star bumped down to 2 as I gave Natchez Burning 3 stars.
FOR THOSE WHO HAVE READ THE BOOK ONLY: What do you think will be the title of the third book? My guess is Snake Eyes.
The Bone Tree is the second in a trilogy staring Penn Cage, the superhuman lawyer, mayor and all around great guy. The first book in the trilogy is Natchez Burning. You have to read it first – it lays out a great storyline of racial tensions and murders in 1960’s Mississippi. The first book lays out aninteresting storyline of racial tension and hatred that is still a part of American life.
The Bone Tree continues the storyline and gives more detail on the murders mentioned in the first book. It also begins and interesting story about what lead to the assignation of John F. Kennedy. While it has some interesting added details and conspiracy theories, The Bone Tree suffers from middle book syndrome. I loved this book until I hit the last 1/3. Then it became over dramatic and at least 100 pages too long. I skimmed a fair amount. I am used to his good guys being super humans of extraordinary strength and moral character, but Iles went over the top here. It was just too much. No one is that good or that lucky.
With all that said, I am looking forward to and will read book three. I have absolute faith it will tie up the great foundation of Natchez Burning and the wandering ways of The Bone Tree.
I give this book 2.5 star bumped down to 2 as I gave Natchez Burning 3 stars.
FOR THOSE WHO HAVE READ THE BOOK ONLY: What do you think will be the title of the third book? My guess is Snake Eyes.
July 8, 2021
The Bone Tree is the second book of the Natchez trilogy. The first book, Natchez Burning, is too long with too much going on – yet still held this reader’s interest. Unfortunately, The Bone Tree is also much too long, with a frenetic pace, and lost my interest very early on. Finishing this 800+ page book was more than a chore – the last 200 pages are rushed and anti-climactic - requiring a level of suspension of disbelief that I simply couldn't muster.
The continuing central plot – the “good” Cage clan/friends vs. the “evil” Knox clan/friends – is totally overwhelmed by sideshows, digressions, and action scenes – most notably - the absolutely ridiculous inclusion of the JFK assassination and what “really happened” in Dallas in 1963. This subplot is in the hands of an obsessed FBI agent who is consistently two or three steps behind the bad guys, while he tinkers, schemes and obstructs the current-day plot and characters with his concern for the ‘bigger picture’.
For those familiar with this series, what I found particularly odd is the author’s latest portrayal of his beloved characters. Newspaper editor Caitlin Masters, Penn’s pregnant fiancé, continues on her naïve adolescent search for the “big story” – responsibilities, personal/family safety and common sense be damned.
Sage and wise Dr. Tom Cage, the patriarch and caretaker, puts his family and friends in peril with one pathetically bad decision after another. Tom’s wife/Penn’s mother has become a hand wringing one dimensional 1950s housewife. And poor Penn Cage, our hero, is treated like a doormat by everyone, friend and foe alike, easily and predictably manipulated throughout this tale.
And most striking, the Cage clan, bonded together on the foundation of trust and respect, lie to one another – either directly or through omission – continuously and needlessly - from the beginning to the end of this book. These characters not so much devolving but rather dissolving into mere shadows of their past selves.
I’ve enjoyed many of this author’s previous books - so a grudging two stars. If The Bone Tree was my first read by this author – or for that matter written by someone unknown to me – it’s doubtful I would have finished this tome.
The continuing central plot – the “good” Cage clan/friends vs. the “evil” Knox clan/friends – is totally overwhelmed by sideshows, digressions, and action scenes – most notably - the absolutely ridiculous inclusion of the JFK assassination and what “really happened” in Dallas in 1963. This subplot is in the hands of an obsessed FBI agent who is consistently two or three steps behind the bad guys, while he tinkers, schemes and obstructs the current-day plot and characters with his concern for the ‘bigger picture’.
For those familiar with this series, what I found particularly odd is the author’s latest portrayal of his beloved characters. Newspaper editor Caitlin Masters, Penn’s pregnant fiancé, continues on her naïve adolescent search for the “big story” – responsibilities, personal/family safety and common sense be damned.
Sage and wise Dr. Tom Cage, the patriarch and caretaker, puts his family and friends in peril with one pathetically bad decision after another. Tom’s wife/Penn’s mother has become a hand wringing one dimensional 1950s housewife. And poor Penn Cage, our hero, is treated like a doormat by everyone, friend and foe alike, easily and predictably manipulated throughout this tale.
