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Virgil Flowers #1-4
Virgil Flowers Novels 1-4
Lucas Davenport's colleague, Minneapolis investigator Virgil Flowers, takes center stage in this collection. Get set for four great reads.
In the first one, "Dark of the Moon," we have "an adrenaline rush peppered with laugh-out-loud moments" ("Booklist"). The rush, and more than a touch of humor, continues with the remaining three suspense-packed novels in this set from #1 "New York" "Times" bestselling author of the Lucas Davenport novels John Sandford.
The novels are: 1) Dark of the Moon, 2) Heat Lightning, 3) Rough Country, and 4) Bad Blood.
Librarian's note #1: entries for each of the individual titles can be found elsewhere on Goodreads.
Librarian's note #2: as of 2021, there are 13 volumes in the author's Virgil Flowers series. The last was published in April 2021. It is part of the "Prey" series but Lucas Davenport and Virgil Flowers share the billing - "Ocean Prey."
In the first one, "Dark of the Moon," we have "an adrenaline rush peppered with laugh-out-loud moments" ("Booklist"). The rush, and more than a touch of humor, continues with the remaining three suspense-packed novels in this set from #1 "New York" "Times" bestselling author of the Lucas Davenport novels John Sandford.
The novels are: 1) Dark of the Moon, 2) Heat Lightning, 3) Rough Country, and 4) Bad Blood.
Librarian's note #1: entries for each of the individual titles can be found elsewhere on Goodreads.
Librarian's note #2: as of 2021, there are 13 volumes in the author's Virgil Flowers series. The last was published in April 2021. It is part of the "Prey" series but Lucas Davenport and Virgil Flowers share the billing - "Ocean Prey."
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First published January 1, 2012
127 people are currently reading
439 people want to read
About the author
John Sandford
235 books9,732 followersJohn Sandford is the pen name of John Roswell Camp, a Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist and bestselling author known for his gripping thrillers and popular crime series. After earning degrees in history, literature, and journalism from the University of Iowa, Camp began his writing career as a reporter, first at The Miami Herald and later at The Saint Paul Pioneer Press, where he earned critical acclaim for in-depth series on Native American communities and American farm life. His work won him the Pulitzer Prize for Feature Writing in 1986.
In 1989, Camp transitioned into fiction, publishing two novels: The Fool's Run under his real name and Rules of Prey under the pseudonym John Sandford. The latter launched the long-running “Prey” series, starring Lucas Davenport, a sharp, fearless investigator navigating politically sensitive crimes across Minnesota and beyond. The series grew to include spin-offs and crossovers, notably featuring characters like Virgil Flowers, a laid-back BCA agent with a sharp wit, and Letty Davenport, Lucas's equally determined daughter, who stars in her own series starting in 2022.
Sandford’s books have consistently appeared on the New York Times bestseller list, with over two dozen debuting at number one. Known for his dynamic storytelling, fast pacing, and keen attention to detail, Sandford combines his journalistic roots with a gift for character-driven narratives. He remains an avid reader and outdoorsman, and continues to write compelling fiction that resonates with readers who enjoy intelligent thrillers grounded in realism and driven by memorable protagonists.
In 1989, Camp transitioned into fiction, publishing two novels: The Fool's Run under his real name and Rules of Prey under the pseudonym John Sandford. The latter launched the long-running “Prey” series, starring Lucas Davenport, a sharp, fearless investigator navigating politically sensitive crimes across Minnesota and beyond. The series grew to include spin-offs and crossovers, notably featuring characters like Virgil Flowers, a laid-back BCA agent with a sharp wit, and Letty Davenport, Lucas's equally determined daughter, who stars in her own series starting in 2022.
Sandford’s books have consistently appeared on the New York Times bestseller list, with over two dozen debuting at number one. Known for his dynamic storytelling, fast pacing, and keen attention to detail, Sandford combines his journalistic roots with a gift for character-driven narratives. He remains an avid reader and outdoorsman, and continues to write compelling fiction that resonates with readers who enjoy intelligent thrillers grounded in realism and driven by memorable protagonists.
