What do you think?
Rate this book
Penn Cage #3
The Devil's Punchbowl
From the #1 New York Times bestselling author of the Penn Cage series and the Natchez Burning trilogy comes “a steamy, swampy tale of international nastiness” (Kirkus Reviews) in an electrifying thriller that reveals a world of depravity, sex, violence, and the corruption of a Southern town.
As a prosecuting attorney in Houston, Penn Cage sent hardened killers to death row. But it is as mayor of his hometown—Natchez, Mississippi—that Penn will face his most dangerous threat. Penn has ridden into office on a tide of support for change. But in its quest for new jobs and fresh money, Natchez has turned to casino gambling, and now five fantastical steamboats float on the river beside the old slave market at Natchez. But one boat isn’t like the others.
Rumor has it that the Magnolia Queen has found a way to pull the big players from Las Vegas to its Mississippi backwater. And with them come pro football players, rap stars, and international gamblers, all sharing an unquenchable taste for one thing: blood sport—and the dark vices that go with it. When a childhood friend of Penn’s who brought him evidence of these crimes is brutally murdered, the full weight of Penn’s failure to protect his city hits home. So begins his quest to find the men responsible. With his family’s lives at stake, Penn realizes his only allies in his one-man war are those bound to him by blood or honor. Ultimately, victory will depend on a bold stroke that will leave one of Penn’s allies dead—and Natchez changed forever.
The Devil’s Punchbowl is a “knockout thriller that’s just the right degree of chilly to combat the dog days of summer…Iles’s knack for perfectly integrating character and plot could serve as a master’s class for other authors” (The Dallas Morning News). This is “much more than just an exciting read” (Publishers Weekly, starred review).
As a prosecuting attorney in Houston, Penn Cage sent hardened killers to death row. But it is as mayor of his hometown—Natchez, Mississippi—that Penn will face his most dangerous threat. Penn has ridden into office on a tide of support for change. But in its quest for new jobs and fresh money, Natchez has turned to casino gambling, and now five fantastical steamboats float on the river beside the old slave market at Natchez. But one boat isn’t like the others.
Rumor has it that the Magnolia Queen has found a way to pull the big players from Las Vegas to its Mississippi backwater. And with them come pro football players, rap stars, and international gamblers, all sharing an unquenchable taste for one thing: blood sport—and the dark vices that go with it. When a childhood friend of Penn’s who brought him evidence of these crimes is brutally murdered, the full weight of Penn’s failure to protect his city hits home. So begins his quest to find the men responsible. With his family’s lives at stake, Penn realizes his only allies in his one-man war are those bound to him by blood or honor. Ultimately, victory will depend on a bold stroke that will leave one of Penn’s allies dead—and Natchez changed forever.
The Devil’s Punchbowl is a “knockout thriller that’s just the right degree of chilly to combat the dog days of summer…Iles’s knack for perfectly integrating character and plot could serve as a master’s class for other authors” (The Dallas Morning News). This is “much more than just an exciting read” (Publishers Weekly, starred review).
736 pages, Paperback
First published June 19, 2009
2494 people are currently reading
9264 people want to read
About the author
Greg Iles
122 books7,203 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.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 1,581 reviews
August 19, 2020
Such a shame. I enjoyed Turning Angel so much that I was really looking forward to this one. Somehow though I just could not get involved in the story.
I know I was put off by the topic of dog fighting, which meant I had to skim some bits. I found quite a few other sections brutal as well and insufficiently balanced out by anything smart or even rational. Basically just lots of not nice people running around being unpleasant.
I persevered and there were some good bits but overall I cannot say I really enjoyed it. Sadly this may be where Penn Cage and I go our separate ways.
I know I was put off by the topic of dog fighting, which meant I had to skim some bits. I found quite a few other sections brutal as well and insufficiently balanced out by anything smart or even rational. Basically just lots of not nice people running around being unpleasant.
I persevered and there were some good bits but overall I cannot say I really enjoyed it. Sadly this may be where Penn Cage and I go our separate ways.
July 16, 2009
Although a huge fan of Greg Iles, and especially enjoying the previous novels with the character of Penn Cage, had I known this book was about dogfighting I would never have bothered to pick it up. I found this book to be disturbing, disgusting and stomach churning. I had to skim over several passages because I knew if I had read them, these invoked images would have haunted me for a very long time. An avid animal lover, I just found this subject far to revolting to ever be able to consider it entertainment in any way, shape or form. The characters in the book barely had their feathers ruffled either when confronted by this disgusting "sport" and I found that to be equally disturbing. Definitely not for me. I am not sure I will ever be looking forward to a new release from Greg Iles again.
May 26, 2010
I could not put this book down. I enjoyed everything about the story, however did become frustrated with Penn Cage.
Truly a recommended read for a Vick supporter. Read the dog fighting scenes, the logic and true character of a person who actually makes it part of their overall moral character and it truly will change, IMHO, your belief in "he's done his time and all is forgiven policy," when it comes to the brutailty that Vick obviously has deep within his gene pool. All is not forgiven or forgotten and a bag of dog food donated for any action taken by Vick on the football field is a slap in the face (or should I say a bat to the head) to all of the millions of dogs that face the cruelty that people like Vick believe is acceptable and "normal" behavior.
For this reason alone, this book is a recommended read just to WAKE UP people to what you probably do not really know happened and the press is so obviously not going to tell the WHOLE TRUTH about the brutaility of Vick's actions.
Truly a recommended read for a Vick supporter. Read the dog fighting scenes, the logic and true character of a person who actually makes it part of their overall moral character and it truly will change, IMHO, your belief in "he's done his time and all is forgiven policy," when it comes to the brutailty that Vick obviously has deep within his gene pool. All is not forgiven or forgotten and a bag of dog food donated for any action taken by Vick on the football field is a slap in the face (or should I say a bat to the head) to all of the millions of dogs that face the cruelty that people like Vick believe is acceptable and "normal" behavior.
For this reason alone, this book is a recommended read just to WAKE UP people to what you probably do not really know happened and the press is so obviously not going to tell the WHOLE TRUTH about the brutaility of Vick's actions.
May 3, 2025
“We’re still in the cave. As with the dogs that [were] twisted into killers, there are urges in the blood that no amount of socialization will ever remove.”
