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Summary: couldn't finish
Review: I liked the sarcasm and wit of the main character, but for heavens sake, I want a thriller to move along at a brisker pace. I lost interest 2/3 of the way through.
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Summary: O-O-O--READ ON
Review: Needless to say, I enjoyed the cassett tapes of his book read by David Duke. I thought his voice was perfect and it made me feel like I was right there in the story living out the story as he read it. Now is that a reader or what? Coupled with the grand master's story by DeMille, you have a formula that cannot be beat. DeMille, if you are out there you should have Duke read all of your books.I absolutely loved the story. Can't you see Cory, the seen it all, lived it all, been everywhere and know it all trying to stay away from the underworld of crime while he recuperates. It just cannot be done. So, it was only natural for someone to come along and breakup his boring rest period. Had it not been friends of his, he still would have jumped at any chance someone may have teased him with to flex his "I am superior" detective muscles. Corey brings a bit of lightheartedness to the story that may not have been able to be obtained without him. He also brings a good bit of detetive savvy along as well. During a time when we are undergoing so much attention about chemical and bioterrorist warfare, this book could not have been better timed. I learned a lot about some of the horrors of bio-chemical warfare. Let us never forget. I must say, however, I was really surprised that right at the beginning of this story upon finding the scientists dead, Demille wrote that the scientists had to be up to some harry-carry. DeMille quickly moved the story along to prove that these scientists were not selling the USA out to the enemy but were seeking fortune through another less threaten route. I learned a good bit about lost/found treasures and how one can become the rightful owner.
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Summary: Wonder author
Review: Nelson Demille is the best! I have read them all! My favorite is The Charm School.
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Summary: Comments on the audio book version
Review: 1) The reader of the audio book was OK as far as depicting when different characters were talking. But, he sounded like what I imagine John Corey sounding like which was great...especially durning the funny lines. 2) Yes, I did laugh out loud a few times...I enjoyed the humor very much. 3) The four hours of tape kept me interested because I had no preconceptions of what to expect. I didn't expect a thriller with lots of chases but simply a NY Cop uncovers a government cover-up. This wasn't the case and the simplistic plot allowed me to enjoy the characters more. 4) Complaint #1 - Geez, didn't know sex with strangers was that easy nowadays. 5) Complaint #2 - What is up with bad guys telling their plans first then shooting later? Then again how many stories have I read with the hot tempered warrior type or the serial killer who was abused as a child?!? 6) Enjoyable story...at one point I wished I had not listened to the audio version but had read the book instead.
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Summary: Best Beach Read Of My Summer
Review: Nelson Demille tells this story of a New York City homicide detective on leave and vacationing on the north fork of Long Island who is abruptly thrown into a murder investigation with wit, sarcasism, and ease. His laid back style of writing allows the reader to feel as though Demille is telling the story to him in a simple conversation. The story is very despcriptive, however, does not drag into unneccesary details. Demille's descriptions of the scenery of the wine country and all parts of the eastern end of Long Island were intricate and detailed. Although, I personally, am a resident of Mattituck and know every town, store, and restaurant Demille mentioned, I'm sure a reader who is from across country could imbibe the fresh, farm-loving, vineard-filled elements of Long Island through Demille's story. Though, suspenseful and riveting, I found that some scenes could sometimes drag on, i even nodded out a few times, although that may have just been the sun making me sleepy. JOhn Corey's adventures in Plum Island were main parts of the story and for the most part kept my interest, sometimes falling into repetitive plots and suggestions but usually one of john corey's smart... comments would liven the situation up. Overall, the combination of Demille's humor, the suspenseful murder investigation, and Detective Corey's love affairs make the book a delightful and light summer read.
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Summary: DeMille has struck gold
Review: A fabulously entertaining read with a hilarious, likable protanganist and interesting dialougue, I consider Plum Island one of my top ten books. Not for the plot - while it was nicely woven and gave a fascinating picture of that area of New England- but for the story and the effortless relationships between characters. DeMille has no need to clearly state any relationships or give absolute definitions - girlfriend, partner, enemy, ect. They fall into place seemingly without any effort by the author. While reading, I forget entirely that I am reading a book by an author, and begin to think that I am being told an amusing tale by an ex-cop named John Corey. The next book in this series is equally entertaining, and offers new relationships with the same authentic ring. I was mildly disappointed by the speed with which John Corey abandons one love interest and picks up another, but this is a small complaint in a set of hilariously written novels.
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Summary: It's about character, stupid!
