The Devil's Punchbowl

By: Greg Iles

Narrated by: Dick Hill

Length: 23 hrs and 58 mins

Publisher's summary

As a prosecutor in Houston, Penn Cage sent killers to death row. But as mayor of his hometown - Natchez, Mississippi - Penn will face his most dangerous threat. Urged by old friends to try to restore this fading jewel of the Old South, Penn has ridden into office on a tide of support for change. But in its quest for new jobs and fresh money, Natchez has turned to casino gambling, and now five steamboats float on the river beside the old slave market, like props from Gone With the Wind.

But one boat isn't like the others.

Rumor has it that the Magnolia Queen has found a way to pull the big players from Las Vegas to its Mississippi backwater. And with them - on sleek private jets that slip in and out of town like whispers in the night - come pro football players, rap stars, and international gamblers, all sharing an unquenchable taste for one thing: blood sport - and the dark vices that go with it. When a childhood friend of Penn's who brings him evidence of these crimes is brutally murdered, he begins a quest to find the men responsible. But the local authorities have been corrupted by the money and power of his hidden enemy and, with his family's lives at stake, Penn realizes his only allies are those bound to him by blood or honor.

Together they must defeat a killer who has an almost preternatural ability to anticipate - and counter - their every move. Ultimately, victory will depend on a bold stroke that will leave one of Penn's allies dead - and Natchez changed forever.

©2009 Greg Iles (P)2009 Brilliance Audio, Inc.

Listen to the Sample not the Critics

The accent is authentic for the character and the setting. I am glad I listened to the sample before I was persuaded by the negative reviews. Dick Hill is not a rookie either.
Great Author - Great Story.

kept my attention the entire time

there was plenty of suspense and mystery and no down time or boring places I thought they could cut out . I enjoyed it to the end and highly recommend it.

Well written

This story content was not “my cup of tea”. There was too much detail about the training and dog fighting. I enjoyed the setting and would have loved more details about Natchez. I have read previous books and sorry to say this was not my favorite.

Narration poor

Very difficult to hear a lot of narration as the readers voice goes up and down. Hard to hear in the car. I missed a lot.

Had me on the edge of my seat the entire time!!!

Had me on the edge of my seat the entire time!!! I am listening to the series right now and they just keep getting better and better.

Excellent!

I never understand the people who knock Dick Hill! He is by far the best story teller on Audible! This story is excellent! Thanks audible for another excellent listen!

Southern accent ruined it

I'm a Southerner, and Mr. Hill's portrayal of Penn Cage (and others) hit all the wrong notes for me. I don't think I will be able to read the next one in the series if he's narrating again.

good book!

The book was good - a little long, but it held my interest! My only complaint is about the narrator's habit of lowering his voice to the point where I couldn't understand what he was saying. I was using earbuds, and had to keep backtracking to replay those parts at a louder volume - only to have his normal speech blast so loud it hurt my ears!

Excitement at every turn

This is a fantastic book with so much excitement and details that you can literally visualize what is happening and see yourself there as each event unfolds. So many unexpected turns…excitement at every turn!

Great listening

If you like Penn Cage and Greg Isles, you’ll love this book. I highly recommend it.