"Plum Island is our first introdution to tough, cocky, wise-cracking, but very likeable NYPD homicide cop, John Corey. Recovering from wounds sustained in the line of duty, Corey is relaxing at his uncle's house on the rural outskirts of Long Island, NY's north fork when two of his neighbors are found murdered.
Why would anyone want to execute this young, friendly, and attractive couple? Perhaps it is connected to their jobs as biologists on Plum Island, a secure government facility located off the Long Island coast and rumored to be a top secret research lab for germ warefare.
Corey, along with an attractive local detective, skillfully follows the clues with determination and his smart-mouth, sharp-tongued brand of humor.
To find the murderer and eliminate the impending threat of biological disaster Corey must uncover the true secrets and history of Plum Island.
The popular character of John Corey returns in "The Lion's Game""
Mike Dietterick, Resident Scholar
"NYPD homicide detective John Corey is living at his uncle's cottage on east Long Island, recuperating from three bullet wounds received in the line of duty. He is asked by the local chief of police to help with the murder investigation of a local couple whom John had known during his stay. The couple were research scientists at Plum Island, a government research installation specializing in animal disease; unlike typical scientists, they were also into a good bit of socializing, and had a Formula 303 boat which they used for high-speed travel in the Sound. It is feared they were involved in stealing and selling an animal virus, or perhaps a vaccine--or even drugs.
Because of the government connection, the FBI and CIA become involved, along with the town police and county sheriff's office. The beautiful county investigator, Detective Beth Penrose, heads up the local investigation, and at times runs with, at times counter to, John's investigative activities.
Is the perpetrator another staff member at the research facility, one of the investigators, a friend of the dead couple, or even the CIA? The curator of the local historical society, Emma Whitestone, another beauty, provides the ultimate clues to the mystery, and the motivation for John to see that justice is served."
Douglas Moore, Resident Scholar
Click above for the new Obama Girl Parody video!
Review Analysis of Plum Island
Our unique search engine provides a wealth of detail about books by breaking them down into many different literary elements, all of which are searchable (click here).
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale (Low to High)
Plot
Composition of Book descript. of violence and chases - 15% Planning/preparing, gather info, debate puzzles/motives - 50% Feelings, relationships, character bio/development - 20% How society works & physical descript. (people, objects, places) - 15%
Tone of story
- Dry-cynical
- suspenseful (sophisticated fear)
How difficult to spot villain?
- Very difficult--no foreshadowing/clues
- Difficult, but some clues given
Time/era of story:
- 1980's-1999
What % of story relates directly
to the mystery, not the subplot?
- 90%
Kind of investigator
- police procedural, American
- skilled citizen investigator
Kid or adult book?
- Adult or Young Adult Book
Any non-mystery subplot?
- theft/fraud investigation
- squabbling with fellow investigator(s)/police boss
Crime Thriller
Yes
Murder Mystery (killer unknown)
Yes
Main Character
Gender
- Male
Profession/status:
- police/lawman
Age:
- 40's-50's
Is this an ordinary person caught up in events?
Yes
How much violence does he/she use?
- just the right amount
Ethnicity/Race
- White/American
How sensitive is this character?
- middling sensitive to others' feelings
- hard edged
Sense of humor
- Cynical sense of humor
Intelligence
- Smarter than most other characters
Physique
- average physique
Main Adversary
Identity:
- Male
Age:
- 40's-50's
Profession/status:
- farmer
Eccentric:
Yes
- obsessed
- deluded
- wild
How much of work is main antagonist actually present in:
- a little/some
- an average amount
Motive of antagonist
- money/treasure
The antagonists are:
- big business leader(s)
How sensitive is this character?
- mean, arrogant
Sense of humor
- Cynical sense of humor
- Mostly serious with occasional humor
Intelligence
- Average intelligence
- Smarter than most other characters
Physique
- average physique
- quite fatty
Setting
United States
Yes
Water?
Yes
Island?
Yes
Island:
- Atlantic Ocean Island
Small town?
Yes
Small town people:
- nice, like Andy/Opie/Aunt Bee
Misc setting
- scientific labs
Style
Part of a series?
Yes
Person
- mostly 1st
Accounts of torture and death?
- moderately detailed references to deaths
How many deaths?
- 5-7
- 8 or more
Sex
Yes
What kind of sex:
- vague references
- touching of anatomy
Amount of dialog
- roughly even amounts of descript and dialog