“Lies and cruelty and murder are in us all.”
THE DEVIL’S PUNCHBOWL is graphic, gritty, and jaw-clenchingly violent to a fault. If your stomach is prone to being turned by horrific mental images, then be warned in advance. THE DEVIL’S PUNCHBOWL is not a novel for you!
As mayor of Natchez, Mississippi – the southern civil war town that he returned to as mayor after the death of his wife – Penn Cage encounters a world of astronomically high stakes gambling and money laundering on the luxury river boat, the Magnolia Queen, accompanied by the outrageous violence of human trafficking, prostitution, rape, and dog-fighting!
As suspense thrillers go, THE DEVIL’S PUNCHBOWL, at 700+ pages is unquestionably a door-stopper. But, I was just as unquestionably hooked by the first 300 to 400 pages which went by at blazing speed in a blur of action as the story of such shocking organized crime unfolded.
But through the pages of the story, Penn Cage and his erstwhile lover, investigative journalist Caitlin Masters, often expressed the opinion that with a successful money laundering operation generating such enormous rivers of money seemingly beyond detection or prosecution, there didn’t seem to be any particular point to jeopardizing that component of the Magnolia Queen’s operations with such base criminal activity as rape or dog-fighting!
I agree and for my money, therein lies the weakness of what might have been a 4-star or a 5-star barn burner. THE DEVIL’S PUNCHBOWL ended in a blaze of violence and gore that showcased the psychopathy of rape, human trafficking, and dog-fighting without ever drilling down into (let alone concluding) the money-laundering investigation.
In summary, THE DEVIL’S PUNCHBOWL was a compelling page-turner but the ending left me distinctly unsatisfied and ultimately disappointed.
Paul Weiss
“Lies and cruelty and murder are in us all.”
THE DEVIL’S PUNCHBOWL is graphic, gritty, and jaw-clenchingly violent to a fault. If your stomach is prone to being turned by horrific mental images, then be warned in advance. THE DEVIL’S PUNCHBOWL is not a novel for you!
As mayor of Natchez, Mississippi – the southern civil war town that he returned to as mayor after the death of his wife – Penn Cage encounters a world of astronomically high stakes gambling and money laundering on the luxury river boat, the Magnolia Queen, accompanied by the outrageous violence of human trafficking, prostitution, rape, and dog-fighting!
As suspense thrillers go, THE DEVIL’S PUNCHBOWL, at 700+ pages is unquestionably a door-stopper. But, I was just as unquestionably hooked by the first 300 to 400 pages which went by at blazing speed in a blur of action as the story of such shocking organized crime unfolded.
But through the pages of the story, Penn Cage and his erstwhile lover, investigative journalist Caitlin Masters, often expressed the opinion that with a successful money laundering operation generating such enormous rivers of money seemingly beyond detection or prosecution, there didn’t seem to be any particular point to jeopardizing that component of the Magnolia Queen’s operations with such base criminal activity as rape or dog-fighting!
I agree and for my money, therein lies the weakness of what might have been a 4-star or a 5-star barn burner. THE DEVIL’S PUNCHBOWL ended in a blaze of violence and gore that showcased the psychopathy of rape, human trafficking, and dog-fighting without ever drilling down into (let alone concluding) the money-laundering investigation.
In summary, THE DEVIL’S PUNCHBOWL was a compelling page-turner but the ending left me distinctly unsatisfied and ultimately disappointed.
Paul Weiss
August 12, 2012
The Devil's Punchbowl is the third Penn Cage novel by Greg Isles. This book was published in 2009 and weighs in at 707 pages long.
Two years ago, Penn became the Mayor of Natchez. Now, he has many regrets. He just ended a relationship with Libby. He feels like his idealistic, one man crusade to fix the education system in Natchez is failing, and he lost the second love of his life, Caitlyn as a result of his decision to live in Natchez. Also, the effect on his daughter, Annie's education, makes him think he may have made a mistake. But, when his old high school friend comes to him with information about illegal activities aboard a floating casino, Penn feels responsible for supporting it's presence in the first place. Then his friend his murdered. Caitlyn shows up to write about it and they both know it's not over between them. But, before they can address their differences and work on the future, Penn has to find out what is going on in his town.
When Annie's life is threatened, Penn calls in reinforcements, and the games begin-
The book deals with prostitution, money laundering, and illegal dog fighting, kidnapping and murder. The crimes lead all the way to the justice department.
The dog fighting descriptions are really graphic and very hard to read. Human trafficking, rape, and other violence is also pretty graphic. So, this novel is not for the faint of heart.
I love the humanity of Penn Cage. His heart is in the right place, but the reality is that we are all capable of doing things we would never imagine when our family is at risk. He struggles with his demons, his mistakes, and his failings. He wants to fight the good fight, but like all of us, he grows weary of all the politics and corruption, as well as dealing with the deep rooted beliefs of people is small towns, especially in the south. Isles really captures the city of Natchez and its real life struggles.
I personally was disappointed that Caitlyn still had such a hold on Penn and Annie. I never liked her much in previous novels. She just didn't have much warmth. I thought she was a little too uppity. But, in this novel, Caitlyn seems to have changed a little, and by the end of the book she has put many of the qualities I disliked, behind her.
Although, this is thick book, it is a fast read. There is no filler in there. It's a mystery, thriller, crime novel, and a little romance too. I highly recommend this book to all mystery/crime lovers.
I also hope that we hear from Penn again soon. We are left hanging just a bit at the end. The author had promised we would be hearing from Penn again very soon when this book was published. Sadly, Greg Isles was in a horrific car crash. His web page has promised a new release soon, but there have been a few delays. So, keep your eyes and ears open for any news. I hope we hear from Penn really soon!
Two years ago, Penn became the Mayor of Natchez. Now, he has many regrets. He just ended a relationship with Libby. He feels like his idealistic, one man crusade to fix the education system in Natchez is failing, and he lost the second love of his life, Caitlyn as a result of his decision to live in Natchez. Also, the effect on his daughter, Annie's education, makes him think he may have made a mistake. But, when his old high school friend comes to him with information about illegal activities aboard a floating casino, Penn feels responsible for supporting it's presence in the first place. Then his friend his murdered. Caitlyn shows up to write about it and they both know it's not over between them. But, before they can address their differences and work on the future, Penn has to find out what is going on in his town.
