Book reviews

Plum Island
Nelson DeMille Book Review

Read a book review online (click here to search reviews)
Books Movies  
Sci-Fi/Fantasy Mystery/Thriller Literature Romance Biography Video
Nelson DeMille Books
New book search
Nelson DeMille Message Board
Get more information about this book
Plot Summary of Plum Island
"Plum Island is our first introdution to tough, cocky, wise-cracking, but very likeable NYPD homicide cop, John Corey. Recovering from wounds sustained in the line of duty, Corey is relaxing at his uncle's house on the rural outskirts of Long Island, NY's north fork when two of his neighbors are found murdered.

Why would anyone want to execute this young, friendly, and attractive couple? Perhaps it is connected to their jobs as biologists on Plum Island, a secure government facility located off the Long Island coast and rumored to be a top secret research lab for germ warefare.

Corey, along with an attractive local detective, skillfully follows the clues with determination and his smart-mouth, sharp-tongued brand of humor.

To find the murderer and eliminate the impending threat of biological disaster Corey must uncover the true secrets and history of Plum Island.

The popular character of John Corey returns in "The Lion's Game""

Mike Dietterick, Resident Scholar

"NYPD homicide detective John Corey is living at his uncle's cottage on east Long Island, recuperating from three bullet wounds received in the line of duty. He is asked by the local chief of police to help with the murder investigation of a local couple whom John had known during his stay. The couple were research scientists at Plum Island, a government research installation specializing in animal disease; unlike typical scientists, they were also into a good bit of socializing, and had a Formula 303 boat which they used for high-speed travel in the Sound. It is feared they were involved in stealing and selling an animal virus, or perhaps a vaccine--or even drugs.

Because of the government connection, the FBI and CIA become involved, along with the town police and county sheriff's office. The beautiful county investigator, Detective Beth Penrose, heads up the local investigation, and at times runs with, at times counter to, John's investigative activities.

Is the perpetrator another staff member at the research facility, one of the investigators, a friend of the dead couple, or even the CIA? The curator of the local historical society, Emma Whitestone, another beauty, provides the ultimate clues to the mystery, and the motivation for John to see that justice is served."

Douglas Moore, Resident Scholar



Review Analysis of Plum Island
Our unique search engine provides a wealth of detail about books by breaking them down into many different literary elements, all of which are searchable (click here).
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale (Low to High)
Plot

Composition of Book
descript. of violence and chases - 15%
Planning/preparing, gather info, debate puzzles/motives - 50%
Feelings, relationships, character bio/development - 20%
How society works & physical descript. (people, objects, places) - 15%




Tone of story - Dry-cynical - suspenseful (sophisticated fear)
How difficult to spot villain? - Very difficult--no foreshadowing/clues - Difficult, but some clues given
Time/era of story: - 1980's-1999
What % of story relates directly to the mystery, not the subplot? - 90%
Kind of investigator - police procedural, American - skilled citizen investigator
Kid or adult book? - Adult or Young Adult Book
Any non-mystery subplot? - theft/fraud investigation - squabbling with fellow investigator(s)/police boss
Crime Thriller Yes
Murder Mystery (killer unknown) Yes

Main Character
Gender - Male
Profession/status: - police/lawman
Age: - 40's-50's
Is this an ordinary person caught up in events? Yes
How much violence does he/she use? - just the right amount
Ethnicity/Race - White/American
How sensitive is this character? - middling sensitive to others' feelings - hard edged
Sense of humor - Cynical sense of humor
Intelligence - Smarter than most other characters
Physique - average physique

Main Adversary
Identity: - Male
Age: - 40's-50's
Profession/status: - farmer
Eccentric: Yes - obsessed - deluded - wild
How much of work is main antagonist actually present in: - a little/some - an average amount
Motive of antagonist - money/treasure
The antagonists are: - big business leader(s)
How sensitive is this character? - mean, arrogant
Sense of humor - Cynical sense of humor - Mostly serious with occasional humor
Intelligence - Average intelligence - Smarter than most other characters
Physique - average physique - quite fatty

Setting
United States Yes
Water? Yes
Island? Yes
Island: - Atlantic Ocean Island
Small town? Yes
Small town people: - nice, like Andy/Opie/Aunt Bee
Misc setting - scientific labs

Style
Part of a series? Yes
Person - mostly 1st
Accounts of torture and death? - moderately detailed references to deaths
How many deaths? - 5-7 - 8 or more
Sex Yes
What kind of sex: - vague references - touching of anatomy
Amount of dialog - roughly even amounts of descript and dialog
Most similar books to Plum Island
K is for Killer by Sue Grafton
The Dead Stone by Vicki Stiefel
Snow Blind by P.J. Tracy
Keep Me Alive by Natasha Cooper
Grave Undertaking by Mark de Castrique


Click here for more information about this book


Nelson DeMille Resident Scholar Profiles

TOP SCHOLAR:
  
Jim Russell  

SCHOLARS:
Jason King  Bobby Blades  Yajnavalka Banerjee  eyal  Douglas Moore  Mike Dietterick  Chuck Nugent  Stephen Coombs  Richard McReynolds  


Note: the views expressed here are only those of the reviewer(s).
Three ways to search for Thriller/Action books!

1) One-click plot searches! Simply click on a plot or subplot below!

Big vehicle disaster?

Crime Thriller

Disaster, natural or nuclear

Exploring into the wild

Horror Story?

Legal Thriller

Medical Thriller

Religious overtones?

Spying/Terrorism Thriller

War Thriller

Water adventure

Western



or 2) Simple lookup
(title or author)

or
3) Even more search options available with a Detailed Booksearch (click here)

Use our site!
17 FREE Sci-Fi Ebooks!
FREE "How to be happy" Ebook!
Feedback


Most recent discussions:

General Book Talk
Book writing discussion
Off-topic message board
Norah Lofts 12:50:53 AM
Suzanne Weyn 4:47:34 PM
Wilma Counts 1:23:32 PM
George W. Bush 5:33:46 PM
Kin Platt 12:58:29 AM
Anonymous 12:47:34 PM
Lilian Jackson Braun 10:05:52 PM
Jane Rubino 10:04:38 PM
LaVyrle Spencer 10:04:00 PM
G.A. McKevett 10:03:31 PM
David Williams 10:03:01 PM
Steven Pressfield 10:02:30 PM
Jeanette Walls 10:00:19 PM
Darryl Ponicsan 9:59:27 PM
Ann Rinaldi 9:58:30 PM
R.L. Stine 9:57:34 PM
Geoffrey Huntington 9:57:14 PM
Betty Mahmoody 9:56:38 PM
Deric Longden 9:56:11 PM
Mary Downing Hahn 9:55:48 PM

More message boards