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Virgil Flowers #12
Bloody Genius
Virgil Flowers will have to watch his back--and his mouth--as he investigates a college culture war turned deadly in the latest thriller from #1 New York Times-bestseller John Sandford.
At the local state university, two feuding departments have faced off on the battleground of PC culture. Each carries their views to extremes that may seem absurd, but highly educated people of sound mind and good intentions can reasonably disagree, right?
Then someone winds up dead, and Virgil Flowers is brought in to investigate . . . and he soon comes to realize he's dealing with people who, on this one particular issue, are functionally crazy. Among this group of wildly impassioned, diametrically opposed zealots lurks a killer, and it will be up to Virgil to sort the murderer from the mere maniacs.
At the local state university, two feuding departments have faced off on the battleground of PC culture. Each carries their views to extremes that may seem absurd, but highly educated people of sound mind and good intentions can reasonably disagree, right?
Then someone winds up dead, and Virgil Flowers is brought in to investigate . . . and he soon comes to realize he's dealing with people who, on this one particular issue, are functionally crazy. Among this group of wildly impassioned, diametrically opposed zealots lurks a killer, and it will be up to Virgil to sort the murderer from the mere maniacs.
384 pages, Paperback
First published October 1, 2019
7395 people are currently reading
4055 people want to read
About the author
John Sandford
234 books9,630 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 1,737 reviews
November 23, 2023
Alas, this one did not do for me. Sanford is my favorite, my go-to author that has never let me down.
There is still much to like in this book, the characters, the relationships. But the story...Yikes. In the very beginning where the conflict is set I even heard it in my head, oh, "The professor was killed in the library with a laptop computer," the Clue Game reference. (this isn't a "true" spoiler, it happens in the first pages).
I think what was also missing in this book was the jeopardy. Sanford's other books have leaned more toward the thriller than mystery. This one was a definite mystery only. In a thriller, we know who did it and the story is about the chase with the threat of danger along the way. In this one we didn't know the, "Who," and there wasn't any threat or danger. It was a straight mystery.
We can only hope for a return to form in the next one.
David Putnam Author of The Bruno Johnson series.
There is still much to like in this book, the characters, the relationships. But the story...Yikes. In the very beginning where the conflict is set I even heard it in my head, oh, "The professor was killed in the library with a laptop computer," the Clue Game reference. (this isn't a "true" spoiler, it happens in the first pages).
I think what was also missing in this book was the jeopardy. Sanford's other books have leaned more toward the thriller than mystery. This one was a definite mystery only. In a thriller, we know who did it and the story is about the chase with the threat of danger along the way. In this one we didn't know the, "Who," and there wasn't any threat or danger. It was a straight mystery.
We can only hope for a return to form in the next one.
David Putnam Author of The Bruno Johnson series.
October 2, 2019
The Lothario, hunter, fisher, writer, photographer and ace investigator of the upper Midwest returns in Bloody Genius . The advent of girlfriend Frankie soon to be delivered of twins has kept him closer to home and has put paid to Virgil Flowers' roaming.
Unfortunately, the position of being one of the governor’s golden haired boys (one sided as Virgil does not return the affection) still exists and results in the governor sending him to Minneapolis to solve a particularly vicious murder. Virgil, an investigator for the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension, once inadvertently did the governor a great favor. No good deed goes unpunished and so Virgil has to put his boat up, avoid serious farm chores, and head to the Twin Cities.
The victim is a wealthy, well-respected professor and brilliant researcher at the University of Minnesota. Virgil suspects it is the wealthy part that has attracted the Governor's attention.
In two weeks, the well regarded MPD’s homicide unit has had no luck in solving the crime even though suspects abound; ex-wives, fellow researchers, students, a whole other university department and of course, the famous “some other guy”. Of course Virgil is warmly welcomed by MPD’s homicide unit, especially the lead detective, Margaret Trane whom the media has characterized as being ‘baffled’. No really, would I lie?
Eventually Trane and Virgil come to an accommodation when she realizes Virgil does not want any credit for solving the case whereas Trane and her unit need the solve after the drumming they have received from the press. They quickly established an easy work relationship which is a change from the usual ‘competitive partnership until the last moment’ trope found in so many books.
As Virgil pokes around he quickly makes a few discoveries that put the stalled investigation back into gear.
I have always thought books with the easiest readability might be the hardest to write.
Sandford excels as making his books rewarding with well thought out stories, some quirky characters and uncommon settings. Who ever thought the U of Minn. would be a great setting for a murder, except maybe for the students of the University of St Thomas?
Virgil Flowers-nope not gonna say it-has long been known for his charm, his womanizing (formerly), his band tees and his astute insight into the men and women he meets, but his defining characteristic is his innate decency. Virgil must have demanded his own series from author John Sandford after being a part of the Lucas Davenport series. I don’t want to forget Virgil’s toughness. As easy-going as he can be, he is nobody’s fool and won’t be played for one.
Now I’m going to spoil the gushing a bit by saying there was one distasteful moment when Virgil visualized a suspect’s “hair spread out on a pillow and her legs wrapped around his neck.” Just too jarring with Virgil in love with the mother of his twins; the woman he is planning to marry. Not to mention a very unprofessional view of a woman who might have committed a very brutal murder.
I like that Virgil has no problem talking about his cases to people he meets. His smart view is that it is surprising the information or insights he gains. Toward the end of the book we are treated to Flowers trying to waffle out of admitting to an acquaintance that he was wrong about an important aspect of the investigation. Too funny.
Bloody Genius is a terrific continuation of the Virgil Flowers series. It is hinted Virgil might take some time off to write his own novel.
Thanks to NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for a fair and honest review.
Unfortunately, the position of being one of the governor’s golden haired boys (one sided as Virgil does not return the affection) still exists and results in the governor sending him to Minneapolis to solve a particularly vicious murder. Virgil, an investigator for the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension, once inadvertently did the governor a great favor. No good deed goes unpunished and so Virgil has to put his boat up, avoid serious farm chores, and head to the Twin Cities.
The victim is a wealthy, well-respected professor and brilliant researcher at the University of Minnesota. Virgil suspects it is the wealthy part that has attracted the Governor's attention.
In two weeks, the well regarded MPD’s homicide unit has had no luck in solving the crime even though suspects abound; ex-wives, fellow researchers, students, a whole other university department and of course, the famous “some other guy”. Of course Virgil is warmly welcomed by MPD’s homicide unit, especially the lead detective, Margaret Trane whom the media has characterized as being ‘baffled’. No really, would I lie?
Eventually Trane and Virgil come to an accommodation when she realizes Virgil does not want any credit for solving the case whereas Trane and her unit need the solve after the drumming they have received from the press. They quickly established an easy work relationship which is a change from the usual ‘competitive partnership until the last moment’ trope found in so many books.
As Virgil pokes around he quickly makes a few discoveries that put the stalled investigation back into gear.
I have always thought books with the easiest readability might be the hardest to write.
Sandford excels as making his books rewarding with well thought out stories, some quirky characters and uncommon settings. Who ever thought the U of Minn. would be a great setting for a murder, except maybe for the students of the University of St Thomas?
Virgil Flowers-nope not gonna say it-has long been known for his charm, his womanizing (formerly), his band tees and his astute insight into the men and women he meets, but his defining characteristic is his innate decency. Virgil must have demanded his own series from author John Sandford after being a part of the Lucas Davenport series. I don’t want to forget Virgil’s toughness. As easy-going as he can be, he is nobody’s fool and won’t be played for one.
