Virgil Flowers will have to watch his back–and his mouth–as he investigates a college culture war turned deadly in another one of Sandford’s “madly entertaining Virgil Flowers mysteries” (New York Times Book Review).At the local state university, two feuding departments have faced off on the battleground of science and medicine. Each carries their views to extremes that may seem absurd, but … that may seem absurd, but highly educated people of sound mind and good intentions can reasonably disagree, right?
Then a renowned and confrontational scholar winds up dead, and Virgil Flowers is brought in to investigate . . . and as he probes the recent ideological unrest, 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.
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Virgil Flowers is back, and in addition to his personal life changing drastically, he gets a case that is anything but normal. Then again, when has Virgil ever done normal?
I’ve been a fan of Virgil’s since he was first introduced way back when in the Prey series, and the more I read of him, the more I like him. He’s not your average cop, and he certainly doesn’t dress like one. His investigation style may be different, and it doesn’t really follow a procedure, but his out of the box ways do produce results.
In Bloody Genius, we get plenty of Virgil’s own brand of investigating. I always picture him casually strolling around, asking questions and plucking tidbits out of conversations. He does the same here, although it’s not always with his usual almost lazy style. I don’t want to give anything away, but I will add that Sandford gives us the answers, we just have to be paying attention. I’ll admit, I very nearly missed it, but for me, I’ve grown to love these characters, so the books are as much about catching up with them as solving the mystery. Speaking of characters, we do get some Jenkins and Shrake time, which is always fun. You know things are going to start happening when those two show up. And in true Sandford form. once things all come together, it’s a race to the finish.
As always, we get Sandford’s sharp wit and sense of timing in a wonderfully written book full of interesting and entertaining characters. If you’re up to date with the series, you already know that Virgil has some big things on the horizon, and those things are only getting bigger. I can’t wait to see what’s next for this terrific character.
Bloody Genius is the twelfth book in John Sandford’s Virgil Flowers series. Sadly, the nut case, BCA investigator I love seems to be growing older. Virgil Flowers is contacted by the governor of Minnesota to investigate the murder of a prominent professor at the University of Minnesota. Meanwhile, Virgil’s girlfriend, Frankie, is pregnant with twins. Virgil enters the world of gamers and a note here, serious gamers won’t use a MAC for gaming. The story started out rather slow but seemed to click back into the familiar pace maybe a third of the way into the book, from there forward, another good read.
Can’t get enough of “That F*cking Flowers”. Another great character/series from John Sandford. Read everything he writes, you won’t be disappointed.
I love me some Virgil Flowers! This is a whodunnit but it’s good, keeps you turning the pages, and it is entertaining! Typical Sandford!
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.
I have now officially run out of Virgil Flowers stories to download on audio and am heartbroken. I credit this series with getting me through the last year of COVID. That f***ing Flowers is my guy, and BLOODY GENIUS had a great twist. I also loved that we got to see heavily pregnant Frankie help out with some brainstorming on the case. Please can we have more Virgil and Frankie!
Virgil Flowers is always fun. The stories are entertaining and he never let’s you down
I’ve loved Virgil Flowers ever since he was first introduced in the Prey books, and the more I read, he just keeps getting better. He doesn’t dress like a cop, or most of the time, act like a cop (however, every one that meets him seems to know he is a cop) He loves fishing, writing, his girlfriend (and her kids) (soon to be their kids) and he is good at his job of a BCA Agent. With a little help from his friend Lucas Davenport and assorted other cops, he investigates the FLowers way and seems to always find the bad guys.
I was pleased with this book as the moniker used for Flowers (effing Flowers) was not used so much. With him settling down with Frankie and his lifestyle changing, that doesn’t fit him anymore (in my opinion). Book was just as good without it and eventually maybe it could go away completely??
Love Sandford’s way with words whether it’s a Davenport or Flowers book. Keep on writing, please.
The relationships Virgil Flowers has with other police officers is as entertaining as his interactions with the suspects. The complexity of the crimes are just right — brain-twisters, yet still realistic and plausible. Virgil always proves he’s worthy of respect. He likes his rock concert t-shirts and cowboy boots, drags his boat to wherever he’s assigned, and often forgets to carry his gun. But he’s faithful to his partner and devoted to solving his cases.
John Sanford never disappoints! I’ve read all his Lucas books, and would love to know if he’d planned for Virgil Flowers to eventually get his own wonderful series when Virgil first appeared as a secondary character. This was one twisted mystery and it was only toward the end that I realized that the clue had been there early on.
Sandford is one of my favorite authors.
Great book in this series
Awesome book
Another fine addition to the Virgil Flowers series.
Love Virgil Flowers. Helps the stories take place where I live, MN
Basically what everyone else said: we all love Virgil, his unpredictable life style and professional superbness (is that a word?), Sandford’s way with words and how he weaves and deceives with his story-telling. As usual, great fun and at least one laugh-out-loud moment per novel. I hope the reader has never indulged in one of these treats and decides to take the plunge. It’s worth it. Again.
Listened to the audio book. It kept my attention and kept moving. Will be interested to see what Virgil does next!
This is the 12th novel in the Virgil Flowers series It was another great read. John Sandford does a great job of weaving a story with great plot twists. Being familiar with the Midwest, I really enjoy this series. I’m also looking forward to Virgil’s life changing and what he might decide to do in the future. Keep up the good work. Well done!
That F…..g Flowers does it again.
I have read all the Virgil Flowers books and I have to say this one is not up to the standard the others are. There is murder and a mystery but I think that the solution is a little contrived and convoluted to be totally accepted, As a reader I know there has to be a willing suspension of disbelief but how the murderer covered his/her tracks to throw off the detectives was hard to swallow. That being said it was nice to spend time with Virgil and the crew again as they worked the case and the narrator of the audio book as usual did a fantastic job.