30. "The Devil's Punchbowl" by Greg Iles

I've really enjoyed Greg Iles' previous novels set in and around Natchez, Mississippi, so I was eager to read his latest, The Devil's Punchbowl. However, I don't think it's up to par with his earlier work.

 Part of this has to do with the subject matter, which includes descriptions of dogfighting and sexual assaults. I found myself skipping pages because I didn't want to read the details. I think both crimes are reprehensible, and clearly so does Iles. I have strong opinions about what should be done to perpetrators, and so, it seems, does Iles. And I think fiction can be a powerful force for social outrage and change. But...for me, personally, some subjects are more difficult to read about than others, and anything that has to do with abuse of animals or children is at the top of the list. I seriously considered not finishing the book, but I wanted to know what happened to the characters.

Verdict?  Even more so than Iles' other novels, this one isn't for the squeamish. And it won't be finding a permanent home on my bookshelf with the rest of his ouevre.