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Alvarez & Pescoli #7.5
Deserves to be Dead
An original short story from iconic thriller collection Match Up, edited by Lee Child, featuring a never-before-seen pairing between bestsellers Lisa Jackson and John Sandford - along with their popular series characters Regan Pescoli and Virgil Flowers.
When not working for the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension, Agent Virgil Flowers is a keen fisherman. But a fishing trip to Montana is interrupted when he agrees to help track down a thief, teaming up with local detective Regan Pescoli to solve the crime.
For more exciting short story pairings, don't miss all eleven short stories in Match Up!
61 pages, Kindle Edition
First published June 13, 2017
504 people are currently reading
693 people want to read
About the author
Lisa Jackson
271 books9,596 followersLisa Jackson is the number-one New York Times bestselling author of over ninety-five novels, including the Rick Bentz and Reuben Montoya Series, the Pescoli and Alvarez Series, the Savannah series, and numerous stand alone novels. She also is the co-author of One Last Breath, Last Girl Standing, and the Colony Series, written with her sister and bestselling author Nancy Bush, as well as the collaborative novels Sinister and Ominous, written with Nancy Bush and Rosalind Noonan. There are over thirty million copies of her novels in print and her writing has been translated into twenty languages.
Before she became a nationally bestselling author, she was a mother struggling to keep food on the table by writing novels, hoping against hope that someone would pay her for them. Today, neck deep in murder, her books appear on The New York Times, USA Today, and Publishers Weekly national bestseller lists.
With dozens of bestsellers to her name, Lisa Jackson is a master of taking readers to the edge of sanity—and back—in novels that buzz with dangerous secrets and deadly passions. She continues to be fascinated by the minds and motives of both her killers and their pursuers—the personal, the professional, and the downright twisted. As she builds the puzzle of relationships, actions, clues, lies, and personal histories that haunt her protagonists, she must also confront the fear and terror faced by her victims and the harsh and enduring truth that, in the real world, terror and madness touch far too many lives and families.
Visit http://www.LisaJackson.com where you can find a Media Kit with photos and more information.
Before she became a nationally bestselling author, she was a mother struggling to keep food on the table by writing novels, hoping against hope that someone would pay her for them. Today, neck deep in murder, her books appear on The New York Times, USA Today, and Publishers Weekly national bestseller lists.
With dozens of bestsellers to her name, Lisa Jackson is a master of taking readers to the edge of sanity—and back—in novels that buzz with dangerous secrets and deadly passions. She continues to be fascinated by the minds and motives of both her killers and their pursuers—the personal, the professional, and the downright twisted. As she builds the puzzle of relationships, actions, clues, lies, and personal histories that haunt her protagonists, she must also confront the fear and terror faced by her victims and the harsh and enduring truth that, in the real world, terror and madness touch far too many lives and families.
Visit http://www.LisaJackson.com where you can find a Media Kit with photos and more information.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 39 reviews
October 26, 2019
Originally published in a collection of short stories, Match Up, edited by Lee Child, this piece is co-written by two established crime fiction writers and features leading characters from their books. I’m long familiar with Virgil Flowers but Lisa Jackson’s Regan Pescoli is new to me. It seems that this collaboration was instigated by Sandford who pretty much wrote the story and sent it to Jackson who added in scenes featuring her female detective and tweaked it a little. The result is a pretty satisfying yarn.
Flowers is on a fishing trip to Montana with a friend when he’s drawn, somewhat reluctantly, into conducting enquiries into minor crime and then sucked full-on into the the investigation of a much more serious crime. The local detective attending the latter is Pescoli. To give a little away would be to give it all away so I’ll just say that the marriage of the two characters works well and the story rattles along nicely, delivering a satisfying and somewhat surprising finale.
I’ve always thought that short story collections are like dining on a taster menu – I inevitably want more of the good courses and can well do without the rest. And though I don't think this represents the very best (short as it is it still gets bogged down a little in the middle) I do think I could cope with a larger portion of these two. The chemistry is good and they’re different enough that I think they’d spark off each other well. I’m already a devoted reader of anything Sandford churns out but I might just explore Jackson’s To Die series. There’s enough here to tempt me.
Flowers is on a fishing trip to Montana with a friend when he’s drawn, somewhat reluctantly, into conducting enquiries into minor crime and then sucked full-on into the the investigation of a much more serious crime. The local detective attending the latter is Pescoli. To give a little away would be to give it all away so I’ll just say that the marriage of the two characters works well and the story rattles along nicely, delivering a satisfying and somewhat surprising finale.
I’ve always thought that short story collections are like dining on a taster menu – I inevitably want more of the good courses and can well do without the rest. And though I don't think this represents the very best (short as it is it still gets bogged down a little in the middle) I do think I could cope with a larger portion of these two. The chemistry is good and they’re different enough that I think they’d spark off each other well. I’m already a devoted reader of anything Sandford churns out but I might just explore Jackson’s To Die series. There’s enough here to tempt me.
