Books › Plum Island
Plum Island
First published 2002 · 848 pages
A salty, sarcastic coastal thriller where historical pirate lore collides with modern government conspiracies.
What it feels like
Reading this book feels like riding shotgun with the smartest, most exasperating detective in the precinct. The narrative is anchored by a relentlessly sarcastic, first-person voice that turns a sprawling murder investigation into a highly entertaining, dialogue-heavy romp. Set against the breezy, salt-washed backdrop of Long Island's North Fork, the atmosphere balances coastal relaxation with a creeping, conspiratorial dread. The prose is conversational and sharp, packed with wisecracks that mask a deeply competent investigative mind at work. It is a chunky, immersive thriller that takes its time building the puzzle, weaving historical pirate lore with modern biological terrors. It will thoroughly delight readers who crave a smart-aleck protagonist, intricate plotting, and a mystery that feels both locally grounded and globally dangerous.
- Mood
- coastal
- conspiratorial
- breezy
- tense
- Tone
- wry
- irreverent
- cynical
- suspenseful
- Pace
- brisk
- Themes
- hidden agendas · historical secrets · institutional corruption · recovery and mortality
- The writing
- First-person, highly conversational, and relentlessly sarcastic, driven by sharp internal monologue.
- The arc
- Starts with cynical detachment and convalescent boredom, escalating into high-stakes, adrenaline-fueled determination.
- Who it's for
- Readers who love a sprawling, dialogue-heavy thriller anchored by a smart-aleck, politically incorrect detective.
Content notes
- murder
- gun violence
- biological warfare themes
- dated language
About the book
Wounded in the line of duty, NYPD homicide cop John Corey is convalescing in rural eastern Long Island when an attractive young couple he knows is found shot to death on the family patio. The victims were biologists at Plum Island, a research site rumored to be an incubator for germ warfare. Suddenly, a local double murder takes on shattering global implications - and thrusts Corey and two extraordinary women into a dangerous search for the secret of PLUM ISLAND...
Description from Open Library.
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