Review: Actually, I quite enjoyed Plum Island. Fun read, interesting premise, reasonable plot. The thing for me about mystery novels is the hero. If they don't have an interesting personality, forget it. Well, De Mille seemed to be writing this book specifically for a Bruce Willis movie. At least that is what stuck in my head as I read it. I could just see the wry facial twists as I worked through the dialogue. Good enough, even if the plot failed to surprise. Now, for comparison, check out The Fractal Murders, by Mark Cohen. This guy knows how to create a character. Plus a plot that whaps you on the head at the end. Great read!
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Summary: Plumb Disappointing
Review: "WICKED WIT...MIND-TWISTING SUSPENSE...A WINNER" is what the front cover of PLUM ISLAND promised, quoting Newsday. With the exception of the "wicked wit" element, the promise remained unfulfilled. Not that Nelson DeMille isn't a competent writer; on the contrary, his easy style and descriptive prose make for lucid reading, but PLUM ISLAND - which may not be typical of his work - never succeeded in raising my adrenaline level once. I thought I was buying a thriller, but this book probably falls more comfotably into the detective mystery genre. In any event, it proved to be a disappointment. The story is related in first person narrative by cavalier NYPD homicide detective John Corey. But although Corey's sardonic, flippant humour (think Sam Spade out of Dave Barry) makes for easy reading, sometimes even evoking a laugh-out-loud response from the reader, the story itself, and its lack of momentum disappoint. After being shot and seriously injured on duty, Corey is convalescing at his uncle's house in a Long Island seaside hamlet, when the local sheriff presses him into service as a "consultant" to investigate the brutal murder of a married couple with whom they are both acquainted. Only a couple of chapters into the book, the story founders, becoming bogged down in an unnecessarily lengthy and detailed exposition of the animal disease centre on Plum Island where the murder victims worked as research scientists. This seems to set the pace for most of the remainder of the book; indeed, the first real action does not take place until more than 450 pages have been turned. DeMille develops his characters well, and the quick-fire dialogue is amusing and frequently entertaining, but Detective Corey's highly speculative deductions, by which he ultimately solves the murders, are implausible. I look forward to reading another, hopefully more suspenseful, offering by Nelson DeMille. This one, for me at least, fell flat.
Rating:
Summary: Plumb Disappointing
Review: "WICKED WIT...MIND-TWISTING SUSPENSE...A WINNER" is what the front cover of PLUM ISLAND promised, quoting Newsday. With the exception of the "wicked wit" element, the promise remained largely unfulfilled. Not that Nelson DeMille isn't a competent writer; on the contrary, his easy style and descriptive prose make for lucid reading, but PLUM ISLAND - which may not be typical of his work - never succeeded in raising my adrenaline level once. I thought I was buying a thriller, but this book probably falls more comfortably into the detective mystery genre. In any event, it proved to be a disappointment. The story is related in first person narrative by cavalier NYPD homicide detective John Corey. But although Corey's sardonic, flippant humour (think Sam Spade out of Dave Barry) makes for easy reading, sometimes even evoking a laugh-out-loud response from the reader, the story itself, and its lack of momentum disappoint. After being shot and seriously injured on duty, Corey is convalescing at his uncle's house in a Long Island seaside hamlet, when the local sheriff presses him into service as a "consultant" to investigate the brutal murder of a married couple with whom they are both acquainted. Only a couple of chapters into the book, the story founders, becoming bogged down in an unnecessarily lengthy and detailed exposition of the animal disease centre on Plum Island where the murder victims worked as research scientists. This seems to set the pace for most of the remainder of the book; indeed, the first real action does not take place until more than 450 pages have been turned. DeMille develops his characters well, and the quick-fire dialogue is amusing and frequently entertaining, but Detective Corey's highly speculative deductions, by which he ultimately solves the murders, are implausible. I look forward to reading another, and hopefully more suspenseful book by Nelson DeMille. This one, for me at least, fell flat.
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Summary: Nelson Demille wrote THIS book?
Review: I loved Charm School and The Gold Coast, so when I read the blurbs on the cover of Plum Island that this novel combined the best of both styles I was excited to start reading. What the heck happened to my Nelson Demille? It's hard to believe the same man wrote all three books. I kept waiting for Plum to "kick in" but it never did. In fact, it turned out to be extemely corny. I read a review that suggested that it was meant to be a parody. Who knows? A MAJOR disappointment. If you've never read Demille before don't start with this one. You'll might be so underwhelmed with ND that you might miss the EXCELLENT Charm School and Gold Coast.
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