When Annie's life is threatened, Penn calls in reinforcements, and the games begin-
The book deals with prostitution, money laundering, and illegal dog fighting, kidnapping and murder. The crimes lead all the way to the justice department.
The dog fighting descriptions are really graphic and very hard to read. Human trafficking, rape, and other violence is also pretty graphic. So, this novel is not for the faint of heart.
I love the humanity of Penn Cage. His heart is in the right place, but the reality is that we are all capable of doing things we would never imagine when our family is at risk. He struggles with his demons, his mistakes, and his failings. He wants to fight the good fight, but like all of us, he grows weary of all the politics and corruption, as well as dealing with the deep rooted beliefs of people is small towns, especially in the south. Isles really captures the city of Natchez and its real life struggles.
I personally was disappointed that Caitlyn still had such a hold on Penn and Annie. I never liked her much in previous novels. She just didn't have much warmth. I thought she was a little too uppity. But, in this novel, Caitlyn seems to have changed a little, and by the end of the book she has put many of the qualities I disliked, behind her.
Although, this is thick book, it is a fast read. There is no filler in there. It's a mystery, thriller, crime novel, and a little romance too. I highly recommend this book to all mystery/crime lovers.
I also hope that we hear from Penn again soon. We are left hanging just a bit at the end. The author had promised we would be hearing from Penn again very soon when this book was published. Sadly, Greg Isles was in a horrific car crash. His web page has promised a new release soon, but there have been a few delays. So, keep your eyes and ears open for any news. I hope we hear from Penn really soon!
July 11, 2019
Having read 5 other books by the author, Punchbowl redefines the meaning of page turner. Its off to the races from the first pages and non-stop right to the end. Like all great authors careful attention to details, dialog and momentum combine with a family driven theme while continual plot twists come out of left field keeping the reader engaged. In all the author's books a yin/yang balance of good/evil, up/down, fast/slow with characters we easily relate with is used effectively. For any interested in reading the Natchez Burning series, I highly recommend reading this book first. Regardless this is my favorite when compared to the other five, but only by a narrow margin..Highly recommended in all respects.
July 16, 2011
Former Houston prosecutor Penn Cage is now the disillusioned mayor of his home town, Natchez, Mississippi. Cage never failed at anything in his life until now, and he took the office promising to bridge the divisions in the town which is losing jobs along with its best and brightest young people who are moving away in search of better opportunities elsewhere. Penn hoped to put Natchez on the track to a better future by reinvigorating the public education system and encouraging white parents who have fled the public schools to return their children to the public schools so that black and white students would be educated together, thus building the base of a new and better city.
Sadly, the problem has proven to be much more difficult and intractable than Penn imagined and his one accomplishment has been to clear the way for a luxurious new gambling boat, the Magnolia Queen, to come to town. The boat has generated jobs and badly needed revenue for the ailing city. But then Tim Jessup, one of Penn's childhood friends who works aboard the Queen shows Penn evidence suggesting that the gambling aboard the boat is a cover for sinister and repellant activities.
Shortly thereafter, Jessup is murdered and Penn finds himself locked in mortal combat with two hardcore villains who are determined to protect the gambling boat's secrets and their own fortunes. They will stop at nothing to do so, including threatening Penn's daughter, mother and father to make him back off and surrender the evidence they believe Jessup has given to Penn.
In this middle of all of this, Penn's old lover, Caitlin Masters, returns to Natchez, complicating both the widowed Penn's life and the complex problems he now faces. Not surprisingly, Cage refuses to roll over and surrender to the evil that threatens to envelope his city. The result is a roller coaster ride, with lots of unexpected twists and turns. Iles is a master of the psychological suspense novel and The Devil's Punchbowl is an excellent example of his work.
A word of warning: This engrossing book is not for the faint of heart. It contains a considerable amount of very graphic violence directed both against human beings and animals.
Sadly, the problem has proven to be much more difficult and intractable than Penn imagined and his one accomplishment has been to clear the way for a luxurious new gambling boat, the Magnolia Queen, to come to town. The boat has generated jobs and badly needed revenue for the ailing city. But then Tim Jessup, one of Penn's childhood friends who works aboard the Queen shows Penn evidence suggesting that the gambling aboard the boat is a cover for sinister and repellant activities.
Shortly thereafter, Jessup is murdered and Penn finds himself locked in mortal combat with two hardcore villains who are determined to protect the gambling boat's secrets and their own fortunes. They will stop at nothing to do so, including threatening Penn's daughter, mother and father to make him back off and surrender the evidence they believe Jessup has given to Penn.
In this middle of all of this, Penn's old lover, Caitlin Masters, returns to Natchez, complicating both the widowed Penn's life and the complex problems he now faces. Not surprisingly, Cage refuses to roll over and surrender to the evil that threatens to envelope his city. The result is a roller coaster ride, with lots of unexpected twists and turns. Iles is a master of the psychological suspense novel and The Devil's Punchbowl is an excellent example of his work.
A word of warning: This engrossing book is not for the faint of heart. It contains a considerable amount of very graphic violence directed both against human beings and animals.
August 31, 2025
I love Iles' work and have been going through his books once again since I heard he passed away recently. The Devil's Punchbowl possesses all the things that make his work so fun and special. Penn Cage, our lead, returns a few years after the last installment. Penn must be Iles' alter ego or something; a former lawyer/prosecutor in Houston, Penn returned to his home town of Natchez, Mississippi after his wife died of cancer. Penn wrote best selling novels after quitting his job as a prosecutor, but a few years prior to when this kicks off, he became mayor of Natchez. Two years into his term and Penn is frustrated with his lack of progress; Natchez is slowly dying as industry leaves. About the only economic hope rests with 'riverboat' casinos.