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Displaying 1 - 25 of 25 reviews
January 25, 2023
5 Stars. The best are often the early volumes in a mystery or thriller series and that's true with Sandford's Virgil Flowers series. Yes, every one of the later novels are at least "Very Good," but rising to the highest rank doesn't happen as often. "Dark of the Moon" presents us with a victim in the small town of Bluestem, Minnesota for whom almost every resident has a motive to do harm. In "Heat Lightning," we find that the war in Vietnam is not really over, that there may be serious repercussions for some actions taken decades ago. Again it's a small town in Minnesota - Stillwater. "Rough Country" shows us the wild beauty of northern Minnesota near Stony Lake, and delves into criminal issues that have arisen at an all-female lodge called Eagle Nest. The last is "Bad Blood." Why did a young summer worker take a baseball bat to the head of a farmer delivering soya beans to the community hopper? The answer turns out to be anything but easy to handle, disturbing in fact. There you have four of Sandford's best. Flowers at his best too. PS - I review each of them in greater detail under their individual titles. (May 2021)
March 2, 2015
Okay, this is a review of John Sandford's latest Virgil Flowers tome, "Deadline." Try as I might, I can't get the Goodreads search engine to pull this title up (it kept pulling up 'Sidekick to Deadline', which I haven't read), so I'm going to review it here and GOODREADS FLAWED SEARCH ENGINE BE DAMNED.
John Sandford is pretty much the best police procedural writer working today. And Virgil Flowers is without a doubt one of the best characters, even putting Lucas Davenport in the shade. Sanford must spend a lot of time with cops, because no one gets inside their minds like he does. "Deadline" features Virgil (a.k.a. 'that F**king Flowers') doing a favor for a friend - with the unlikely name of Johnson Johnson - and trying to help find some missing dogs. Yes, dogs. As Sandford is wont to do, of course, the case blossoms into an incredibly diabolical plot involving public officials and homicide, but Sandford successfully intertwines the stories so you never lose your place and keep flippin' those pages. 'Deadline' is one of the most enjoyable Flowers sagas to date and further cements Sandford's ranking as one hell of a writer.
John Sandford is pretty much the best police procedural writer working today. And Virgil Flowers is without a doubt one of the best characters, even putting Lucas Davenport in the shade. Sanford must spend a lot of time with cops, because no one gets inside their minds like he does. "Deadline" features Virgil (a.k.a. 'that F**king Flowers') doing a favor for a friend - with the unlikely name of Johnson Johnson - and trying to help find some missing dogs. Yes, dogs. As Sandford is wont to do, of course, the case blossoms into an incredibly diabolical plot involving public officials and homicide, but Sandford successfully intertwines the stories so you never lose your place and keep flippin' those pages. 'Deadline' is one of the most enjoyable Flowers sagas to date and further cements Sandford's ranking as one hell of a writer.
April 13, 2014
Virgil Flowers is even more cool than Lucas Davenport. How is it possible. I highly encourage everyone to read these books.
September 1, 2015
John Sandford has done it again Virgil Flowers is a Unique Officer of the BCA Bureau of Criminal Apprehension who works for Lucas Davenport. He has a style all his own and works in the rural areas and has a way with the ladies and is still friendly with his 3 ex wives.
February 3, 2017
Love this series as well as the Prey serried. However Virgil is a little more light hearted and funny. The plots are still as good but not quite as dark. Love how other detectives refer to him as "that f***ing flowers". A good spin off series from the Prey series.
September 1, 2014
Virgil Flowers, what a character!
March 3, 2015
Excellent, engaging, funny. Less violent than the Prey novels.
