Penn Cage has grown up in Natchez, Mississippi. He is definitely his father's son. His father is Tom Cage, a beloved doctor. Dr. Cage has been accused of killing Viola Turner, his black nurse that worked with him in the 1960's. Penn is determined to defend his father, as he is an attorney and the town's mayor.
The quest to find the answer is laden with many layers and leads Penn on a horrific journey into the mind of a real madman, who seems to decide whether your life is worth living in his mind only.

This book was layer upon layer of history. Good read. ( )

Unfamiliar with the author, this was a staff pick at the local library; and it's obvious why. Greg Iles, a resident of Natchez, MS is a brilliant storyteller whose life had a plot twist of its own. In light of the recent political climate and rise in hate crimes, the story is particularly relevant. It sheds light on a group that spun off from the KKK, that like the Klan used barbaric, often startling tactics to remove those in the way. The story evolves continually and like any top-tier crime drama builds momentum that steamrolls. Family and friend relationships are highlighted as are the crimes against humanity. Revealing events of the past impact character emotions moving the story forward and twisting the plot. In the early sections I was shocked by the barbarism and mindsets of characters who have been created from reality. Make sure to read the Afterword, which is revealing as is the information about the author. Crime/action isn't my first choice of genre, but I plan to read the others by this author. Highly recommended! ( )

This book was pretty long. I'm not sure if some things could have been omitted. As with the last book, this one is a cliffhanger. The last book was delayed for a while so I cannot imagine the sequel will be out in the next two years ( )

I would like to add my thanks to the doctors who saved Greg's life, as he did in his afterword. A long wait for this book, but what a great book. Like riding on a freight train at full speed. Set in Natchez, Mississippi, where Penn Cage is now mayor and his fiancee, Caitlin Masters, is the publisher of the local paper, and his father Tom is a legendary, kind-hearted doctor to all, Tom is accused of killing a former black nurse that worked for him in the 1960s. Politics, race, greed, forbidden love, dark family secrets, the KKK and a more radical splinter group (the Double Eagles), the well-known assassinations of the 1960s, news reporting all play prominent roles in this very long, but very enjoyable read. Looking forward with excitement to the next book in this trilogy. ( )

adult fiction; mystery/suspense thriller with lawyers/politicians and dirty cops. Kinda like Grisham, but with way more pages, and with extra sadistic Klanners thrown in. Apparently earlier installments in the Penn Cage series are not so long, though. ( )