Plum Island

The main character, Detective John Corey, is a hit-or-a-miss kind of guy. He was sometimes endearing and sometimes obnoxious, but maybe that’s the way it is with a Manhattan cop stuck out on Long Island, recuperating from gunshot wounds. The mystery was okay and I even bought into the whole Captain Kidd’s treasure scheme, but I lost my willing suspension of disbelief at the end when Corey and Detective Beth Penrose—both non-boaters—ventured out into the ocean on a cigarette boat in the middle of a hurricane.

DeMille has always had a way of weaving a story. In Plum island, there is murder, mystery, germ apocalypse and pirates. DeMille finds a way to weave it all together and produce a wonderful story. Plum island also introduces John Corey who will be the focus in other books.
I really enjoy the way that the wit, humor and even sarcasim is blended into the main character as he weaves toward the conclusion of the story. Also, as per most of the DeMille books, there is twists and turns that make the story unpredictable. I recommend this book to anyone that likes a good mystery/murder story.

well, this was better than what i've come to expect from demille of late, but that's not saying all that much. his story here was more interesting than the last couple that i've read, and kept me more involved. i was actually not entirely pissed off while reading this one.

i just really wish that he didn't find sexism and racism so entertaining. this wasn't as bad as up country but there was still a good amount of it. and before you feel the need to send me a scathing comment about how i'm too sensitive, i really want to say that just because the main character calls himself a sexist, that doesn't make it ok (or funny) that he's sexist. you don't get a free pass for being sexist just because you say you know you do/say sexist things show more sometimes. which in this book, again, is less than in up country so i found this an easier read. i could really, really do without all the masculine posturing that went on, though. there was a lot more of that than the overt sexism in this book, and it was just too much. there's just no need for it in these stories, it doesn't advance the plot or the character at all. and it's infuriating. show less

1st in the John Corey series.

Corey, a NYC homicide detective on leave after being seriously wounded, is recovering at his uncle’s house on Long Island. The police chief of the small hamlet, a long-time family acquaintance, persuades Corey to become involved in a double murder homicide of two biologists whom Corey has met and liked. But since the couple worked on generating genetically altered viruses for vaccines at a Department of Agriculture animal biological research station on Plum Island, all sort of government agencies become interested, including the FBI and the CIA. Half of Long Island is in an uproar, convinced that the research station is involved in germ warfare research (illegal under an international treaty to which the show more US is a signatory) and that the couple were killed trying to smuggle out deadly viruses to sell to a foreign power.

The basic plot is good and the book is very well written. The denouement is exciting and again, very well written. But while I will rate this book highly on its merits, I don’t think I’ll read further in the series. Corey is a standard hard-boiled homicide detective who has a smart mouth and has trouble keeping his pants on. He’s a little too much of a stereotype and others have developed their protagonists better. I find him rather boring as a character and not interesting enough to read further to see if his character will change--which I rather doubt.

Highly recommended for fans of this type of police procedural. show less

Great little book. Ok, maybe it's not so little. Love the John Corey character also, reminds me of myself a little, haha. Also love the Long Island setting, we go out there for our work fishing trips, so it's cool to kinda picture where everything is, and happens. Interesting story line, keeps you guessing but provides enough hints to help you get there on your own also. The other thing I love about this book is I found myself literally laughing out loud at numerous parts. Can't wait for the next Corey book... Think I'll start it now.

3 1/2 stars. I really wanted to like Plum Island, and at times I really did. I loved the Long Island setting, and while parts of the plot were a little bit over the top, I found the mystery itself very interesting and engrossing. And DeMille writes very well. So what was my problem? The main character was just such a jerk - OK, I get that he is a hard-boiled NY cop, but he's so annoying (and so central) that it really ruined the book for me. There are parts when his snarky, chauvinistic personality was more toned down - that's when I loved the book. In hopes that his personality would be toned down in later books - this is the first in the series, after all - I looked at some of the reviews for later books - nope, he seems to stay a show more snarky jerk throughout. Sigh. show less

I can't believe it - Spenser has moved to NYC and joined the police force. He tried to fool me by changing his name to John Corey, and even the author's name from Robert B. Parker, but I recognize his wisecracking ways anywhere.

OK, well false alarm, but John Corey certainly reminded me of Spenser in a lot of ways. Even as he's about to die, he can't help making jokes and insulting his assailants, but he's often pretty funny and perhaps a little more modern in his lack of PC. Overall, I enjoyed the humor, and some of it was not even too corny. But if I were to try to take the stories too seriously, I'd probably think it's a bit over the top, so my advice is not take this (or anything) too seriously.

But all kidding aside, it was an show more interesting story that held my attention and I learned a few things along the way. show less