July 31, 2021
Great Matchup!
Detective Virgil Flowers and his friend, Johnson Johnson-that’s his name-are on a fishing vacation in Montana.
Against his wishes, Virgil is talked into helping a teenager locate her missing money. That simple act of charity leads to murder, and more.
Virgil is teamed up with Regan Pescoli, and together they work on locating the criminals, with help from the FBI, SWAT and Johnson Johnson.
And…Johnson-Johnson 🧐
Detective Virgil Flowers and his friend, Johnson Johnson-that’s his name-are on a fishing vacation in Montana.
Against his wishes, Virgil is talked into helping a teenager locate her missing money. That simple act of charity leads to murder, and more.
Virgil is teamed up with Regan Pescoli, and together they work on locating the criminals, with help from the FBI, SWAT and Johnson Johnson.
And…Johnson-Johnson 🧐
March 6, 2018
Virgil Flowers simply wanted to fish and get away from police work. That didn't happen. Someone was murdered. Detective Regan Pescoli and Virgil Flowers investigate.
What a story. Twists and suspense all the way through. I liked the characters of Pescoli and Flowers. Makes me want to read more books where they're the main characters.
What a story. Twists and suspense all the way through. I liked the characters of Pescoli and Flowers. Makes me want to read more books where they're the main characters.
December 17, 2025
Wasn't good, didn't feel like a Flowers story at all
October 1, 2019
Read as part of the anthology book Match Up.
September 5, 2018
I am a romance reader. I've never read either of these authors. And still this was freaking excellent. Honestly, if I was more into suspense or thrillers, I might have rated it 5 stars. The ending was earthshattering for Jackson's character I bet. Just wow!!
July 24, 2019
Too short. I'll read anything that Sanford writes especially the Virgil Flowers character. And now I may just start reading Lisa Jackson.
July 24, 2019
Virgil Flowers!!
Well that was a really good matchup with two of my favorite characters. I already read both series and love them so this was a perfect combination.
Well that was a really good matchup with two of my favorite characters. I already read both series and love them so this was a perfect combination.
August 24, 2019
short, but good
October 23, 2019
Two of my favorites writing together
July 2, 2024
Did not enjoy at all.
Did not like the subject matter. Did not care for the characters. I did not understand some of the writing choices.. For instance, at the start Johnson was identified as "Johnson Johnson". Was this a typo, or was both his first and last name Johnson? Later he was identified as only Johnson. Also, why bother writing in the bit about the female office needing to express milk for her infant? I did not feel that it added anything to the story. Finally, the descriptions of the action taken by the officers prepping for the confrontation were way overdone. If sufficed to say they got armed and ammoed up to prepare. I did not care the type of weapons and how much ammo was involved. Finally, I did not feel good about the final shoot our scene where the female officer ended up shooting the suspect she apprehended following the vehicle accident. If she had used foresight she would have picked up the weapon he dropped before he had a chance to get to it and shoot at her.
Did not like the subject matter. Did not care for the characters. I did not understand some of the writing choices.. For instance, at the start Johnson was identified as "Johnson Johnson". Was this a typo, or was both his first and last name Johnson? Later he was identified as only Johnson. Also, why bother writing in the bit about the female office needing to express milk for her infant? I did not feel that it added anything to the story. Finally, the descriptions of the action taken by the officers prepping for the confrontation were way overdone. If sufficed to say they got armed and ammoed up to prepare. I did not care the type of weapons and how much ammo was involved. Finally, I did not feel good about the final shoot our scene where the female officer ended up shooting the suspect she apprehended following the vehicle accident. If she had used foresight she would have picked up the weapon he dropped before he had a chance to get to it and shoot at her.
February 23, 2023
I thoroughly enjoyed this short story. The intro stated that the overall storyline was Sandford's and it was evident to me. I haven't read any novels by Lisa Jackson, but this story was classic Virgil. There were a few places where the lack of editing/proofreading was evident (not capitalizing Flowers when referencing Virgil and mentioning the need to interview a person who was already dead). Regardless, it was an entertaining read that stayed true to Sandford's Virgil.
I have to say I'm surprised at how much I have enjoyed the first two Matchup Collections that I have read. I wouldn't have thought I would like mixing characters from different series, but I do. I find they are good fillers while waiting for the next Sandford book to be released.
I have to say I'm surprised at how much I have enjoyed the first two Matchup Collections that I have read. I wouldn't have thought I would like mixing characters from different series, but I do. I find they are good fillers while waiting for the next Sandford book to be released.
March 10, 2022
Another brilliant action packed thriller involving one of my favorite authors, John Sandford, and a new to me author, Lisa Jackson.
