mythicfox3's review against another edition
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? No
4.0
lanica's review against another edition
2.0
I love John Sandford's books, especially because he's a master at the twisted ending. You think it will end one way, but then he pulls something completely different at the end - usually building on what you were already thinking - but taking it a step or two further.
Not with this one. He gives not-so-subtle clues about who did what to whom and why...then it ends exactly the way the clues lead you to believe. I'm more than a little frustrated by this book...I wonder if Sandford knew that he was disappointing some of his readers when he wrote Virgil's last chapter the way he did.
Not with this one. He gives not-so-subtle clues about who did what to whom and why...then it ends exactly the way the clues lead you to believe. I'm more than a little frustrated by this book...I wonder if Sandford knew that he was disappointing some of his readers when he wrote Virgil's last chapter the way he did.
readymadereader's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.75
sillyputtdee's review against another edition
4.0
Enjoyed it as a fast mystery read and it left me wanting to read the next one.
lauconn's review against another edition
dark
funny
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
colleenlh's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
trash_reader_'s review against another edition
adventurous
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
5.0
I love both this series and the Lucas Davenport series, although I will agree with Virgil that the whole "that fuckin' Flowers" thing is getting old. As is Lucas constantly telling Virgil that he "better not be pulling his boat" but then always ends up telling him to go fishing to think on the case anyway. It's supposed to be funny, I know, but it got old old and tiresome to read those exchanges really fast, especially since I'm reading this series in publication order and now that Virgil was introduced, he shows up in Lucas's novels as well so I can't even get a reprieve in those books.
But other than that, I loved this one. It was yet again another riveting case and I did not want to put it down. I enjoyed reading more about Virgil's process when he solves cases, and his backstory. Although the humor is extremely outdated, but obviously this book was published in 2009 so I can't get too bent out of shape about it. It didn't subtract anything from the enjoyment of the book itself, I just didn't find any of the gay jokes funny. Never really have, but that's a personal thing.
But other than that, I loved this one. It was yet again another riveting case and I did not want to put it down. I enjoyed reading more about Virgil's process when he solves cases, and his backstory. Although the humor is extremely outdated, but obviously this book was published in 2009 so I can't get too bent out of shape about it. It didn't subtract anything from the enjoyment of the book itself, I just didn't find any of the gay jokes funny. Never really have, but that's a personal thing.
allygirl50's review against another edition
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
manadabomb's review against another edition
4.0
Another fuckin' Flowers book.
Virgil is an official favorite now, along with Davenport. Flowers gets called off his vacation to check out the body of Erica McDill, a woman found shot in the head in the water. McDill was staying at the Eagle's Nest, a women's retreat but also apparently something of a whorehouse, without the madam. Flowers digs deep, almost ends up having sex many times with a suspects sister (doesn't he always?) and finally solves the case. Doesn't he always?
Interesting twist at the end, which was nice. While I suspected who the killer was, I didn't guess the sordid history of the killer. And the fight at the end, with a classic Tyson ear biting, was pretty priceless. Poor fuckin' Flowers didn't get exactly what he wanted after all though.
Virgil is an official favorite now, along with Davenport. Flowers gets called off his vacation to check out the body of Erica McDill, a woman found shot in the head in the water. McDill was staying at the Eagle's Nest, a women's retreat but also apparently something of a whorehouse, without the madam. Flowers digs deep, almost ends up having sex many times with a suspects sister (doesn't he always?) and finally solves the case. Doesn't he always?
Interesting twist at the end, which was nice. While I suspected who the killer was, I didn't guess the sordid history of the killer. And the fight at the end, with a classic Tyson ear biting, was pretty priceless. Poor fuckin' Flowers didn't get exactly what he wanted after all though.
minneapolismerk's review against another edition
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.75