Rating: 
Summary: Plum Island ... plum rotten
Review: Wait for the movie. Missing deadly viruses, natural disasters, car chases - it will all work better on the big screen. Bruce Willis will probably have the starring role (a la Die Hard). The most likeable characters in this book are the couple dead before page one. Do you really want to keep reading?
Rating:
Summary: The character development exceeds the plot
Review: Most thriller/mystery stories live and die by their plot lines. If that be the test, this one mostly dies. The author tips his hand (or perhaps wholly opens it) midway through the book. One gains the impression that he does so in order to use the balance of the book to sell an unsaleable plot. Without wshing to give it away, the entire plot hinges on a single unexplained (and unexplainable) assumption. Indeed, the only "mystery" in the last half of the book is the reader's (logical) reluctance to accept the profferred explanation of events. On the other hand, the author is a skillful writer, conveying a likeable protagonist and believeable dialogue. By far the most appealing aspect of the book is its insightful description of the residents of this small section of Long Island. The author's evocative recreation of his characters raises the product of a wholly unconvincing plot to an average book.
Rating: 
Summary: A book to run home to at the end of one's workday
Review: Nelson Demille has created an attention-grabbing murder mystery seasoned with just the right amount of humor that will make you laugh outloud. Being from the area and an avid boater adds to the appeal of his descriptions of Mattituck, Plum Island and the like. Demille can vividly paint his characters to the point that you are there with them and once the story is over you will miss the characters and the setting!
Rating:
Summary: Once again Mr. DeMille's humor excels!
Review: After The Gold Coast I haven't read a book with as much humor intermingled with a good story line.DeMille has done it again. Finishing the book during a driving rain storm made me feel as though I was out at sea with John Corey.This would make a great movie--great scenery and something always happening.
Rating: 
Summary: Demille's humor takes you through the dull parts
Review: Despite the fact that the first 300 pages of the book are not thrilling, Nelson Demille is hillarious writing as detective John Corey. A bit too much like "Treasure Island" and not enough like your average mystery, but the ending in very enthralling.
Rating:
Summary: The publisher did not read the whole book.
Review: Plum Island enhances NOT Mr. DeMille's well-deserved reputation as an acclaimed novelist- whether in Spencerville, The Charm School, et. al. And many reviewers praise this current work with such laudatory paragraphs as to convince anyone understanding the reviewing business that they have not read the book. Instead of trudging through it, word for word, the well known habit of reading the book jacket, glancing through the chapters, perusing the introduction and conclusion, and reminding themselves of the author's past laurels has incapacitated the reviewers from penetrating the reality of Plum Island. "His skills still work at top levels, his sentences show grain like fine wood work, his dialogue has much human layering, and each page carries a deep gloss. His plot gathers speed until it sings."! ! [Exclamation points are mine]. I rest my case. In a nutshell, Plum Island (New York) is a reputable, potentially interesting First Draft. The idea of biological and nuclear accidents is compelling, as is the interconnection with archaeological digs, a range of potential murderers, and a few diabolical CIA types. But the author drags the whole thing out, substituting sloppy plot arrangements, drawn-out and laborious progression, confusing complexity of though and plot, unnecessary and irrelevant detail for reasonable complexity of thought and plot. Ponder for a moment the book jacket's blurb from the Philadelphia Inquirer (which raises serious questions about that person's lack of talent.One suspects DeMille got caught up with his words, decided the book would not sell if it did not "last" for 500 pages, and went on vacation before submitting a decent finished draft.
Rating:
Summary: Treasure Island
Review: Every bit of it reminds me of that storm-tossed night, wailing wind, tearing sails, breaking bows of wooden ships... "Plum Island" is perhaps DeMille's best novel that I have read. It started out quiet and then exploded into a tale of piracy and drunken greed, of mystery island and mid-life love refined. Plotting is simplistic but rather enjoyable.
Rating:
Summary: Good fun
Review: Plum Island was great fun, and despite what the politically correct crowd has to say, I thought John Corey was a very likeable guy. Being attracted to beautiful young women does not equate to being degrading and disrespectful of them. I thought that the dialogue was at times, laugh out loud funny. My only complaint was that the ending was a bit predictable and yet it was all solved in one page. It appeared that Mr. Demille decided that all of a sudden, it was time to wrap it up and he gave us the killer. Also, being from south Louisiana, I have had some experience with hurricanes, and small boats do not run through hurricanes and come out the other side. Overall, a really fun read, if you can climb down off of your politically correct mountain and have some fun.
Rating: 
Summary: Did I read a different PLUM ISLAND than everyone else ?
Review: Maybe I read a different version of PLUM ISLAND than everyone else, but I thought this was horrible. What happened to stories like The Charm School and The Gold Coast ? The first 200 pages kept my interest and then it was all down hill with a let down of an ending. Interested in a real good story like DeMille used to be ? Read Jon Land's THE WALLS OF JERICHO or David Morrell's EXTREME DENIAL...you won't be disappointed.
Rating:
Summary: What happens when a murder case becomes personal
Review: Detective Corey moves from the role of cynical "consultant" to a murder to the one bound to get the bad guy. The sexist, loud-mount, rude, obnoxious detective stops being a cop and becomes pissed when the murderer makes the case personal. Don't look for social justice or deep plot development. This is the story of a police officer who throws away the law to get the bad guy, and cares not about anyone who gets in his way. Not pretty but a good read.
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