This kicks off when an old pal of Penn named Tim tells him that he is working to get some evidence of major wrong doings at one of the casinos. Tim works there, dealing blackjack. Time became a fuckup after high school and a druggie, but married a gal a year ago, has a young son, and has been sober. Tim tells Penn to meet him after he gets off work and he will give him the dirt. Well, turns out the Casino's boss was onto Tim and instead of meeting Penn, he got offed. Worse, the casino owners pay Penn a visit shortly thereafter, informing him that he needs to 'return' the evidence Tim stole or his family is gonna get it...
Sleazy politics, crooked gamblers and shady dealings populate the pages here. It seem each time Penn picks up a rock he finds something ugly. Turns out the casino owners are into a lot more than blackjack, including human trafficking, dog fights and maybe even worse things. The problem is they play for keeps and have some juice. 4 solid stars.
This kicks off when an old pal of Penn named Tim tells him that he is working to get some evidence of major wrong doings at one of the casinos. Tim works there, dealing blackjack. Time became a fuckup after high school and a druggie, but married a gal a year ago, has a young son, and has been sober. Tim tells Penn to meet him after he gets off work and he will give him the dirt. Well, turns out the Casino's boss was onto Tim and instead of meeting Penn, he got offed. Worse, the casino owners pay Penn a visit shortly thereafter, informing him that he needs to 'return' the evidence Tim stole or his family is gonna get it...
Sleazy politics, crooked gamblers and shady dealings populate the pages here. It seem each time Penn picks up a rock he finds something ugly. Turns out the casino owners are into a lot more than blackjack, including human trafficking, dog fights and maybe even worse things. The problem is they play for keeps and have some juice. 4 solid stars.
February 23, 2010
First of all I almost put the rating down to two stars, because while Punchbowl isn't is bad as some books I've read, it's 550 page length was extra-painful to get through.
Whats wrong with The Devil's Punchbowl? It suffers from a severe case of average-ness and a major overdose of waffling. For at least the first 100 pages we're blugoened with the daily life and thoughts of Penn Cage, town mayor (IMO mayor's of small town don't make compelling protaganists)
The plot is neither melodramatic enough (hey I don't like dog fighting or prostitution either but it doesn't exactly get me involved in the story) or compelling to really propel the book forwards. This is made worse by the awkward narration which is first person present tense for most chapters then randomly third person past tense (what you'll find most books written in) ALL in italics. This is most annyoing because it makes the third party chapter seem like either dream sequences or with forced importance. If that isn't bad enough for you occasionally one third person character breaks into first person perspective.
At the end Iles claims all mistakes are his, which suggests some fore-knowledge, perhaps there was some stress or something in the author's life. In which case I sympathise, however it doesn't make a bad book good.
There is nothing in the plot that justifies 550 pages, most of the action is done by the minor characters, as the main guy is an impotent politician (and I realise that it is realistic for a politician to use their networks to solve problems it just doesn't make good fiction) the most compelling characters are killed off early or don't get any screen time and the bad guys just blend into bland henchmen.
I think this book is worth missing, spend the time doing something more productive
Whats wrong with The Devil's Punchbowl? It suffers from a severe case of average-ness and a major overdose of waffling. For at least the first 100 pages we're blugoened with the daily life and thoughts of Penn Cage, town mayor (IMO mayor's of small town don't make compelling protaganists)
The plot is neither melodramatic enough (hey I don't like dog fighting or prostitution either but it doesn't exactly get me involved in the story) or compelling to really propel the book forwards. This is made worse by the awkward narration which is first person present tense for most chapters then randomly third person past tense (what you'll find most books written in) ALL in italics. This is most annyoing because it makes the third party chapter seem like either dream sequences or with forced importance. If that isn't bad enough for you occasionally one third person character breaks into first person perspective.
At the end Iles claims all mistakes are his, which suggests some fore-knowledge, perhaps there was some stress or something in the author's life. In which case I sympathise, however it doesn't make a bad book good.
There is nothing in the plot that justifies 550 pages, most of the action is done by the minor characters, as the main guy is an impotent politician (and I realise that it is realistic for a politician to use their networks to solve problems it just doesn't make good fiction) the most compelling characters are killed off early or don't get any screen time and the bad guys just blend into bland henchmen.
I think this book is worth missing, spend the time doing something more productive
January 27, 2010
Grossly disappointed in this latest from Iles. I usually enjoy his books about character, Penn Cage. But this one did not work for me. Mainly, I think I was unable to suspend belief in common sense long enough to appreciate the plot. Case in point, most of Iles' books about Penn Cage feature a character named Daniel Kelly, a former Delta commando now working as a private security contractor. Kelly is tough, former military, and amazing well-connected. He acts as a "go to" guy who helps Cage out of many-a-pickle. His role as "deus ex machina" however is wearing a little thin. Yes, men like Kelly do exist, but it's just too annoyingly convenient that Cage always gets into so much trouble that he has to call in Kelly to help. I think this novel would have been a lot more interesting had such an aid not been available.
My second issue with this novel is that it was just too long. Iles threw up a few too many twists and turns. The denoument went on forever! Easily could have cut 100 pages and still been an okay read.
Finally, I take a big issue with an oft-used authorial device regarding point of view. Most of the novel is told in first person, from Penn's point of view. Many chapters, however, are written in third person, from the POV of secondary characters. And in case the reader can't figure out that those changes have a different POV, the text is printed in italics. First, italicized writing can be difficult to read and several pages of it is simply annoying. More importantly, however, is why switch to third person in the first place. If an author choose to use the first person POV, then I feel said author should accept the narrative limitations that POV necessitates. The first person narrator is not going to know what third party characters are doing "off stage." So if you, as an author, want to add "off stage" details, especially to advance the story, then don't write in first person in the first place!
My second issue with this novel is that it was just too long. Iles threw up a few too many twists and turns. The denoument went on forever! Easily could have cut 100 pages and still been an okay read.
Finally, I take a big issue with an oft-used authorial device regarding point of view. Most of the novel is told in first person, from Penn's point of view. Many chapters, however, are written in third person, from the POV of secondary characters. And in case the reader can't figure out that those changes have a different POV, the text is printed in italics. First, italicized writing can be difficult to read and several pages of it is simply annoying. More importantly, however, is why switch to third person in the first place. If an author choose to use the first person POV, then I feel said author should accept the narrative limitations that POV necessitates. The first person narrator is not going to know what third party characters are doing "off stage." So if you, as an author, want to add "off stage" details, especially to advance the story, then don't write in first person in the first place!