Now I’m going to spoil the gushing a bit by saying there was one distasteful moment when Virgil visualized a suspect’s “hair spread out on a pillow and her legs wrapped around his neck.” Just too jarring with Virgil in love with the mother of his twins; the woman he is planning to marry. Not to mention a very unprofessional view of a woman who might have committed a very brutal murder.
I like that Virgil has no problem talking about his cases to people he meets. His smart view is that it is surprising the information or insights he gains. Toward the end of the book we are treated to Flowers trying to waffle out of admitting to an acquaintance that he was wrong about an important aspect of the investigation. Too funny.
Bloody Genius is a terrific continuation of the Virgil Flowers series. It is hinted Virgil might take some time off to write his own novel.
Thanks to NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for a fair and honest review.
October 27, 2019
Thoughts soon.Hi Virgil,
I think it's been about a year since I've last written. Many changes, seems they've managed a better way to keep track of you, so some of your excuses will no longer fly. Your dress sense though, that hasn't changed, those t-shirts are so you, glad you seldom bow to convention.
A new case, one that sends you back to college. A murder of a well renowned, research Professor, with few apparent clues. I have to say you do work will with others when you want too, you were more than fair with Trane. There wasn't as much humor in this book, but enough to keep it interesting. What looked like a fairly straightforward case, manages to become complicated beyond measure. A little difficult to put together, but you did not get your reputation without reason.
I do have to take you to task for a few comments you made, a bit mysoginist in my view, but I forgive. After all you are not real and I don't have to deal with you I my very real life. Oh, and that board game, it was one of my favorites. How very clever.
Wishing you and Frankie the best.
Till the next time, which I hope will be soon.
ARC from Netgalley.
I think it's been about a year since I've last written. Many changes, seems they've managed a better way to keep track of you, so some of your excuses will no longer fly. Your dress sense though, that hasn't changed, those t-shirts are so you, glad you seldom bow to convention.
A new case, one that sends you back to college. A murder of a well renowned, research Professor, with few apparent clues. I have to say you do work will with others when you want too, you were more than fair with Trane. There wasn't as much humor in this book, but enough to keep it interesting. What looked like a fairly straightforward case, manages to become complicated beyond measure. A little difficult to put together, but you did not get your reputation without reason.
I do have to take you to task for a few comments you made, a bit mysoginist in my view, but I forgive. After all you are not real and I don't have to deal with you I my very real life. Oh, and that board game, it was one of my favorites. How very clever.
Wishing you and Frankie the best.
Till the next time, which I hope will be soon.
ARC from Netgalley.
December 19, 2019
John Sandford is one of my go to authors for audio books, especially perfect for when hubby is with me on a road trip. Great humor, fun characters and a mystery that isn’t easy to solve.
Virgil Flowers is sent to help with an investigation into the murder of a college professor. There are plenty of suspects - three ex-wives, another professor he was feuding with and all her acolyte and his estranged daughter. And that’s not counting the possibility of a hooker.
This one made the hours pass quickly. I still hadn’t sussed out who the killer was before the big reveal. And as usual, Sandford weaves multiple storylines together and Virgil ends up solving several other crimes along the way. Other reviewers felt there was less humor in this book than previous ones in the series. But, I was chuckling throughout, as was my hubby.
There is lots of profanity in this book, so if that bothers you, steer clear.
This is a fabulous series to listen to. Eric Conger is a great narrator and does a good job differentiating the voices.
November 4, 2019
I always enjoy listening to a Sandford novel to and from work. It's just like floating along to another awesome story! 9 of 10 stars
October 15, 2020
I've been a huge fan of the Virgil Flowers series from the very beginning, and I always eagerly await a new entry. Unfortunately, though, I don't think that Bloody Genius measures up to many of the other, better, books in the series. That's certainly not to say that I thought it was a bad book--I genuinely enjoyed reading it--but only that it didn't meet the high expectations that I have for this author and this series.
As the book opens, a wealthy and distinguished professor at the University of Minnesota is murdered late one night while sneaking into one of the university's libraries in the company of an unidentified woman. It appears that the professor may be using his private carrel in the library for a little late night clandestine "research" when he encounters an intruder. The intruder smacks the professor over the head with the professor's heavy laptop computer, leaving him dead on the floor. The professor's female friend hides in the stacks, hoping that the killer won't discover her and then, once the killer is gone, she hightails it out of the library without bothering to call the police.
As a practical matter, there are no clues and the police are completely baffled. The professor has been involved in a battle with the members of another department--one of those conflicts that could only seem important within the confines of academia--but there's little evidence to suggest that this brouhaha is the cause of his murder. The professor's family is well-connected politically and so, with the case stalled, the governor reaches out to the Minnesota BCA and has Virgil Flowers assigned to the case. Virgil joins the lead detective on the case, Margaret Trane, and spends a couple of weeks poking around, asking questions and trying to find a solution to the case.
As always, it's great fun to watch Virgil in action, and the interactions between Virgil and the other characters are often very witty and amusing. But that's par for the course in these books. The problem, at least for me, is that this case really doesn't seem worthy of Virgil's attention. Also, there's not nearly as much danger and tension in this book as there is in most of the others in the series. This case seems more like a parlor game of sorts, or maybe an old Agatha Christie whodunit, and there's not nearly as much at stake as there is in most Flowers novels.
As readers of the series know, a few books ago, Sandford decided to have Virgil settle down with a woman named Frankie who is now pregnant with twins. Up until then, one of the great pleasures of reading these books was watching Virgil flirt and otherwise interact with the attractive women who often populate these books. Sometimes these interactions led to something and sometimes they didn't, but they were always a lot of fun to read. Virgil is now effectively neutered, though, because he's not the sort of guy who would cheat on a woman to whom he has made a long-term commitment. There are at least a couple of women in this book who are attracted to Virgil and with whom, in earlier novels, he might have developed some chemistry. But we know from the jump that while Virgil might admire them, he's not going to pursue them and, for me at least, it feels like readers are being cheated out of one of the most enjoyable aspects of the earlier books.
Sandford has indicated that he's going to be taking a break from the Flowers novels if not abandoning the character altogether, save for an occasional appearance in a Lucas Davenport novel. If that's true, perhaps it's just as well to leave Virgil settled and about to become a father. I wish he had gone out at the end of a more interesting case, but I take comfort in the fact that I have a shelf full of great Virgil Flowers novels that I can always go back to and enjoy.
As the book opens, a wealthy and distinguished professor at the University of Minnesota is murdered late one night while sneaking into one of the university's libraries in the company of an unidentified woman. It appears that the professor may be using his private carrel in the library for a little late night clandestine "research" when he encounters an intruder. The intruder smacks the professor over the head with the professor's heavy laptop computer, leaving him dead on the floor. The professor's female friend hides in the stacks, hoping that the killer won't discover her and then, once the killer is gone, she hightails it out of the library without bothering to call the police.
As a practical matter, there are no clues and the police are completely baffled. The professor has been involved in a battle with the members of another department--one of those conflicts that could only seem important within the confines of academia--but there's little evidence to suggest that this brouhaha is the cause of his murder. The professor's family is well-connected politically and so, with the case stalled, the governor reaches out to the Minnesota BCA and has Virgil Flowers assigned to the case. Virgil joins the lead detective on the case, Margaret Trane, and spends a couple of weeks poking around, asking questions and trying to find a solution to the case.
As always, it's great fun to watch Virgil in action, and the interactions between Virgil and the other characters are often very witty and amusing. But that's par for the course in these books. The problem, at least for me, is that this case really doesn't seem worthy of Virgil's attention. Also, there's not nearly as much danger and tension in this book as there is in most of the others in the series. This case seems more like a parlor game of sorts, or maybe an old Agatha Christie whodunit, and there's not nearly as much at stake as there is in most Flowers novels.
