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auntieg0412's review against another edition
3.0
I don't like giving any Iles creation just 3 stars, but I couldn't go 4 on this one. Maybe because it's a novella or because I read it out of order. At any rate, the whole Penn Cage series is simply wonderful...just be sure you start at the beginning and go through in the proper order!
lschoeb's review against another edition
3.0
This is a short story novella to fill in some gaps I assume for Greg Isles next book, Natchez burning. A quick read although I haven't figured out the point of it yet. I assume when I start Natchez I'll understand the point of this short novella. If you like Greg Isles, you'll enjoy this quick story.
drewvan's review
3.0
Interesting but very short, more like a conversation than a book. I wonder if the author just needed to fill in some blanks between his much larger and more fulfilling novels.
nicolepeck's review against another edition
4.0
This was a fairly fast read. It seems to be a bridge between the two Penn Cage trilogies but doesn't specifically resolve the cliffhanger from the last book of the first trilogy (The Devil's Punchbowl). Instead, though it covers that time frame after Penn finds out about his father being in the hospital, Penn spends his time on a break from the hospital with his Uncle Jack recounting the details of a past case at the time when his wife died. I enjoyed this novella. Included are also previews of each of the 3 books in the second Penn Cage trilogy, which I didn't read, as I'm planning to continue reading this series right away. Overall, a short but well-done novella with more about Penn's past but nothing that adds to or detracts from the rest of this series.
geenween's review against another edition
3.0
Letto per le sfide
1. Alphabet 2020 per Un libro di un autore il cui cognome inizi per I
1. Alphabet 2020 per Un libro di un autore il cui cognome inizi per I
silvani's review against another edition
4.0
Free via BookBub.
Not my usual thing, but the writing is good. I'm clearly missing some context since it's a book in the middle of a series, yet it still held my interest.
Not my usual thing, but the writing is good. I'm clearly missing some context since it's a book in the middle of a series, yet it still held my interest.
booksuperpower's review against another edition
4.0
The Death Factory by Greg Isles in a 2014 William Morrow Impulse publication.
This novella bridges the gap between “The Devil's Punchbowl” and “Natchez Burning”. There was a long gap between the novels and “Punchbowl” ended with a cliffhanger. So, this novella brings the reader up to date before diving into “Natchez Burning”, and it reminds us of Penn's past, and events that shaped him into the man he has become.
As “Punchbowl” ended, Penn had just become engaged to his long time girlfriend, but before he could tell his family the news, he receives word his father has had a heart attack, and the prognosis is bleak.
As Penn is summoned to the hospital he is told his father must speak to him alone because there is something he must tell him before he dies. However, once the opportunity presents itself, he backs out, leaving Penn to wonder what great burden his father had been about to unload.
Instead, Penn touches base once more his uncle, and begins to recall a case he was involved in right on the cusp of his wife's final stages of cancer, the outcome of which still haunts him and was the precursor to his move to Natchez.
Once you have been brought up to date a little, the story abruptly ends, but there is a sneak peak into the “Natchez Burning” , a book you do not want to miss. While reading this novella is not necessary for you to enjoy “Natchez”, I still recommend it, because frankly, I did not recall some of the vivid recollections of the case Penn shared with his uncle or the poignant and painful memories of his wife's premature death. So the story was a little dark and somewhat emotional and maybe a little uncomfortable. Greg Isles certainly knows how to draw a person into his world which is always interesting, conflicted and often dangerous. 4 stars
This novella bridges the gap between “The Devil's Punchbowl” and “Natchez Burning”. There was a long gap between the novels and “Punchbowl” ended with a cliffhanger. So, this novella brings the reader up to date before diving into “Natchez Burning”, and it reminds us of Penn's past, and events that shaped him into the man he has become.
As “Punchbowl” ended, Penn had just become engaged to his long time girlfriend, but before he could tell his family the news, he receives word his father has had a heart attack, and the prognosis is bleak.
As Penn is summoned to the hospital he is told his father must speak to him alone because there is something he must tell him before he dies. However, once the opportunity presents itself, he backs out, leaving Penn to wonder what great burden his father had been about to unload.
Instead, Penn touches base once more his uncle, and begins to recall a case he was involved in right on the cusp of his wife's final stages of cancer, the outcome of which still haunts him and was the precursor to his move to Natchez.
Once you have been brought up to date a little, the story abruptly ends, but there is a sneak peak into the “Natchez Burning” , a book you do not want to miss. While reading this novella is not necessary for you to enjoy “Natchez”, I still recommend it, because frankly, I did not recall some of the vivid recollections of the case Penn shared with his uncle or the poignant and painful memories of his wife's premature death. So the story was a little dark and somewhat emotional and maybe a little uncomfortable. Greg Isles certainly knows how to draw a person into his world which is always interesting, conflicted and often dangerous. 4 stars
cathydesi55's review against another edition
4.0
I like his longer novels much better, but this filled in details about his wife Sarah's death due to cancer.
essentiallymeagan's review against another edition
2.0
I have read all the books in this series but I had forgotten what had happened. This reminded me, even though I read it out of order. Kind of pointless, but does set up the mystery of The Bone Tree.