February 21, 2010
I REALLY like the way this guy writes. He grabs my attention from page one and makes me keep wanting to turn pages. His characters are believable and well textured. His settings are vivid. His plotting is intricate. Each paragraph flows logically from the previous one and the writing is straightforward, not pretentious. I've only read a few of his books, beginning wth "Turning Angel," but I want to read more because he hasn't disappointed me yet.
March 17, 2024
Damn, why do these have to be so long?? They're so good, but they could use a heartless trim - especially in the first half. Minor spoilers below.
In this complex plot, Mayor Penn Cage finds himself involved with evil Irish mobsters and riverboat gambling - which his administration brought to the city - and all the assorted crime that comes with it, like prostitution, drugs and dog fighting. The Devil's Punchbowl really surprised me with all its animal and human torture. I'm not implying that Greg Iles is gratuitous or celebratory with the violence, but it's very graphic and stomach churning - which is totally the point, of course.
I have a pretty strong stomach. Bad guys torturing prostitutes into spilling what they know? No problem! But if it's got animals being hurt in any way, I turn into a cringing puddle of tears. Animals > people, so this book hurt. But it was still a really good story! Surprisingly so.
I'll keep on with these Penn Cage novels because the quality is way up there... even though I wish they were half as long. I just hope I don't have to read about any more mostly dead dogs.
In this complex plot, Mayor Penn Cage finds himself involved with evil Irish mobsters and riverboat gambling - which his administration brought to the city - and all the assorted crime that comes with it, like prostitution, drugs and dog fighting. The Devil's Punchbowl really surprised me with all its animal and human torture. I'm not implying that Greg Iles is gratuitous or celebratory with the violence, but it's very graphic and stomach churning - which is totally the point, of course.
I have a pretty strong stomach. Bad guys torturing prostitutes into spilling what they know? No problem! But if it's got animals being hurt in any way, I turn into a cringing puddle of tears. Animals > people, so this book hurt. But it was still a really good story! Surprisingly so.
I'll keep on with these Penn Cage novels because the quality is way up there... even though I wish they were half as long. I just hope I don't have to read about any more mostly dead dogs.
November 3, 2015
Greg Iles’ THE DEVIL’S PUNCHBOWL is the third installment of his Penn Cage novels. The first two combined suspense, mystery, and insights into the human condition and the depravity of some. Iles’ latest continues that trend as Cage, a former Houston prosecutor who returned home to Natchez, MS to raise his daughter Annie after his wife passed away from cancer. Cage turned to writing and became a successful novelist, but local demands saw him become involved in a major civil rights case, a twisted drug case, and of course a murder investigation. After witnessing how his hometown had deteriorated he decided to run for mayor and defeated his arch enemy Shad Johnson the sitting District Attorney. Cage’s hope was to resurrect the city he loves, but after two years in his term he concluded that reforming education and municipal corruption was beyond his power. His idealism faded as the political reality set in. The novel opens as Cage meets with an old school friend, Tim Jessup, a recovering drug addict who was working at one of the floating casinos, the Magnolia Queen. They meet late at night in the town cemetery where Jessup discloses that the casino operators are involved with a number of illegal activities ranging from dog fights, prostitution of underage girls, money laundering, and tax fraud. This knowledge heightens Cage’s disgust and vows to resign his office. However, when Jessup turns up dead and his house has been trashed he realizes that he is up against an organization that will kill anyone that gets in the way of their activities.
Cage knows he is up against something or someone that he has few resources of which to confront. He is uncertain who on the Natchez city police or the county police he can trust. He turns to his father, Dr. Tom Cage, and a group of paramilitary types led by Don Kelly, an ex-special forces operative in the Marines as well as his cohorts to save his family and pursue justice. Dr. Cage also brings in Walt Garrity, a former soldier and Texas Ranger, that he had fought with during the Korean War to assist his son. Cage also has worked with Danny Kelly, a former army special ops in Afghanistan who brings his Blackwater type organization with him to assist the mayor of Natchez since he cannot trust his own law enforcement apparatus. The reader enters the casino world with its ancillary activities of money laundering, dog fighting, and political control, and if anyone threatens their agenda they seem to disappear if they stand in the way of what they are trying to achieve. People like Seamus Quinn and his boss Jonathan Sanders are the epitome of ruthless operatives of which Cage must contend. Included in this menagerie of criminals is Edward Po a Chinese corporate type who seems to be in charge, but is also a target of the Department of Homeland Security as represented by Special Agent William Hull. Ile’s has strong opinions of the plight of the southern gulf coast and those individuals and groups, be it Asian or American who threaten to destroy his tranquil southern lifestyle. Ile’s is also concerned about the educational bureaucracy that exists in his home state of Mississippi and its negative effects on the state’s future. As Cage tries to deal with the situation characters from his previous books reemerge, i.e. Caitlin Masters the newspaper publisher and a woman he lived with for five years; Police Chief Don Logan, and the network of individuals that Cage worked with when he was a prosecutor in Houston.
One aspect that Iles’ introduces in his writing is the history of Natchez over the last century and how it impacts the current situation. It gives the reader insights into southern culture and the accepted way of doing things. For Penn Cage his frustration with the existing American legal system is something he is about to give up on. The book also provides a window to international organized crime, particularly the Chinese variety and the strategies employed by the American justice system. This is the third book in the Penn Cage series and is by far the best one. Ile’s has the ability to grab the reader’s attention from the outset, and if you decide to read any of his work make sure you have set aside enough time for the task because once you become involved in the plot line it will be very difficult to put the book down.