As readers of the series know, a few books ago, Sandford decided to have Virgil settle down with a woman named Frankie who is now pregnant with twins. Up until then, one of the great pleasures of reading these books was watching Virgil flirt and otherwise interact with the attractive women who often populate these books. Sometimes these interactions led to something and sometimes they didn't, but they were always a lot of fun to read. Virgil is now effectively neutered, though, because he's not the sort of guy who would cheat on a woman to whom he has made a long-term commitment. There are at least a couple of women in this book who are attracted to Virgil and with whom, in earlier novels, he might have developed some chemistry. But we know from the jump that while Virgil might admire them, he's not going to pursue them and, for me at least, it feels like readers are being cheated out of one of the most enjoyable aspects of the earlier books.
Sandford has indicated that he's going to be taking a break from the Flowers novels if not abandoning the character altogether, save for an occasional appearance in a Lucas Davenport novel. If that's true, perhaps it's just as well to leave Virgil settled and about to become a father. I wish he had gone out at the end of a more interesting case, but I take comfort in the fact that I have a shelf full of great Virgil Flowers novels that I can always go back to and enjoy.
September 30, 2019
I received a free advance copy of this from NetGalley for review.
If a dead body was found in a library I’d assume that he must have had some serious overdue fees. Those librarians don’t play around.
A professor who does high end medical research is found murdered in a college library so Minnesota state investigator Virgil Flower is assigned to help out when the local Minneapolis cops hit a dead end. As Virgil digs into the case his problem isn’t that there aren’t any clues, it’s that there are far too many. Sex, drugs, blackmail, lawsuits, ex-wives, an estranged daughter, and a bitter academic rivalry are all angles that come up. Sifting through the noise and finding the killer’s motive is the key to cracking the case, but the more Virgil digs into it, the less sense the entire thing makes.
This is a crackerjack of a whodunit. Sandford’s usual MO is to let the reader know the villain is from the jump, or at least give us their point of view. His books are generally a cat-and-mouse game between the cop and the bad guy so his stuff is often more thriller than traditional mystery although detective work always plays a major role. He has done a few where the reader is completely in the dark as to the killer and their motives, and this is one of his best pure head scratchers.
We’ve got an intriguing scenario with plenty of viable red herrings so that I was as stumped as Virgil for the entire time. When the killer’s identity is revealed it’s a very satisfying answer because Sandford plays fair, and the clues were all there the entire time.
There's also a good tense situation built up at the end that plays into Sandford’s strength of building momentum in action scenes that keep you on the edge of your seat. Virgil continues to be a strong lead character with his laid back persona making for a nice change of pace from your typical thriller heroes. There’s a little less humor in this one than the last couple of Flowers books, but still some good chuckles that make this a touch lighter than the Prey series.
Overall, it’s a very nice piece of crime writing with a solid mystery and a great ending.
If a dead body was found in a library I’d assume that he must have had some serious overdue fees. Those librarians don’t play around.
A professor who does high end medical research is found murdered in a college library so Minnesota state investigator Virgil Flower is assigned to help out when the local Minneapolis cops hit a dead end. As Virgil digs into the case his problem isn’t that there aren’t any clues, it’s that there are far too many. Sex, drugs, blackmail, lawsuits, ex-wives, an estranged daughter, and a bitter academic rivalry are all angles that come up. Sifting through the noise and finding the killer’s motive is the key to cracking the case, but the more Virgil digs into it, the less sense the entire thing makes.
This is a crackerjack of a whodunit. Sandford’s usual MO is to let the reader know the villain is from the jump, or at least give us their point of view. His books are generally a cat-and-mouse game between the cop and the bad guy so his stuff is often more thriller than traditional mystery although detective work always plays a major role. He has done a few where the reader is completely in the dark as to the killer and their motives, and this is one of his best pure head scratchers.
We’ve got an intriguing scenario with plenty of viable red herrings so that I was as stumped as Virgil for the entire time. When the killer’s identity is revealed it’s a very satisfying answer because Sandford plays fair, and the clues were all there the entire time.
There's also a good tense situation built up at the end that plays into Sandford’s strength of building momentum in action scenes that keep you on the edge of your seat. Virgil continues to be a strong lead character with his laid back persona making for a nice change of pace from your typical thriller heroes. There’s a little less humor in this one than the last couple of Flowers books, but still some good chuckles that make this a touch lighter than the Prey series.
Overall, it’s a very nice piece of crime writing with a solid mystery and a great ending.
November 12, 2019
I wrote an earlier review that's either missing or part of a different edition. Perhaps Goodreads could combine all additions for reviews, please. 9 of 10 stars
March 27, 2024
I hadn't read a Virgil Flowers book in some time so I had forgotten much about Virgil and his compatriots. It turned out that I very much enjoyed the book and I enjoyed Virgil as a character, irreverent smartass that he is - not unlike me!
Circumstances force Virgil to leave his farm to investigate a murder on the campus of the University of Minnesota. Two academic departments have recently engaged in an occasionally nasty conflict revolving around the academic relevance of one of the departments. One of the main combatants in this little war has been found dead after having been knocked on the head with his own computer - a really new and very fancy model. A Minneapolis detective has been on the case but has seemingly hit a dead end. Nonetheless, her professional pride prevents her from greeting Virgil warming.
Virgil, not at all wanting to infringe on her patch, wins her over partly because he's a really good and humble guy and partly because she just can't seem to make any progress. They make a very effective team and, truth be told, very much enjoy working together.
Bloody Genius is the 13th Virgil Flowers book that Sanford has written in addition to the 35 Lucas Davenport ¨Prey¨ books and a number of others. Clearly, he has the formula down. That is not to say that his books are so formulaic that they do not bear reading but rather that he does a very good job nearly every time he puts pen to paper. Bloody Genous is no exception. If you have enjoyed other Sandford books, you will probably enjoy this one.
Ciao
Circumstances force Virgil to leave his farm to investigate a murder on the campus of the University of Minnesota. Two academic departments have recently engaged in an occasionally nasty conflict revolving around the academic relevance of one of the departments. One of the main combatants in this little war has been found dead after having been knocked on the head with his own computer - a really new and very fancy model. A Minneapolis detective has been on the case but has seemingly hit a dead end. Nonetheless, her professional pride prevents her from greeting Virgil warming.
Virgil, not at all wanting to infringe on her patch, wins her over partly because he's a really good and humble guy and partly because she just can't seem to make any progress. They make a very effective team and, truth be told, very much enjoy working together.
Bloody Genius is the 13th Virgil Flowers book that Sanford has written in addition to the 35 Lucas Davenport ¨Prey¨ books and a number of others. Clearly, he has the formula down. That is not to say that his books are so formulaic that they do not bear reading but rather that he does a very good job nearly every time he puts pen to paper. Bloody Genous is no exception. If you have enjoyed other Sandford books, you will probably enjoy this one.
Ciao
September 23, 2019
It's no secret that I love Bureau of Criminal Apprehension agent Virgil Flowers - he long ago earned a forever spot on my Top 10 list of favorite book heroes. But it's also no secret that I'm not thrilled that he's in a serious relationship with a woman - Frankie - who in fact is close to delivering a set of twins she and Virgil concocted seven months or so ago. Somehow, he'd turned into a kinder and mellower Virgil - and in the process lost a bit of the edge that endeared him to me.
