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3.86 AVERAGE
3.86 AVERAGE
Loved this one as much as the first Virgil (that fucking) Flowers. I've always loved John Sandford's Prey Series featuring Lucas Davenport and was so very happy to find this new series. These books are perfect reads for that mystery/thriller police junkies. Will definitely be reading the entire series.
After reading the End of Your Life Book Club I needed something lighter to read and this author and character hit the spot. Virgil Flowers from the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension is back investigating a "contract type" series of murders against a group of seemly unconnected Vietnam veterans. Using his surfer boy good looks and affable charms he slowly begins to uncover why this group of men are being murdered and placed at Vietnam Memorial sites with a lemon stuffed into their mouths. A fast paced, easy to read book that also turned a couple of good phrases; "let him marinate his ego" and "erectile embarrassment."
I've been catching up on old John Sandford books-- because they're perfect for listening to while driving, and I have a regular hour-round commute several times a week. I've always liked the Virgil Flowers books more than early Lucas Davenport. Virgil is a better human being, for starters, and there's more humor.
This was the second Virgil book and I really liked it. There were lots of blind alleys and loose women and the piney woods of northern Minnesota-- plus a plot that winds all the way back to the Vietnam war. And I loved the ending-- the smackdown of Homeland Security and a loose woman gone awry.
Four and a half stars.
This was the second Virgil book and I really liked it. There were lots of blind alleys and loose women and the piney woods of northern Minnesota-- plus a plot that winds all the way back to the Vietnam war. And I loved the ending-- the smackdown of Homeland Security and a loose woman gone awry.
Four and a half stars.
I like the characters, but this book was way too confusing for way too long. I'll probably read the next one in the series, but if it is as confusing as this one, I'm done.
I had a hard time getting into this book mainly because of a lack of interest in the subject matter (Vietnam war).
adventurous
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I really enjoy Virgil and I'm so glad I have more Sanford books to read. I can't wait to read what happens next even though this case wasn't my favorite
This was certainly an improvement over the first book, though barely enough to be rounded up from 3.5. Most of that was from near the end as it had a slow start for me.
A different approach was taken from other Sandford books with the antagonists this time, which involved dirty deals and spies. Usually the antagonists are known to the reader, but this time it's up to the reader to determine who they are, at least until they give up being covert and make highly questionable tactical decisions which remain the norm. That was mitigated somewhat though in this entry.
I continue to appreciate the references to previous books in this and the prey series. I also like how the chronological and publication timeline are the same. I don't if that will always be the case as I havent compared all the relevant publication. It gives it a multi-series sense of continuity.
Sandford seems to have given Virgil Flowers many traits that are in direct opposition to Lucas Davenport and that seems to be intentional to help set them apart. At the same time he also has the traits that seemed untenable in writing Davenport.
As with the Prey series I will be reading one book from this series per month until the end of the year.
A different approach was taken from other Sandford books with the antagonists this time, which involved dirty deals and spies. Usually the antagonists are known to the reader, but this time it's up to the reader to determine who they are, at least until they give up being covert and make highly questionable tactical decisions which remain the norm. That was mitigated somewhat though in this entry.
I continue to appreciate the references to previous books in this and the prey series. I also like how the chronological and publication timeline are the same. I don't if that will always be the case as I havent compared all the relevant publication. It gives it a multi-series sense of continuity.
Sandford seems to have given Virgil Flowers many traits that are in direct opposition to Lucas Davenport and that seems to be intentional to help set them apart. At the same time he also has the traits that seemed untenable in writing Davenport.
As with the Prey series I will be reading one book from this series per month until the end of the year.