Cage knows he is up against something or someone that he has few resources of which to confront. He is uncertain who on the Natchez city police or the county police he can trust. He turns to his father, Dr. Tom Cage, and a group of paramilitary types led by Don Kelly, an ex-special forces operative in the Marines as well as his cohorts to save his family and pursue justice. Dr. Cage also brings in Walt Garrity, a former soldier and Texas Ranger, that he had fought with during the Korean War to assist his son. Cage also has worked with Danny Kelly, a former army special ops in Afghanistan who brings his Blackwater type organization with him to assist the mayor of Natchez since he cannot trust his own law enforcement apparatus. The reader enters the casino world with its ancillary activities of money laundering, dog fighting, and political control, and if anyone threatens their agenda they seem to disappear if they stand in the way of what they are trying to achieve. People like Seamus Quinn and his boss Jonathan Sanders are the epitome of ruthless operatives of which Cage must contend. Included in this menagerie of criminals is Edward Po a Chinese corporate type who seems to be in charge, but is also a target of the Department of Homeland Security as represented by Special Agent William Hull. Ile’s has strong opinions of the plight of the southern gulf coast and those individuals and groups, be it Asian or American who threaten to destroy his tranquil southern lifestyle. Ile’s is also concerned about the educational bureaucracy that exists in his home state of Mississippi and its negative effects on the state’s future. As Cage tries to deal with the situation characters from his previous books reemerge, i.e. Caitlin Masters the newspaper publisher and a woman he lived with for five years; Police Chief Don Logan, and the network of individuals that Cage worked with when he was a prosecutor in Houston.
One aspect that Iles’ introduces in his writing is the history of Natchez over the last century and how it impacts the current situation. It gives the reader insights into southern culture and the accepted way of doing things. For Penn Cage his frustration with the existing American legal system is something he is about to give up on. The book also provides a window to international organized crime, particularly the Chinese variety and the strategies employed by the American justice system. This is the third book in the Penn Cage series and is by far the best one. Ile’s has the ability to grab the reader’s attention from the outset, and if you decide to read any of his work make sure you have set aside enough time for the task because once you become involved in the plot line it will be very difficult to put the book down.
February 7, 2013
Mortal Fear and True Evil are his best works. By comparison, this one is too long, too brutal, too bloody and too tedious. 4 of 10 stars
September 1, 2016
Again, Greg Iles did not disappoint. There is something about these books that make you want to keep reading. I really like the character, Penn Cage. He is strong, moral and doesn't take crap from anyone. He's a fighter.
The major themes of this book...gambling, dog fighting, foreign immunity, prostitution, education, racism, living in the south.
The plot is focused around the gambling boats on the Mississippi and the underground activities that occur in and around these boats that attract not only the general population but celebrities and people who have a lot of money to spend. A old highschool friend engages Penn (who is now the mayor of the town) in exposing the underground illegal actives around these boats. Tim has had his share of bouts with the law (drugs) but has come clean and wants to expose the evils behind the gambling industry that dock within the city limits.
The men he wants to expose are extremely dangerous and Penn needs to pull in reinforcements to help deal with these evil men.
I really enjoy these books. I don't think I've ever read a bad one.
The major themes of this book...gambling, dog fighting, foreign immunity, prostitution, education, racism, living in the south.
The plot is focused around the gambling boats on the Mississippi and the underground activities that occur in and around these boats that attract not only the general population but celebrities and people who have a lot of money to spend. A old highschool friend engages Penn (who is now the mayor of the town) in exposing the underground illegal actives around these boats. Tim has had his share of bouts with the law (drugs) but has come clean and wants to expose the evils behind the gambling industry that dock within the city limits.
The men he wants to expose are extremely dangerous and Penn needs to pull in reinforcements to help deal with these evil men.
I really enjoy these books. I don't think I've ever read a bad one.
April 14, 2018
I'm not crazy about the voice and the entire tale is too far fetched to be immersive.
The way the women think and act make it clear the author is a male. Also he seems to like describing the brutalization of female bodies.
Finally there are detailed passages of dog abuse. Greg Iles did not make a fan of me.
The way the women think and act make it clear the author is a male. Also he seems to like describing the brutalization of female bodies.
Finally there are detailed passages of dog abuse. Greg Iles did not make a fan of me.
March 17, 2012
Not the best Greg Iles book i've read. It took quite a while to get into this very long book but then it belted along. Yes, some of the plot was too unbelievable and other bits were gruesome. OK 3 1/2 because once it got going I was engrossed.
February 14, 2010
Another Greg Iles thriller, starring Penn Cage as mayor of Natchez battling a sociopath manager of a riverfront gambling house, drawing in characters from other Iles novels. Suspenseful and well written although I think Iles' use of italics when Cage is not narrating is truly unnecessary.
July 24, 2020
I think I want to give this 4.5 or 4.75 stars. I can’t quite make it 5 because the subject matter was so difficult in places. That has no bearing on the quality of the writing or the story as a whole, just my personal feelings. There are definite triggers that will make this something to stay away from for some....dogfighting, animal abuse, rape, and torture. It sounds awful when listed like that but it isn’t predominantly what the story is about and if you can handle those parts it is well worth reading. It’s very thought provoking. It makes you wonder what would I do and maybe what could I do? It’s about some very evil people and how they can take over so many lives and what it takes to fight back.
September 18, 2024
I didn't like the start of this novel but it had a strong ending while leaving the reader wanting more. It was a little too female exploitative for my taste but it turned the ship around sort of.
January 8, 2022
This is the third novel in the Penn Cage series by Iles. I've read and enjoyed the first two in the series and this was another compelling read that I was able to read pretty quickly despite its length at over 700 pages. In this one, Penn Cage is now mayor of his hometown, Natchez, Mississippi which he returned to when his wife died to practice law and write. He has vowed to make changes in the city and his highest priority is to change the school system and try to encourage everyone to attend public schools as a means of desegregation. But he decides this is not going to happen anytime soon. In addition, the city needs revenue after the closing of many of its plants and businesses and he decides casino gambling is the best way to do this. But along with the needed revenue comes a myriad of other problems. One of his boyhood friends who works at the Magnolia Queen riverboat casino, comes to Penn with some very disturbing tales about dogfighting and underage prostitution being organized by the casino owners. This leads Penn on a very dark journey that puts him and his whole family in jeopardy. The casino is being run by an Irish thug and his cohorts who engage in anything to make money including the brutal spectacles of dogfighting. But Cage is no pushover and he has some connections who may be able to stand up to the evils of the casino organization. But is that all they need be concerned about? Evidently, the government is also involved in some way and warn Penn and his team to back off.
