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Virgil Flowers #9
Escape Clause
Whenever you hear the sky rumble, that usually means a storm. In Virgil Flowers’ case, make that two of them. Welcome to another exceptional thriller from the writer whose books are “pure reading pleasure” (Booklist)
The first storm comes from, of all places, the Minnesota Zoo. Two large, and very rare, Amur tigers have vanished from their cage, and authorities are worried sick that they’ve been stolen to be sold for body parts. Traditional Chinese medicine prizes the parts for home remedies, and people will do extreme things to get what they need. Some of those people are a great deal more extreme than others -- as Virgil is about to find out.
Then there’s the homefront. Virgil’s relationship with his girlfriend Frankie has been getting serious, but when Frankie’s sister Sparkle moves in for the summer, the situation gets complicated. For one thing, her research into migrant workers is about to bring her up against some very violent people who emphatically do not want to be researched.
For another…she thinks Virgil’s cute. “You mess around with Sparkle,” Frankie told Virgil, “you could get yourself stabbed.” He asked: “She carries a knife?” “No, but I do.” Forget a storm – this one’s a tornado.
Librarian's note: as of 2021, there are 13 volumes in the author's Virgil Flowers series. The last was published in April 2021. It is part of the "Prey" series but Lucas Davenport and Virgil Flowers share the billing - "Ocean Prey."
The first storm comes from, of all places, the Minnesota Zoo. Two large, and very rare, Amur tigers have vanished from their cage, and authorities are worried sick that they’ve been stolen to be sold for body parts. Traditional Chinese medicine prizes the parts for home remedies, and people will do extreme things to get what they need. Some of those people are a great deal more extreme than others -- as Virgil is about to find out.
Then there’s the homefront. Virgil’s relationship with his girlfriend Frankie has been getting serious, but when Frankie’s sister Sparkle moves in for the summer, the situation gets complicated. For one thing, her research into migrant workers is about to bring her up against some very violent people who emphatically do not want to be researched.
For another…she thinks Virgil’s cute. “You mess around with Sparkle,” Frankie told Virgil, “you could get yourself stabbed.” He asked: “She carries a knife?” “No, but I do.” Forget a storm – this one’s a tornado.
Librarian's note: as of 2021, there are 13 volumes in the author's Virgil Flowers series. The last was published in April 2021. It is part of the "Prey" series but Lucas Davenport and Virgil Flowers share the billing - "Ocean Prey."
392 pages, Hardcover
First published September 18, 2016
3483 people are currently reading
4998 people want to read
About the author
John Sandford
232 books9,614 followersJohn Sandford is the pen name of John Roswell Camp, a Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist and bestselling author known for his gripping thrillers and popular crime series. After earning degrees in history, literature, and journalism from the University of Iowa, Camp began his writing career as a reporter, first at The Miami Herald and later at The Saint Paul Pioneer Press, where he earned critical acclaim for in-depth series on Native American communities and American farm life. His work won him the Pulitzer Prize for Feature Writing in 1986.
In 1989, Camp transitioned into fiction, publishing two novels: The Fool's Run under his real name and Rules of Prey under the pseudonym John Sandford. The latter launched the long-running “Prey” series, starring Lucas Davenport, a sharp, fearless investigator navigating politically sensitive crimes across Minnesota and beyond. The series grew to include spin-offs and crossovers, notably featuring characters like Virgil Flowers, a laid-back BCA agent with a sharp wit, and Letty Davenport, Lucas's equally determined daughter, who stars in her own series starting in 2022.
Sandford’s books have consistently appeared on the New York Times bestseller list, with over two dozen debuting at number one. Known for his dynamic storytelling, fast pacing, and keen attention to detail, Sandford combines his journalistic roots with a gift for character-driven narratives. He remains an avid reader and outdoorsman, and continues to write compelling fiction that resonates with readers who enjoy intelligent thrillers grounded in realism and driven by memorable protagonists.
In 1989, Camp transitioned into fiction, publishing two novels: The Fool's Run under his real name and Rules of Prey under the pseudonym John Sandford. The latter launched the long-running “Prey” series, starring Lucas Davenport, a sharp, fearless investigator navigating politically sensitive crimes across Minnesota and beyond. The series grew to include spin-offs and crossovers, notably featuring characters like Virgil Flowers, a laid-back BCA agent with a sharp wit, and Letty Davenport, Lucas's equally determined daughter, who stars in her own series starting in 2022.
Sandford’s books have consistently appeared on the New York Times bestseller list, with over two dozen debuting at number one. Known for his dynamic storytelling, fast pacing, and keen attention to detail, Sandford combines his journalistic roots with a gift for character-driven narratives. He remains an avid reader and outdoorsman, and continues to write compelling fiction that resonates with readers who enjoy intelligent thrillers grounded in realism and driven by memorable protagonists.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 1,694 reviews
September 26, 2016
I received a free advance copy of this from NetGalley for review.
I’ve heard of having a tiger by the tail, but this is ridiculous.
Two rare tigers have been stolen from a Minnesota zoo, and everyone fears that they have been taken to have their organs and bones harvested for ‘medicines’ that will fetch a fortune on the black market. Quirky cop Virgil Flowers is on the case, but can he find the tigers before they’re killed and turned into expensive placebos for assholes?
As usual in a John Sandford novel we get the parallel story of what the bad guys are up to as Virgil hunts them, and things escalate with murder becoming part of the effort to cover their tracks. Virgil is also contending with a serious distraction caused by the sister of his girlfriend getting on the bad side of some thugs when she tries to expose the abuse of illegal immigrant workers at a factory.
As I’ve noted in my other reviews of Sandford books I consider him the best at the beach/airport reads that are always on the best sellers lists. This isn’t ground breaking thriller/crime fiction, but it is exceptionally well done thriller/crime fiction. We get villains that aren’t just the standard Insane McGenius serial killers. (Although Sandford did a few of those back when they weren’t quite such a cliché.) The plotting is tight, the action is great, there’s a real sense of tension and momentum built up, and he’s developed a collection of likable characters who populate both this series and the Prey books. Virgil continues to be an interesting hero who sports vintage rock band t-shirts and frequently forgets to get his gun out of his truck. Overall, Sandford's books are incredibly entertaining without feeling like they’re making you dumber by reading them.
So why only three stars here? Frankly, this one hit a personal pet peeve of mine. I just do not enjoy reading about animals in jeopardy or being mistreated. So I was constantly stressing about the fate of the tigers much more than I do when fictional human characters are in trouble. What? Don’t judge me.
That’s the only factor that kept me from calling it another 4 star thriller from Sandford that meets his usual standard of quality page-turning.
I’ve heard of having a tiger by the tail, but this is ridiculous.
Two rare tigers have been stolen from a Minnesota zoo, and everyone fears that they have been taken to have their organs and bones harvested for ‘medicines’ that will fetch a fortune on the black market. Quirky cop Virgil Flowers is on the case, but can he find the tigers before they’re killed and turned into expensive placebos for assholes?
As usual in a John Sandford novel we get the parallel story of what the bad guys are up to as Virgil hunts them, and things escalate with murder becoming part of the effort to cover their tracks. Virgil is also contending with a serious distraction caused by the sister of his girlfriend getting on the bad side of some thugs when she tries to expose the abuse of illegal immigrant workers at a factory.
As I’ve noted in my other reviews of Sandford books I consider him the best at the beach/airport reads that are always on the best sellers lists. This isn’t ground breaking thriller/crime fiction, but it is exceptionally well done thriller/crime fiction. We get villains that aren’t just the standard Insane McGenius serial killers. (Although Sandford did a few of those back when they weren’t quite such a cliché.) The plotting is tight, the action is great, there’s a real sense of tension and momentum built up, and he’s developed a collection of likable characters who populate both this series and the Prey books. Virgil continues to be an interesting hero who sports vintage rock band t-shirts and frequently forgets to get his gun out of his truck. Overall, Sandford's books are incredibly entertaining without feeling like they’re making you dumber by reading them.
So why only three stars here? Frankly, this one hit a personal pet peeve of mine. I just do not enjoy reading about animals in jeopardy or being mistreated. So I was constantly stressing about the fate of the tigers much more than I do when fictional human characters are in trouble. What? Don’t judge me.
That’s the only factor that kept me from calling it another 4 star thriller from Sandford that meets his usual standard of quality page-turning.