And most striking, the Cage clan, bonded together on the foundation of trust and respect, lie to one another – either directly or through omission – continuously and needlessly - from the beginning to the end of this book. These characters not so much devolving but rather dissolving into mere shadows of their past selves.
I’ve enjoyed many of this author’s previous books - so a grudging two stars. If The Bone Tree was my first read by this author – or for that matter written by someone unknown to me – it’s doubtful I would have finished this tome.
September 13, 2015
What a great story. Would have given more than 5 stars if possible. Greg Isles is a masterful writer of suspense and mystery.
Penn Cage is the Mayor of Natchez, Mississipi. He's caught up in a fight for his life as well as his father's. He and his fiancée barely make it out alive from s burning mansion just before a multimillionaire is about to kill them. Before they think they're fate is sealed, the millionaire tells them a story. About how a local group named the Double Eagles were the centerpiece for the assassination of JFK, RFK, and MLK.
As Penn begins to try and find his father who is missing and possibly dead, Penn is on a mission to find the truth about his father and a woman he is suspected of killing. If that's not bad enough, Penn's father is also suspected of killing a police officer.
An FBI agent is hell bent on finding the truth and the connection between the Double Eagles, the assassinations of three key figures in history, and Penn's father who may hold the answers to everything.
Penn Cage is the Mayor of Natchez, Mississipi. He's caught up in a fight for his life as well as his father's. He and his fiancée barely make it out alive from s burning mansion just before a multimillionaire is about to kill them. Before they think they're fate is sealed, the millionaire tells them a story. About how a local group named the Double Eagles were the centerpiece for the assassination of JFK, RFK, and MLK.
As Penn begins to try and find his father who is missing and possibly dead, Penn is on a mission to find the truth about his father and a woman he is suspected of killing. If that's not bad enough, Penn's father is also suspected of killing a police officer.
An FBI agent is hell bent on finding the truth and the connection between the Double Eagles, the assassinations of three key figures in history, and Penn's father who may hold the answers to everything.
March 30, 2024
Unputdownable, but you need to make one of these to follow along:
The Bone Tree picks up exactly where Natchez Burning left us. Mayor Penn Cage's father, the highly respected Dr. Tom Cage, is still on the run and spilling zero secrets. Meanwhile, Penn and his newspaper reporter fiancee, Caitlin Masters, are tracking down answers of their own - sometimes at odds with each other's goals. For the most part, Penn spends this book in the company of Special Agent John Kaiser in an effort to figure out who the real power behind KKK offshoot the Double Eagles really is. Penn's goal is to ensure his father's safety; Kaiser is digging because he's after the FBI's own white whale: the truth behind the assassination of JFK!
It's not just Kaiser who's obsessed. The events at the end Natchez Burning convinced Caitlin that these white supremacist nutjobs were involved in the greatest unsolved murder in US history, and if she can uncover the truth behind it, her legacy as one of the world's best journalists will be cemented. With her ambition overriding her sensibilities, she pairs up with her personal hero, a wartime photojournalist, to go looking for the Bone Tree - a location where so much evil has been committed through time that the place itself seems mythical. Few people know where it is exactly, but if you ever find it, it'll probably be the last place you ever see...
This plot was so dense and wild at times that I should've taken notes. Knowing this is book #2 of a trilogy, I was kinda let down by the showdown with the BigBad - it was over relatively quickly, and I was certain that Greg Iles was saving him for the big finale in book #3. Not so, but the last chapter makes clear who our heroes will be up against... Speaking of surprising developments, I'm usually delighted when authors take these risks, and this time was no exception.
It will be interesting to see how Iles wraps up this trilogy-inside-a-series with the next volume, Mississippi Blood.
The Bone Tree picks up exactly where Natchez Burning left us. Mayor Penn Cage's father, the highly respected Dr. Tom Cage, is still on the run and spilling zero secrets. Meanwhile, Penn and his newspaper reporter fiancee, Caitlin Masters, are tracking down answers of their own - sometimes at odds with each other's goals. For the most part, Penn spends this book in the company of Special Agent John Kaiser in an effort to figure out who the real power behind KKK offshoot the Double Eagles really is. Penn's goal is to ensure his father's safety; Kaiser is digging because he's after the FBI's own white whale: the truth behind the assassination of JFK!