This novel had some very brutal scenes in it including descriptions of dogfighting and rape and torture. I've read some other reviews of this book and noted a few negative reviews based solely on its descriptions of dogfighting. This didn't make sense to me. I agree that dogfighting is brutal and can't see how anyone would want to participate in it but it is something that happens and people should be more aware of these animal abuses. The characters in this book that ran the casino were some of the most vile I have encountered in literature but the story was very compelling and was overall a very good crime novel that I would recommend. I'll be looking forward to the next books in the series which I understand are a long trilogy starting with Natchez Burning.
This novel had some very brutal scenes in it including descriptions of dogfighting and rape and torture. I've read some other reviews of this book and noted a few negative reviews based solely on its descriptions of dogfighting. This didn't make sense to me. I agree that dogfighting is brutal and can't see how anyone would want to participate in it but it is something that happens and people should be more aware of these animal abuses. The characters in this book that ran the casino were some of the most vile I have encountered in literature but the story was very compelling and was overall a very good crime novel that I would recommend. I'll be looking forward to the next books in the series which I understand are a long trilogy starting with Natchez Burning.
July 19, 2012
I thoroughly enjoyed this novel and the suspense that Iles builds throughout the book; it is extremely hard to put down. The violence can be very graphic, but seemed to be a part of the story, not just gratuitously thrown in. Below is a brief summary of events.
A former prosecuting attorney, Penn Cage is the mayor of his hometown -- Natchez, Mississippi. Urged by old friends to try to restore this city of the Old South to its former glory, Penn has taken office with strong support from the townspeople for change. But in its quest for new jobs and fresh money, Natchez, like other Mississippi towns, has turned to casino gambling, and now five steamboats float on the river beside the old slave market at Natchez,
One of the boats is very different from the others.
Rumor has it that the Magnolia Queen has found a way to pull the big players from Las Vegas to its Mississippi backwater. And with them, arriving on sleek private jets,come pro football players, rap stars, and international gamblers, all sharing a taste for blood sport and other dark vices. When a childhood friend of Penn's brings him evidence of these crimes, the full weight of Penn's failure to protect his city hits home. He begins searching for the men involved. But it's a hunt he begins alone, for the local authorities have been corrupted by the money and power of his hidden enemy. With his family's lives at stake, Penn realizes his only allies in his one-man war are those who are family or those bound to him by honor.
A former prosecuting attorney, Penn Cage is the mayor of his hometown -- Natchez, Mississippi. Urged by old friends to try to restore this city of the Old South to its former glory, Penn has taken office with strong support from the townspeople for change. But in its quest for new jobs and fresh money, Natchez, like other Mississippi towns, has turned to casino gambling, and now five steamboats float on the river beside the old slave market at Natchez,
One of the boats is very different from the others.
Rumor has it that the Magnolia Queen has found a way to pull the big players from Las Vegas to its Mississippi backwater. And with them, arriving on sleek private jets,come pro football players, rap stars, and international gamblers, all sharing a taste for blood sport and other dark vices. When a childhood friend of Penn's brings him evidence of these crimes, the full weight of Penn's failure to protect his city hits home. He begins searching for the men involved. But it's a hunt he begins alone, for the local authorities have been corrupted by the money and power of his hidden enemy. With his family's lives at stake, Penn realizes his only allies in his one-man war are those who are family or those bound to him by honor.
October 6, 2009
Greg Iles takes us back to Natchez, MS for a tale about total evil infecting the city from a new riverboat casino. Using common stereotypes of the US South to great effect, parts of this book are so disturbing it is hard to read...that is, hard not to skip over the violence and depravity.
This time, our hero, Penn Cage is the Mayor at the midpoint of his term and questioning the wisdom of staying in office, Natchez, or even the South. How his team defends the virtue, and lives of the populace of his city makes an exciting, action packed story.
I wonder, though, if the graphic cruelty thoroughly described in these pages is because of readers' insatiable demand for more, or if it originates with the publisher and/or the author attempting to keep up.
Mr. Iles creates a powerful polemic against gambling and all the vices attendant to it. This book covers everything from sex slavery to dogs fighting bears, boars, men and each other. Also included in our list are, of course, drugs, illegal gambling, theft, extortion, kidnap,torture, murder, rape, and any other crime against humanity you can think of.
As if the rednecks aren't enough to get upset over, we have IRA thugs and the unseen criminal mastermind from mainland China against the forces of justice.
I mostly liked the story. It could make an exciting movie, but there would have to be massive editing, deleting many marginal characters.
This time, our hero, Penn Cage is the Mayor at the midpoint of his term and questioning the wisdom of staying in office, Natchez, or even the South. How his team defends the virtue, and lives of the populace of his city makes an exciting, action packed story.
I wonder, though, if the graphic cruelty thoroughly described in these pages is because of readers' insatiable demand for more, or if it originates with the publisher and/or the author attempting to keep up.
Mr. Iles creates a powerful polemic against gambling and all the vices attendant to it. This book covers everything from sex slavery to dogs fighting bears, boars, men and each other. Also included in our list are, of course, drugs, illegal gambling, theft, extortion, kidnap,torture, murder, rape, and any other crime against humanity you can think of.
As if the rednecks aren't enough to get upset over, we have IRA thugs and the unseen criminal mastermind from mainland China against the forces of justice.
I mostly liked the story. It could make an exciting movie, but there would have to be massive editing, deleting many marginal characters.
June 22, 2011
The only reason I read this one was that I ran out of books when I was in Turkey on vacation. One of the other travelers had finished with it and passed it on to me. In need of SERIOUS editing. It goes on and on in excruciating detail about awful things - dog fighting, rape, etc. Concentrates on the evil-doings of a group of men associated with a gambling barge moored in the Mississippi. Yuck!
February 21, 2010
Another can't put down book from Greg Iles.
September 27, 2016
Took me a while as I was busy. I really enjoyed the characters and how the bad guys were built up. Good story and I loved the southern feel.
March 19, 2020
I've been working my way through the Penn Cage series by Greg Iles for the past few weeks. So far, none of the books have lived up to "Natchez Burning", but they're okay. Iles has a tendency to drift into purple prose territory at times, particularly when he's relating information about females. His understanding of women, their motivations, their feelings, their reactions, are stereotyped and cliched at the best of times. Ditto for his take on race relations. I don't know much about his background but my guess is he's a good ol' boy from Mississippi and it shows. He tries to appear open-minded and progressive but he strikes me as more of a type who claims some of his best friends are black so he understands them better than anyone. Whatever.
