Seven years ago I discovered a detective that lived an amazing life, one which I immediately wanted as my own, but had to settle for reading about rather than living due to the impossibilities of transplanting myself into a fictional character (hell, even if he were a real life character I think I would have to settle for something less than what I wanted). His name was Lucas Davenport and his creator was novelist John Sandford, a writer who, thankfully, had already penned several books featuring Davenport thus making it so I wouldn’t have to wait for his creative muse to fuel my cravings. Of course, I have now finished all his books and am forced to wait for his new stories, and now it isn’t just one character I eagerly anticipate, but two, because John Sandford has done something many other authors haven’t been able to achieve; he created a second detective character that is just as great as his first, one who now has his own series of books, Rough Country being the latest.
The detective’s name is Virgil Flowers and let me tell you, he is quite a character. Three times divorced, yet still able to sometimes hook up with his ex-wives (and several other female characters), Virgil Flowers seems more like punk rocker than a detective and is often looked at suspiciously by the people he investigates due to the logo bearing t-shirts, long hair, and his ‘I’d rather be up north in the woods fishing’ attitude. Plus he drives around with a boat attached to his vehicle just incase he get a few hours to kill, something which drives his boss, the great Lucas Davenport, crazy. In fact, in a boat is where we find Virgil Flowers in the beginning of Rough Country, well, after reading through a scene where a woman is shot through the head while kayaking late at night in the north woods of Minnesota that is. Unfortunately for him, his vacation will be cut short due to this murder, and even worse, the location where this murder took place ends up being an unofficial resort for lesbian women; so, chances are he won’t get to indulge in another one of his passions.
Despite his appearance, Virgil Flowers is a great detective, one who will stop at nothing to solve the crimes he is involved in, which is why Davenport only gives him the tough ones. And tough this one is, for the killer hasn’t left much in the way of clues and has chosen as a target a woman who could have a dozen different enemies, all of whom seem to have something to gain from her death. Add in the fact that the killer is a good shot with a rifle and that every part of town seems to be within sight of the woods . . . well, Virgil better wrap it up quick before someone else, or even he, is sighted in the killer’s scope.
Well written, suspenseful, and littered with twists, Rough Country is a perfect novel for those that want to curl up in a protective blanket now that the weather has turned cold, and relax with a good story. Though be warned, you may want to close the blinds before sitting down with this one, because once you start reading you won’t want to stop, yet page after page you will realize how easy it would be for someone to look in with a rifle and squeeze the trigger . . .
The detective’s name is Virgil Flowers and let me tell you, he is quite a character. Three times divorced, yet still able to sometimes hook up with his ex-wives (and several other female characters), Virgil Flowers seems more like punk rocker than a detective and is often looked at suspiciously by the people he investigates due to the logo bearing t-shirts, long hair, and his ‘I’d rather be up north in the woods fishing’ attitude. Plus he drives around with a boat attached to his vehicle just incase he get a few hours to kill, something which drives his boss, the great Lucas Davenport, crazy. In fact, in a boat is where we find Virgil Flowers in the beginning of Rough Country, well, after reading through a scene where a woman is shot through the head while kayaking late at night in the north woods of Minnesota that is. Unfortunately for him, his vacation will be cut short due to this murder, and even worse, the location where this murder took place ends up being an unofficial resort for lesbian women; so, chances are he won’t get to indulge in another one of his passions.
Despite his appearance, Virgil Flowers is a great detective, one who will stop at nothing to solve the crimes he is involved in, which is why Davenport only gives him the tough ones. And tough this one is, for the killer hasn’t left much in the way of clues and has chosen as a target a woman who could have a dozen different enemies, all of whom seem to have something to gain from her death. Add in the fact that the killer is a good shot with a rifle and that every part of town seems to be within sight of the woods . . . well, Virgil better wrap it up quick before someone else, or even he, is sighted in the killer’s scope.
Well written, suspenseful, and littered with twists, Rough Country is a perfect novel for those that want to curl up in a protective blanket now that the weather has turned cold, and relax with a good story. Though be warned, you may want to close the blinds before sitting down with this one, because once you start reading you won’t want to stop, yet page after page you will realize how easy it would be for someone to look in with a rifle and squeeze the trigger . . .
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