It goes against my slightly OCD nature to read the third book in a series before the other two, but my grandfather lent me this book in a stack of various mystery novels that were all part of one series or another, and this one sounded the most interesting. The main character, Virgil Flowers, is kind of a laid-back dude, and the whole novel has a sort of laid-back feel to it - no melodrama or sentimental crap, just a straightforward story with an interesting mystery, and a bit of a sense of humor.

The plot starts off with a murder at a remote resort in northern Minnesota, and Flowers just happens to be vacationing nearby. Called in to investigate, he discovers a large cast of locals that may or may not be suspects. Not exactly the most original setup, but the story is told well and I'll admit that it had me hooked.

This is a pretty good detective novel, but not a great one. It's enjoyable enough that I'll probably end up reading some of the other Virgil Flowers books, but I'm not gonna run out and scoop them up immediately. Recommended if you're looking for a decent mystery that's a quick, enjoyable read.