Well, after reading this, the 12th book in the series, I'd say he's still a little mellow and his language is, for the most part, more like a tricycle salesman than a truck driver. But overall, he's got that edge back - and for sure he's kept that irreverent sense of humor alive and well, as evidenced by my chuckles throughout, to-wit:
"You know how to kill any earworm? You hum that Walt Disney thing, 'It's a Small World.' It'll kill anything, but it's such a miserable song...it won't stay in your head on its own."
Couldn't have said it better myself.
But I digress. This story begins as Virgil is called in when a big-shot medical doctor and University of Minnesota professor is murdered in an upper-level, usually locked library room on the campus - a place he's really not supposed to be. Especially since he's for the most part an unlikable jerk, there's no shortage of suspects, from his research team colleagues to members of a rival research team to his own daughter. Most of the characters are quirky, to say the least (well, this is a university campus, after all). And early on, it appears the good doctor just might be living a secret life that involves illicit drugs and blackmail.
As is customary in these books, Virgil touches base with his former boss, Lucas Davenport (the subject of another popular series by this author and another of my love-to-read-about characters, BTW). A couple of his old friends get to help out, as does a scrappy female officer from the local police who gives Virgil a good run for his money in the sarcasm department.
Problem is, all of those above-mentioned suspects have what appear to be iron-clad alibis. Clearly, it will take a goodly amount of sleuthing to uncover the motive and catch the killer. All that is accomplished in fine Virgil style, making this another must-read book for fans like me. Thanks to the publisher, via NetGalley, for the opportunity to read and review an advance copy. Bloody good!
Well, after reading this, the 12th book in the series, I'd say he's still a little mellow and his language is, for the most part, more like a tricycle salesman than a truck driver. But overall, he's got that edge back - and for sure he's kept that irreverent sense of humor alive and well, as evidenced by my chuckles throughout, to-wit:
"You know how to kill any earworm? You hum that Walt Disney thing, 'It's a Small World.' It'll kill anything, but it's such a miserable song...it won't stay in your head on its own."
Couldn't have said it better myself.
But I digress. This story begins as Virgil is called in when a big-shot medical doctor and University of Minnesota professor is murdered in an upper-level, usually locked library room on the campus - a place he's really not supposed to be. Especially since he's for the most part an unlikable jerk, there's no shortage of suspects, from his research team colleagues to members of a rival research team to his own daughter. Most of the characters are quirky, to say the least (well, this is a university campus, after all). And early on, it appears the good doctor just might be living a secret life that involves illicit drugs and blackmail.
As is customary in these books, Virgil touches base with his former boss, Lucas Davenport (the subject of another popular series by this author and another of my love-to-read-about characters, BTW). A couple of his old friends get to help out, as does a scrappy female officer from the local police who gives Virgil a good run for his money in the sarcasm department.
Problem is, all of those above-mentioned suspects have what appear to be iron-clad alibis. Clearly, it will take a goodly amount of sleuthing to uncover the motive and catch the killer. All that is accomplished in fine Virgil style, making this another must-read book for fans like me. Thanks to the publisher, via NetGalley, for the opportunity to read and review an advance copy. Bloody good!
October 24, 2019
The thing that is great about John Sandford isn’t that he writes great thrillers (though he does). It is not that he habitually churns out high-quality work like he is some kind of mystery-writing Honda production line (though he consistently publishes two novels each year). It is not even his ability to stuff 18 hard boiled eggs into his mouth at one time (though this majestic feat has won Sandford globe-spanning accolades as well as audiences with everyone from John Stamos to the Pope). No, no, the thing that is most remarkable about Sandford is his ability to identify the human condition and translate this to paper. Like Plato, like Descartes, and like William Shakespeare, Sandford manages to understand what is most human in us – how we live our lives, what is our nature -- and to convey it without disdain or cheap jokes. Remarkably, often times he is doing this while cramming hard boiled eggs into his yap.
Bloody Genius, Sandford’s new Virgil Flowers detective book, at first glance would seem to just be about the murder of a college professor and Flowers’ investigation into the oddball suspects that knew him. But that would be missing so much more. It would be like saying Sandford’s mouth only contains a mush of pulverized yoke and egg white. You are completely missing the 7 grams of high-quality protein, all the iron and vitamins, as well as the powerhouse collection of disease-fighting nutrients such as lutein, and zeaxanthin. And probably more than a little bit of shell (popping out two books a year does not give Sandford a lot of time to do his shelling in a complete and efficient manner). Bloody Geniustruly shines in the quiet moments of simple human interaction such as a gathering of folks looking skyward thinking they might just be seeing a U.F.O. Or a in the interaction between Flowers and an academic librarian. While the mystery is fun and propelling, it is in these moments that I feel Sandford’s writing shines.
Bloody Genius, Sandford’s new Virgil Flowers detective book, at first glance would seem to just be about the murder of a college professor and Flowers’ investigation into the oddball suspects that knew him. But that would be missing so much more. It would be like saying Sandford’s mouth only contains a mush of pulverized yoke and egg white. You are completely missing the 7 grams of high-quality protein, all the iron and vitamins, as well as the powerhouse collection of disease-fighting nutrients such as lutein, and zeaxanthin. And probably more than a little bit of shell (popping out two books a year does not give Sandford a lot of time to do his shelling in a complete and efficient manner). Bloody Geniustruly shines in the quiet moments of simple human interaction such as a gathering of folks looking skyward thinking they might just be seeing a U.F.O. Or a in the interaction between Flowers and an academic librarian. While the mystery is fun and propelling, it is in these moments that I feel Sandford’s writing shines.
September 18, 2019
Thank you NetGalley and Penguin Group/Putnam for this arc.
Gotta love that f**cking Flowers. Virgil is back! And he doesn't have his boat! He's come in from the backcountry and into the city for this story (without his boat). He's sent to Minneapolis to the university by the governor to help out on a two week old murder the city's investigation has stalled on. Naturally, the city detective resents his presence and well, Virgil wasn't wild about the assignment either. He does however manage to charm his way into the job. There is a plethora of possible suspects and Virgil in his usual meandering way talks to all of them slowly picking apart the murder with the help of some of his old pals, Capslock, Jenkins, and Shrake. The story moved along at a fair pace, slowed down only by Virgil's return home to check in on Frankie and hay baling.
4.5 stars rounded up
Gotta love that f**cking Flowers. Virgil is back! And he doesn't have his boat! He's come in from the backcountry and into the city for this story (without his boat). He's sent to Minneapolis to the university by the governor to help out on a two week old murder the city's investigation has stalled on. Naturally, the city detective resents his presence and well, Virgil wasn't wild about the assignment either. He does however manage to charm his way into the job. There is a plethora of possible suspects and Virgil in his usual meandering way talks to all of them slowly picking apart the murder with the help of some of his old pals, Capslock, Jenkins, and Shrake. The story moved along at a fair pace, slowed down only by Virgil's return home to check in on Frankie and hay baling.
4.5 stars rounded up
July 11, 2021
3.5 stars Rounding up to 4 because of the (dark) humor
Virgil Flowers is back! The body of Professor Barthelemy Quil is found in his library carrel at the University of Minnesota. He was murdered but this is about all that the Minneapolis police know. The professor's wealthy and connected sister makes a phone call to the governor. The governor calls someone else, who calls someone else, etc., etc. At the bottom of the chain that f#*king Flowers is told to head to Minneapolis to assist and he better not be towing his boat. Virgil is not too thrilled and needless to say neither is the lead homicide detective, Sergeant Maggie Trane. His band t-shirts and cowboy boots do not make a good impression on her and his being sent makes her look like an idiot. Let the games begin.