It was difficult for me to focus on my day job when all I wanted to do was finish this short story.
I’ve never read a novel by Lisa Jackson but now I think I need to pick up her first novel involving Regan Pescoli, Left To Die.
John Sandford always delivers exceptional stories and I am ecstatic that I came across this short story.
It was difficult for me to focus on my day job when all I wanted to do was finish this short story.
I’ve never read a novel by Lisa Jackson but now I think I need to pick up her first novel involving Regan Pescoli, Left To Die.
John Sandford always delivers exceptional stories and I am ecstatic that I came across this short story.
September 1, 2020
Flowers and Pescolli Together
It begins with $600 stolen from the oldest daughter of the family that owns the ranch where Virgil Flowers is staying on a fishing trip in Montana. Then a murder occurs. And Reagan Pescolli is called in. But why was he killed? And who killed him? What is going on at the Drake ranch? Read it, and find out. You'll be glad you did@
It begins with $600 stolen from the oldest daughter of the family that owns the ranch where Virgil Flowers is staying on a fishing trip in Montana. Then a murder occurs. And Reagan Pescolli is called in. But why was he killed? And who killed him? What is going on at the Drake ranch? Read it, and find out. You'll be glad you did@
September 9, 2020
2 of my favorite authors
I requested my Library order this book, something went wrong and it just didn't get done. We had some very hard times, I dropped it until recently things are more normal... Thank goodness it arrived and I've finally gotten to read it! It's as good as I thought it would be!!!!!
I requested my Library order this book, something went wrong and it just didn't get done. We had some very hard times, I dropped it until recently things are more normal... Thank goodness it arrived and I've finally gotten to read it! It's as good as I thought it would be!!!!!
April 18, 2024
If you are into kids, along with (yuck) milking yourself for a newborn, this book is for you. I'm not into either, and found the book boring. Weirdly and unbelievable character names were dumb and didn't ring true. Did not resonate with me AT ALL. Waste of my time. I'm sure if you're an avid "mommy", you'll probably enjoy it. Not for me.
November 17, 2021
Warning for off-screen child porn. Well-written and plotted, so giving this four stars, but I really dislike this sort of ugly story. I already think the human races is shit and full of sickos, so I don't need a reminder.
August 12, 2022
The authors have to be (and really are) exceptionally talented to develop such a good storyline in so few pages. I did not know the main characters so it was a nice surprise looking at them acting together as if they'd do it all the time. And yes, he deserves to be dead.
June 19, 2023
A great read
I have read pretty much all of John Sandford's books and devour anything he writes.
Up till now I have not read any of Lisa Jackson's books but you can be sure she will be added to my authors list as of now.
Great story - well written as expected.
I have read pretty much all of John Sandford's books and devour anything he writes.
Up till now I have not read any of Lisa Jackson's books but you can be sure she will be added to my authors list as of now.
Great story - well written as expected.
September 10, 2023
FANTASTIC!!! I really love this book. I know the Pascoli character but I did not know the other character. I want to read more with the other characters games also with Pascoli and those characters together.
March 21, 2024
another great mashup
Never read these 2 authors, but I really liked their main characters. I think these mashups can be good for people that have never read books by these authors. I have really enjoyed these original stories
Never read these 2 authors, but I really liked their main characters. I think these mashups can be good for people that have never read books by these authors. I have really enjoyed these original stories
January 20, 2025
Darn good read!
Great for Sandford fans! Well written, moves quickly, classic Sandford. Was not familiar with Jackson, but after reading this, I will definitely check out her books. Very good mashup here and a fast fun read.
Great for Sandford fans! Well written, moves quickly, classic Sandford. Was not familiar with Jackson, but after reading this, I will definitely check out her books. Very good mashup here and a fast fun read.
June 26, 2025
Entertaining story. Entertaining characters.
Well done!
Well-executed short story format. True to well-established characters. Introduction to new (to me) characters was effective and appreciated.
Thank you.
Well done!
Well-executed short story format. True to well-established characters. Introduction to new (to me) characters was effective and appreciated.
Thank you.
January 20, 2020
It was an okay book, not as good as the usual Regan Pescoli books by Lisa Jackson. I have never read anything by John Sanford before so maybe I'm just not familiar with his writing style.
June 21, 2020
Great story! Loved it.
December 26, 2020
Amateur ending, if there were no prints on the rifle, who fired it?
May 22, 2021
Pretty good short story. 3.5
September 5, 2021
This is my favorite "MatchUp" story so far. Very exciting, very well written, great characters.
January 26, 2022
This was a fast-paced and entertaining short story. I could have done with more of that fuckin' Flowers, though.
July 26, 2023
boring and not enough about Virgil
Displaying 1 - 30 of 39 reviews