Plum Island

Plum Island is a 1997 thriller by Nelson DeMille featuring NYPD homicide detective John Corey, who is recovering from gunshot wounds at his uncle's home on Long Island's North Fork. Corey gets drawn into investigating the murder of two scientists who worked at the Plum Island Animal Disease Center, a real federal research facility located on an island off Long Island. The investigation leads into a web of piracy, treasure, and conspiracy.

John Corey is an NYPD homicide detective and one of Nelson DeMille's most popular recurring characters, known for his wisecracking humor and irreverent attitude toward authority. He is introduced in Plum Island while recovering from three gunshot wounds sustained in the line of duty. Corey went on to appear in multiple sequels including The Lion's Game, Night Fall, and Wild Fire.

Yes, Plum Island launched a series featuring John Corey that includes The Lion's Game (2000), Night Fall (2004), Wild Fire (2006), The Lion (2010), and Radiant Angel (2015). The Lion's Game is a direct follow-up that continues Corey's story. The series spans nearly two decades of DeMille's career.

Yes, Plum Island is a real island off the eastern tip of Long Island, New York, and is home to the Plum Island Animal Disease Center, a federal facility that researches animal diseases such as foot-and-mouth disease. The facility is operated by the Department of Homeland Security and has long been the subject of public controversy and conspiracy theories. DeMille draws on this real location and its mystique for the novel's plot.