book data
421 ratings,
3.80
average rating, 124 reviews
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published
September 23rd 2008
by Putnam Adult
binding
Hardcover
isbn
0399155279
(isbn13: 9780399155277)
description
Fresh from his "spectacular" (Cleveland Plain Dealer) debut in Dark of the Moon, investigator Virgil Flowers takes on a puzzling,and most al...more
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other reviews (showing 1-20 of 582)
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5 stars (84)
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4 stars (195)
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3 stars (118)
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1 star (3)
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avg 3.80
editions: all | this edition
editions: all | this edition
Read in September, 2008
Of course, four stars in the brain candy category is not the same as four stars in the great literature category, but I really enjoyed the ride while reading this book.
This is the second in Sandford's new Virgil Flowers series, and I liked it more than the first one, Dark of the Moon. Good plot with lots of little kinks and curves, and Sandford's trademark guy humor. Also many familiar characters carried over from the Lucas Davenport series, so I felt I was hangin' with my old friends. ...more
This is the second in Sandford's new Virgil Flowers series, and I liked it more than the first one, Dark of the Moon. Good plot with lots of little kinks and curves, and Sandford's trademark guy humor. Also many familiar characters carried over from the Lucas Davenport series, so I felt I was hangin' with my old friends. ...more
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Read in December, 2008
This is the second book by John Sandford to feature Virgil (f***ing) Flowers, a state investigator that works for super cop Lucas Davenport. Davenport is the cop featured in Sandford's very real, character driven, Prey series. Lucas does show up in these books, but he is a minor character.
Heat Lightning was a little too predictable and uneventful than the first Virgil Flowers book Dark of the Moon but still very entertaining. I guess what I have always liked about Sandford's Pr...more
Heat Lightning was a little too predictable and uneventful than the first Virgil Flowers book Dark of the Moon but still very entertaining. I guess what I have always liked about Sandford's Pr...more
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11/19/08
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Read in December, 2008
I do love Virgil - he's growing me more everytime I read him. Like Robert Parker, Sandford has created a new character (like Parker's Jesse Stone) but put him in a familiar setting and with familiar back-up characters. In Virgil's case, he's using Lucas Davenport's office so he's got Sandy the assistant, Carol the secretary, and several of Lucas' other secondary people at hand. Very well done!
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Read in October, 2008
How does John Sandford crank out so many books (is this his second or third this year?) and stay so consistently good? Lucas "Prey" Davenport is cool, but I'm loving this new Virgil Flowers series, too. A cop with surfer hair, obscure rock t-shirts, and a sideline writing fishing articles? Awesome. This book had a little to much DRIVING AROUND for my taste -- I find chase scenes in books really dull -- but the plot was intriguing and twisty.
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Read in October, 2008
recommends it for:
cop and thriller fans
Virgil Flowers, the main character of John Sandford's latest non prey book is some king od detective and this novel about the killing of various men in Minnesota is a pure adrenelan rush, with enough action to satisfy any fan.
The only quibble I have is the fact that Lucas Davenport, Sandford's other major character has to be involved, but its a minor point.
A great read.
The only quibble I have is the fact that Lucas Davenport, Sandford's other major character has to be involved, but its a minor point.
A great read.
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having worn out his principle series hero, lucas davenport, this is the second of sandford's book to feature virgil flowers (with a cameo by davenport). the first was not all that successful. this one is much better.
i'll read the next one when it comes out.
i'll read the next one when it comes out.
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Read in January, 2009
A grand murder mystery. Minnesota BCA are trying to find what connects a string of murders where the victim is found with a lemon in his mouth. It turns out that all of the victims had been involved in stealing equipment at the end of the Vietnam War. When the equipment was loaded, one of the cohort, had murdered a house full of Vietnamese and raped one of the women. Now, the Vietnamese have learned a few of the names and are out for revenge. Unfortunately, the police aren't fighting just the Vi...more
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Read in December, 2008
I haven't read any of the other Virgil Flowers mysteries, but this was enjoyable enough. The main character is funny and entertaining, but there's a certain hollowness to a character when they have a real passion -- for Virgil it's rock band tee shirts and a penchant for fishing. C.f. The Big Over Easy for a detailed discussion of the character-through-quirk trope. It's an interesting choice to give us the killer's perspective for part of the time, particularly since the story didn't really n...more
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Read in February, 2009
Second in the Virgil Flowers series - an offshoot of the Davenport series. Liked it. Long enough to keep circling back. One thing that intrigues me about Sandford's law enforcement characters is they make mistakes, assume too much, and therefore are not "perfect." However, in this one, Virgil misses such obvious clues that I began to get a bit frustrated with him. Also - Sandford spends quite a bit of time in the beginning with very gory details of the crimes at the heart of the story....more
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Read in October, 2008
It's that fuckin' Flowers again. And am I glad! Virgil Flowers' debut in Dark of the Night was a terrific read and, so far, this looks to equally terrific. As Lucas Davenport of the Prey series gets more and more entangled in politics and home life, we have Virgil Flowers to look to.