December 4, 2022
It wasn’t so long ago that Virgil Flowers was just a cameo player in Sandford’s long running ‘Prey’ series, supporting the main character - Minnesota crime-stopper Lucas Davenport. But Flowers was always destined for bigger things. Like Clete Purcell, James Lee Burke’s crowd pleasing buddy to Dave Robicheaux, the Davenport books lose something when Flowers isn’t there. He’s a great counterpoint to the dapper and somewhat manic frontman; whereas Lucas is all sharp suits and flash cars, Virgil is cowboy boots and a dusty truck. Instead of confrontation he brings conciliation. So it was no real surprise when the author decided to let the long haired charmer have a book all to himself.
This is now his ninth solo adventure. This time around he’s called in to track down two Amur tigers who’ve been stolen from the Minnesota zoo. Like (nearly) all of Sandford’s thrillers, we know early on whodunit so it’s really all about the chase. The question is, even if he can can he catch the perpetrators will he find the tigers alive? The structure is one you’ll be used to if you’ve read this author’s books before and there are familiar faces and some carry-over in respect of various background events, but this is just window dressing and shouldn’t dissuade new readers from jumping right in.
There’s a side story here about a sister of Virgil’s girlfriend turning up to expose a factory’s abuse of immigrant workers - it doesn’t take up much space nor does it add anything to the overall package. But the further I got into the tiger chase the more I enjoyed it. The steps taken by police and criminals seem logical – if sometimes extreme – and there are one or two nifty wrinkles thrown in along the way. This is easy reading fiction in the way that Michael Connelly and Lee Child churn it out. And I don’t mean to diminish these writers in any way, what I mean is that the structure is clean and linear: you always know what’s going on and there is no confusing back and forth shunts in time or a myriad of characters to confuse you. It’s simple, high quality entertainment. I thoroughly enjoyed it.
My thanks to NetGalley and Penguin Group Putnam for providing an early copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
This is now his ninth solo adventure. This time around he’s called in to track down two Amur tigers who’ve been stolen from the Minnesota zoo. Like (nearly) all of Sandford’s thrillers, we know early on whodunit so it’s really all about the chase. The question is, even if he can can he catch the perpetrators will he find the tigers alive? The structure is one you’ll be used to if you’ve read this author’s books before and there are familiar faces and some carry-over in respect of various background events, but this is just window dressing and shouldn’t dissuade new readers from jumping right in.
There’s a side story here about a sister of Virgil’s girlfriend turning up to expose a factory’s abuse of immigrant workers - it doesn’t take up much space nor does it add anything to the overall package. But the further I got into the tiger chase the more I enjoyed it. The steps taken by police and criminals seem logical – if sometimes extreme – and there are one or two nifty wrinkles thrown in along the way. This is easy reading fiction in the way that Michael Connelly and Lee Child churn it out. And I don’t mean to diminish these writers in any way, what I mean is that the structure is clean and linear: you always know what’s going on and there is no confusing back and forth shunts in time or a myriad of characters to confuse you. It’s simple, high quality entertainment. I thoroughly enjoyed it.
My thanks to NetGalley and Penguin Group Putnam for providing an early copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
December 11, 2017
Minnesota BCI agent Virgil Flowers returns in another entertaining novel from John Sandford. Flowers is a laid-back guy who dresses in jeans and the tee shirts of obscure rock bands and who spends the bulk of his time investigating rural crime. He loves fishing and women, though not necessarily in that order, and is currently in a relationship with a woman named Frankie.
When two rare tigers are stolen from the Minnesota Zoo, Virgil is assigned to lead the investigation. Time is of the essence here, for the fear is that the animals will be killed and that their body parts will be harvested for the Asian market in non traditional medicinal supplements. At virtually the same moment, Frankie's sister, Sparkle, comes to spend the summer with Frankie while she finishes the research for her dissertation. The dissertation involves the exploitation of workers at a local canning factory, and when Sparkle attempts to interview employees of the factory, she quickly becomes the target of people who would rather that her investigation not be completed.
Virgil will have to devote some time to the problems that result from Sparkle's investigation, but the bulk of his time is consumed in the hunt for the tigers and the tigernappers. As usual in a Sandford novel, the point of view shifts back and forth between Virgil and the gang that has taken the tigers, and while there's a fair amount of violence in this book, there's also a great deal of the humor that readers have come to expect from a novel featuring "That F***in' Flowers."
If I have any complaint about this book, it lies in the fact that Sandford seems to be straining just a bit too hard with the humor elements of the book, at the risk of becoming a bit too cute. Also, the subplot involving Sparkle's investigation didn't really add much to the book. Still, it's always fun to hang out with Virgil and this is a very entertaining way to lose a few hours. 3.5 rounded up to 4 stars.
When two rare tigers are stolen from the Minnesota Zoo, Virgil is assigned to lead the investigation. Time is of the essence here, for the fear is that the animals will be killed and that their body parts will be harvested for the Asian market in non traditional medicinal supplements. At virtually the same moment, Frankie's sister, Sparkle, comes to spend the summer with Frankie while she finishes the research for her dissertation. The dissertation involves the exploitation of workers at a local canning factory, and when Sparkle attempts to interview employees of the factory, she quickly becomes the target of people who would rather that her investigation not be completed.
Virgil will have to devote some time to the problems that result from Sparkle's investigation, but the bulk of his time is consumed in the hunt for the tigers and the tigernappers. As usual in a Sandford novel, the point of view shifts back and forth between Virgil and the gang that has taken the tigers, and while there's a fair amount of violence in this book, there's also a great deal of the humor that readers have come to expect from a novel featuring "That F***in' Flowers."
If I have any complaint about this book, it lies in the fact that Sandford seems to be straining just a bit too hard with the humor elements of the book, at the risk of becoming a bit too cute. Also, the subplot involving Sparkle's investigation didn't really add much to the book. Still, it's always fun to hang out with Virgil and this is a very entertaining way to lose a few hours. 3.5 rounded up to 4 stars.
November 15, 2016
I'm a long-time fan of John Sandford's books and have read all of them except the YA series. The Virgil Flowers books are particular favorites because Virgil is just so lovable.
Virgil gets some pretty weird cases that at first seem simple, but they always go awry. His case in this book is to find two rare, endangered Amur tigers that were stolen from a zoo and then murders happen. Another case begins when Virgil's girlfriend, Frankie, is beaten by thugs mistaking her for her sister, who is interviewing illegal workers for her dissertation. Shrake and Jenkins, along with an assortment of sheriffs, deputies, and local police officers, assist Virgil. Catrin Mattson investigates Frankie's case, and I found her to be an interesting character. I'd like to know more about her.
The usual banter and ribbing is apparent and that makes this book enjoyable. But Virgil's case was slow going, with driving here and there, calling people, talking to people. Nothing seemed to happen, and Virgil sat and thought about things. I wish there'd been more action. One of the bad guys was eating Xanax like candy, and I thought he'd OD before he got caught. It appears Virgil and Frankie are getting serious, and that's changed Virgil a little. It reminds me of when another of Sandford's characters, Lucas Davenport, got married.
While this may not be the best Virgil Flowers book, I enjoyed it and look forward to the next one.
Virgil gets some pretty weird cases that at first seem simple, but they always go awry. His case in this book is to find two rare, endangered Amur tigers that were stolen from a zoo and then murders happen. Another case begins when Virgil's girlfriend, Frankie, is beaten by thugs mistaking her for her sister, who is interviewing illegal workers for her dissertation. Shrake and Jenkins, along with an assortment of sheriffs, deputies, and local police officers, assist Virgil. Catrin Mattson investigates Frankie's case, and I found her to be an interesting character. I'd like to know more about her.
The usual banter and ribbing is apparent and that makes this book enjoyable. But Virgil's case was slow going, with driving here and there, calling people, talking to people. Nothing seemed to happen, and Virgil sat and thought about things. I wish there'd been more action. One of the bad guys was eating Xanax like candy, and I thought he'd OD before he got caught. It appears Virgil and Frankie are getting serious, and that's changed Virgil a little. It reminds me of when another of Sandford's characters, Lucas Davenport, got married.
While this may not be the best Virgil Flowers book, I enjoyed it and look forward to the next one.
December 12, 2021
Another winner from John Sandford! Usually in a series there are some good books and then there are some that just aren't. So far I have enjoyed all of the books in this series. Virgil is just a “good ol’ boy”. Part of what makes this series so good is the wit and dialog. For example readers are probably aware that things have been getting serious between Virgil and his girlfriend, Frankie. In this story Frankie's sister, Sparkle, comes to visit and Virgil naturally observes that Sparkle is kind of attractive.