There is a feud between two different departments going on at the university. The professor had two ex-wives and one soon to to be. There is also a daughter who is a slacker coasting by on a small trust fund. It doesn't take too long for Virgil to pick up on a few things and he and Maggie Trane begin to work together. Virgil is a good guy and is not looking for points. He just wants to solve this case and get back to the farm and his girlfriend, Frankie, who is pregnant with twins.
There are lots of theories and red herrings to keep the reader guessing. Was the professor's murder related to the ongoing feud? Drugs? Sex? Theft of intellectual property? At the end of a hard day of chasing down clues and suspects Virgil stops in the bar at his hotel for a cold beer. There he meets Harry, the owner of three McDonald's, and Alice, the bartender. Harry has his own theories on the case based on years of watching NCIS and Gibbs. Harry is not afraid to share his thoughts with Virgil.
Reading a John Sandford is always entertaining. It was nice to see Del Capslock as well as Jenkins and Shrake make a return appearance. I gave this 3.5 stars but had to round it up a half star due to the humor in the story.
Virgil Flowers is back! The body of Professor Barthelemy Quil is found in his library carrel at the University of Minnesota. He was murdered but this is about all that the Minneapolis police know. The professor's wealthy and connected sister makes a phone call to the governor. The governor calls someone else, who calls someone else, etc., etc. At the bottom of the chain that f#*king Flowers is told to head to Minneapolis to assist and he better not be towing his boat. Virgil is not too thrilled and needless to say neither is the lead homicide detective, Sergeant Maggie Trane. His band t-shirts and cowboy boots do not make a good impression on her and his being sent makes her look like an idiot. Let the games begin.
There is a feud between two different departments going on at the university. The professor had two ex-wives and one soon to to be. There is also a daughter who is a slacker coasting by on a small trust fund. It doesn't take too long for Virgil to pick up on a few things and he and Maggie Trane begin to work together. Virgil is a good guy and is not looking for points. He just wants to solve this case and get back to the farm and his girlfriend, Frankie, who is pregnant with twins.
There are lots of theories and red herrings to keep the reader guessing. Was the professor's murder related to the ongoing feud? Drugs? Sex? Theft of intellectual property? At the end of a hard day of chasing down clues and suspects Virgil stops in the bar at his hotel for a cold beer. There he meets Harry, the owner of three McDonald's, and Alice, the bartender. Harry has his own theories on the case based on years of watching NCIS and Gibbs. Harry is not afraid to share his thoughts with Virgil.
Reading a John Sandford is always entertaining. It was nice to see Del Capslock as well as Jenkins and Shrake make a return appearance. I gave this 3.5 stars but had to round it up a half star due to the humor in the story.
November 22, 2021
I’ve always enjoyed the way John Sandford has his two crime fighters, in his parallel running series, go about solving their cases in very different ways. Lucas Davenport is all action, he can be gruff with people and isn’t averse to getting physical. Virgil, on the other hand, is inclined to gather information and complete his arrests through more benign means, he talks his way to a solution. When on a case he will chat to all and sundry, soaking up the input from everyone as he slowly pieces things together, his gun safely locked away in his truck. He’s on first name terms with everyone and consequently they open up to him.
In this episode, we witness the crime (the murder) in the opening scene. We don’t yet know whodunit but we do know what happened. When Virgil picks up the case he initially has a good deal less information than the reader, and in fact it remains this way for much of the book. It’s a way of telling a story that appeals to me and it’s a trick the author uses quite often. In fact, sometimes we even get to know who the perpetrator is from the start of the book and subsequently follow both the chaser and the chased as the narrative plays out, enabling the reader to get a sense of when the investigator is off-track and also get a feel for when they are starting to reel the criminal in.
Flowers operates in the lower third of the state of Minnesota. It’s a mainly rural area which suits him well as he can sneak off and fish when he’s not actively investigating a case - or sometimes when he is. In this instance he’s instructed to assist the investigation following the killing of a professor who has been slain in a room he had exclusive use of in the university library. The event occurred at around midnight, an hour you wouldn’t expect him or anyone else to be there. There appears to be no witnesses and there is no DNA evidence. It’s quickly ascertained that there is no obvious motive for the murder, in fact there’s nothing that leads the investigators in any particular direction. In consequence Virgil does what he always does, he talks to people. His charm, informal nature and his habit of sharing more information than you’d expect from a lawman usually has the effect of drawing out useful leads, but it just doesn’t seem to be getting him any closer to the killer this time.
I’ve seen quite a few critical reviews of this book, I think this is because it doesn’t flow in the way of a standard crime fiction novel. And to some extent I do get the frustration of some readers in that it does drift along with lots of talk, little action and a good many dead ends. But then there’s a clever moment when light bulbs go on in Virgil’s head and I think this scene justifies, or at least compensates for, the lack of action that’s gone before. The thing is, I really enjoyed the journey to this moment: the dialogue is well executed, the characters we meet are interesting and the denouement when it comes is exciting too. I didn’t mind what went before, I lapped it all up.
I’m always happy to spend time with Sandford’s characters. In my view he’s close to top of the class when it comes to this type of fiction and though this may not be him on his very best form it still ain’t half bad.
In this episode, we witness the crime (the murder) in the opening scene. We don’t yet know whodunit but we do know what happened. When Virgil picks up the case he initially has a good deal less information than the reader, and in fact it remains this way for much of the book. It’s a way of telling a story that appeals to me and it’s a trick the author uses quite often. In fact, sometimes we even get to know who the perpetrator is from the start of the book and subsequently follow both the chaser and the chased as the narrative plays out, enabling the reader to get a sense of when the investigator is off-track and also get a feel for when they are starting to reel the criminal in.
Flowers operates in the lower third of the state of Minnesota. It’s a mainly rural area which suits him well as he can sneak off and fish when he’s not actively investigating a case - or sometimes when he is. In this instance he’s instructed to assist the investigation following the killing of a professor who has been slain in a room he had exclusive use of in the university library. The event occurred at around midnight, an hour you wouldn’t expect him or anyone else to be there. There appears to be no witnesses and there is no DNA evidence. It’s quickly ascertained that there is no obvious motive for the murder, in fact there’s nothing that leads the investigators in any particular direction. In consequence Virgil does what he always does, he talks to people. His charm, informal nature and his habit of sharing more information than you’d expect from a lawman usually has the effect of drawing out useful leads, but it just doesn’t seem to be getting him any closer to the killer this time.
I’ve seen quite a few critical reviews of this book, I think this is because it doesn’t flow in the way of a standard crime fiction novel. And to some extent I do get the frustration of some readers in that it does drift along with lots of talk, little action and a good many dead ends. But then there’s a clever moment when light bulbs go on in Virgil’s head and I think this scene justifies, or at least compensates for, the lack of action that’s gone before. The thing is, I really enjoyed the journey to this moment: the dialogue is well executed, the characters we meet are interesting and the denouement when it comes is exciting too. I didn’t mind what went before, I lapped it all up.
I’m always happy to spend time with Sandford’s characters. In my view he’s close to top of the class when it comes to this type of fiction and though this may not be him on his very best form it still ain’t half bad.
February 7, 2020
As someone who's read every book John Sandford has written, I'm actually angry at how terrible this one is. The pacing is abysmal, which I get; it’s hard to maintain a solid pace when literally nothing happens in the entire book. The character work is lazy and insulting, frankly; Virgil comes off as annoyingly hokey with too many try-hard quips, and enough with the boots and stupid tee-shirts, already, we get it.
Sandford's female characters could've stepped out of a Stuart Woods novel in 1991: their only purpose is to provide sexual fodder for the male characters. Describing a female professor: "tidy breasts under a pale blue blouse who'd look great with her head on a pillow and her legs wrapped around his neck, in Virgil's humble opinion." Another character about the same professor: "after I get my degree, I'd like to turn her upside down." About another female character, a prostitute because of course she is: "She was wearing a mid-thigh green satin dressing gown that showed off her legs, her best feature."
