Natchez Burning

A Novel

By: Greg Iles

Narrated by: David Ledoux

Raised in the historic southern splendor of Natchez, Mississippi, Penn Cage learned all he knows of honor and duty from his father, Dr. Tom Cage. But now the beloved family doctor has been accused of murdering Viola Turner, the African-American nurse with whom he worked in the dark days of the 1960s. Penn is determined to save his father, but Tom, stubbornly invoking doctor-patient privilege, refuses to even speak in his own defense.

Penn's quest for the truth sends him deep into his father's past, where a sexually charged secret lies waiting to tear their family apart. This long-buried sin is only a single thread in a conspiracy of greed and murder involving the vicious Double Eagles, an offshoot of the KKK. Penn is forced to confront the most wrenching dilemma of his life: Does a man of honor choose his father or the truth?

Drenched in southern atmosphere, Natchez Burning marks the brilliant return of a genuine American master of suspense. Tense, disturbing, and filled with electrifying plot twists, this novel commences the most explosive and ambitious story Greg Iles has ever written.

©2014 Greg Iles (P)2014 HarperCollinsPublishers

I enjoyed it.

Perhaps more than one narrator would have made the performance better. At times Mr. Ledoux and his various accents left a bit to be desired. Other than that, I love Greg Isle and I'm getting ready to start Bone Tree right now.

Story is interesting, but the narration is overly dramatic.

This book is the fourth in the Penn Cage series. It could be read independently even though it does build on the other books and even a book not even in this series. The stories deal with Penn Cage a former prosecutor in Texas who returns to his hometown of Natchez, Mississippi. This particular book deals with a 40-year-old series of murders during the fight for civil rights in the south.
The only drawback is the narrator who is far too dramatic. I almost stopped listening to the book several times especially in the beginning because he was so annoying. The only reason that I continued was when I came to care about the characters and wanted to find out how their story would unfold. Thankfully I believe this is the only book in the series using this narrator.

Over dramatized narration

I often felt I should have just read this book. I’m sorry but the narrator was a little hard to take. How about just reading the story; his normal voice might have been enough! I thought the story was good but again, because of the intensity the narrator seemed compelled to strive for, at times the story itself seemed to loose its purpose or even fall apart in points that I began to wonder if really held together.
Too much effort to listen to!

Great!

Definitely a "page turner". This was a long book but that's what I go for. This book tells about the sad truth that is our history.

often brutal

Cliff hanger in so msny aspects. historically accurate, sadly. Well researched. Can't wait to continue story in second book of trilogy!

great story and great narration!

I listen to audio books 30+ hours a week. this book was your typical Greg iles thriller, so if u like Greg iles I don't need to say more than its a must read. as for all the negative comments about the narrator, I totally disagree. I have read all the Penn cage novels, this is the first one I've listened to. ledoux did a fantastic job.

a little too long but still a good story.

narrator was very good and the story really pulled you in. I t reminds one of the things about the KKK in the sixties South.

Loved it!

Greg Iles brings atrocities to life and puts a face to the past. Well done!

Reader not that bad

What did you love best about Natchez Burning?

Compelling story. Reviewers said that the reader was very bad, but I found it very listenable. Don't know what all the fuss was about.

Can't wait for Volume 2

At first I thought 35 hours for a novel was going to be a bit much, but I couldn't unplug my ear buds. Going in I didn't realize that this was part 1 of a trilogy. I can't wait for the Bone Tree to come out. His books about Mississippi in the 60's really makes you sit back and reflect on what you "didn't" know was going on in the South during your own formative years in the North. His books are part history, part family interactions, and part justice. Bravo, Greg Iles! I've seen quite a few reviews criticizing the narrator. I thought he did a great job and kept my interest throughout.