“You mess around with Sparkle,” Frankie told Virgil, “you could get yourself stabbed.”
“She carries a knife?”
“No, but I do.”
In this outing Virgil has double trouble. First off a pair of rare Amur tigers are missing from the Minnesota zoo. Since the zoo is state territory the Bureau of Criminal Apprehension is called in and the case is assigned to their top investigator. Virgil. The fear is that they have been stolen for their body parts used in traditional Chinese medicine. The pressure is intense from all sides, Virgil's new boss at BCA; the media; and the public. The more time that goes by the more likely the tigers will have been killed.
The other problem is on the homefront. Sparkle's visit isn't just social. She is working on an investigative report into migrant workers and there are some people who do not want Sparkle snooping around. Some violent people. Things really heat up when Frankie is mistakenly attacked. Virgil obviously can't be assigned this case but you know he is going to be closely involved.
There is a great cast of characters in this story. Sparkle and her priest / bartender boyfriend Father Bill, a homicidal animal rights activist, a criminal mastermind who pops Xanax like candy, and a half dozen brothers seeking vengeance and and you've got a great story. At times while reading the parts dealing with the missing tigers I was reminded of the Coen brothers movie "Fargo".
Not sure where the title figures in on this story but definitely recommend. Can't wait for the next Virgil Flowers book, Deep Freeze, which I see is due out in October 2017!
“You mess around with Sparkle,” Frankie told Virgil, “you could get yourself stabbed.”
“She carries a knife?”
“No, but I do.”
In this outing Virgil has double trouble. First off a pair of rare Amur tigers are missing from the Minnesota zoo. Since the zoo is state territory the Bureau of Criminal Apprehension is called in and the case is assigned to their top investigator. Virgil. The fear is that they have been stolen for their body parts used in traditional Chinese medicine. The pressure is intense from all sides, Virgil's new boss at BCA; the media; and the public. The more time that goes by the more likely the tigers will have been killed.
The other problem is on the homefront. Sparkle's visit isn't just social. She is working on an investigative report into migrant workers and there are some people who do not want Sparkle snooping around. Some violent people. Things really heat up when Frankie is mistakenly attacked. Virgil obviously can't be assigned this case but you know he is going to be closely involved.
There is a great cast of characters in this story. Sparkle and her priest / bartender boyfriend Father Bill, a homicidal animal rights activist, a criminal mastermind who pops Xanax like candy, and a half dozen brothers seeking vengeance and and you've got a great story. At times while reading the parts dealing with the missing tigers I was reminded of the Coen brothers movie "Fargo".
Not sure where the title figures in on this story but definitely recommend. Can't wait for the next Virgil Flowers book, Deep Freeze, which I see is due out in October 2017!
November 29, 2016
Same as his other books but with practical advice on how to steal a tiger. I stole three so far and totally got away with it.
3.5 stars.
3.5 stars.
September 2, 2016
Tyger Tyger burning bright,
In the forests of the night:
What immortal hand or eye,
Dare frame thy fearful symmetry? (From The Tyger by William Blake)
When two rare – endangered – Amur tigers are stolen from the Minnesota zoo, experts fear that the catnappers are tied to the illegal traditional Chinese medicine trade. Zoo officials are desperate knowing that their beloved tigers may soon be killed.
I was prepared to dislike Escape Clause. Animal abuse is repulsive to me. Later, when pythons are mentioned – those who know me know that I loathe snakes of any size – I was ready to cover my eyes and call it a day. But enter Virgil Flowers – yes, that Virgil Flowers, the BCA’s fan-tabulous Flowers. How could I really dislike a book starring Virgil blooming Flowers?
As the blurb indicates, the case of the missing tigers is not the only storm on Virgil’s horizon. Things at home in Mankato are raining down buckets of trouble too. His girlfriend Frankie’s sister Sparkle shows up to do some research into local migrant workers, and that spells trouble with a capital T that rhymes with V that stands for Virgil. As in that’s who’s in the thick of it all. Virgil finds himself running all over the Twin Cities chasing down leads as he looks for the missing tigers. Things go from bad to worse. Then, when it all hits the fan at home, he’s running back to Mankato some two hours away.
The criminals involved in the tiger caper are truly despicable creatures. The idea of killing these gorgeous animals for their body parts is almost sacrilegious to me. As I read, I kept hoping that somehow these cats would get loose and turn on their tormentors. Some of these men are not too bright. Others are greedy. One is greedy, addicted to Xanax, and sociopathic. Will they get away with their scheme, or will Virgil stop them in time to save the tigers, ensuring that the thieves get their just desserts? Perhaps the tigers will have the last laugh? Frankie is not laughing back in Mankato after she runs into some trouble. Can Virgil help fix that problem too?
Speaking of laughs, there are more than a few chuckles in this book. Virgil Flowers isn’t exactly a textbook cop. He doesn’t look like one, and he doesn’t act like one. Add in some kooky secondary characters and bizarre situations (for one, Sparkle’s boyfriend is a Catholic priest), and it’s a highly entertaining book. Tiger killing and murders aside - those parts are definitely not funny or even mysterious - because we know all along who’s behind it. The enjoyment comes from watching Virgil try to track them down.
I offer my apologies to the late, great poet:
Virgil, Virgil fearless Flowers,
Working cases at all hours,
In the city, at the zoo.
Did he who made the cat make you?
My thanks go to NetGalley, Penguin Group/Putnam Publishing, and the author for providing me with an ARC in exchange for my unbiased, honest review.
4 stars
In the forests of the night:
What immortal hand or eye,
Dare frame thy fearful symmetry? (From The Tyger by William Blake)
When two rare – endangered – Amur tigers are stolen from the Minnesota zoo, experts fear that the catnappers are tied to the illegal traditional Chinese medicine trade. Zoo officials are desperate knowing that their beloved tigers may soon be killed.
I was prepared to dislike Escape Clause. Animal abuse is repulsive to me. Later, when pythons are mentioned – those who know me know that I loathe snakes of any size – I was ready to cover my eyes and call it a day. But enter Virgil Flowers – yes, that Virgil Flowers, the BCA’s fan-tabulous Flowers. How could I really dislike a book starring Virgil blooming Flowers?
As the blurb indicates, the case of the missing tigers is not the only storm on Virgil’s horizon. Things at home in Mankato are raining down buckets of trouble too. His girlfriend Frankie’s sister Sparkle shows up to do some research into local migrant workers, and that spells trouble with a capital T that rhymes with V that stands for Virgil. As in that’s who’s in the thick of it all. Virgil finds himself running all over the Twin Cities chasing down leads as he looks for the missing tigers. Things go from bad to worse. Then, when it all hits the fan at home, he’s running back to Mankato some two hours away.
The criminals involved in the tiger caper are truly despicable creatures. The idea of killing these gorgeous animals for their body parts is almost sacrilegious to me. As I read, I kept hoping that somehow these cats would get loose and turn on their tormentors. Some of these men are not too bright. Others are greedy. One is greedy, addicted to Xanax, and sociopathic. Will they get away with their scheme, or will Virgil stop them in time to save the tigers, ensuring that the thieves get their just desserts? Perhaps the tigers will have the last laugh? Frankie is not laughing back in Mankato after she runs into some trouble. Can Virgil help fix that problem too?
Speaking of laughs, there are more than a few chuckles in this book. Virgil Flowers isn’t exactly a textbook cop. He doesn’t look like one, and he doesn’t act like one. Add in some kooky secondary characters and bizarre situations (for one, Sparkle’s boyfriend is a Catholic priest), and it’s a highly entertaining book. Tiger killing and murders aside - those parts are definitely not funny or even mysterious - because we know all along who’s behind it. The enjoyment comes from watching Virgil try to track them down.
I offer my apologies to the late, great poet:
Virgil, Virgil fearless Flowers,
Working cases at all hours,
In the city, at the zoo.
Did he who made the cat make you?
My thanks go to NetGalley, Penguin Group/Putnam Publishing, and the author for providing me with an ARC in exchange for my unbiased, honest review.
4 stars
November 18, 2024
One heck of a case!
Two Amur tigers have been taken from the Minnesota Zoo. By the time Virgil Flowers is asked to investigate the abduction, the tigers may already be dead.
There’s a fear that the people who took the tigers plan to kill them and sell their body parts for illegal use in traditional Chinese medicine.
Virgil believes this must have been an inside job. But with very few leads, he knows these endangered animals are running out of time.
As an animal lover, this one was hard to read—but the ending was so satisfying!