Unconventional, impulsive and border-line brilliant, Flowers has become Davenport's lead dog for cases that promise to go south in a heartbeat. Clad in his signature cowboy boots and band t-shirts wit...more
Unconventional, impulsive and border-line brilliant, Flowers has become Davenport's lead dog for cases that promise to go south in a heartbeat. Clad in his signature cowboy boots and band t-shirts wit...more
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Read in February, 2009
Virgil Flowers is one of my favorite characters in John Sandford's novels. I was always a fan of Lucas Davenport, but Virgil is a rogue detective amongst the politically correct of MN, smart thinking, and an outdoor sportsman and writer on the side. Not too mention, a lady's man...
In this novel, Virgil is faced with a series of murders, connected with an episode occurring in the 70s in Vietnam. As the book progresses, it has a series of twists and turns-a connection of those you don't nece...more
In this novel, Virgil is faced with a series of murders, connected with an episode occurring in the 70s in Vietnam. As the book progresses, it has a series of twists and turns-a connection of those you don't nece...more
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Read in November, 2008
Someone's ritualistically torturing then murdering a bunch of Vietnam Vets, leaving their bodies at Vietnam Memorial sites with lemons in their mouths. Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension investigator Virgil Flowers gets called in and ties the victims to a veteran's help center discovering two victims had been talking to a 1960s radical war protester. Now Virgil needs to figure out what secrets they had that are worthing killing for.
Second in a series featuring Virgil Flowers...more
Second in a series featuring Virgil Flowers...more
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Read in June, 2009
Virgil is back and now in the Cities running around. Loved watching him work the Lucas and the crew we love from the Prey series. It was interesting watching him piece this together. It seemed like he was always almost there, but when it did click together things happened fast. The best was the end with the MN guys sticking it to Homeland Security. Don't think that could happen in real live, but it was an interesting way to get things out. Looking forward to the next book.
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Virgil Flowers is back, and a more interesting character with each new book. The premise of this book seems a little far-fetched, but the action is fast-paced as ever. Virgil gets to chase the murderers while Lucas Davenport frets over the upcoming arrival of the RNC in MN. The characters are well-drawn, complex and sympathetic (including the bad guys). As usual, even the minor characters have interesting voices.
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I really like this author, but this book features his B-Team detective and I've got a bit of a crush on the A-Team guy, who stars in the "Prey" series, Lucas Davenport. Still this is a good, well-plotted, fast moving police procedural with a bit of history with the ties to Vietnam. All Sandford's books take place, mostly, in the Twin Cities, which is also fun because I like to learn about other places.
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Another solid work, this one with Virgil Flowers in the lead role. (Just as well-- Lucas Davenport is getting too domesticated.)
Good twists and turns. I don't want to give it away. This won't strain your braincells or keep you up at night, but it's well-written, save a couple editing errors about where someone was shot, in the head or heart. Nothing that will ruin the read.
Good twists and turns. I don't want to give it away. This won't strain your braincells or keep you up at night, but it's well-written, save a couple editing errors about where someone was shot, in the head or heart. Nothing that will ruin the read.
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Read in January, 2009
John Sandford is one of my favorite authors, but I am a little tired of Lucas Davenport from all the "Prey" books.
This book is the second with Davenport's colleague, Virgil Flowers, as the hero. It has a different tone than the "Prey" books, but is just as fast-moving and it's a page-turner. I, the slowest reader of all time, finished it in a day. (a l-o-n-g day!)
This book is the second with Davenport's colleague, Virgil Flowers, as the hero. It has a different tone than the "Prey" books, but is just as fast-moving and it's a page-turner. I, the slowest reader of all time, finished it in a day. (a l-o-n-g day!)
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Read in April, 2009
Sandford continues to amaze me with his excellent character dialog and believable settings. Since his plots are sometimes wild, it's nice to have a firm grounding in realism. The Virgil Flowers character is a bit like a young Lucas Davenport (from the Prey series), but I suppose he has enough differences to keep him unique. I'd like to see more of that in future books.
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An interesting mystery that is a quick enjoyable read. I liked the protagonist because he isn't your run-of-the-mill detective but is deceptively smart. It was an easier read than Robert Ludlum or Lee Childs and I prefer those authors over this one. If you like a good action packed book then read it if you can handle rough language as this is rife with it.
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Read in February, 2009
That fking Flowers is back, and this was classic Sandford. I always enjoy his books and devour them within 3 days. He's doing a great job with the Flowers series...Davenport is a marginal character but seems to be passing the baton as he ages. John Camp is one of my favorite authors, and I'm always thrilled to read his latest. This one does not disappoint.
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