sci_mom's review against another edition
3.0
I didn't dislike this book and think it was better than 'okay' (maybe 2.5 stars?). It had a lot of potential, but was lacking in execution. There were parts that were highly entertaining mostly because they were so absurd, but that is very un-Sandford-like and became distracting after a while. I am glad that I got it on loan from the library.
robotswithpersonality's review against another edition
Well that was slightly more absurd than previous books in the series, but a lot less violent, so I'm calling it a bonus!
Tad bit of the Da Vinci Code vibes - running around after an artifact that might reveal a truth contentious to biblical history/ religious beliefs - but mostly a high action mystery per the usual.
On the not so fun side, the portrayals of Israeli and Lebanese people are not necessarily negative, but I'm still concerned 'own voices' reviewers would confirm my suspicions that Sanford's descriptions are not appreciated, i.e. considered shallow/stereotypical/patronizing. NOBODY needs to be told they "speak good English".
And of course, there's the standard objectification of women floating around the edges. 🤦🏼♂️ As previously mentioned, if I think of these books like 80s/90s action films, they run about the same gamut of problematic/out-dated entertainment. 😬 ⚠️ Descriptions of terminal illness (late stage cancer), mentions of Alzheimer's
Tad bit of the Da Vinci Code vibes - running around after an artifact that might reveal a truth contentious to biblical history/ religious beliefs - but mostly a high action mystery per the usual.
On the not so fun side, the portrayals of Israeli and Lebanese people are not necessarily negative, but I'm still concerned 'own voices' reviewers would confirm my suspicions that Sanford's descriptions are not appreciated, i.e. considered shallow/stereotypical/patronizing. NOBODY needs to be told they "speak good English".
And of course, there's the standard objectification of women floating around the edges. 🤦🏼♂️ As previously mentioned, if I think of these books like 80s/90s action films, they run about the same gamut of problematic/out-dated entertainment. 😬 ⚠️ Descriptions of terminal illness (late stage cancer), mentions of Alzheimer's
bookhawk's review against another edition
4.0
Perhaps not the best of the Flowers books but still a great read that is hard to put down and makes a reader snicker out loud at times. Sandford's writing is excellent.
trash_reader_'s review against another edition
adventurous
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
3.0
This wasn't as Dan Brown-esque as I had thought it would be. I still enjoyed the book, but I found the diplomatic bits to be a little boring. But that's how I am every single time that plays an important part in books. I feel like I would have enjoyed this more if I hadn't expected so much out of it after it being compared to a Dan Brown novel.
troyhpt's review against another edition
5.0
Not quite a typical Virgil Flowers book. Fishing, boats, trucks and murder, but there's an international element.
jefffrane's review against another edition
4.0
It's Virgil f***ing Flowers, and nothing more needs to be said. Sandford is always witty, suspenseful and fun. Virgil is one of his best characters and the stories focused on him are particular favorites of mine.
manadabomb's review against another edition
4.0
And here's another Fuckin' Flowers book. Can I say I love Virgil?
I downloaded the audiobook from Audible.com because I was too busy knitting for the Ravellenic games to actually *gasp* pick up a book. I needed my hands free for this one...
Because it's an audio book, I have no idea of the spelling of anything in this book. Somehow I grabbed my first ever audio of a Sandford book and it's filled with Israeli and Lebanese names. So pardon me if things are misspelled in this review...
Elijah Jones is a religious man who has been on many archeological digs in Israel and just so happens to find an artifact that could change the biblical face of things. So he naturally smuggles it out of Israel and straight down the road from Virgil Flowers. Lucas Davenport, his boss and main guy of the Prey series, assigns Virgil to pair with an Israeli agent to get the stone back.
Things get much worse as Jones puts the stone up for auction and many "bad guys" come in to town to place their bids. Bad guys is in quotes simply because it felt more comical than scary. Even with the Turks who cut off testicles....still seemed more funny. The baddies just weren't....bad.
The search for the stone wasn't as nail-biting and there wasn't a lot of mystery.
This sounds like I was unhappy with the book and that's not true. I still love Flowers and it was a new take on what he can do (or who he can do). I'm happy it didn't get all biblical/Dan Brown like and it was a good story.
I was happy to go along for this less-bumpy ride.
I downloaded the audiobook from Audible.com because I was too busy knitting for the Ravellenic games to actually *gasp* pick up a book. I needed my hands free for this one...
Because it's an audio book, I have no idea of the spelling of anything in this book. Somehow I grabbed my first ever audio of a Sandford book and it's filled with Israeli and Lebanese names. So pardon me if things are misspelled in this review...
Elijah Jones is a religious man who has been on many archeological digs in Israel and just so happens to find an artifact that could change the biblical face of things. So he naturally smuggles it out of Israel and straight down the road from Virgil Flowers. Lucas Davenport, his boss and main guy of the Prey series, assigns Virgil to pair with an Israeli agent to get the stone back.
Things get much worse as Jones puts the stone up for auction and many "bad guys" come in to town to place their bids. Bad guys is in quotes simply because it felt more comical than scary. Even with the Turks who cut off testicles....still seemed more funny. The baddies just weren't....bad.
The search for the stone wasn't as nail-biting and there wasn't a lot of mystery.
This sounds like I was unhappy with the book and that's not true. I still love Flowers and it was a new take on what he can do (or who he can do). I'm happy it didn't get all biblical/Dan Brown like and it was a good story.
I was happy to go along for this less-bumpy ride.
kmpuzzled's review against another edition
lighthearted
mysterious
medium-paced
2.75
More of a Dortmunder story than Virgil Flowers.
rclz's review against another edition
5.0
Good, fun read. I enjoy Virgil. I also like that we get some of the characters from Lucas's stories, like Shrake and Jenkin plus the early morning calls to Lucas.