Cliffhanger: No
4/5 Fangs
MrsLeif's Two Fangs About It | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram
Two Amur tigers have been taken from the Minnesota Zoo. By the time Virgil Flowers is asked to investigate the abduction, the tigers may already be dead.
There’s a fear that the people who took the tigers plan to kill them and sell their body parts for illegal use in traditional Chinese medicine.
Virgil believes this must have been an inside job. But with very few leads, he knows these endangered animals are running out of time.
As an animal lover, this one was hard to read—but the ending was so satisfying!
Cliffhanger: No
4/5 Fangs
MrsLeif's Two Fangs About It | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram
October 16, 2016
I have read John Sandford's books over the years and have always enjoyed them, especially when Virgil Flowers is front and centre. Two rare and very large tigers have been stolen from Minnesota zoo and the belief is that they have been taken for their body parts which are extremely lucrative in the Chinese medicine market. The action starts right away and it isn't long before we know who we are dealing with. In some books this may spoil the storyline but Sandford has a way of making the chase so exciting that this perspective works. While this is happening Virgil and his girlfriend Frankie's relationship is suffering as Frankie's sister has arrived to assist Frankie in chasing down a factory where immigrant workers are being abused. Strong story with great characters, another winner. Thank you to Netgalley, the author and publisher for the chance to read this book in exchange for an honest review.
August 27, 2016
Ah, man - I finished it. Now I'll have to wait for who knows how long (well, maybe the author has an inkling) for Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension agent Virgil Flowers to make his next appearance in print.
Sigh. You see, over many years of reading the previous books in the series (this, I believe, is the ninth) as well as the author's Prey series featuring Lucas Davenport, the two have made and stayed on my Top 10 list of all-time favorite leading men. But the free-wheeling, often irreverent Virgil beats the more reserved Lucas hands down in my book - except maybe in the 2011 TV movie "Certain Prey" starring hunky Mark Harmon as Davenport.
The point is this: opening this book, like all that preceded it, is like opening the door to welcome an old friend - and I'm always sorry when our visits come to an end.
Here, Virgil finds himself entwined in two concurrent plots, starting with the apparent theft of two rare Amur tigers from the Minnesota zoo. Tiger parts, it seems, are in great demand in traditional Chinese medicine, and the race is on to find them before they're chopped, ground and funneled into high-priced vials. Meantime, Virgil's girlfriend Frankie's sister Sparkle, visiting for the summer, has put herself in the crosshairs of some very nasty people as she tries to get the dirt on mistreatment of migrant workers to finish her doctoral dissertation. Because of his relationship with Frankie, Virgil can't be directly involved with the latter issue, although (as usual), the issue has a way of involving him.
There's no shortage of action that includes plenty of blood, guts, gore and bawdy language. And also as usual, Lucas makes the occasional appearance, if only by phone (he was Virgil's boss at the BCI before getting fed up with the bureaucracy and leaving, but the two remain in touch).
In the interests of full disclosure, I received an advance copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. So lest I be accused of being overenthusiastic in my opinion because of my prior relationship with Virgil (I wish), I'll nitpick a bit - starting with the man himself. He seems to have mellowed a bit here, almost to the point of threatening his good ol' bad boy reputation. But after all, he is getting older, and he appears to be happily settled down with girlfriend Frankie, so maybe that's an inevitable progression. The ending, too, kind of gnawed at me; it was tasty, but a bit hard to swallow.
The verdict? It's another solid entry in the Virgil Flowers series (and for those who may be concerned, it stands alone well). Highly recommended!
Sigh. You see, over many years of reading the previous books in the series (this, I believe, is the ninth) as well as the author's Prey series featuring Lucas Davenport, the two have made and stayed on my Top 10 list of all-time favorite leading men. But the free-wheeling, often irreverent Virgil beats the more reserved Lucas hands down in my book - except maybe in the 2011 TV movie "Certain Prey" starring hunky Mark Harmon as Davenport.
The point is this: opening this book, like all that preceded it, is like opening the door to welcome an old friend - and I'm always sorry when our visits come to an end.
Here, Virgil finds himself entwined in two concurrent plots, starting with the apparent theft of two rare Amur tigers from the Minnesota zoo. Tiger parts, it seems, are in great demand in traditional Chinese medicine, and the race is on to find them before they're chopped, ground and funneled into high-priced vials. Meantime, Virgil's girlfriend Frankie's sister Sparkle, visiting for the summer, has put herself in the crosshairs of some very nasty people as she tries to get the dirt on mistreatment of migrant workers to finish her doctoral dissertation. Because of his relationship with Frankie, Virgil can't be directly involved with the latter issue, although (as usual), the issue has a way of involving him.
There's no shortage of action that includes plenty of blood, guts, gore and bawdy language. And also as usual, Lucas makes the occasional appearance, if only by phone (he was Virgil's boss at the BCI before getting fed up with the bureaucracy and leaving, but the two remain in touch).
In the interests of full disclosure, I received an advance copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. So lest I be accused of being overenthusiastic in my opinion because of my prior relationship with Virgil (I wish), I'll nitpick a bit - starting with the man himself. He seems to have mellowed a bit here, almost to the point of threatening his good ol' bad boy reputation. But after all, he is getting older, and he appears to be happily settled down with girlfriend Frankie, so maybe that's an inevitable progression. The ending, too, kind of gnawed at me; it was tasty, but a bit hard to swallow.
The verdict? It's another solid entry in the Virgil Flowers series (and for those who may be concerned, it stands alone well). Highly recommended!
February 16, 2017
Another entertaining and enjoyable book in the Virgil Flowers series!
October 30, 2016
Ok, all of John Sandford books are good, but the Virgil Flowers series are always the most fun. This one is no exception. How many times could I go between chuckling and ewwww? Not for the squeamish.
November 9, 2016
Virgil is cavorting nude with Frankie in a swimming hole when he is called to help solve the case of a stolen pair of rare Amur tigers from the Minneapolis zoo. The possible culprits are animal rights activists or those seeking rare animal parts for cult medicines. The mastermind is eating Xanax like Halloween candy, while bumping off his partners, drawing the attention of their crazy brothers, who come seeking vengeance. The sideshow, involving Frankie's sister Sparkle, was a detraction, but was offset by bringing ex-victim, now BCA agent, Catrin Mattson, into the story. Virgil meticulously follows all of the leads, but misses the perpetrator initially. Like all Virgil Flowers novels, it's about the hunt and sidestories. Like Kemper, I took away a star because of the kidnap of an endangered species.
April 16, 2019
I enjoyed this so much that I did not remember that I had already finished this months before
January 9, 2017
I decided to kick off my 2017 reading with my old friend John Sandford. I figured that would allow me to start the year with a positive review, and I was right. Sandford never lets me down.
Virgil is a very different character from Davenport, not as hard-edged or ruthless, but his adventures are tense nail-biters, all the same. In this case, the fate of two rare tigers is hanging in the balance, so the ticking clock is a priority in solving the mystery and foiling the bad guys. I saw that some people were turned off by this book because it contained this threat to animals, and while I was desperately rooting for the tigers, I am not MORE bothered by cruelty to animals than I am by cruelty to humans. Since Sandford novels are rife with cruelty to humans, this didn't really faze me.
*** SPOILERS AHEAD ***
One thing that I noticed in this particular book was that coincidence played a big part. No less than three times did the antagonist avoid capture by Virgil by the simple expedient of arriving at a location and seeing Virgil before Virgil saw him. With luck like that, Peck should have been playing the lottery instead of stealing tigers! I foresaw Peck's fate about halfway through the book, so that was rather predictable.
I found the storyline with Sparkle and her part-time priest funny, and I admired her zeal for exposing the corruption of the plant-owners, but I was starting to get annoyed by the fact that everyone but her was paying the price for her goal. I was actually kinda glad when she got punched--finally, she takes the heat for her own actions! I mean, no one should be beat up for trying to expose lawbreaking and abuse, but Frankie wasn't involved in it at all and ends up in the hospital, then Ramona. The part that pissed me off was that Sparkle told Ramona that nothing would happen and she wouldn't be in any danger for helping her sneak in. Clearly, she knew that these people were dangerous and that Ramona was taking a risk--Sparkle should have been upfront with her about that, and let her then decide if she wanted to help her.
Those are minor issues--the book overall, as usual, is a solid good thriller. I recommend Sandford to anyone who enjoys excellently written crime thrillers with interesting, well-developed characters and taut, suspenseful plots. What more could you ask for?
