The Bone Tree

A Novel

By: Greg Iles

Narrated by: Robert Petkoff

Don’t miss the latest Natchez Burning novel, SOUTHERN MAN

From #1 New York Times bestselling author Greg Iles comes the second novel in his Natchez Burning trilogy—which also includes Natchez Burning and the upcoming Mississippi Blood—an epic trilogy of blood and race, family and justice, featuring Southern lawyer Penn Cage.

Former prosecutor Penn Cage and his fiancée, reporter and publisher Caitlin Masters, have barely escaped with their lives after being attacked by wealthy businessman Brody Royal and his Double Eagles, a KKK sect with ties to some of Mississippi’s most powerful men. But the real danger has only begun as FBI Special Agent John Kaiser warns Penn that Brody wasn’t the true leader of the Double Eagles. The puppeteer who actually controls the terrorist group is a man far more fearsome: the chief of the state police’s Criminal Investigations Bureau, Forrest Knox.

The only way Penn can save his father, Dr. Tom Cage—who is fleeing a murder charge as well as corrupt cops bent on killing him—is either to make a devil’s bargain with Knox or destroy him. While Penn desperately pursues both options, Caitlin uncovers the real story behind a series of unsolved civil rights murders that may hold the key to the Double Eagles’ downfall. The trail leads her deep into the past, into the black backwaters of the Mississippi River, to a secret killing ground used by slave owners and the Klan for over two hundred years . . . a place of terrifying evil known only as “the bone tree.”

The Bone Tree is an explosive, action-packed thriller full of twisting intrigue and deadly secrets, a tale that explores the conflicts and casualties that result when the darkest truths of American history come to light. It puts us inside the skin of a noble man who has always fought for justice—now finally pushed beyond his limits.

Just how far will Penn Cage, the hero we thought we knew, go to protect those he loves?

When does the next one come out??

Unlike many other reviewers I enjoyed this book. I thought the narrator was excellent and the story kept my interest. Fiction is supposed to take you outside reality, so I didnt expect it not to be a little far fetched - ok alot far fetched! I probably would have gotten bored if I read it, but listening was very entertaining for me! I wont spoil anything for you, but I was upset with one of the characters they decided to kill off. All in all, I am waiting for the next installment to arrive!

A griping sequel to 'Natchez Burning'....

What made the experience of listening to The Bone Tree the most enjoyable?

I read 'Natchez Burning' right before 'The Bone Tree' so was anxious to hear 'The rest of the story'! While there are still threads unresolved at the end of 'Bone Tree' I was not unhappy with the way the book ended. 'Nuf said?

What did you like best about this story?

It answered many questions left unresolved in 'Natchez Burning'. The entire story is extremely compelling. I grew up in the south (central Texas) and have lived in Georgia for the past 30+ years so I thought I knew the south. But I've learned from these books that I had no idea how bad things were in the sixties. Yes, this is a novel, but I'm sure Iles wouldn't have written it had not his research shown it to be a possibility. That is very very sad.

Have you listened to any of Robert Petkoff’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

No, as far as I know this is the first, but then I'm not one to pay a lot of attention to who is reading a book unless it is.... less than compelling. I do have one complaint - while he did pronounce kudzu correctly, he pronounced two names of fairly prominent characters differently than the reader of 'Natchez Burning' and I suspect the former pronunciation was correct. That was a bit distracting.

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

Not really. It is long (over 800 print pages and 32 hours) so that would be pretty much impossible. But also its an intense story - one needs some decompression time between hours of listening. But I'll tell you this - I listen to audiobooks while I walk and Saturday I walked 31,150 steps because I couldn't quit listening!

Any additional comments?

My biggest comment is don't listen to the reviewers who complain about the JFK story line, etc. I read way more reviews than I normally would have because when I was nearing the end of 'Natchez Burning' I was already getting concerned about the story lines still open. At least one reviewer (of The Bone Tree) said he wasn't sure he would want to read (or listen to) the final book in the trilogy. I finished 'The Bone Tree' today thinking that guy must be nuts - no way would I miss 'Unwritten Laws'! In fact I did something I've never done before - wrote the author asking for information on when it might be released! If it were out now I'd be downloading it as we speak!!

Looking forward to the 3rd onr

Mudic, plays and books often have trouble with the bridge in songs, 2nd acts in plays and the middlleb of a very long book. For me this one got soggy in the middle, but liked it snyway.

Good, but repetitive

Would you listen to The Bone Tree again? Why?

No. Too much repetition. I know it's part of a series, because I read every book to get to this one. However, not only did the author rehash background (totally appreciated), but he repeated things that were already mentioned in earlier chapters. It was more than 30 hours, and the repetition made it drag on at times.

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

No. Too long

Any additional comments?

I was disappointed that Penn Cage, a character that had so much integrity in the first 4 1/2 books, gave in to corruption at every turn.

bone tree

loved the narrator ...
every chapter in this book drew u in further, but the ending was a great disappointment. This book screams sequel.