Customer Reviews

Heat Lightning (Virgil Flowers)

5 star:		(45)
4 star:		(22)
3 star:		(16)
2 star:		(8)
1 star:		(8)

 

 

Someone's ritualistically torturing and murdering a bunch of Vietnam Vets (a subject near to my heart, as I am one), and Lucas Davenport assigns the case to that rascally womanizer Virgil Flowers in this fast-paced thriller from John Sandford.

Flowers is an engaging hero: smart, tough, witty, and ready at the drop of a skirt.

Sanford displays his usual deft skill in engaging us in the story as well as the characters, with a novel plot line, fully realized secondary characters, and dialogue that shows a true "ear" for the way people talk in real life.

This book moves like a runaway train, and will keep you entertained from first page to last.

A solid five stars.

I have to admit that my enthusiasm for John Sandford has waned a little in recent years. While never delivering a really bad novel, I've found most of Sandford's recent work has been pretty unremarkable. In particular, I was underwhelmed by both the last Virgil Flowers novel (Dark of the Moon) and the last Lucas Davenport novel (Phantom Prey). I wasn't going to bother with Heat Lightning, but in the end I decided I might as well give it a read.

It turns out its pretty good. Not great, but a solid Sandford novel.

Sandford forges into new territory (for the author) by incorporating a little international intrigue into the novel. While hardly a spy novel, Heat Lightning does include a CIA component, foreign assassins, and Homeland Security. The plot is sufficiently complex (although the twists were fairly predictable) and the author capably builds the suspense.

Flowers is more engaging in this novel than his first solo outing. `Heat Lightning' is a reasonable page-turner, but even if it weren't for the suspense, I might be inclined to keep reading just to find out what Virgil's next T-Shirt is going to be. I suspect Sandford searches the internet for indie bands with strange names, and probably isn't all that familiar with the artists on Virgil's shirts, but it's still nice to see `Death Cab for Cutie' get some shirt exposure; and while I'm not a huge fan, it's great to see Canadian artists like `Bif Naked' get recognition as well.

(In the unlikely event that the author happens to read this - I'd like to see Virgil don a `Sleater-Kinney' T-shirt next time around.)

I think most Sandford fans will enjoy this novel. I suspect a few people will be put off by Sandford's left leaning politics (I'm Canadian so this isn't an issue for me) and fans that prefer their fictional violence to be domestic in nature may find the international elements of the novel off-putting. In my opinion though, Heat Lightning may not measure up to Eyes of Prey and Rules of Prey, but it's the best Sandford novel in a long time. 3 ½ stars.

The answer to the titular question is a resounding "No!" But a series of torture murder victims are found with lemons stuffed in their mouths. Virgil Flowers, an officer with the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension, investigates the murders. He finds a trail leading to a gruesome crime committed in Vietnam back in 1975, when things were falling apart there for the U.S.

John Sandford writes with a wry sense of humor about the resourceful, gritty, womanizing Flowers. Flowers uncovers a conspiracy involving the CIA, high officials in the current Vietnamese government, Homeland Security, and the smuggling of stolen heavy equipment into Canada. Things are not always as they seem. The line between good and evil gets blurry.

The focus of Flowers' romantic ardor (which seems to know few bounds) is the twenty-something daughter of a leftist professor. Said professor, during the sixties, had criticized the U.S. role in Vietnam. Flowers thinks the professor knows something about the "lemon murders." While he is investigating the professor, Flowers is also "investigating" the daughter.

The book drags a bit early on, but the last three hundred pages build to a slam-bang conclusion that is full of surprises.

Sandford skillfully captures the atmosphere of St. Paul and the surrounding region in Minnesota, as well as the state's border with Canada. Flowers is an outdoorsman, and Sandford vividly weaves this into the plot via episodes set in the backcountry.

I do have one reality check on the book: If you are thirsty and a friend throws an ice-cold bottle of beer to you from twenty yards away, would you try to catch it?

I am a fan of the Prey series and the Kidd books, so when Sandford came out with the Flowers series, I was worried that the author would over extend himself. I was wrong. Sandford has created a very novel character in Virgil Flowers. From his long hair and his vast collection of tee shirts, Virgil is a one of a kind cop. The story flows naturally and the characters sound real. Virgil is fully rounded person and his name is not about his personality, but his way with the ladies. The story is not one of those mysteries where the detective uses deduction or those where CSI plays a big part. In the novels it is plain old grinding it out leg work, look for clues, follow leads, dead ends, and luck. In between Virgil talking about God and picking the right band shirt, the action is simple and to the point. No facncy shooting or "wow" action, but realistic action of the normal cop. One reads these books for the Virgil Flower and not really for the msytery. A very satistfing novel.

I bought this book because of Brian Baker's review featured here. I have followed his choices before and he and I seem to look for similar things in a book and I have come to trust his judgement. I had read one of the Prey series and for whatever reason, it didn't do it for me. So I was not inclined to read more of this author until Brian made his recommendation.

Flowers is a true character. One I would like to see more of.

However, it is Sandford's use of dialogue, the development of several of the characters in the book and that he keeps the reader guessing at about the same level those in the book are operating at, as to what people are going to be killed and why.

You know, there are some times you come across a passage that you just say: "Dang! I wish I was smart enough to write that."