The book itself is okay. Nothing outstanding. It's a well-written genre mystery/thriller which deals with some controversial issues like dog-fighting and rape (see comments above about how he portrays women). The action is predictable but standard for the format. One thing Iles does in each of his books so far, which I enjoy, is to bring things to a head around the middle of the book, so that it looks like everything is nearly over, then ratchets the action back up to a new level and the book goes on for another couple of hundred pages. It's a risky move that few authors could pull off successfully, but Iles manages it every time. Penn Cage is a prosy sort of character who is rather full of himself, despite his self-deprecating moments. All the protagonists are over the top as far as their archetypes go. Cage's go-to bodyguard, Kelly, is loyal to a fault and drops everything to run to Cage's rescue every time Cage calls, which I don't really understand. As often as Cage gets into trouble I'd imagine he's stretching the bonds of friendship to the max, not to mention credibility. But that's the nature of this genre, I suppose. It's also a stretch to believe how much Cage cares about his daughters' well-being. He talks a good game but in the end, he keeps her in a town full of bigotry and a school with substandard educational abilities just so he can fulfill his term as mayor, even though, by his own admission, he's accomplishing little good for the town. I don't know, maybe I expect too much. On the one hand, Cage is full of integrity and purpose, on the other, he's a waffling, indecisive, loser. Whatever.
I'm hoping when I get to the books which come after "Natchez Burning" (which is where I started reading this series and was a very good book) my interest in Cage and his problems will pick up again.
The book itself is okay. Nothing outstanding. It's a well-written genre mystery/thriller which deals with some controversial issues like dog-fighting and rape (see comments above about how he portrays women). The action is predictable but standard for the format. One thing Iles does in each of his books so far, which I enjoy, is to bring things to a head around the middle of the book, so that it looks like everything is nearly over, then ratchets the action back up to a new level and the book goes on for another couple of hundred pages. It's a risky move that few authors could pull off successfully, but Iles manages it every time. Penn Cage is a prosy sort of character who is rather full of himself, despite his self-deprecating moments. All the protagonists are over the top as far as their archetypes go. Cage's go-to bodyguard, Kelly, is loyal to a fault and drops everything to run to Cage's rescue every time Cage calls, which I don't really understand. As often as Cage gets into trouble I'd imagine he's stretching the bonds of friendship to the max, not to mention credibility. But that's the nature of this genre, I suppose. It's also a stretch to believe how much Cage cares about his daughters' well-being. He talks a good game but in the end, he keeps her in a town full of bigotry and a school with substandard educational abilities just so he can fulfill his term as mayor, even though, by his own admission, he's accomplishing little good for the town. I don't know, maybe I expect too much. On the one hand, Cage is full of integrity and purpose, on the other, he's a waffling, indecisive, loser. Whatever.
I'm hoping when I get to the books which come after "Natchez Burning" (which is where I started reading this series and was a very good book) my interest in Cage and his problems will pick up again.
August 22, 2024
84/100
This is another really solid Greg Iles book, but once again, he writes about some stuff that is both hard to read and hard to recommend.
I liked that Iles switched things up a little bit in this one. Instead of giving us only Penn’s first person POV, we also get chapters in third person following other characters every so often. This allowed the story to expand more and was nice to see now in book three.
The two main bad guys in this book are *bad* guys. Big time criminals with no remorse for anyone else, and it shows in their words and actions. Unfortunately though, that leads to some pretty gruesome stuff. Dogfighting is a decent part of this book and it gets pretty descriptive at times, so if you have a strong aversion to animal violence, steer way clear of this one. There’s also drug usage, abduction, some pretty bad sexual assault scenes, suicide. A lot of trigger warnings that are important to know about before going into this one.
Even so, this book was still pretty good. Penn Cage continues to be a great character (even if his morals slipped a little bit in Turning Angel but we don’t talk about that one😬), Daniel Kelly is still a badass that I hope is here throughout every Penn Cage book, there’s the return of a character I really liked from The Quiet Game, and everything just kinda clicked with this one. Really excited to get into the Natchez Burning trilogy and see what Iles can do over a much larger scale (three massive 700-800 page books)
This is another really solid Greg Iles book, but once again, he writes about some stuff that is both hard to read and hard to recommend.
I liked that Iles switched things up a little bit in this one. Instead of giving us only Penn’s first person POV, we also get chapters in third person following other characters every so often. This allowed the story to expand more and was nice to see now in book three.
The two main bad guys in this book are *bad* guys. Big time criminals with no remorse for anyone else, and it shows in their words and actions. Unfortunately though, that leads to some pretty gruesome stuff. Dogfighting is a decent part of this book and it gets pretty descriptive at times, so if you have a strong aversion to animal violence, steer way clear of this one. There’s also drug usage, abduction, some pretty bad sexual assault scenes, suicide. A lot of trigger warnings that are important to know about before going into this one.
Even so, this book was still pretty good. Penn Cage continues to be a great character (even if his morals slipped a little bit in Turning Angel but we don’t talk about that one😬), Daniel Kelly is still a badass that I hope is here throughout every Penn Cage book, there’s the return of a character I really liked from The Quiet Game, and everything just kinda clicked with this one. Really excited to get into the Natchez Burning trilogy and see what Iles can do over a much larger scale (three massive 700-800 page books)
July 4, 2018
3rd in the series of the former ADA, lawyer, novelist in his hometown of Natchez, Mississippi. Halfway through his four year term as mayor, an old school chum approaches him about bad guys in town. His friend, a card dealer on one of the city's casino boats, lets him know about dog fights, prostitution, and other unsavory things going on.
Thus begins the roller coaster ride involving our hero, his family, former girlfriends, and a security outfit.
Even though this is fiction, it stretched the boundaries of belief with the action and decisions of our characters.
Thus begins the roller coaster ride involving our hero, his family, former girlfriends, and a security outfit.
Even though this is fiction, it stretched the boundaries of belief with the action and decisions of our characters.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 1,581 reviews