This goes on and on and on. I won't even get into the over-the-top and unnecessary sexually graphic descriptions of Quill's daughter. I guess Detective Trane may be exempt but it hardly matters since she's basically on the phone during this entire stupid novel. Haha, just kidding, of course Trane's not exempt, no woman is exempt: "...when you got out of Maggie Trane's bed, you definitely knew you'd been in bed with Maggie Trane. I lost about five pounds that first night."
One of the hallmarks of a good Sandford novel is the quick natural dialog, and boy are we missing that here. The dialog is stilted and trying way too hard; again, think Stuart Woods thirty years ago:
"Shake asked, 'If she's here, which I doubt, you wanna go in hard?'
'Semi-hard,' Virgil said.
'Last time I heard that phrase, I was in bed with a woman from the county recorder's office.' Shrake said.”
Good one. I also enjoyed the joke about the cop dating a 14-year-old, that was hilarious.
Antiquated misogyny aside, this book is still a failure. There's no depth and no subplot-- gone are the more sophisticated layered plots of past books that built suspense and kept the reader engaged, here Sandford just drags us headlong through a one-dimensional and unconvincing story full of unlikeable people and implausible answers.
I don't think John Sandford wrote this, I think he's gone the way of so many popular writers before him and he's sold his name to the highest bidder. For the last five or so years I've preordered his upcoming books and looked forward to reading them the day they hit my Kindle, and those days are definitely over. If you're a fan of Sandford's and a fan of this series, you can skip this one and be better for it.
Sandford's female characters could've stepped out of a Stuart Woods novel in 1991: their only purpose is to provide sexual fodder for the male characters. Describing a female professor: "tidy breasts under a pale blue blouse who'd look great with her head on a pillow and her legs wrapped around his neck, in Virgil's humble opinion." Another character about the same professor: "after I get my degree, I'd like to turn her upside down." About another female character, a prostitute because of course she is: "She was wearing a mid-thigh green satin dressing gown that showed off her legs, her best feature."
This goes on and on and on. I won't even get into the over-the-top and unnecessary sexually graphic descriptions of Quill's daughter. I guess Detective Trane may be exempt but it hardly matters since she's basically on the phone during this entire stupid novel. Haha, just kidding, of course Trane's not exempt, no woman is exempt: "...when you got out of Maggie Trane's bed, you definitely knew you'd been in bed with Maggie Trane. I lost about five pounds that first night."
One of the hallmarks of a good Sandford novel is the quick natural dialog, and boy are we missing that here. The dialog is stilted and trying way too hard; again, think Stuart Woods thirty years ago:
"Shake asked, 'If she's here, which I doubt, you wanna go in hard?'
'Semi-hard,' Virgil said.
'Last time I heard that phrase, I was in bed with a woman from the county recorder's office.' Shrake said.”
Good one. I also enjoyed the joke about the cop dating a 14-year-old, that was hilarious.
Antiquated misogyny aside, this book is still a failure. There's no depth and no subplot-- gone are the more sophisticated layered plots of past books that built suspense and kept the reader engaged, here Sandford just drags us headlong through a one-dimensional and unconvincing story full of unlikeable people and implausible answers.
I don't think John Sandford wrote this, I think he's gone the way of so many popular writers before him and he's sold his name to the highest bidder. For the last five or so years I've preordered his upcoming books and looked forward to reading them the day they hit my Kindle, and those days are definitely over. If you're a fan of Sandford's and a fan of this series, you can skip this one and be better for it.
August 27, 2021
This Sandford's second mystery in the Virgil Flowers' series--I'll call that a trend. The previous ten and all of the 30-something Davenport series are thrillers, in that we share the POV of the bad guy(s) regularly, know who they are from the beginning, and switch off between the cop trying to catch the bad guy(s) and the bad guy(s) trying to complete their crime and escape. This book, like its immediate predecessor is a mystery, where neither the reader nor Virgil Flowers knows who the killer is or why the victim was killed. The rest of the book's structure is unchanged from the thriller format--Flowers questions people associated with the victim, finding various possible motives and suspects.
In the end, the solution is reasonably satisfying, though a late lead exposes a murder-worthy crime, only to prove false. Then we move on to the true motive, which is not murder-worthy (of course it is in the head of the killer.) For me, this felt like a let down. As if the Hound of the Baskervilles was solved by finding the neighbor, sick of the damn dog barking, had killed its owner.
In the end, the solution is reasonably satisfying, though a late lead exposes a murder-worthy crime, only to prove false. Then we move on to the true motive, which is not murder-worthy (of course it is in the head of the killer.) For me, this felt like a let down. As if the Hound of the Baskervilles was solved by finding the neighbor, sick of the damn dog barking, had killed its owner.
May 26, 2025
John Sandford is known for his thrillers and mysteries, and has been writing the same characters since “Rules of Prey” in 1989, introducing his best known character, Lucas Devenport. In his universe of detective running around Minnesota, however in 2007, he gave a series to a supporting character who sometimes worked with Devenport to solve his cases, Virgil Flowers. These have also spawned a successful series of mystery novels. In his 12th novel featuring Flowers, “Bloody Brilliant”, Flowers is called to investigate the murder of a professor and surgeon at the University of Minnesota named Barthelemy Quill. The novel opens in the usual Sandford style. Quill is being imitate with a woman in the University library after hours, when a mysterious figure hits him on the head with a heavy laptop, causing his death.
Flowers finds that Quill had made many enemies during his life as a professor and surgeon at the University. A wealthy man, he has several ex wives, a college aged daughter he hardly speaks to, and a professor from the Department of Cultural Science he was caught on camera arguing with during a lecture. Flowers, along with some other local detectives, interviews a bunch of these suspects. Like your usual Sandford novel, the novel focuses mostly on interviewing people and Flowers running around Sandford’s usual setting of Minnesota.
One of the things that Sandford does well is set up many leads. At different points in the novel, Flowers suspects that Quill’s computer had a file that was stolen by a corporate spy, and at another point in the novel, he suspects it has to do with a messy operation at the University hospital that had to do with a man who has a spaniel injury. All of these are solid leads, and then add on top a angsty college aged daughter, an prostitute Quill was sleeping with, drugs found in his house and the generally prickly politically correct environment of academia that Quill didn’t like very much, and you have a lot going on.
Sandford uses the fictional Department of Cultural Science to poke fun at politically correct culture on college campuses. The professor that Quill fought with during her lecture is a woman who sees everything as male privilege. When Flowers clearly just wants information for the case, she keeps suggesting studies she could use to look into a culture problem. All in all, she’s pretentious. She, though, does come off hypocritical as some points, when one of her older grad students says he felt she was flirting with him, despite being close in age.
Sandford doesn’t spend too much time on Flower’s personal life, though the little glimpses of it are nice. Flowers dotes on his now pregnant girlfriend, is considering writing a novel to add to his side career freelance writing magazine articles and even has a barbecue with his friend, Lucas Devenport, his wife and kids. All of this is pleasant enough, and connects the universe of detectives Sandford has created.
The copy I had of this novel lists it as a “Virgil Flowers Thriller” on the cover, but this one came off more as a old fashioned mystery novel. There’s not a ton of action in this one, as most of it is just Flowers interviewing possible suspects and trying to put together the pieces. The real action doesn’t happen until the last few chapters with a big car chase.
