Plum IslandPlum Island
Score Modern
What it's about
John Corey, a wisecracking New York homicide detective, is recovering from gunshot wounds on the quiet North Fork of Long Island when a young couple he knew, biologists at the government's secret animal disease lab on Plum Island, are found murdered. Everyone fears a stolen plague virus. Corey isn't so sure, and the clues lead toward pirate treasure.
Why it's worth reading
It spent weeks at #1 on the New York Times list and introduced Corey, one of the most entertaining detectives in thrillers.
You'll love it if you liked
Mr. Mercedes
The Closers
Presumed InnocentGood to know
It's long and Corey's humor is crude. It begins a series.
By the numbers
- Readers58 out of 100 · counts 42%
- Critics0 out of 100 · counts 14%
- Bestseller58 out of 100 · counts 34% (its stronger lane)
- Buzz0 out of 100 · counts 10%
Critics and Bestseller are two ways to earn a place: a book's stronger one counts more. Buzz rewards recent bestseller weeks and prizes, so older books start at zero. The parts combine into the Must-Read Score, shown on a scale where the best book we found scores 99 and the last book to make the ranking scores 50.
Where it ranks
- #162 of the 555 mysteries and thrillers we rank
- #623 of the 1,573 modern books we rank
- #1178 of the 2,816 books we rank
Why it made the list
Reads as
Gripping
More by Nelson DeMille
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Quick answers
Is Plum Island worth reading?
Yes. It spent weeks at #1 on the New York Times list and introduced Corey, one of the most entertaining detectives in thrillers. It ranks #1,178 of the 2,816 books in our ranking, with a Must-Read Score of 71.1 (the best book we found scores 99).
What is Plum Island about?
John Corey, a wisecracking New York homicide detective, is recovering from gunshot wounds on the quiet North Fork of Long Island when a young couple he knew, biologists at the government's secret animal disease lab on Plum Island, are found murdered. Everyone fears a stolen plague virus. Corey isn't so sure, and the clues lead toward pirate treasure.
How long does it take to read Plum Island?
About 13 hours (528 pages), or about 4 weeks at 30 minutes a day.
What should I read after Plum Island?
If you liked it, try Mr. Mercedes by Stephen King, The Closers by Michael Connelly or Presumed Innocent by Scott Turow.