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kathydavie's review against another edition
5.0
First in the John Corey suspense series revolving around a cop in New York City convalescing from bullet wounds. Although, the story actually takes place in Long Island.
My Take
Oh my god. I swear, if you look up "snark" in the dictionary, you'll find John Corey's picture. He is so incredibly funny as the sarcasm just falls right out of his mouth.
I am curious how the pay offer falls from $100 a day to a week to $1 a day.
It's powerplays, subterfuge, history, and plain old detective work that solves this one. An excellent example of keeping one's mind open. Sadly, it's also an endorsement for sticking to the rules, sigh.
It's also a lesson in changing your locks!
I enjoyed the bit of piratical history for the area. I also enjoyed Corey's idea of a morning-after gift… Who knew guys did stuff like that?
The Story
While convalescing at his Uncle Harry's 1890s Victorian farmhouse, friends are murdered, and Max wants Corey to be his backup since he's the one with the homicide experience and Max isn't.
It's not something Corey wants to be involved in. Partly because he's on the disabled list and isn't supposed to be doing policework, and partly because he doesn't want to be involved with the FBI or the CIA.
But the Nashes are friends. And Corey can't resist sticking his nose in, especially when it means he can pull the noses of the FBI and CIA as they try to cover things up!
The Characters
John Corey is a NYC homicide detective convalescing from gunshot wounds incurred in the line of duty. He "thinks the government should allocate one thousand silent 'e's' to New England and Long Island, and when they're used up, no one can have any more." It doesn't take much to make him horny. Dominic Fanelli is his partner in NYC. Detective Lieutenant Andrew Wolfe is Corey's unhappy boss. Jim and Lynne are his siblings. Robin Paine is his ex-wife.
Sylvester "Max" Maxwell is the police chief of the Southold Town Police Department. Corey reckons he always looks out for number one. Detective Elizabeth Penrose is with Suffolk County homicide and in charge of the investigation. George Foster is FBI; Ted Nash is Department of Agriculture, a.k.a., CIA.
Plum Island personnel
Paul Stevens is the security chief with a stick up his...ahem; Kenneth Gibbs is his assistant. Dr. Karl Zollner is in charge of the labs; Donna Alba is his assistant. Dr. Chen is a colleague of the Gordons, and she spouts the party line.
Tom and Judy Gordon are biological research scientists exploring Ebola at Plum Island. They're imports from the Midwest and have really dug themselves into the island life from their Formula 303 boat to cultivating a friendship with a local vineyard owner, Fredric Tobin, who can't seem to remember how friendly he was with the Gordons. Margaret Wiley sold them an acre of useless land. Edgar Murphy and his wife, Agnes, are the Gordons' neighbors. Emma Whitestone is the president of the Peconic Historical Society.
The Cover
The cover is very pretty with the night sky and the flashing yellow light of the Plum Island lighthouse.
The title is apropos as the Gordons' work---both pleasure and scientific---takes place on Plum Island.
My Take
Oh my god. I swear, if you look up "snark" in the dictionary, you'll find John Corey's picture. He is so incredibly funny as the sarcasm just falls right out of his mouth.
Early on, John visits the murder scene (as a consultant for the cops), and the homicide detective in charge is annoyed at what appears to be some lookie-loo on her scene:
"Excuse me."
"You're excused."
"Excuse me, are you supposed to be here?"
"I'm here with the band."
And it just keeps gettin' better!
I am curious how the pay offer falls from $100 a day to a week to $1 a day.
It's powerplays, subterfuge, history, and plain old detective work that solves this one. An excellent example of keeping one's mind open. Sadly, it's also an endorsement for sticking to the rules, sigh.
It's also a lesson in changing your locks!
I enjoyed the bit of piratical history for the area. I also enjoyed Corey's idea of a morning-after gift… Who knew guys did stuff like that?
The Story
While convalescing at his Uncle Harry's 1890s Victorian farmhouse, friends are murdered, and Max wants Corey to be his backup since he's the one with the homicide experience and Max isn't.
It's not something Corey wants to be involved in. Partly because he's on the disabled list and isn't supposed to be doing policework, and partly because he doesn't want to be involved with the FBI or the CIA.
But the Nashes are friends. And Corey can't resist sticking his nose in, especially when it means he can pull the noses of the FBI and CIA as they try to cover things up!
The Characters
John Corey is a NYC homicide detective convalescing from gunshot wounds incurred in the line of duty. He "thinks the government should allocate one thousand silent 'e's' to New England and Long Island, and when they're used up, no one can have any more." It doesn't take much to make him horny. Dominic Fanelli is his partner in NYC. Detective Lieutenant Andrew Wolfe is Corey's unhappy boss. Jim and Lynne are his siblings. Robin Paine is his ex-wife.
Sylvester "Max" Maxwell is the police chief of the Southold Town Police Department. Corey reckons he always looks out for number one. Detective Elizabeth Penrose is with Suffolk County homicide and in charge of the investigation. George Foster is FBI; Ted Nash is Department of Agriculture, a.k.a., CIA.
Plum Island personnel
Paul Stevens is the security chief with a stick up his...ahem; Kenneth Gibbs is his assistant. Dr. Karl Zollner is in charge of the labs; Donna Alba is his assistant. Dr. Chen is a colleague of the Gordons, and she spouts the party line.
Tom and Judy Gordon are biological research scientists exploring Ebola at Plum Island. They're imports from the Midwest and have really dug themselves into the island life from their Formula 303 boat to cultivating a friendship with a local vineyard owner, Fredric Tobin, who can't seem to remember how friendly he was with the Gordons. Margaret Wiley sold them an acre of useless land. Edgar Murphy and his wife, Agnes, are the Gordons' neighbors. Emma Whitestone is the president of the Peconic Historical Society.
The Cover
The cover is very pretty with the night sky and the flashing yellow light of the Plum Island lighthouse.
The title is apropos as the Gordons' work---both pleasure and scientific---takes place on Plum Island.
oh_its_that_andy's review against another edition
adventurous
informative
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
oneleggedgoose's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
medium-paced
- Loveable characters? Yes
4.0
rellimreads's review
3.0
I don’t know how to write a review on this. It’s weirdly offensive and compelling at the same time. Way too long (20 hours!), yet I listened to it all and can’t pinpoint what to cut out other than 70% of John Corey’s banter. I’m not against long audios - I have many, many that are this length that I loved every minute of. This was not it. I liked the “bones” of the plot and murder investigation. Unfortunately the pacing was hindered by weird conversations and actions that didn’t help the story move forward.
Even the ending felt meh and slightly anticlimactic.
Just looking at the length of book 2 (24 hours) has me dropping the series here.
This review is much more articulate than mine:
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/1412180712
Narration:
I’m pretty sure Scott Brick is the reason I finished this.
Even the ending felt meh and slightly anticlimactic.
Just looking at the length of book 2 (24 hours) has me dropping the series here.
This review is much more articulate than mine:
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/1412180712
Narration:
I’m pretty sure Scott Brick is the reason I finished this.
kazra's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
This was one of the funniest mcs I have ever come across! The dry dad humor killed me every time. I listened to this on audiobook as Scott Brick is my absolute FAVORITE narrator of all time. It can certainly be read as a one shot stand alone but the series looks like it features the MC through all of them. Fell in love with John Corey, can't wait to read more with him!
alitrevisan105's review against another edition
adventurous
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
anovelobsession's review against another edition
4.0
Thriller surrounding the mysterious deaths of two scientists who work on Plum Island - a government facility specializing in exotic viruses. Great main character and surprising twists.