It's not just Kaiser who's obsessed. The events at the end Natchez Burning convinced Caitlin that these white supremacist nutjobs were involved in the greatest unsolved murder in US history, and if she can uncover the truth behind it, her legacy as one of the world's best journalists will be cemented. With her ambition overriding her sensibilities, she pairs up with her personal hero, a wartime photojournalist, to go looking for the Bone Tree - a location where so much evil has been committed through time that the place itself seems mythical. Few people know where it is exactly, but if you ever find it, it'll probably be the last place you ever see...
This plot was so dense and wild at times that I should've taken notes. Knowing this is book #2 of a trilogy, I was kinda let down by the showdown with the BigBad - it was over relatively quickly, and I was certain that Greg Iles was saving him for the big finale in book #3. Not so, but the last chapter makes clear who our heroes will be up against... Speaking of surprising developments, I'm usually delighted when authors take these risks, and this time was no exception.
It will be interesting to see how Iles wraps up this trilogy-inside-a-series with the next volume, Mississippi Blood.
October 26, 2015
Once again I feel completely worn out after finishing a Penn Cage book. Not only because I was stayed up way past my bedtime to do so but also because this book just takes it out of you! There is plenty of action, although not as much as in Natchez Burning. What this one does is sucker punch you. Right in the gut.
This overall story is actually being told over the course of 3 books. The first two have been ~800 pages each and I have not been bored once. That should tell you something about what a great storyteller Mr. Iles is.
One small issue I had is that I felt the book suffered from too much focus on the JFK assassination theory. It was somewhat interesting but it seemed too apart from everything else going on in the story and therefore slowed things down at times. Having said that, it’s not enough to take a star away from my rating.
I feel like I know Penn and Caitlyn so well by now that even though they made me want to smack ‘em upside the head sometimes, I could at least understand their motivations to some extent. Still, nothing went as I expected it would - not even close! As for Tom, there are still a lot of outstanding questions around Viola Turner and the Double Eagles and why he went on the run in the first place. I expect that this will be forthcoming in the next novel. I just can't believe we have to wait until 2017.
Overall, another great installment in the Penn Cage saga.
This overall story is actually being told over the course of 3 books. The first two have been ~800 pages each and I have not been bored once. That should tell you something about what a great storyteller Mr. Iles is.
One small issue I had is that I felt the book suffered from too much focus on the JFK assassination theory. It was somewhat interesting but it seemed too apart from everything else going on in the story and therefore slowed things down at times. Having said that, it’s not enough to take a star away from my rating.
I feel like I know Penn and Caitlyn so well by now that even though they made me want to smack ‘em upside the head sometimes, I could at least understand their motivations to some extent. Still, nothing went as I expected it would - not even close! As for Tom, there are still a lot of outstanding questions around Viola Turner and the Double Eagles and why he went on the run in the first place. I expect that this will be forthcoming in the next novel. I just can't believe we have to wait until 2017.
Overall, another great installment in the Penn Cage saga.
March 30, 2016
Picking up where Natchez Burning ended, Greg Iles tackles one of the great mysteries for the baby boomer generation: who really killed JFK and why? The novel starts pretty slowly, and lacks the non-stop tension and violence of its predecessor. However, the racial issues are handled expertly, and there is double-dealing and triple dealing as the book progresses. The battles between local sheriffs, the Louisiana State Police, and the FBI are top notch. The Knox family, led by LSP's Forrest and Double Eagle's Snake, continues to play a central role in terrorizing everyone, especially Natchez mayor Penn Cage, his family and allies. Greg Iles continues to develop his compelling characters and the book is at its best when dealing with current manhunts, and power struggles, both current and historic. Dr. Tom Cage's eulogy for a dead reporter is outstanding. I wish there was a publication date for the last book in this trilogy.
May 18, 2017
I enjoyed reading this for the most part, but it's so darn long! The final 25% really held my attention.
September 11, 2025
If Iles were not such a good writer, I may have passed on this tome; pretty damn hard to keep suspense going for an 800 page thriller after all. While I did have some issues with this, more than the last installment, I still found it pretty enthralling to say the least. Natchez Burning took place in just a days; The Bone Tree picks up right were it left off and basically completed the week. What a week!
