Plum Island

Rating:
Summary: You either love it or you hate it
Review: Did you notice that out of all the reviews here, they were either very good or very bad? I don't know about all the "very bads," but I find everything from Nelson DeMille to be either very good or simply great! I'd say this one lies in the very good category. Even saying that, there were a combination of elements in Plum Island that are rarely found elsewhere. - Love story that stays with you long after you're done reading. - The feeling of being transported to the setting of Long Island and feeling the pain and happiness of the main character. - I felt like I spent a week on the North Fork of Long Island. I can't wait to actually visit and see what DeMille described. - Last but not least, DeMille creates books that you can't put down. Ah, to have that talent. Great work Nelson

Rating:
Summary: Not his best work.
Review: I started this book with high hopes, having read many of his other books. I was disappointed that I had to read half the book before I was truly interested. The plot was good and the chase scene at the end was realistic.

Rating:
Summary: Excellent summer page-turner
Review: Wonderful summer reading. And the best author acknowledgement chapter I've ever read

Rating:
Summary: I've read all his stuff. This is THE BEST!!!!
Review: Put down whatever you're reading and pick this up! The more you read the more tense it gets. Two yuppie-type scientists working at a secret government installation living beyond their means are murdered. Our hero, a chauvinistic smart-alec wisecracking NYPD cop, is convalescing on Long Island from line-of-duty wounds. He is a friend of the local police chief who asks him to "consult" on the case. The Feds try to stonewall the investigation of their now-deceased employees. The consensus is that the victims were trying to sell their science to the highest bidder and got themselves killed instead. Detective John Corey, since tossed from the case by the local fuzz, thinks there is something flawed with the conventional wisdom. He correctly concludes that the victims' greed had nothing to do with their government work. He discovers who the bad guy is. The bad guy then proceeds to kill more innocent folks to cover his tracks inf the original killings. Detective Corey sets out to kill the bad guy, who tries to kill him. Good guy 1. Bad guy 0. The one-liners are clever, but sometimes a bit much. However they don't distract from a suspense-filled story that builds to the end. This will keep you up late at night.

Rating:
Summary: Interesting, but not for serious mystery readers.
Review: Yes, I was there. I am one of the few who set foot on Plum Island, 7 years of my life as a research scientist in those laboratories. The author's descriptions of the island, its history, its facilities along with the North Fork are quite accurate. Lots of pleasant and exciting memories. But I must give this book only a six. It is easy to read, fast paced and has sufficient tension to provide an eagerness to read on. However, there are a few negatives: 1) the unnecessary, filthy language to titilate the unimaginative reader; 2) the lack of adequately developed alternatives (and misleading clues)for identifying the murderer [this is definitely not an Agatha Cristie novel]; and 3) a few entirely predictable events, interactions and dialogs. I am convinced this would make an exciting Harrison Ford movie with the bumbling bureaucrats, sinister sycophants, and scared scientists. Enjoy if you will.

Rating:
Summary: Lighten up, everyone...this is a fun book
Review: I like DeMille and this book is no exception. It's fast easy reading...no great message...an enjoyable book. The sarcastic narration reminds me of Lawrence Sanders' "McNally"

Rating:
Summary: Funny...Great use of dialog!
Review: I took this great book with me on a recent family camping trip,and became more and more engrossed with it at every turn of the page. Mr Demille's talent for dialog,suspense and his ever present sense of humor made for "never can put in down" reading...even by lantern light with the moths keeping me company!

Rating:
Summary: Plum Island is a "plum" of a book (Sorry)
Review: If I read one more review complaining about John Corey's "sexism", "ageism" or general misanthropism, I'm going to give up on American Civilization. You know, it's okay to tell the truth about events and people around you and that's exactly what Corey does. That's what makes him an interesting character: who else, in this ultrasensitive day and age, has the gumption to do that? In any case, if you haven't read Plum Island, read it. It is, despite what some others have said, MUCH BETTER than whatever tripe John Grisham has published. Whatever you may think of John Corey, at least he never mentioned the Cayman Islands

Rating:
Summary: A major disappointment
Review: I was completely absorbed by this book -- for the first 50 pages. Then I was overwhelmed by a completely unlikable, unbelievable protaganist. John Corey apparently meets only single, attractive, available women everywhere he turns that find him irresistable despite the fact that he thinks, acts and speaks like a half-witted 10 year-old. A little bit of this went a long, long way. This book was a sorry disappointment and it's hard to believe it was written by the same person who wrote The Gold Coast, The General's Daughter and Word of Honor. Pick one of these up instead -- you'll be glad you did

Rating:
Summary: Very disappointing!
Review: I certainly hope Nelson Demille is not turning into another novel machine, although it would appear otherwise. His last two efforts have left me wondering why I bothered to read them. Plum Island has its fun moments, but mostly I found it to be a silly, predictable novel. The main character of the story, John Corey, comes across as a chauvinistic smart aleck. Occasionally his humor is well placed and sparks a laugh, but mostly he comes across as a wisecracking, sarcastic know it all. The story is far fetched, and the characters lack depth. I think what makes this novel even more disappointing is knowing Mr. DeMille can and has written far better