The Death Factory

From #1 New York Times bestselling author Greg Iles, an e-original novella featuring former prosecutor Penn Cage, star of the NATCHEZ trilogy. A story of family secrets and justice denied, THE DEAD SECRET also includes an excerpt from the first book in the trilogy, NATCHEZ BURNING.

When a heart attack sends Penn’s father Tom Cage to the ER, Tom begs that his son be brought to his side to hear a dying declaration. But when Penn arrives, Tom denies ever making the request—keeping his secrets for another day.

The emergency hurls Penn back to a chilling case in Houston, where he worked in a DA’s office known as the ‘death factory,’ which sent more killers to death row than any in America. While Penn cares for his ailing wife, a tormented forensic technician brings him evidence of a crime lab in chaos, throwing past convictions into doubt and begging Penn to prevent an imminent travesty of justice. With the desperation of a man fighting death in his own home, Penn must find a way to bring the machinery of the death factory to a halt.

Reviews

Praise for NATCHEZ BURNING:

‘Extraordinarily entertaining and fiendishly suspenseful. I defy you to start it and find a way to put it down …This is an amazing work of popular fiction’ STEPHEN KING

‘I don't know how Iles did it, but every single one of the 700+ pages of NATCHEZ BURNING is a cliffhanger that will keep you devouring just one more chapter before you put it down to eat, work, or go to bed. A mystery rooted in the real-life racial divides of the Deep South, this ambitious, unique novel is the perfect marriage of a history lesson and a thriller. Greg? You owe me some sleep!’ JODI PICOULT

‘Natchez Burning is just flat-out terrific, written with all the fire of its title. With its scope and passion and its themes about race, violence, tradition, and the eternal smouldering anger of the South, it brings to mind Thomas Wolfe and William Faulkner, even while its cagey plot and restless energy keeps you flying through the pages. Greg Iles is back and truly better than ever’ Scott Turow

Praise for previous Greg Iles novels:

‘A scorching read’ John Grisham

‘A rarity. A thriller that really thrills’ Stephen King

‘An incredible web of intrigue and suspense’ Clive Cussler

‘My favourite kind of novel … Ambitious in its scope and superbly satisfying in its execution’ Dan Brown

‘Iles is a great thriller writer’ Independent

About the author

Greg Iles is the author of eleven international best-selling novels, including Turning Angel, Blood Memory and The Quiet Game. He lives in Natchez, Mississippi.