Virgil is a very different character from Davenport, not as hard-edged or ruthless, but his adventures are tense nail-biters, all the same. In this case, the fate of two rare tigers is hanging in the balance, so the ticking clock is a priority in solving the mystery and foiling the bad guys. I saw that some people were turned off by this book because it contained this threat to animals, and while I was desperately rooting for the tigers, I am not MORE bothered by cruelty to animals than I am by cruelty to humans. Since Sandford novels are rife with cruelty to humans, this didn't really faze me.
*** SPOILERS AHEAD ***
One thing that I noticed in this particular book was that coincidence played a big part. No less than three times did the antagonist avoid capture by Virgil by the simple expedient of arriving at a location and seeing Virgil before Virgil saw him. With luck like that, Peck should have been playing the lottery instead of stealing tigers! I foresaw Peck's fate about halfway through the book, so that was rather predictable.
I found the storyline with Sparkle and her part-time priest funny, and I admired her zeal for exposing the corruption of the plant-owners, but I was starting to get annoyed by the fact that everyone but her was paying the price for her goal. I was actually kinda glad when she got punched--finally, she takes the heat for her own actions! I mean, no one should be beat up for trying to expose lawbreaking and abuse, but Frankie wasn't involved in it at all and ends up in the hospital, then Ramona. The part that pissed me off was that Sparkle told Ramona that nothing would happen and she wouldn't be in any danger for helping her sneak in. Clearly, she knew that these people were dangerous and that Ramona was taking a risk--Sparkle should have been upfront with her about that, and let her then decide if she wanted to help her.
Those are minor issues--the book overall, as usual, is a solid good thriller. I recommend Sandford to anyone who enjoys excellently written crime thrillers with interesting, well-developed characters and taut, suspenseful plots. What more could you ask for?
November 18, 2016
There are two things you can pretty much count on author John Sandford to do: 1.) write gripping engaging thrillers, and 2.) give them absolutely horrible and misleading titles.
And once again with Escape Clause, his newest entry in the Virgil Flowers detective series, Sandford has delivered on both counts.
As everyone knows, an escape clause is a clause in a contract that specifies the conditions under which one party can be freed from an obligation. That does not happen here. In fact, that would be horrible if it did. Who would want to go through three hundred pages of Flowers working with his attorney perusing some lengthy legal document? Escape Clause seems like something that hotshot newbie Brad in marketing decided to suggest to move a little more units.
A far more accurate title would be: Virgil Flowers and the Case of the Filched Felines.
In Sandford’s new book, Virgil Flowers and the Case of the Filched Felines, pair of extremely endangered Siberian tigers has been stolen from the Minnesota zoo. A nefarious crew hired by Chinese mobster, Zhang Min has taken these stripy cats to harvest their organs, bones, and various body parts for natural medicines. These miscreants include the violent but slow-witted Hamlet brothers and the disgraced (for groping an unconscious patient) Dr. Winston Peck VI. It is up to Virgil Flowers of Minnesota’s Bureau of Criminal Apprehension to track down these cats before they literally get ground to dust.
Virgil Flowers and the Case of the Filched Felines is classic Sandford—the story is riveting, the pressure building up as Peck starts to tie up any loose ends with murderous efficiency. We get the humorous workplace banter between cops—always awesome (I really hope this is how it works in real life), the small town interactions that make a simple rural existence appealing, and of course, more of Virgil Flowers being Virgil Flowers. What a great character to spend time with again.
The only thing that didn’t seem to work was a slapdash side-story about Virgil’s girlfriend’s sister (doing a kind of vague investigative reporting on migrant workers) coming to stay for a while. Everything about this subplot seemed pasted on to make the book fill out some sort of contractual page allotment. Almost as if the publisher had some sort of... escape clause in their contract with Sandford that they could keep more royalties if he didn’t submit 300 or more pages. Hmm, maybe that title is beginning to make more sense!
Well, mark Virgil Flowers and the Case of the Filched Felines as another strong entry into this series and a delight to read.
And once again with Escape Clause, his newest entry in the Virgil Flowers detective series, Sandford has delivered on both counts.
As everyone knows, an escape clause is a clause in a contract that specifies the conditions under which one party can be freed from an obligation. That does not happen here. In fact, that would be horrible if it did. Who would want to go through three hundred pages of Flowers working with his attorney perusing some lengthy legal document? Escape Clause seems like something that hotshot newbie Brad in marketing decided to suggest to move a little more units.
A far more accurate title would be: Virgil Flowers and the Case of the Filched Felines.
In Sandford’s new book, Virgil Flowers and the Case of the Filched Felines, pair of extremely endangered Siberian tigers has been stolen from the Minnesota zoo. A nefarious crew hired by Chinese mobster, Zhang Min has taken these stripy cats to harvest their organs, bones, and various body parts for natural medicines. These miscreants include the violent but slow-witted Hamlet brothers and the disgraced (for groping an unconscious patient) Dr. Winston Peck VI. It is up to Virgil Flowers of Minnesota’s Bureau of Criminal Apprehension to track down these cats before they literally get ground to dust.
Virgil Flowers and the Case of the Filched Felines is classic Sandford—the story is riveting, the pressure building up as Peck starts to tie up any loose ends with murderous efficiency. We get the humorous workplace banter between cops—always awesome (I really hope this is how it works in real life), the small town interactions that make a simple rural existence appealing, and of course, more of Virgil Flowers being Virgil Flowers. What a great character to spend time with again.
The only thing that didn’t seem to work was a slapdash side-story about Virgil’s girlfriend’s sister (doing a kind of vague investigative reporting on migrant workers) coming to stay for a while. Everything about this subplot seemed pasted on to make the book fill out some sort of contractual page allotment. Almost as if the publisher had some sort of... escape clause in their contract with Sandford that they could keep more royalties if he didn’t submit 300 or more pages. Hmm, maybe that title is beginning to make more sense!
Well, mark Virgil Flowers and the Case of the Filched Felines as another strong entry into this series and a delight to read.
October 28, 2016
VFF is an awesome character created by John Sanford. This fictional guy should be the envy of law enforcement in that he goes hard after bad guys by all means with guile and despite being poor with a gun. His bravery and doggedness endeared him the support of people of Minnesota. 8 of 10 stars
December 15, 2021
I always love a book by John Sandford and Virgil Flowers is my favorite character. This story as usual had alot going on but mostly about rare tigers stolen from a zoo. All the usual characters were there and although it's an intense job, there are many laughs in the story also. Definitely recommend if you enjoy a good mystery.
April 30, 2017
This is just what the doctor ordered for an entertaining read to clear the mental palate from too much ostensibly gourmet fare of serious literature. Minnesota detective Virgil Flowers gets assigned to the case of theft of a couple of rare tigers from the Minneapolis Zoo. This is not his typical case, but all the regular police are busy with security of presidential aspirants campaigning at the Minnesota State Fair, as justified by the recent assassination attempt on the liberal candidate at the Iowa State Fair. The pressure is high to solve it fast because it appears likely the culprits will kill the beasts to processing their organs for the lucrative Chinese medicine market. Soon the chopped up body of a zoo worker is identified in a case thrown into a river, obviously a cover-up for the theft. Virgil’s supervisor on the case is apoplectic:
“Cut off his arms? Cut off his arms? …Why do your cases always wind up like this?” Duncan asked, running a hand through his hair. “Why can’t you have a straightforward missing-tigers case?”
…”Most of them are really straightforward.”
“I can’t remember one that was straightforward,” Duncan said. “What about the one with the spies? What about the one with the dognapping that turned into a triple murder or something and you arrested the school board?”
…”Not all of them, Virgil said. “One of them is still on the run.”
I love Virgil’s humor, his attention to the pleasures of fishing and rock music, and his dogged persistence in solving crimes by asking the right questions and creative listening. He always forgets to carry or load his gun, and always has to regret that. Unlike most crime fighting heroes, he has no dark past to compensate for, he does not suffer from alcohol and substance abuse, and has a healthy relationship with women. Here his serious relationship with Frankie gets a bit complicated when his beautiful sister Sparkle moves in for the summer and has no reservations about joining them nude in their hot-tub. But his protectiveness for Frankie gets extended to Sparkle in a topical side story of this tale when her political advocacy for migrant workers brings out some serious threats from America-first types.