The usual things that happen in a Sandford novel happen like Flowers meeting sketchy characters, and other cops and detectives who all pretty colorful types. Sandford, to me, is a writer like James Patterson, Lee Child and Robert B. Parker. However I should add John Sandford is better at the twists and turns than James Patterson is, who tends to throw a twist into his novels without a proper set up.
Flowers finds that Quill had made many enemies during his life as a professor and surgeon at the University. A wealthy man, he has several ex wives, a college aged daughter he hardly speaks to, and a professor from the Department of Cultural Science he was caught on camera arguing with during a lecture. Flowers, along with some other local detectives, interviews a bunch of these suspects. Like your usual Sandford novel, the novel focuses mostly on interviewing people and Flowers running around Sandford’s usual setting of Minnesota.
One of the things that Sandford does well is set up many leads. At different points in the novel, Flowers suspects that Quill’s computer had a file that was stolen by a corporate spy, and at another point in the novel, he suspects it has to do with a messy operation at the University hospital that had to do with a man who has a spaniel injury. All of these are solid leads, and then add on top a angsty college aged daughter, an prostitute Quill was sleeping with, drugs found in his house and the generally prickly politically correct environment of academia that Quill didn’t like very much, and you have a lot going on.
Sandford uses the fictional Department of Cultural Science to poke fun at politically correct culture on college campuses. The professor that Quill fought with during her lecture is a woman who sees everything as male privilege. When Flowers clearly just wants information for the case, she keeps suggesting studies she could use to look into a culture problem. All in all, she’s pretentious. She, though, does come off hypocritical as some points, when one of her older grad students says he felt she was flirting with him, despite being close in age.
Sandford doesn’t spend too much time on Flower’s personal life, though the little glimpses of it are nice. Flowers dotes on his now pregnant girlfriend, is considering writing a novel to add to his side career freelance writing magazine articles and even has a barbecue with his friend, Lucas Devenport, his wife and kids. All of this is pleasant enough, and connects the universe of detectives Sandford has created.
The copy I had of this novel lists it as a “Virgil Flowers Thriller” on the cover, but this one came off more as a old fashioned mystery novel. There’s not a ton of action in this one, as most of it is just Flowers interviewing possible suspects and trying to put together the pieces. The real action doesn’t happen until the last few chapters with a big car chase.
The usual things that happen in a Sandford novel happen like Flowers meeting sketchy characters, and other cops and detectives who all pretty colorful types. Sandford, to me, is a writer like James Patterson, Lee Child and Robert B. Parker. However I should add John Sandford is better at the twists and turns than James Patterson is, who tends to throw a twist into his novels without a proper set up.
September 21, 2019
5 stars
That effing Flowers is on the trail of a killer once more. This time he must go to the city – reluctantly – of Minneapolis to investigate the murder of a brilliant college professor and doctor who specializes in neurosurgery and microsurgery for those who are disabled.
With a host of suspects, including two ex-wives and one about to be ex, an estranged daughter, her two weird friends and an ongoing feud with another department at the college he and his Minneapolis detective partner have their hands full. The investigation has stalled for two weeks and the governor has put pressure on Flowers' BCA (Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension), squad to get it solved. Virgil is not very thrilled to be back in the city. He prefers his farm where his pregnant girlfriend Frankie her son Sam live and let's don't forget his dog Honus.
Virgil carefully re-examines the crime scene, the victim's home and his partner's notes. He comes up with some observations and he and his partner follows the leads. Very slowly, they get somewhere.
This is another great story in the Virgil Flowers series of novels by John Sanford. I don't know how he keeps coming up with these ideas. And he manages to turn them into gems. His characters are infused with color and personality. The dialogue is fantastic. Each character has his or her own voice. The story is fast-paced and suspenseful. I really like Virgil with his jeans, t-shirts and rather hippie-looking appearance. His appearance makes him easy to overlook or underestimate. He is a charmer for sure.
I want to thank NetGalley and Penguin Group Putnam/G.P. Putnam's Sons for forwarding to me a copy of this absolutely great book for me to read, enjoy and review.
That effing Flowers is on the trail of a killer once more. This time he must go to the city – reluctantly – of Minneapolis to investigate the murder of a brilliant college professor and doctor who specializes in neurosurgery and microsurgery for those who are disabled.
With a host of suspects, including two ex-wives and one about to be ex, an estranged daughter, her two weird friends and an ongoing feud with another department at the college he and his Minneapolis detective partner have their hands full. The investigation has stalled for two weeks and the governor has put pressure on Flowers' BCA (Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension), squad to get it solved. Virgil is not very thrilled to be back in the city. He prefers his farm where his pregnant girlfriend Frankie her son Sam live and let's don't forget his dog Honus.
Virgil carefully re-examines the crime scene, the victim's home and his partner's notes. He comes up with some observations and he and his partner follows the leads. Very slowly, they get somewhere.
This is another great story in the Virgil Flowers series of novels by John Sanford. I don't know how he keeps coming up with these ideas. And he manages to turn them into gems. His characters are infused with color and personality. The dialogue is fantastic. Each character has his or her own voice. The story is fast-paced and suspenseful. I really like Virgil with his jeans, t-shirts and rather hippie-looking appearance. His appearance makes him easy to overlook or underestimate. He is a charmer for sure.
I want to thank NetGalley and Penguin Group Putnam/G.P. Putnam's Sons for forwarding to me a copy of this absolutely great book for me to read, enjoy and review.
December 17, 2019
3.5 stars
August 27, 2022
Unlike some of my friends here on Goodreads, I was not at all disappointed with this book. I really like Virgil Flowers and I'm sorry to hear he's being retired by the author. I may have to go back and read them all again one day to get my fix.
I thought the story was interesting - a murder with no clues, red herrings, the usual fun banter with Virgil's sometimes corny humor. Perhaps not quite as much of his "wise-guy" humor, but still there.
Some people miss the sexual tension from when he was more single and flirted more, but people grow up, and he shows himself to be a likeable, decent human who seems to care about people without being too soft. I'll miss him.
I thought the story was interesting - a murder with no clues, red herrings, the usual fun banter with Virgil's sometimes corny humor. Perhaps not quite as much of his "wise-guy" humor, but still there.
Some people miss the sexual tension from when he was more single and flirted more, but people grow up, and he shows himself to be a likeable, decent human who seems to care about people without being too soft. I'll miss him.
October 22, 2019
A good murder mystery for Flowers in this one. Not quite as bizarre as most of the Flowers' books. Sanford is beginning to domesticate Virgil who is rapidly becoming a one woman man and who appears to want to turn to a farming lifestyle. Tell me ain't so, Joe. Next thing you know he'll be wearing Beatles and Stones t-shirts.
October 8, 2019
As usual, Sandford writes an excellent, entertaining mystery. Secret sex in a library, murder, theft of intellectual property, money money money -- he doesn't miss a trick!
Bloody Genius is so entertaining I ordered the four books of the Kidd series to slake my reawakened appetite for Sandford!
Bloody Genius is so entertaining I ordered the four books of the Kidd series to slake my reawakened appetite for Sandford!
October 23, 2019
With the Minneapolis PD investigation into the murder of wealthy, politically-connected university professor (Barthelemy Quill) going nowhere, the governor asks Virgil (that fucking) Flowers from the state's Bureau of Criminal Apprehension to help. Facing obvious resentment from the local detective sergeant (Maggie Trane), he slowly wins her over with his easy going, I don't want the credit attitude, especially when he begins to find overlooked clues. With ex-wives, a slacker daughter with a very small trust stipend, a feud with another academic department at the university, disgruntled patients or fellow doctors, colleagues and employees at his university lab, who are not treated nicely, and a possible drug or prostitution angle, there are almost too many suspects. This made the book slow for me. And, enough with Frankie's pregnancy. Should not last so long.