Penn's father Tom starts the novel on the lam, along with this old Texas Ranger buddy who he met in the Korean War. A pair of old codgers, and Tom has serious heart issues along with diabetes. Meanwhile, Peen's fiancé Caitlin continues her digging into the Double Eagles, an offshoot of the KKK that offed lots of people in the 60s, while now they basically produce and peddle Meth (with a few 'odd jobs' as well). The focus shifts here to our antagonist, Forrest Knox, the son of one of the Double Eagles, and now a crooked cop who runs the Louisiana Bureau of Investigations; basically the second most powerful man on the Louisiana State Police. In public, Forrest has distanced himself from the Double Eagles and the Knox clan, but really runs the show behind the curtain. He has an entire network of dirty cops, SWAT teams and others that get his dirty work done. Of special note, he utilized them to help clean New Orleans of rival drug dealers in the wake of Katrina, which earned him a seat at the table to various rich nabobs who hope to rebuild New Orleans into a whiter, cleaner city.
The FBI also plays a major role in the novel, but not simply to the old, covered up crimes from the civil rights era. In a complicated way, it seems the Double Eagles may have played a role in the assassination of JFK, the ultimate cold case for the FBI. If you are really into the debates/conspiracy theories surrounding this event, you will probably really dig this; for me, it seemed more of a distraction and felt unnecessary, but so it goes. On the plus side, Iles kept me on the edge for 800 plus pages with all kinds of action, twists and suspense. Lets see what the last of the trilogy holds! 3.5 Bone Trees, rounding up for GR!
Penn's father Tom starts the novel on the lam, along with this old Texas Ranger buddy who he met in the Korean War. A pair of old codgers, and Tom has serious heart issues along with diabetes. Meanwhile, Peen's fiancé Caitlin continues her digging into the Double Eagles, an offshoot of the KKK that offed lots of people in the 60s, while now they basically produce and peddle Meth (with a few 'odd jobs' as well). The focus shifts here to our antagonist, Forrest Knox, the son of one of the Double Eagles, and now a crooked cop who runs the Louisiana Bureau of Investigations; basically the second most powerful man on the Louisiana State Police. In public, Forrest has distanced himself from the Double Eagles and the Knox clan, but really runs the show behind the curtain. He has an entire network of dirty cops, SWAT teams and others that get his dirty work done. Of special note, he utilized them to help clean New Orleans of rival drug dealers in the wake of Katrina, which earned him a seat at the table to various rich nabobs who hope to rebuild New Orleans into a whiter, cleaner city.
The FBI also plays a major role in the novel, but not simply to the old, covered up crimes from the civil rights era. In a complicated way, it seems the Double Eagles may have played a role in the assassination of JFK, the ultimate cold case for the FBI. If you are really into the debates/conspiracy theories surrounding this event, you will probably really dig this; for me, it seemed more of a distraction and felt unnecessary, but so it goes. On the plus side, Iles kept me on the edge for 800 plus pages with all kinds of action, twists and suspense. Lets see what the last of the trilogy holds! 3.5 Bone Trees, rounding up for GR!
May 1, 2024
Wow. This was one of the most intense books I've ever read.
I have come to believe that the United States was founded in atrocity, and that we bear a scar that can never be healed without a full reckoning of the horror of slavery, Jim Crow, the Klan, lynchings, and the tremendous injustices that have been perpetrated on the black community. As Faulkner said:
"The past is never dead. It isn't even past."
Corruption has two meanings. In the first, it refers to government corruption - where the government operates in a way that is dishonest, typically to the benefit of the wealthy or well-placed. In the second, it refers to decay - the corruption of a corpse as it decomposes. In this trilogy, Iles is exploring both kinds of corruption, and how the first festers in such a way that it ultimately causes the entire society to decay.
If I have one complaint about this book, it is the entire subplot related to the Kennedy assassination. There is so much power in this narrative about racial injustice and terrorism and its effect on both its victims, its adversaries and its perpetrators that I feel like that entire tangent is unnecessary and weakens the force of the book. As Nietsche said:
“Beware that, when fighting monsters, you yourself do not become a monster... for when you gaze long into the abyss. The abyss gazes also into you.”
I'm not sure that there will be a single character left who hasn't descended into the abyss by the time this trilogy concludes.
I have come to believe that the United States was founded in atrocity, and that we bear a scar that can never be healed without a full reckoning of the horror of slavery, Jim Crow, the Klan, lynchings, and the tremendous injustices that have been perpetrated on the black community. As Faulkner said:
"The past is never dead. It isn't even past."
Corruption has two meanings. In the first, it refers to government corruption - where the government operates in a way that is dishonest, typically to the benefit of the wealthy or well-placed. In the second, it refers to decay - the corruption of a corpse as it decomposes. In this trilogy, Iles is exploring both kinds of corruption, and how the first festers in such a way that it ultimately causes the entire society to decay.
