robotswithpersonality's review against another edition
Felt a bit slow to get going, but I like how all the threads wove together, and especially how the loose ends tied up. Admittedly whenever animals are involved in this series, it can move from suspenseful mystery to anxiety for me.
On that note, fellow vegans ⚠️ beware of not only animal death but animal dismemberment, plus a side plot with a fanatical animal rights activist who's apparently okay with killing people?!
I feel like the immigrant workforce -> slave labour pipeline side plot was an area that could have been fleshed out more, unless it is being held in reserve for a future book in the series.
I don't know that characters' reactions to descriptions of traditional Chinese medicine including certain animal parts counts as sinophobia, but I can't remember a single favourable thing said about any Chinese person in this book, either. 🫤
⚠️ mention of SA
Very glad Frankie wasn't fridged, but can't help feeling her role in this one was restricted to 'get beat up, feed the plot'. Here's to hoping her smarts will be as emphasized as her physical assets in later books, and likewise that her sister does something besides put herself and those around her in jeopardy. 🤦🏼♂️
On that note, fellow vegans ⚠️ beware of not only animal death but animal dismemberment, plus a side plot with a fanatical animal rights activist who's apparently okay with killing people?!
I feel like the immigrant workforce -> slave labour pipeline side plot was an area that could have been fleshed out more, unless it is being held in reserve for a future book in the series.
I don't know that characters' reactions to descriptions of traditional Chinese medicine including certain animal parts counts as sinophobia, but I can't remember a single favourable thing said about any Chinese person in this book, either. 🫤
⚠️ mention of SA
Very glad Frankie wasn't fridged, but can't help feeling her role in this one was restricted to 'get beat up, feed the plot'. Here's to hoping her smarts will be as emphasized as her physical assets in later books, and likewise that her sister does something besides put herself and those around her in jeopardy. 🤦🏼♂️
carlajo713's review against another edition
5.0
Oh Virgil... That f****' Flowers. I've been a fan of the Prey series for a long time, but I have to say Virgil's books are perhaps my favorites! He is so lovable. This book is no exception. We get to see a softer, sentimental, wiping tears from his eyes Virgil. With his mafia backup Shrake and Jenkins this is a must read!
trash_reader_'s review against another edition
adventurous
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
2.5
This is definitely my least favorite Virgil novel.
The premise of the book was almost exactly the same as the one before this, where he was looking for a bunch of stolen dogs. Nothing too exciting was going on, I was just lucky enough to have the audiobook available, which stopped me from putting it down out of boredom. And while I love reading about the characters' relationships and personal lives alongside the crime solving aspect of the novels, I didn't care for all of whatever was going on with Sparkle.
I don't want to say it was convoluted, because it wasn't really deep or intricate enough to warrant that description, but the ties were all over the place and too shallow to really follow along as much as you'd want.
The premise of the book was almost exactly the same as the one before this, where he was looking for a bunch of stolen dogs. Nothing too exciting was going on, I was just lucky enough to have the audiobook available, which stopped me from putting it down out of boredom. And while I love reading about the characters' relationships and personal lives alongside the crime solving aspect of the novels, I didn't care for all of whatever was going on with Sparkle.
I don't want to say it was convoluted, because it wasn't really deep or intricate enough to warrant that description, but the ties were all over the place and too shallow to really follow along as much as you'd want.
djhobby's review against another edition
4.0
7.9 out of 10 stars
Good solid entertaining mystery book.
Good solid entertaining mystery book.
bookhawk's review against another edition
5.0
Fantastic book! John Sandford is the master of writing high action fiction with just the right mix of humor, justice and differing plot pieces. This is my favorite book of 2016. I'd give this book 6 stars.
manadabomb's review
5.0
Do you remember when Virgil Flowers aka That Fuckin' Flowers was just a bit player in the Lucas Davenport series? Flowers is already on his 9th book, y'all!
Lucas makes a VERY brief appearance in this, the rest is Flowers holding his own. I will admit that when I first realized, by Chapter 2, that this was about missing tigers from a zoo, I almost put it down. How exciting can that be?
Turns out, pretty damn exciting.
There are actually several things happening at the same time:
Missing Amur tigers from the Minnesota zoo
Frankie's sister coming to stay and wanting to interview migrant workers in a pickle factory
Pickle factory owner getting angry and sending out goons
Animal activists aiming to kill people.
Lots of folks dying
It started to get a little twisty and you have to remember which parts affect which case but I read this in a day and it was a pretty good ride. I really appreciate the Flower series. My only complaint with this book is that the characters seemed a little.....cartoony. Flowers was still awesome, but once Sparkle and Father Bill came into the picture, well, they were caricatures. If I want cartoony characters, I'll hit up the Stephanie Plum series (which I do, frequently). I just don't want them in my Sandford books.
Lucas makes a VERY brief appearance in this, the rest is Flowers holding his own. I will admit that when I first realized, by Chapter 2, that this was about missing tigers from a zoo, I almost put it down. How exciting can that be?
Turns out, pretty damn exciting.
There are actually several things happening at the same time:
Missing Amur tigers from the Minnesota zoo
Frankie's sister coming to stay and wanting to interview migrant workers in a pickle factory
Pickle factory owner getting angry and sending out goons
Animal activists aiming to kill people.
Lots of folks dying
It started to get a little twisty and you have to remember which parts affect which case but I read this in a day and it was a pretty good ride. I really appreciate the Flower series. My only complaint with this book is that the characters seemed a little.....cartoony. Flowers was still awesome, but once Sparkle and Father Bill came into the picture, well, they were caricatures. If I want cartoony characters, I'll hit up the Stephanie Plum series (which I do, frequently). I just don't want them in my Sandford books.
mommasaystoread's review
5.0
Virgil Flowers is back and as usual, he only gets the hard stuff. As if the hunt for a pair of rare tigers stolen from the zoo isn't enough, things are further complicated by murder. And then there's Virgil's personal life and his relationship with Frankie, who is not at all what you'd expect in a cop's girlfriend and neither is her family. One of my favorite things about Virgil is the way he goes about solving a case. It's not so much procedural as a series of conversations where he gets a feel for the people involved and some lucky breaks in unlikely places. The Virgil Flowers series ties in with Sandford's Prey series and many of the characters appear in both, including Jenkins and Shrake, two of my favorites. We also get a couple of peeks at Lucas, who pulled me in and got me started on this crazy journey all the way back in the first Prey novel. Any of the books can be read as standalones, but to get the full story of these characters, I would recommend reading the series in order. John Sandford has created some of the most colorful characters in crime fiction and thrown them into some wonderfully adventurous tales full of suspense, action, and even a bit of humor as they interact while solving their cases. As I did listen to this one, I should add that as a long time fan of the author who hasn't missed a book, I was quite impressed with Eric Conger's narration. He brings Virgil to life perfectly and kept me listening long past bedtime to hear what would happen next.
kmpuzzled's review against another edition
dark
funny
mysterious
medium-paced
4.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Animal death, Animal cruelty, and Drug use
rclz's review against another edition
5.0
That F*****g Flowers. :) Good book. I could see one thing coming a mile away but it was still a good book. Going to be a long year waiting for the next one.
jpmrrtx's review against another edition
4.0
I love the Virgil Flowers books and this was does not disappoint. You pretty much know what you are going to get in one of these books, and it is well delivered in this one. Although you've done it, there is still some suspense and plenty of humor. All in all, its a very entertaining read.