From the #1 New York Times bestselling author of the Penn Cage series comes an electrifying thriller that reveals a world of depravity, sex, violence, and the corruption of a Southern town. As a prosecuting attorney in Houston, Penn Cage sent hardened killers to death row. But it is as mayor of his hometown–Natchez, Mississippi–that Penn will face his most dangerous threat. Urged by old friends … Urged by old friends to try to restore this fading jewel of the Old South, Penn has ridden into office on a tide of support for change. But in its quest for new jobs and fresh money, Natchez, like other Mississippi towns, has turned to casino gambling, and now five fantastical steamboats float on the river beside the old slave market at Natchez like props from Gone With the Wind.
But one boat isn’t like the others.
Rumor has it that the Magnolia Queen has found a way to pull the big players from Las Vegas to its Mississippi backwater. And with them–on sleek private jets that slip in and out of town like whispers in the night–come pro football players, rap stars, and international gamblers, all sharing an unquenchable taste for one thing: blood sport–and the dark vices that go with it. When a childhood friend of Penn’s who brings him evidence of these crimes is brutally murdered, the full weight of Penn’s failure to protect his city hits home. So begins his quest to find the men responsible. But it’s a hunt he begins alone, for the local authorities have been corrupted by the money and power of his hidden enemy. With his family’s lives at stake, Penn realizes his only allies in his one-man war are those bound to him by blood or honor:
-Caitlin Masters, the lover Penn found in The Quiet Can Game and lost in Turning Angel
-Danny McDavitt, the heroic helicopter pilot from Third Degree
-Tom Cage, Penn’s father and legendary local family physician
-Walt Garrity, a retired Texas Ranger who served with Penn’s father during the Korean War
Together they must defeat a sophisticated killer who has an almost preternatural ability to anticipate–and counter–their every move. Ultimately, victory will depend on a bold stroke that will leave one of Penn’s allies dead–and Natchez changed forever.
After appearing in two of Iles’s most popular novels, Penn Cage makes his triumphant return as a brilliant, honorable, and courageous hero. Rich with Southern atmosphere and marked by one jaw-dropping plot turn after another, The Devil’s Punchbowl confirms that Greg Iles is America’s master of suspense.more
Great contribution to the Penn Cage series
This is three book series I think and wonderful story that makes you want the next book right then.
Greg knows how to keep you begging for more!
Loved It!
Having read 5 other books by the author, Punchbowl redefines the meaning of page turner. Its off to the races from the first pages and non-stop right to the end. Like all great authors careful attention to details, dialog and momentum combine with a family driven theme while continual plot twists come out of left field keeping the reader engaged. In all the author’s books a yin/yang balance of good/evil, up/down, fast/slow with characters we easily relate with is used effectively. For any interested in reading the Natchez Burning series, I highly recommend reading this book first. Regardless this is my favorite when compared to the other five, but only by a narrow margin..Highly recommended in all respects.
Loved it!
I want to start off by saying that I can’t believe I waited so long to read these books. This book was hard at times to read. But just like the fist two books I wasn’t surprised at all. Yes there is a lot of triggers in this book. But to be honest sometimes books are going to throw somethings that we may or may not want to read. But to be honest sometimes these things really do happen in real life that people don’t see or hear. I like that Greg puts life things in his books it makes the reader think does this really happen. I highly recommend his books.
About Book-
Penn Cage is faced with helping his childhood friend with somethings that he haas undercover where he works. There a lot things that Penn Cage unaware of what’s going on in his town with the gambling boat. And what’s going out there. Gain I highly recommend these books.
Great book
Great story line, page turner, held my interest.
enjoy all of Greg Iles’s books
This author is one that I follow. Always sure to have action and the characters seem authentic.
This is one of a series of Greg Iles books about Natchez Mississippi. They are all well written and enjoyable reading. I highly recommend them all.
Interesting characters
Great read…..as are all of his books.
I have never really thought much about the world of dog-fighting, and Iles draws such a startling clear picture of the gruesome and tragic lives of the dogs involved that you almost want to put the book down, But the writing is so good that you don’t. You can’t. His descriptions of the mistreatment are almost unbearable but he writes with such humanity that you keep reading anyway. Of course there’s more to the overall story than dog-fighting so I highly recommend it as part of the wonderful Penn Cage series. But if you’re squeamish you might want to push past those parts of the story as quickly as possible because they are hauntingly graphic.
the Penn Cage story continues. I found it interesting.
I am a big fan of Greg Iles & have read the entire Penn Cage series. Mr Iles is a great story teller & creates the most interesting characters. He also uses actual settings in Natchez that you can see in real life.
Well-written and scary. Vivid descriptions of man’s cruelty to man (or woman). Lots of research must have been done on the interesting description of dog fighting.
Great contribution to the Penn Cage series
This is three book series I think and wonderful story that makes you want the next book right then.
Greg knows how to keep you begging for more!
Loved It!
Having read 5 other books by the author, Punchbowl redefines the meaning of page turner. Its off to the races from the first pages and non-stop right to the end. Like all great authors careful attention to details, dialog and momentum combine with a family driven theme while continual plot twists come out of left field keeping the reader engaged. In all the author’s books a yin/yang balance of good/evil, up/down, fast/slow with characters we easily relate with is used effectively. For any interested in reading the Natchez Burning series, I highly recommend reading this book first. Regardless this is my favorite when compared to the other five, but only by a narrow margin..Highly recommended in all respects.
Loved it!