Third Degree: A Novel by Greg Iles
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Book Reviews of Third Degree: A Novel
Book Review: My first time with Greg Isles
Summary: 3 Stars
Well, first I will admit I haven't read Greg Isles' other books, but I was not disappointed and have already recommended it. The other reviewers seem a harsh in comparing him to his other books. I enjoyed this one. There was a major twist that I did not see coming and it does tie in the loose ends. I also thought the complications of the relationships with the other spouses were fairly realistic. I liked how the character's relationships intertwined and I definitely wanted to find out where the story was going and how it would end. If this is Greg Isles at his "not so great" according to some of the reviewers here, I would like to read more by him.Book Review: too much product placement
Summary: 3 Stars
The story line was good to a point. I found it very hard to believe that Warren, mild mannered doctor, could become that violent towards his wife and that callous towards his children. Despite the twist of why he was acting that crazy. The thing that bothered me the most though was the product placement. Did Iles get paid by these companies? The specific brand of couch, vodka, etc. was listed numerous times. Why? There was no need for it to tell the story and it was very annoying. (Just like product placement in our TV shows have become prevalent and also very annoying.)Book Review: A seriously dysfunctional family
Summary: 2 Stars
This novel by thriller writer Greg Iles takes place in pretty much one location for the better part of the novel and involves the marriage of a teacher (Laurel) and a doctor (Warren), both of whom keep secrets from each other. Laurel is having an affair with a flight instructor, Danny McDavitt, and she is ready to leave Warren for him. However, Warren and his partner's shady business dealings have caught the attention of the local Medicaid fraud division and he's becoming mentally unhinged.
Warren finds a love letter from Danny to Laurel and he psycholocially and physically brutalizes her. Laurel makes several escape attempts and finally succeeds in getting the kids away from her increasingly distraught husband, who brandishes a gun in front of all of them. Laurel texts Danny about her situation and eventually the local sheriff and his good-ol-boy deputies arrive. The situation devolves from a simple marital spat to a potential hostage situation quickly. Meanwhile, Warren's practice is torched by one of the nurses, who is in on the scam with Warren's partner.
Everything escalates and seems to happen within seconds, which is how a lot of natural (or man-made) disasters do occur. People, including Warren's partner and a deputy are killed; others, like the nurse who torched the medical office, are injured. In between all of this are Warren and Laurel's two deeply confused and frightened children.
The plot takes off like a rocket and never stops, and this is the real strength of the novel itself; the characters aren't ones you'd warm to and seem dull and two-dimensional at times. Warren, in particular, comes across as a very unpleasant, cruel man. There's a subplot near the end where it's revealed that he has cancer, but this feels false here, as if the author's trying to turn Warren's life into a Greek tragedy. It doesn't work.
The book is very suspenseful and probably could be read in one sitting, but I came away from it feeling as though I'd read better books from Iles.
Book Review: Very Bad Plot---Sluggish Characterizations
Summary: 2 Stars
I have read all of Greg Iles books and except for Sleep No More, which I found boring, I have loved them. In fact, Mr. Iles is one of my favorite authors. Third Degree, however, is a disaster. It gets two stars only because of Mr. Iles excellent style. The plot, which has been overworked in many other books, descended into cliches, hyperbole, and even soft porn. The characters were unbelievably shallow. And frankly, I'm tired of the unwarranted praise heaped on the state of Mississippi. Please Mr. Iles, change the venue for your next one. This book tarnishes the integrity of Mr Iles. I won't bother summarizing the story line---other reviewers have done that. If you have read and liked other books by Mr. Iles, skip this one. If you have not read others, do not begin with this one. In other words, the literary world would have been better off if this book had not been written. Sorry Greg.Book Review: Irritated
Summary: 2 Stars
I like the Authors work in this book but I couldn't get through the book because I was very irritated with the Wife character...She was having an affair and trying to cover it up and protect her lover and it just shows that the whole drama and tragedy of the story could have been avoided had she just been honest with her husband and told him that she no longer wanted to stay in the marraige...I feel the Author tried to justify her commiting aldultery...as much as I could get through the chapters...I was rooting for the husband...because I saw him really being the victim.