“Plum Island”

by Nelson Demille

I first read this book more than 20 years ago but it remains one of my favorites and one I recommend all the time. It’s murder-mystery, espionage, cop-story, intrigue and action. The character, John Corey - he’s a man’s man, not politically correct, macho, brash, says what’s on his mind, rude and is infuriating and unapologetic. He’s sarcastic and I love him!

The hair-raising suspense of The General's Daughter... the wry wit of The Gold Coast...this is vintage Nelson DeMille at the peak of his originality and the height of his powers.

Wounded in the line of duty, NYPD homicide cop John Corey is convalescing in rural eastern Long Island when an attractive young couple he knows is found shot to death on the family patio. The victims were biologists at Plum Island, a research site rumored to be an incubator for germ warfare.Suddenly, a local double murder takes on shattering global implications -- and thrusts Corey and two extraordinary women into a dangerous search for the secret of PLUM ISLAND....

The way the character is written, I think he’s supposed to come off as un-likable, but he really grew on me. His involvement with the investigation of a local murder involved an alphabet soup of agencies and they really rub each other the wrong way. I liked the way Demille led me through the story. He didn’t hide information and leave you at the end with a surprise you never considered but the clues he did leave, actually lead you to a proper answer that works. I called this book an “action” book but in retrospect, I feel it more closely identifies as an entertaining and intense thriller with a main character that comes off as a bit of a Bruce Willis-type movie character. I found it to be an enjoyable and laugh-out-loud (at times) read.

Raven T.