As usual, Sandford shows the reader what the bad guys are up to in committing their crimes and countering Virgil’s moves. Here the kingpin, a Dr. Peck, makes for quite a colorful adversary, a man oppressed with the ignominy of bankruptcy and who has to boost his courage with Xanax. Beyond managing the complex operation of this money making scheme, he can be a man of action. As an example, there is a point where Virgil is getting too close for comfort, and in a booze and drug inspired response spends a few minutes reading up on Molotov cocktails on the internet and soon is heading to Virgil’s home to deliver a firebomb. At a point of self-reflection, our twisted doctor tries to diagnose himself and his genetic line of physicians:
Were the Pecks psychopaths? He didn’t think so. Sociopaths, probably, since he had to admit he really didn’t feel much for his fellow human beings. He even had a hard time figuring out what it would be like feeling something for his fellow humans.
Ironically, at one point Virgil has to protect Peck, whose notoriety in marketing medicines made from animal organs raises the ire of a rabid animal rights activist. The most thrilling scene of the book comes with him dealing with a high-speed highway chase and assault by her on Peck’s vehicle with automatic weapons.
A great one in the series for me. I see no great benefit from reading them in order, so feel free to pick this one if the subject incites your interest.
“Cut off his arms? Cut off his arms? …Why do your cases always wind up like this?” Duncan asked, running a hand through his hair. “Why can’t you have a straightforward missing-tigers case?”
…”Most of them are really straightforward.”
“I can’t remember one that was straightforward,” Duncan said. “What about the one with the spies? What about the one with the dognapping that turned into a triple murder or something and you arrested the school board?”
…”Not all of them, Virgil said. “One of them is still on the run.”
I love Virgil’s humor, his attention to the pleasures of fishing and rock music, and his dogged persistence in solving crimes by asking the right questions and creative listening. He always forgets to carry or load his gun, and always has to regret that. Unlike most crime fighting heroes, he has no dark past to compensate for, he does not suffer from alcohol and substance abuse, and has a healthy relationship with women. Here his serious relationship with Frankie gets a bit complicated when his beautiful sister Sparkle moves in for the summer and has no reservations about joining them nude in their hot-tub. But his protectiveness for Frankie gets extended to Sparkle in a topical side story of this tale when her political advocacy for migrant workers brings out some serious threats from America-first types.
As usual, Sandford shows the reader what the bad guys are up to in committing their crimes and countering Virgil’s moves. Here the kingpin, a Dr. Peck, makes for quite a colorful adversary, a man oppressed with the ignominy of bankruptcy and who has to boost his courage with Xanax. Beyond managing the complex operation of this money making scheme, he can be a man of action. As an example, there is a point where Virgil is getting too close for comfort, and in a booze and drug inspired response spends a few minutes reading up on Molotov cocktails on the internet and soon is heading to Virgil’s home to deliver a firebomb. At a point of self-reflection, our twisted doctor tries to diagnose himself and his genetic line of physicians:
Were the Pecks psychopaths? He didn’t think so. Sociopaths, probably, since he had to admit he really didn’t feel much for his fellow human beings. He even had a hard time figuring out what it would be like feeling something for his fellow humans.
Ironically, at one point Virgil has to protect Peck, whose notoriety in marketing medicines made from animal organs raises the ire of a rabid animal rights activist. The most thrilling scene of the book comes with him dealing with a high-speed highway chase and assault by her on Peck’s vehicle with automatic weapons.
A great one in the series for me. I see no great benefit from reading them in order, so feel free to pick this one if the subject incites your interest.
July 19, 2016
Another hit for John Sanford and Virgil Flowers. I have read all of his Virgil Flower’s stories and there is no better “good ol’ boy” than Virgil. He has an innate sense of what is right and wrong that he brings to each case he is trying to solve and those he winds up a part of because he’s Virgil Flowers. In this 9th story Virgil has been tasked with finding 2 rare Amur tigers that have gone missing from the Minnesota zoo. It is feared they have been stolen for their use in traditional Chinese medicine and their medicinal properties is very prized in the Chinese culture. It appears to be an inside job but as Virgil gets closer and closer bodies start turning up. Frankie, Virgil’s girlfriend, gets beaten up and was because of her association with Virgil or some other reason. In typical Virgil Flowers style he pokes the bear or in this case the tiger so to speak and gets himself into more trouble than be bargained for. Can he find the tigers before it’s too late and in the meantime can he also find who attacked Frankie. Great read!! I would like to thank the Publisher and Net Galley for the chance to read this ARC.
October 29, 2016
Audio. I love Virgil and this narrator-don't know why this one was a little boring for me. It almost felt like someone else was continuing to write the series in Sandford's name. Know I am in minority here- but for me it was just-OK. I will, however, continue to read what Sandford writes. I usually really enjoy his work- esp when Virgil is involved.
March 31, 2018
I could not finish this book. Huge failure! The subject matter of killing rare tigers make me 😡.
I thought maybe this author will do something different. He is known for his surprises. I read to chapter 4. Chapter 3 makes you 😓, 😡, 🍷, and some type of weapon for those waste of oxygen idiots.
I thought maybe this author will do something different. He is known for his surprises. I read to chapter 4. Chapter 3 makes you 😓, 😡, 🍷, and some type of weapon for those waste of oxygen idiots.
May 10, 2021
After being a big fan of John Sandford’s Lucas Davenport “Prey” series, I am now plowing my way through his second series focusing on the ever-popular, Virgil Flowers. I have just put the finishing touches on his ninth book – “Escape Clause” – and am ready to provide my personal review.
As I have mentioned previously, Virgil Flowers is the anti-Davenport of law enforcement, in his late thirties, tall, lean, and long haired. He’s been married and divorced three times, but still loves and adores the ladies. He’s an outdoorsman, photographer, and writer in his spare time. Most importantly, his preferred dress style is jeans and indie rock-and-roll band t-shirts. Virgil also works as an investigator for the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension, being recruited by Lucas Davenport and reporting directly to him. That is until this book, in which Davenport quits his job, leaving Virgil with a new boss.
“Escape Clause” starts off with three men – Peck, leader of the band; Hayk and Hamlet, brothers and criminal enforcers for hire – breaking into a Minnesota zoo to kidnap two rare and near extinction Amur tigers. Their intent is to kill the tigers and extort their body parts for sale to an illegal Chinese distributor, Zhang Min, and his out-of-control son, Xiaomin min.
While Virgil is trying to spend some quality time with his new girlfriend, Frankie Noble, in their private swimming hole, he gets two painful interruptions. The first one is from Frankie’s younger sister, Sparkle, who surprises them with a visit while she is completing her research for her college dissertation. However, her research involves interviewing illegal migrants working at the nearby Castro canning factory. The second interruption is a call from Virgil’s new boss, John Duncan, who has replaced the role of Lucas Davenport. Following his previous successful investigation of dognappers, Flowers is now being called in to find the stolen tigers as the news explodes in the media.
Virgil finds himself immersed in tracking down the tigers with a sparse trail to follow. It doesn’t take long before a murder falls out and the pressure is upped. At the same time, Virgil finds himself dealing with trouble related to Sparkle’s research when she angers some very violent people who don’t want their illegal labor sources revealed. Not only is Sparkle at risk, her actions have brought Frankie into the limelight and exposes her to deadly harm. Before he knows it, Virgil is in the middle of several lethal situations that can only lead to terrible outcomes…
As I mentioned in my review of the last book in this series, most of the recent villains that Flowers faces are quirky and unique characters that are more off their rockers than downright scary and formidable foes for Virgil. I am finding myself growing comfortable with how the wacky characters make this series different. It is what makes Virgil Flowers fresh, different, and captivating. It’s weird and unusual, but it works. As a matter of fact, it works very well. For example, Peck is popping so many Xanax that he can’t remember why he is at Walmart one minute and then firebombing the wrong house the next. I enjoyed Levon and Simonian family members, especially the favor they paid off with Virgil. I also appreciated and respected Virgil’s BCA partner, Catrin Mattsson, who provided support and brought another strong character to the mix. I would definitely like to see more of her in future books.
There are different types and styles in the mystery genre, including “cozy” mysteries, often set in small-towns with cute and country folk. For me, I have decided that Virgil Flowers has now created its own version that I lovingly have dubbed “trailer park trash” mysteries. I mean that as no insult whatsoever and with only the utmost respect. Those who enjoy Virgil Flowers will know what I am referring to.
Having devoured seven books in the series now, I fund the first five books to be between really good and great, and the sixth book better than average, but not great. This seventh book almost ended up in the better than average category, but something about the last quarter of the book made me change my mind and place it in the really good category.