If I have one complaint about this book, it is the entire subplot related to the Kennedy assassination. There is so much power in this narrative about racial injustice and terrorism and its effect on both its victims, its adversaries and its perpetrators that I feel like that entire tangent is unnecessary and weakens the force of the book. As Nietsche said:
“Beware that, when fighting monsters, you yourself do not become a monster... for when you gaze long into the abyss. The abyss gazes also into you.”
I'm not sure that there will be a single character left who hasn't descended into the abyss by the time this trilogy concludes.
July 25, 2016
Wow I can't wait for the last of this trilogy. I thought Nachetz Burning was good and I wondered if this one would measure up, I wasn't disappointed. It was a long book and I found it slow in some places and my heart pounding in others, not being able to read fast enough. Greg Iles is a new author for me, I enjoy his writing and the fact that he was raised in Mississippi. I'm an Alabamian and enjoy reading books set in the South. Great job Mr. Isles!
December 9, 2018
I first came to this author with the previous book in the series to this one Natchez Burning, It was one of those books that seem to deal with a lot of big issues but wrapped up in the illusion of a thriller. Much like this book Natchez Burning was a massive book also at eight hundred and sixty-four pages long. It is not too often I pick up such books, too often I'm put off by books over five hundred pages. But having enjoyed the previous one I was hoping this would be as enjoyable as that.
The bone tree start right after the end of Natchez Burning, so you really have to have read that before jumping into this one. It continues the epic tale of Penn cage and the most violent racist group at large in America. I was hoping for more of the same when it came to this book, but for me, something has gone a little off the rails when it comes to the plot. Whereas the first was about people struggling to make a difference. For Penn, this was about trying to make his town safe for every citizen of Natchez and protect those he loves most in the world. This one seemed to me to spin off into the world of conspiracy theories, and some of the greatest unsolved murders of the civil rights period. The assassinations of Martin Luther King and JFK have been covered into from here to eternity in other books both fiction and non. It is a subject I only know the bare bones of so I would not want to hazard a guess as to the true facts about. But for me at least this book didn't really add much. More the case it seemed to shoehorn the authors' characters around to form his plot.
It was difficult for me to come down on this viewpoint, It was a book I was so hoping to love after the previous one. The level of witting is still up there the author knows how to write a long book. He can add a decent amount of thrills to his work. And with this one, he did keep me guessing as to the fate of each of his leads. For me knowing more books had bee written gave me a certain amount of faith that Penn would make it to the other side. But as for each and every other there where defiantly moments when I had to question if their time had come. The underlying story of two families that had been at war for a long time comes through strong and due to the length of the book it allowed the writers to build up and complex and violent past for them. What also comes through is despite a very prominent theme of racism in the south African Americans seem to only play second fiddle to the leads.
Overall this book is not a bad book, I'm sure for a lot of others this book will play out great. But for me, I was left feeling lacking by the plot. There is still so much to be said on the themes and subject brought up by the previous book. I'm sure I will pick up the third in the trilogy within a series to find out how it all comes to a no doubt fiery end. I just hope for a little less conspiracy and a little bit more about family bonds and the dark core of a small town in the south.
The bone tree start right after the end of Natchez Burning, so you really have to have read that before jumping into this one. It continues the epic tale of Penn cage and the most violent racist group at large in America. I was hoping for more of the same when it came to this book, but for me, something has gone a little off the rails when it comes to the plot. Whereas the first was about people struggling to make a difference. For Penn, this was about trying to make his town safe for every citizen of Natchez and protect those he loves most in the world. This one seemed to me to spin off into the world of conspiracy theories, and some of the greatest unsolved murders of the civil rights period. The assassinations of Martin Luther King and JFK have been covered into from here to eternity in other books both fiction and non. It is a subject I only know the bare bones of so I would not want to hazard a guess as to the true facts about. But for me at least this book didn't really add much. More the case it seemed to shoehorn the authors' characters around to form his plot.
It was difficult for me to come down on this viewpoint, It was a book I was so hoping to love after the previous one. The level of witting is still up there the author knows how to write a long book. He can add a decent amount of thrills to his work. And with this one, he did keep me guessing as to the fate of each of his leads. For me knowing more books had bee written gave me a certain amount of faith that Penn would make it to the other side. But as for each and every other there where defiantly moments when I had to question if their time had come. The underlying story of two families that had been at war for a long time comes through strong and due to the length of the book it allowed the writers to build up and complex and violent past for them. What also comes through is despite a very prominent theme of racism in the south African Americans seem to only play second fiddle to the leads.
