THE DEVIL’S PUNCHBOWL by Greg Iles
Greg Iles lives in Natchez, Mississippi. Therefore he knows of what he writes as most of his novels are set in that gracious city. His latest, THE DEVIL’S PUNCHBOWL, certainly is. Natchez is as much a character in the story as is Penn Cage. Cage is a former attorney, former novelist, who is now the mayor of Natchez. His love for the city and the people who live there cause him most of his problems and also give him most of his joy.
Cage, a widower, lives in Natchez with his eleven year old daughter Annie. His parents live close by and his former lover Caitlin has a house across the street. Penn and Caitlin have ended their relationship and she has moved away from Natchez. Annie and Penn both miss her terribly.
One night Penn agrees to meet with his high school friend Tim Jessup at the cemetery where Penn’s wife is buried. Tim is acting strangely in setting up such a secret meeting but Penn goes along with him out of friendship. Tim tries to convince Penn that there are horrible things happening on the riverboat where Tim works.
Riverboat gambling is legal in Natchez but Tim indicates there is also prostitution, dog fighting, and worse things occurring with the sanction of the owners of the casino. He promises to get Penn more information. Penn urges him to be careful because Tim is a hothead who has had drug problems in the past. He professes to have been clean for many months buy Penn has some doubts.
This meeting with Tim sets Penn up for some harrowing moments. A murder is committed, Penn’s family is threatened, and all of Penn’s dreams for his life and the city’s well being are turned upside down.
Iles has written a fascinating story that stretches the boundaries of believability but never breaks them. Penn come to rely on a mixed collection of friends and family - his father, a buddy who is a special ops type of guy, a former Texas Ranger, and a deputy who has special skills are all in the group. Even Caitlin gets involved when she comes back to Natchez to see if she and Penn are really over.
The pace of this book is one of its selling features. It moves continuously and never seems sluggish or staged. There is action on several fronts and all are explored fully. Plus Iles has created the villainous Sean Quinn who stands out as one of the easiest to hate men in the history of literature.
There is good news and bad news in the “Acknowledgments” section following the end of the story. The bad news is this book is only one half of the story; the second will be published next year. The good news is this book is only one half of the story and we have even more adventures with some of these characters to look forward to next year. I for one can hardly wait.
Greg Iles is a consistently good writer. His books are always good reading entertainment and THE DEVIL’S PUNCHBOWL is one of his best. I couldn’t put it down. I was hooked from the opening pages and sailed right through all five hundred and seventy seven that followed. You will probably do the same.
THE DEVIL’S PUNCHBOWL is published by Scribner. It contains 577 pages and sells for $26.99.