Overall, Sandford delivers another interesting and escapist read that delivers enough action, fun, humor, and a good dose of our hero, Virgil Flowers, investigator and animal saver. It continues to keep my interest and enjoyment at a high level and I will be moving on to the next book to see what happens to him next. There better be more Frankie. Oh yes. That’s what I am talking about…
My general score is 4 stars out of 5 stars.
As I have mentioned previously, Virgil Flowers is the anti-Davenport of law enforcement, in his late thirties, tall, lean, and long haired. He’s been married and divorced three times, but still loves and adores the ladies. He’s an outdoorsman, photographer, and writer in his spare time. Most importantly, his preferred dress style is jeans and indie rock-and-roll band t-shirts. Virgil also works as an investigator for the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension, being recruited by Lucas Davenport and reporting directly to him. That is until this book, in which Davenport quits his job, leaving Virgil with a new boss.
“Escape Clause” starts off with three men – Peck, leader of the band; Hayk and Hamlet, brothers and criminal enforcers for hire – breaking into a Minnesota zoo to kidnap two rare and near extinction Amur tigers. Their intent is to kill the tigers and extort their body parts for sale to an illegal Chinese distributor, Zhang Min, and his out-of-control son, Xiaomin min.
While Virgil is trying to spend some quality time with his new girlfriend, Frankie Noble, in their private swimming hole, he gets two painful interruptions. The first one is from Frankie’s younger sister, Sparkle, who surprises them with a visit while she is completing her research for her college dissertation. However, her research involves interviewing illegal migrants working at the nearby Castro canning factory. The second interruption is a call from Virgil’s new boss, John Duncan, who has replaced the role of Lucas Davenport. Following his previous successful investigation of dognappers, Flowers is now being called in to find the stolen tigers as the news explodes in the media.
Virgil finds himself immersed in tracking down the tigers with a sparse trail to follow. It doesn’t take long before a murder falls out and the pressure is upped. At the same time, Virgil finds himself dealing with trouble related to Sparkle’s research when she angers some very violent people who don’t want their illegal labor sources revealed. Not only is Sparkle at risk, her actions have brought Frankie into the limelight and exposes her to deadly harm. Before he knows it, Virgil is in the middle of several lethal situations that can only lead to terrible outcomes…
As I mentioned in my review of the last book in this series, most of the recent villains that Flowers faces are quirky and unique characters that are more off their rockers than downright scary and formidable foes for Virgil. I am finding myself growing comfortable with how the wacky characters make this series different. It is what makes Virgil Flowers fresh, different, and captivating. It’s weird and unusual, but it works. As a matter of fact, it works very well. For example, Peck is popping so many Xanax that he can’t remember why he is at Walmart one minute and then firebombing the wrong house the next. I enjoyed Levon and Simonian family members, especially the favor they paid off with Virgil. I also appreciated and respected Virgil’s BCA partner, Catrin Mattsson, who provided support and brought another strong character to the mix. I would definitely like to see more of her in future books.
There are different types and styles in the mystery genre, including “cozy” mysteries, often set in small-towns with cute and country folk. For me, I have decided that Virgil Flowers has now created its own version that I lovingly have dubbed “trailer park trash” mysteries. I mean that as no insult whatsoever and with only the utmost respect. Those who enjoy Virgil Flowers will know what I am referring to.
Having devoured seven books in the series now, I fund the first five books to be between really good and great, and the sixth book better than average, but not great. This seventh book almost ended up in the better than average category, but something about the last quarter of the book made me change my mind and place it in the really good category.
Overall, Sandford delivers another interesting and escapist read that delivers enough action, fun, humor, and a good dose of our hero, Virgil Flowers, investigator and animal saver. It continues to keep my interest and enjoyment at a high level and I will be moving on to the next book to see what happens to him next. There better be more Frankie. Oh yes. That’s what I am talking about…
My general score is 4 stars out of 5 stars.
January 30, 2024
Another fresh Virgil Flowers story. Tigers, sleuths and bad guys oh my!
Escape Clause was especially captivating for me since Virgil is tasked with finding out what happened to two tigers who were stolen from the local zoo. His main goals are to secure their safe return and bringing those responsible for the theft to justice. As an animal lover, this episode had me hook line and sinker.
Luckily, Flowers never loses his ability to crack a joke under pressure and lighten tense situations up a bit. Some of the things that come out of his mouth are just exceptionally witty and off-the-cuff, always leaving me laughing out loud at his clever, rapid-fire retorts and quips. . . never failing to be chock full of the kind of dry sarcasm I relish.
Both he and Davenport never cease to entertain, and hopefully, their books will continue to be enjoyed for many generations to come. #Timeless!
Escape Clause was especially captivating for me since Virgil is tasked with finding out what happened to two tigers who were stolen from the local zoo. His main goals are to secure their safe return and bringing those responsible for the theft to justice. As an animal lover, this episode had me hook line and sinker.
Luckily, Flowers never loses his ability to crack a joke under pressure and lighten tense situations up a bit. Some of the things that come out of his mouth are just exceptionally witty and off-the-cuff, always leaving me laughing out loud at his clever, rapid-fire retorts and quips. . . never failing to be chock full of the kind of dry sarcasm I relish.
Both he and Davenport never cease to entertain, and hopefully, their books will continue to be enjoyed for many generations to come. #Timeless!
September 26, 2017
This Virgil Flowers, aka F-ing Flowers books begins days after Extreme Prey https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/2... and if you haven't read all 26 Prey books and the previous 8 Virgil Flowers books; you will be just fine. You really don't need any background. Someone has stolen two endangered tigers from a local zoo; and since everyone else is busy with Presidential Protection, Flowers has to solve it. And once he gets involved he is quickly swept up in hysteria since everyone pretty much the Tigers have been taken by someone for use in Traditional Medicine.
The author doesn't keep you guessing, you know who the baddies are. And you know about the tigers' outcomes. I give you a reason to cheer for Virgil. He has plenty of distractions, like his girlfriend's crazy sister Sparkle who is documenting illegal workers on local farms. Her investigation as part of her Dissertation, there is no legal or ethical reason for her interference it is solely self aggrandizement, makes her sister the victim of a wicked beating.
Technology plays a big part in solving the case if it wasn't for Apple Iphones the case would have been unsolvable.
The author doesn't keep you guessing, you know who the baddies are. And you know about the tigers' outcomes. I give you a reason to cheer for Virgil. He has plenty of distractions, like his girlfriend's crazy sister Sparkle who is documenting illegal workers on local farms. Her investigation as part of her Dissertation, there is no legal or ethical reason for her interference it is solely self aggrandizement, makes her sister the victim of a wicked beating.
Technology plays a big part in solving the case if it wasn't for Apple Iphones the case would have been unsolvable.
October 22, 2016
Escape Clause by John Sandford
Virgil Flowers series book # 9
2★'s
From The Book:
The first storm comes from, of all places, the Minnesota zoo. Two large, and very rare, Amur tigers have vanished from their cage, and authorities are worried sick that they’ve been stolen for their body parts. Traditional Chinese medicine prizes those parts for home remedies, and people will do extreme things to get what they need. Some of them are a great deal more extreme than others—as Virgil is about to find out.
Then there’s the homefront. Virgil’s relationship with his girlfriend Frankie has been getting kind of serious, but when Frankie’s sister Sparkle moves in for the summer, the situation gets a lot more complicated. For one thing, her research into migrant workers is about to bring her up against some very violent people who emphatically do not want to be researched. For another…she thinks Virgil’s kind of cute.
My Thoughts:
Well...a first for me. A John Sanford book I didn't care much for. It wasn't the writing or the characters...all of that was the usual magnificent talents of John Sandford. It was the subject. A great portion of the book dealt with the trade in exotic animal parts and skins with the sacrifice two endanger Amur tigers, stolen from the Minnesota Zoo, becoming the first victims. I know this goes on...still...in spite of stricter laws... although perhaps not as much as it did 15 or 20 years ago, but still a terrible waste of an innocent, beautiful animal's life. I also know that the author was more than likely trying to make people aware of this despicable practice since he doesn't regularly destroy animals in his books. it was just more than I cared to read about from an author that I have so enjoyed all his books.
I have read some of the other reviews and people describe the book as humorous, quirky, exciting, light and breezy. Sorry...but I couldn't get past that tiger hanging from a hook. If I didn't give Mr. Sandford's book a fair shake...I sincerely apologize. I will certainly continue this series. Just hope there are no more on this subject.