November 17, 2020
After finishing the PREY series, I couldn’t wait to see what kind of person Virgil Flowers really is. As it turned out,he is a down to earth type of person and a bit of a hound. Maybe as colorful as they get for an outdoor, religious man.
Altogether for the first four novels, he took me on a wild ride from the great north woods to the southern farmlands of Minnesota. I felt that I was there with him. The joking around and the camaraderie amongst he and his fellow workers made me feel like I was one of them.
Hang on to your seat if you have to. It can be a wild ride.
Altogether for the first four novels, he took me on a wild ride from the great north woods to the southern farmlands of Minnesota. I felt that I was there with him. The joking around and the camaraderie amongst he and his fellow workers made me feel like I was one of them.
Hang on to your seat if you have to. It can be a wild ride.
October 2, 2019
Lucas Davenport's colleague, Minneapolis investigator Virgil Flowers, takes center stage for the first time in "Dark of the Moon," "an adrenaline rush peppered with laugh-out-loud moments" ("Booklist")--and the rush continues through all four suspense-packed novels in this set from #1 "New York" "Times" bestselling author of the Lucas Davenport novels John Sandford.
Dark of the Moon
Heat Lightning
Rough Country
Bad Blood
Dark of the Moon
Heat Lightning
Rough Country
Bad Blood
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 2, 2019
Fast, witty, entertaining read. Virgil Flowers is my kind of guy - despite the fishing boat he likes tow around Minnesota. While solving the crime is the central theme of the books, Virgil's personal story line is engaging and his personality so endearing, you forget that there is a crime to be solved.
October 4, 2019
Our poetic guide through hell
Authors bring VIrgil Flowers fully into his own as liberal, gun toting poet through Hell for the greatest (fictional) scandal of child abuse and sexual misconduct under the banner of a cult religion from the Old country in the Midwest and probably in the history of the US. Lots of wit and a tense shootouts.
Authors bring VIrgil Flowers fully into his own as liberal, gun toting poet through Hell for the greatest (fictional) scandal of child abuse and sexual misconduct under the banner of a cult religion from the Old country in the Midwest and probably in the history of the US. Lots of wit and a tense shootouts.
February 3, 2015
Sometimes I just want to sit and listen to his question about God
November 13, 2015
The Virgil Flowers series of novels by John Sandford are a perfect compliment to the Prey series featuring Lucas Davenport. They are all good reads!
Read
February 22, 2018honestly this is truth someone must protect the weak from coward monsters...if I can carry that load I'm willing to offer true justice
September 11, 2020
I really enjoy Virgil flowers books. Once I start a book I can’t get anything else done.
September 13, 2020
I love Virgil Flowers! Great books!
September 18, 2020
I was hooked at # 1 and I binge read through all the Virgil Flower books. Now I’m starting on the “Prey” series. He is an incredible writer!
March 17, 2021
These were very good...I did not enjoy the rest of the series.
Read
August 26, 2021Virgil Flowers is my favorite character of all time, by any author. My one wish is that Owen Wilson be cast as Virgil if there is ever a motion picture. When Tom Cruise was cast as Lee Child's wonderful character, Jack Reacher, I was stunned.
Owen Wilson IS Virgil Flowers.
Owen Wilson IS Virgil Flowers.
August 3, 2021
You have to love that effing Flowers.
September 29, 2021
Great read
Another set off great reads by Mr.Sandford. Virgil Flowers is a terrific character and every book makes me smile while I read and sad when they end.
Another set off great reads by Mr.Sandford. Virgil Flowers is a terrific character and every book makes me smile while I read and sad when they end.
July 17, 2022
I will read Virgil Flowers mysteries and enjoy them without reservations.
February 25, 2023
Love Sandfirds new character Virgil Flowers. I really enjoys author’s sense of humor.
March 4, 2023
Virgil Flowers is fun, funny and very interesting. Do not fail to entertain and keep you up at night reading. I recommend reading the first through the latest
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Displaying 1 - 25 of 25 reviews