Mine occurred at page 199, when Virgil had crawled into bed "...and thought about God and the people who were dead on this case...and wondered what all that was about, and how somebody like the dumb-ass preachers on TV could think this could all be part of God's plan. God didn't have a plan, Virgil believed. God had his limits, and one of them was, He didn't always know what would happen; or if He did know, He didn't care, or if He cared, He was constrained by His own logic and couldn't do anything about death and destruction. Virgil believed that God was actually a part of a rolling wave front, hurtling into an unknown future; and that humans, animals and, possibly trees and chinch bugs had souls that would rejoin God at death. Which brought him to Camus' big question, and he didn't like to think about Camus, so he went to sleep."

Now that is good. And so is the rest of it. So saddle up. A really good book is waiting for you.

This is another usual fantastic effort from John Sandford. Now that Kidd and Davenport are old w/kids and family, Virgil Flowers steps in to carry the torch. I think the author is more comfortable with the character in this book and it comes through in the writing. I know these are formula books, but this formula works well for me.

Once I started reading this book, I couldn't stop. If you are any kind of Kidd or Davenport fan you won't be disappointed by this book.

HEAT LIGHTNING is the second book by John Sandford to feature Virgil Flowers. Flowers works with the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension and his boss is Lucas Davenport. In this novel, men are being killed and then left at veteran's memorials. The victims all have a lemon in their mouth. Virgil gets called in after the second killing. He ties the victims to a veteran's center and discovers both victims had been talking to a 1960s radical named Mead Sinclair. Sinclair has ties to Viet Nam and so might the case. Virgil discovers the killers might have more targets, so he tries to protect them while the killers try to find them. It's a big cat and mouse game with plenty of twists.

No need to go into the plot anymore. Sandford is one of the best at taking the reader on a thrill ride and including them in the thrill of the chase that the characters feel. Flowers also has time to hook up with Mai Sinclair, Mead's daughter. Flowers is an interesting character who can't help but falling in love with beautiful woman. Flowers also continues to hook up with his ex-wives. Sandford also does a great job of recreating the feel of Minnesota.

Flowers and Davenport spend a lot of time together in this novel. It's hard to tell Flowers apart from the younger Davenport. Also present are many Davenport regulars like Sloan, Shrake, Jenkins, Carol and the flirtations but innocent Sandy. I love that I get to read a Sandford novel every sixth month. Longtime Sandford fans will really enjoy this novel. You'll get the great plot, the violence, the foul language, and the sense of pure fun that Sandford puts into his novels.

Minnesota of Crime Bureau Apprehension investigator, Virgil Flowers, is summoned to the scene of a second murder victim. Two shots to the head, a lemon wedge in the victim's mouth posed in front of a Vietnam War memorial; a far different feeling than that of the warm bed he had just shared with his second ex-wife. We know the killer is after a list of others. Targeted Assassinations, probable but why? Left-winged anti-war radical Activist and academic Mead Sinclair explains "When the Vietnamese execute a prisoner--a political prisoner, or even a murderer--they'll gag him by stuffing a lemon in his mouth. Hold it there with tape. Duct tape." Vigilantly or revenge killings? By whom and why? Flowers must find out before any more bodies are found.

Sanford's great plot idea becomes laborious, and somewhat torturous with his overuse of time breaks that even confounded him and the publisher's proof readers. Glaring mistakes causes the reader to stop and regroup just as Flowers in his investigation. While the answer to the why Virgil is always seeming a step behind the shooter is finally answered, not so with the author's proof reading oversights. Nor is the question why Flowers cannot hold conversations in which double entendres are interjected or the blatant fact that he much rather be out on boat fishing.

Even Prey's Lucas Davenport's appearance can't save this novel. (Character is flat. For those whom never had read any of the Prey series, the reader would assume he is just another so-so bureaucrat.) Philosophical questions of God, the eco-system, politics Sanford raises are out of place to the story he is telling and its ending ventures into the realm of absurdity.

Maybe I just don't "get" the appeal of this book, but I got so bored that I was unable to finish it. Why? 1) Besides Virgil Flowers, there are no characters in the book, only cardboard cutouts representing character types. 2) There is nothing inspired or particularly original about the story. The lemons in the mouths of the victims is an interesting detail, but it's just a detail. 3) The pacing plods along, despite occasional shifts into overdrive, after which it's back to the plodding. 4) Virgil is no Harry Bosch, or Dave Robicheaux, or Jack Taylor, or Charlie Parker, or... you get the idea. Virgil is likable enough, but without his long hair and indie band t-shirts, there wouldn't be a whole lot unique about him, much less compelling. He has idiosyncracies, not flaws. He has characteristics more so than character. In my humble opinion, this is better than the true hacks of the genre (see airport booksellers' shelves), but nowhere near the masters of the crime/cop/mystery genre. If you're not familiar with Michael Connelly, James Lee Burke, Ken Bruen, John Connolly, et. al, do yourself a favor and check out a book that will grab you by the throat, not just help you pass the time (slowly).

Sorry, I don't like giving 2 stars. I choose my books very carefully. I didn't think I could go wrong with another Sanford but I couldn't wait for this book to be over. I quit caring about any of the people. Even after the 1st book I just couldn't wrap my fictional eyes around a character like Virgil. Is he a ladies man, a fisherman, a man of god, a good dectective, a bad detective -- why do they always refer to him as "that effing Flowers"? He is not written as a screw-up but you get that impression. There is nothing in his personality that is especially endearing or charasmatic. Why would I care about what happens to him next? The story was also far fetched and I lost track of all the characters and then they had 2nd identities. The action was bland, the tense scenes were -- well, boring. The multiple tee-shirts he wears just aren't enough to get a feel for his personality. With Davenport you get an onion that has lots of layers to peel. With Virgil, I keep trying to picture him in my mind's eye. But I can't. Sandord hasn't fleshed him out enough. And the poor plotline just didn't carry the story either.