Virgil Flowers series book # 9
2★'s
From The Book:
The first storm comes from, of all places, the Minnesota zoo. Two large, and very rare, Amur tigers have vanished from their cage, and authorities are worried sick that they’ve been stolen for their body parts. Traditional Chinese medicine prizes those parts for home remedies, and people will do extreme things to get what they need. Some of them are a great deal more extreme than others—as Virgil is about to find out.
Then there’s the homefront. Virgil’s relationship with his girlfriend Frankie has been getting kind of serious, but when Frankie’s sister Sparkle moves in for the summer, the situation gets a lot more complicated. For one thing, her research into migrant workers is about to bring her up against some very violent people who emphatically do not want to be researched. For another…she thinks Virgil’s kind of cute.
My Thoughts:
Well...a first for me. A John Sanford book I didn't care much for. It wasn't the writing or the characters...all of that was the usual magnificent talents of John Sandford. It was the subject. A great portion of the book dealt with the trade in exotic animal parts and skins with the sacrifice two endanger Amur tigers, stolen from the Minnesota Zoo, becoming the first victims. I know this goes on...still...in spite of stricter laws... although perhaps not as much as it did 15 or 20 years ago, but still a terrible waste of an innocent, beautiful animal's life. I also know that the author was more than likely trying to make people aware of this despicable practice since he doesn't regularly destroy animals in his books. it was just more than I cared to read about from an author that I have so enjoyed all his books.
I have read some of the other reviews and people describe the book as humorous, quirky, exciting, light and breezy. Sorry...but I couldn't get past that tiger hanging from a hook. If I didn't give Mr. Sandford's book a fair shake...I sincerely apologize. I will certainly continue this series. Just hope there are no more on this subject.
May 21, 2021
4 Stars. I had trouble rating it. BCA detective, "cowboy" Virgil Flowers, gets all the animal cases and he's drawn the theft of two rare Amur tigers from the Minneapolis Zoo. They're likely to be shot and turned into Chinese cultural medicine. The pace is relentless as he follows a few steps behind the perpetrators in his effort to save the endangered animals. Zoo officials are terrified they have already been killed; the public is outraged, and the media even have a huge stopwatch counting the time they have been missing. Much of the action is seen through the eyes of the main perp. He knows "that f'n Flowers" is coming. Why my difficulty in rating? I really enjoy Sandford and want to rate him high - 5 stars is always possible. Yet one or two aspects of the ending were predictable and the subplot, that of Flower's girlfriend Frankie and her competitiveness with her younger sister Sparkle, didn't develop as far as I thought it might. The chase still stands out - twists and turns with Virgil always one step closer. That's why I upped it to a four; but I'm not sure a more domesticated Flowers is my favourite side of him. Though Frankie does grow on you. (February 2018)
July 23, 2016
3.5 Stars. Much as I usually enjoy Virgil Flowers, this was a sloooow read, and quite frankly kind of boring. The premise was great - two rare Asian tigers are abducted from the zoo, as their organs and various parts make organic medicines that are highly prized by many Chinese; and would make the thieves quite a bit of money.
Problem is, the story didn't stay interesting very long. The investigation was lackluster at best; and all the clues just magically dropped into Flowers lap as needed. Even the fact that the bad guys were getting killed just as Flowers got close to catching them didn't raise any more interest; and the secondary story about Flowers girlfriend's sister was pointless. It added absolutely nothing to an already uninspired story.
This won't stop me from reading the next Virgil Flowers book (or Lucas Davenport); but this book was quite the letdown, a rare 'off' book for Sandford.
Problem is, the story didn't stay interesting very long. The investigation was lackluster at best; and all the clues just magically dropped into Flowers lap as needed. Even the fact that the bad guys were getting killed just as Flowers got close to catching them didn't raise any more interest; and the secondary story about Flowers girlfriend's sister was pointless. It added absolutely nothing to an already uninspired story.
This won't stop me from reading the next Virgil Flowers book (or Lucas Davenport); but this book was quite the letdown, a rare 'off' book for Sandford.
June 21, 2017
John Sandford has the ability to draw a reader in, make them laugh, worry and cheer for the good guy while booing the bad guy. The Virgil Flowers series is one of my favorites, simply because Virgil can get himself into some wild situations without even trying and manages (by the skin of his teeth) to get out of them without being killed, through no assistance from the killers. This story involves Liars and Tigers and Bears, Oh MY!! Along with several side stories that end up tying in strategically near the end. The prose is strong, continuous, fascinating and edge of your seat hoping for a positive outcome. I wouldn't have put it down until I was finished reading except people want to eat and I seem to be the only chef... If you haven't started the series, you can jump into it at any time without missing a beat, though to get a strong backstory, start at the beginning. It will probably make you want to read the Lucas Davenport Series as well. Love John Sandford's writing and anxiously await the next book!
February 6, 2017
"In the haylofts of life, there are always a few wasps."
After taking a break from the character to pen sci-fi thriller Saturn Run, John Sandford returns to his Virgil Flowers series with Escape Clause. Virgil Flowers is the eccentric lead investigator for the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension (BCA). Over the years his investigative prowess has garnered him as much recognition has his unconventional methods and personality.
The ninth novel in the series opens with Flowers, unsurprisingly, skinny dipping with the likes of his girlfriend, her sister, and a priest. The group's reprieve from the summer heat is soon interrupted by the ring of Flower's cell phone. Two endangered tigers have disappeared from the Minnesota Zoo and the BCA wants Flowers to intervene. While he is hesitant, especially given the fact that he recently searched for a pack of missing dogs, Virgil is assured by his boss that successful retrieval of the missing felines will ensure he never takes on an animal related case again.
As Virgil delves into the underworld of trading illegally procured animals, trouble on the home front begins to brew. His now serious girlfriend Frankie and her sister Sparkle have found themselves caught up with a rough crowd. Sparkle has been investigating a local factory's mistreatment of migrant workers. The people who run it are less than enthused. Because of the familial relationship, Virgil is prohibited from taking part in any formal investigations. That does little to keep the action from finding him.
Virgil Flowers is easily one of my favorite characters in modern mystery fiction. John Sandford's bare prose and quick pacing are the perfect fit for Flower's matter-of-fact personality. I always marvel at the way Sandford manages to keep the suspense wound and the pages turning even when we know exactly who is involved with a crime. The thread about the missing tigers had many twists and turns. So much so, that the subplot about Sparkle ended up feeling like an underdeveloped distraction. This did little to take away from my enjoyment of the novel, but I don't feel like it added much to the story. While you don't have to read the previous novels to understand this one, I highly encourage it. For one, they are great books! More so, it is fun to see the way Virgil Flowers has evolved over the series. I devoured this installment in a couple of sittings, and can't wait to read what happens next.
After taking a break from the character to pen sci-fi thriller Saturn Run, John Sandford returns to his Virgil Flowers series with Escape Clause. Virgil Flowers is the eccentric lead investigator for the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension (BCA). Over the years his investigative prowess has garnered him as much recognition has his unconventional methods and personality.
The ninth novel in the series opens with Flowers, unsurprisingly, skinny dipping with the likes of his girlfriend, her sister, and a priest. The group's reprieve from the summer heat is soon interrupted by the ring of Flower's cell phone. Two endangered tigers have disappeared from the Minnesota Zoo and the BCA wants Flowers to intervene. While he is hesitant, especially given the fact that he recently searched for a pack of missing dogs, Virgil is assured by his boss that successful retrieval of the missing felines will ensure he never takes on an animal related case again.
As Virgil delves into the underworld of trading illegally procured animals, trouble on the home front begins to brew. His now serious girlfriend Frankie and her sister Sparkle have found themselves caught up with a rough crowd. Sparkle has been investigating a local factory's mistreatment of migrant workers. The people who run it are less than enthused. Because of the familial relationship, Virgil is prohibited from taking part in any formal investigations. That does little to keep the action from finding him.
Virgil Flowers is easily one of my favorite characters in modern mystery fiction. John Sandford's bare prose and quick pacing are the perfect fit for Flower's matter-of-fact personality. I always marvel at the way Sandford manages to keep the suspense wound and the pages turning even when we know exactly who is involved with a crime. The thread about the missing tigers had many twists and turns. So much so, that the subplot about Sparkle ended up feeling like an underdeveloped distraction. This did little to take away from my enjoyment of the novel, but I don't feel like it added much to the story. While you don't have to read the previous novels to understand this one, I highly encourage it. For one, they are great books! More so, it is fun to see the way Virgil Flowers has evolved over the series. I devoured this installment in a couple of sittings, and can't wait to read what happens next.
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