Bloody Genius: Virgil Flowers 12 Paperback – 2 April 2020

Another great book in the Virgil Flowers series fits in well with the history, plenty of action and twists in the plot line.

Virgil Flowers is great company and spending time with him again was an absolute pleasure. The plot here is a simple one and in lesser hands, may have struggled to keep readers engaged. As is usually the case with a Flowers novel, suspects are paraded in front of you, inviting you to peg them for the crime. I’m happy to leave the detecting to Flowers. Sandford never cheats you on the players. Regardless of how pivotal a role any given character may have, they are all given the full spotlight treatment and if that is not enough, the dialogue will have you grinning like a Cheshire Cat. If this novel were a meal in a restaurant, I’d leave a handsome tip.

Sandford always used to get five stars from me (a couple of times I wanted to give six) but his work has declined. And now we are here. This has nice moments - characters, dialogue - reminiscent of the man in his best years, but as a whole book it doesn't really work. The ending is ludicrous. The best I can say is that it's better than 'Ocean Prey', but that isn't much of a recommendation. Sandford should just stop.

I have given this the full 5 stars as it’s John Sandford but to be perfectly honest I think I have overrated this book, on reflection the actual plot of the book was very weak and without all the misdirection and sub plots there was an unusual weakness to this story. A Virgil Flowers story is usually my preferred Sandford book as apposed to Lucas Davenport but I’m afraid that this one missed the spot. I’m sure it’s just a blip and the next one will be excellent.

This one is a bit disappointing, it’s almost flat, feels like the timing’s off. The story is Ok, the first couple of chapters read as if they were written by someone else. Usually the Vergil Flowers stories make me laugh a couple of times, smile more, like I said, the timing’s off.

This could, and should have been a short story but...... Virgil makes it all so interesting. False leads, great people, plus a home life, and the reasoning was a lighbulb moment. Loved all the banter, but the storyline was a bit.....dull. Hope for better next time.

The Virgil Flowers character is always fun to read and engaging story as always from the author.

Well it is bloody genius. What more do you need to know ? I found Modest Mouse via one of Virgil's T shirts so now I have to read every damned book.