Overall this book is not a bad book, I'm sure for a lot of others this book will play out great. But for me, I was left feeling lacking by the plot. There is still so much to be said on the themes and subject brought up by the previous book. I'm sure I will pick up the third in the trilogy within a series to find out how it all comes to a no doubt fiery end. I just hope for a little less conspiracy and a little bit more about family bonds and the dark core of a small town in the south.
June 12, 2024
Let's go with 3.75 stars here. While I love very much Iles' writing style and storytelling prowess and was left highly anticipating this dive into book #2 of the trilogy (now with a 4th book!) since being left completely wrung out from Natchez Burning, I have to say I felt The Bone Tree went too far off its rails focusing more on the Kennedy assassination angle. This book is over 800 pages and in my opinion didn't really need be. For the majority of the book, this Kennedy stuff takes over too many of its pages and spins its wheels before finally getting to the crux of where we left off in Natchez Burning with "where is Tom Cage, where is the Bone Tree, and how will the Knox family be made to pay for their crimes?" When we do (finally) reach these parts of the book, it becomes the fast-paced and breathtaking read I experienced in Natchez Burning. Onwards and forwards to Mississippi Blood!
(Little edit to say by the middle to end of The Bone Tree, my sympathy for Tom Cage was drying up considerably. My feelings and thoughts went more towards a man that is complicit and cowardly and self-serving as his every action is in disregard for all around him and put many in peril. Let's hope Mississippi Blood redeems him. I've also been thinking of how annoyed I was that the focus here was not on the atrocities done to the black men and also to Viola but as I noted above on a link to Kennedy. I do strongly feel this overshadowed the crimes against these men and women.)
(Little edit to say by the middle to end of The Bone Tree, my sympathy for Tom Cage was drying up considerably. My feelings and thoughts went more towards a man that is complicit and cowardly and self-serving as his every action is in disregard for all around him and put many in peril. Let's hope Mississippi Blood redeems him. I've also been thinking of how annoyed I was that the focus here was not on the atrocities done to the black men and also to Viola but as I noted above on a link to Kennedy. I do strongly feel this overshadowed the crimes against these men and women.)
April 6, 2017
So we are getting VERY close now to the finale of the Natchez Burning Trilogy (actually containing books 4, 5 and 6 of the Penn Cage series) I have been devouring these as they come out although I've only just realised that I never reviewed this anywhere when I read it last year I simply read it. Sometimes that has to be what its about!
Onto The Bone Tree then and I’m not going to say much about it because I’m sure some people are yet to start this and I don’t want to give TOO much away. Suffice to say it is a direct continuation of the explosive events in Natchez Burning, following Penn as he tries to save his Father from a murder charge, keep all those he loves alive and still dig deep into the Clan and unspeakable deeds.
Greg Iles is such a brilliant and insightful writer, who with this trilogy is really digging into a readers emotional responses, especially when examining the Father/Son relationship – Penn has always looked to his Dad for moral guidance and to find that his life is not entirely an open book is hard for him. Even harder when he is surrounded by truly evil men – the historical aspects of this. blending fact and fiction, are genuinely heart stopping, examining a time in history that still resonates.
I really can’t speak highly enough of this series, not just the first two books in an ongoing story, but the ones that came before. If you havent yet taken a look at them then I can’t say anything other than highly recommended that you do. Bring on book 3. That is one reading weekend I simply cannot WAIT for.
Onto The Bone Tree then and I’m not going to say much about it because I’m sure some people are yet to start this and I don’t want to give TOO much away. Suffice to say it is a direct continuation of the explosive events in Natchez Burning, following Penn as he tries to save his Father from a murder charge, keep all those he loves alive and still dig deep into the Clan and unspeakable deeds.
Greg Iles is such a brilliant and insightful writer, who with this trilogy is really digging into a readers emotional responses, especially when examining the Father/Son relationship – Penn has always looked to his Dad for moral guidance and to find that his life is not entirely an open book is hard for him. Even harder when he is surrounded by truly evil men – the historical aspects of this. blending fact and fiction, are genuinely heart stopping, examining a time in history that still resonates.
I really can’t speak highly enough of this series, not just the first two books in an ongoing story, but the ones that came before. If you havent yet taken a look at them then I can’t say anything other than highly recommended that you do. Bring on book 3. That is one reading weekend I simply cannot WAIT for.
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