October 9, 2019
Always fun to read a Virgil Flowers novel. I love it all except the perp in the end felt too convenient.
December 16, 2019
3.5 stars
I work in an academic library, so when I saw that this was about a murder that takes place in one, I knew I had to read it. It's great introduction to John Sandford novels.
I work in an academic library, so when I saw that this was about a murder that takes place in one, I knew I had to read it. It's great introduction to John Sandford novels.
October 21, 2019
Bloody Genius
by John Sandford
I suppose like most people, I read different genres for different reasons. I enjoy reading History and Biography to learn about times and people. I read Historical Fiction to satisfy some intellectual curiosity, but good mysteries are just pure enjoyment.
Most of John Sandford stories take place in the Twin Cities in Minnesota where I have lived for most of my life. Reading about events that happen in places you are familiar with adds enjoyment to the story.
Virgil Flowers is called up to the Twin Cities to help investigate a murder at the Wilson Library on the campus of the University of Minnesota in Minneapolis. In this story he mentions Minnehaha Creek in South Minneapolis, someplace I lived for a decade, he mentions a bookstore next to Breadsmith and Jamba Juice in St. Paul, a bookstore I frequent and have bought many books, and a major arrest in the story takes place in Eagan, where I currently live.
But you don’t need to live in the Twin Cities to enjoy this book.
This story has the usual lineup of interesting characters. The characters are well developed and you have no problem recognizing them as they reappear. The mystery develops slowly but consistently as it unravels. There is the usual slam bang finish that gets your pulse beating. There are some tangents and false leads, for instance, the arrest in Eagan is not connected to the murder Flowers is investigating, but these are also intriguing stories.
A further note, Sandford writes about 2 characters — Lucas Davenport and Virgil Flowers. Generally he releases a new Davenport book in the Spring and a new Virgil Flowers book in the Fall. Virgil and Lucas are good longtime friends. In this book Virgil visits Davenport and during the visit Davenport gets a phone call from a Senator in Washington DC about an issue that needs to be investigated. I am betting the Davenport book next Spring involves this phone call. There is also a hint that Virgil might be considering a career change. That would be disappointing. Many people I have talked to that read Sandford seem to favor the Virgil Flowers books. Unlike Lucas, Virgil’s fashion comments center on the band t-shirt he is wearing.
A very exciting read.
by John Sandford
I suppose like most people, I read different genres for different reasons. I enjoy reading History and Biography to learn about times and people. I read Historical Fiction to satisfy some intellectual curiosity, but good mysteries are just pure enjoyment.
Most of John Sandford stories take place in the Twin Cities in Minnesota where I have lived for most of my life. Reading about events that happen in places you are familiar with adds enjoyment to the story.
Virgil Flowers is called up to the Twin Cities to help investigate a murder at the Wilson Library on the campus of the University of Minnesota in Minneapolis. In this story he mentions Minnehaha Creek in South Minneapolis, someplace I lived for a decade, he mentions a bookstore next to Breadsmith and Jamba Juice in St. Paul, a bookstore I frequent and have bought many books, and a major arrest in the story takes place in Eagan, where I currently live.
But you don’t need to live in the Twin Cities to enjoy this book.
This story has the usual lineup of interesting characters. The characters are well developed and you have no problem recognizing them as they reappear. The mystery develops slowly but consistently as it unravels. There is the usual slam bang finish that gets your pulse beating. There are some tangents and false leads, for instance, the arrest in Eagan is not connected to the murder Flowers is investigating, but these are also intriguing stories.
A further note, Sandford writes about 2 characters — Lucas Davenport and Virgil Flowers. Generally he releases a new Davenport book in the Spring and a new Virgil Flowers book in the Fall. Virgil and Lucas are good longtime friends. In this book Virgil visits Davenport and during the visit Davenport gets a phone call from a Senator in Washington DC about an issue that needs to be investigated. I am betting the Davenport book next Spring involves this phone call. There is also a hint that Virgil might be considering a career change. That would be disappointing. Many people I have talked to that read Sandford seem to favor the Virgil Flowers books. Unlike Lucas, Virgil’s fashion comments center on the band t-shirt he is wearing.
A very exciting read.
September 23, 2019
A good read that had the potential of being a great read until it lost its way and got a little sloppy towards the end. Virgil is investigating a murder in a Minneapolis suburb dominated by a college campus and its environs; armed with nothing but some odd, random clues. This was a refreshing break from the last few books, which had revolved around small town politics, gossip, and some ‘friendly’ backstabbing.
The story was a solid murder investigation, pretty straightforward and interesting. Around the 70% mark, though, a number of new characters and subplots were brought into play which muddied the main storyline. They eventually threaded together, of course; but it was all a little strange, and marked departure from the linear investigation and writing style of the earlier part of the book.
Overall, though, I’m still happy with Virgil and his world, whereas I’ve pretty much lost interested in Lucas Davenport.
The story was a solid murder investigation, pretty straightforward and interesting. Around the 70% mark, though, a number of new characters and subplots were brought into play which muddied the main storyline. They eventually threaded together, of course; but it was all a little strange, and marked departure from the linear investigation and writing style of the earlier part of the book.
Overall, though, I’m still happy with Virgil and his world, whereas I’ve pretty much lost interested in Lucas Davenport.
November 10, 2019
Hallelujah! John Sandford is back. His previous book Neon Prey was so boring that one wondered whether the author had changed somehow. But this book shows Sandford at his best. Virgil Flowers is as endearing as ever, the humor laugh out funny and the plot while taut and fast is also a proper detective mystery with clues and all.
October 22, 2019
I always enjoy reading how Virgil Flowers's mind works as he follows a crime from clue to clue to clue, and Bloody Genius was no different. The humor in this series makes it lighter fare, which is always fun to read. Flowers is hilarious but is also a first-rate investigator, which is definitely required in this book as this particular investigation includes prostitutes, students, crooked lawyers, a CEO of an up and coming company, scam artists, and the victim's past wives. Whew!
I very much liked a lot of the characters, but especially Harry, the man in his 70s, who owns three McDonalds. (Harry has his own theory about the case, developed from his years of watching Gibbs on NCIS!)
There was one part I was uncomfortable with, and that I felt could have been left out:
However, the rest of the book was a fun and interesting read!
I very much liked a lot of the characters, but especially Harry, the man in his 70s, who owns three McDonalds. (Harry has his own theory about the case, developed from his years of watching Gibbs on NCIS!)
There was one part I was uncomfortable with, and that I felt could have been left out:
However, the rest of the book was a fun and interesting read!
May 6, 2021
5 Stars. Can you feel Virgil's frustration? So many leads not panning out. He was asked to team up with a talented detective in Minneapolis who had been investigating the murder of a professor at midnight in the library of the University of Minnesota. For two weeks little to show. Professor Quill's well-connected sister, Boopsie or Bunny or Biffy, a major financial donor, was exasperated and called the Governor. He called the BCA and the mess landed in Flowers' hands. But he too can't find traction. Two university departments were feuding over an ethical issue. Flowers looked into Professor Katherine Green, the young and gorgeous one who Quill called "ignorant" and much worse. That seemed to fade. Flowers then looked into Quill's previous wives. Could this all be about his will? Who inherits his considerable estate? Again he's in the weeds. What about Quill's daughter Megan, a second year student who seems to be languishing in neutral with a bunch of gamers? Or the possibility Quill brought a woman to the library that night? See what I mean, dispiriting. And then, with the help of Frankie, Virgil's pregnant girlfriend, it breaks open. Loved it. (May 2021)
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