Dark of the Moon - Softcover

Sandford, John

3.99

39,806 ratings by Goodreads

Softcover

ISBN 10: 1847391850 ISBN 13: 9781847391858

Publisher: Simon & Schuster UK, 2008

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The very first Virgil Flowers novel by internationally bestselling author John Sandford!

In the small town of Bluestem, Minnesota, where everybody knows everybody, a house way up on a ridge explodes into flames. Its owner, a man named Judd, is trapped inside and dies. But Judd's death wasn't a tragic accident... someone set his house on fire.

Lots of people hated Judd, Flowers discovers. Years ago, Judd had perpetrated a scam that'd driven a lot of local farmers out of business, some even to suicide. There are also rumors swirling around: of some very dicey activities with other men's wives; of involvement with some nutcase religious guy; of an out-of-wedlock daughter. In fact, Flowers concludes, you'd probably have to look hard to find a person who had actually liked the man.

But the thing is, Judd's death isn't the first in this small town in recent weeks. Three weeks earlier there'd been another murder — two, in fact — a doctor and his wife. The doctor was found propped up in his backyard, both eyes shot out. Before this, there hadn't been a murder in Bluestem in years — and now, suddenly, three? Flowers knows two things: This wasn't a coincidence, and this had to be personal.

But just how personal is something even he doesn't realize, and may not find out until too late. Because the next victim... may be himself.

* * * Praise for John Sandford and the Virgil Flower novels * * *

‘Along the way to the satisfying ending, Virgil displays the rough humor and rough justice that make him such an appealing character’ Publishers Weekly on Deep Freeze

‘A knowing portrait of small-town life layered into a very well plotted mystery. Virgil understands that, in small towns, no one ever outgrows high school... One of the very best novels in a superior series’Booklist (starred review) on Deep Freeze

‘Add a gripping storyline, a generous helping of exquisitely conceived characters and laugh-out-loud humor that produce explosive guffaws, not muted chuckles, and you’re in for the usual late-night, don’t-even-think-of-stopping treat when Flowers hits town’ Richmond Times-Dispatch on Deep Freeze

‘An outstanding novel’ Publishers Weekly (starred review) on Escape Clause

‘Perfect entertainment’ Kirkus Reviews on Escape Clause

"synopsis" may belong to another edition of this title.

Review:

"If you liked Lucas, you'll love Virgil."

"A welcome addition to Sandford's body of work."

Sandford keeps the reader guessing and the pages turning while Flowers displays the kind of cool and folksy charm that might force Davenport to share the spotlight more often. *Publishers Weekly
Flowers is a welcome addition to [Sandford s] body of work. Chicago Sun-Times
[Sandford] maintains the page-turning momentum that makes his novels such a treat. If you liked Lucas, you ll love Virgil. The Tampa Tribune
A book that will keep you turning pages, guessing, and completely immersed and engrossed in whatever Sandford wants to throw at you. It s a great ride, and Sandford proves that sometimes it s not the character, it s not the series, it s the writer. The Post and Courier
An adrenaline rush peppered with laugh-out-loud moments. Booklist "

-Sandford keeps the reader guessing and the pages turning while Flowers displays the kind of cool and folksy charm that might force Davenport to share the spotlight more often.---*Publishers Weekly
-Flowers is a welcome addition to [Sandford's] body of work.---Chicago Sun-Times
-[Sandford] maintains the page-turning momentum that makes his novels such a treat. If you liked Lucas, you'll love Virgil.---The Tampa Tribune
-A book that will keep you turning pages, guessing, and completely immersed--and engrossed--in whatever Sandford wants to throw at you. It's a great ride, and Sandford proves that sometimes it's not the character, it's not the series, it's the writer.---The Post and Courier
-An adrenaline rush peppered with laugh-out-loud moments.---Booklist

"Sandford keeps the reader guessing and the pages turning while Flowers displays the kind of cool and folksy charm that might force Davenport to share the spotlight more often."--*Publishers Weekly

"Flowers is a welcome addition to [Sandford's] body of work."--Chicago Sun-Times

"[Sandford] maintains the page-turning momentum that makes his novels such a treat. If you liked Lucas, you'll love Virgil."--The Tampa Tribune

"A book that will keep you turning pages, guessing, and completely immersed--and engrossed--in whatever Sandford wants to throw at you. It's a great ride, and Sandford proves that sometimes it's not the character, it's not the series, it's the writer."--The Post and Courier

"An adrenaline rush peppered with laugh-out-loud moments."--Booklist

Synopsis:

First the Army, then the military police, Virgil Flowers had kicked around for a while before Lucas Davenport recruited him to the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension, promising him "We'll only give you the hard stuff". He'd been doing the hard stuff for three years now - but never anything like this. In the small town of Bluestem, where everybody knows everybody, a house way up on a ridge explodes into flames, its elderly owner trapped inside. Following up rumours of financial scams plus some very dodgy activities with other men's wives, Flowers discovers several reasons why the victim was so hated. And that wasn't even the reason why he'd come to Bluestem. Three weeks before, there'd been another murder, two in fact - a doctor and his wife; the doctor found propped up in his own backyard, both eyes shot out. There hadn't been a murder in Bluestem in years, and now suddenly three? Flowers knows two things: This isn't a coincidence, and this has to be personal. But just how personal, Flowers might not find out until too late. Because the next victim ...might be himself.

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