Shock Wave

By: John Sandford

Narrated by: Eric Conger

Length: 9 hrs and 11 mins

Publisher's summary

The thrilling new Virgil Flowers novel from the #1 New York Times best-selling author.

The superstore chain PyeMart has its sights set on a Minnesota river town, but two very angry groups want to stop it: local merchants, fearing for their businesses, and environmentalists, predicting ecological disaster. The protests don't seem to be slowing the project, though, until someone decides to take matters into his own hands.

The first bomb goes off on the top floor of PyeMart's headquarters. The second one explodes at the construction site itself. The blasts are meant to inflict maximum damage-and they do. Who's behind the bombs, and how far will they go? It's Virgil Flowers's job to find out... before more people get killed.

©2011 John Sandford (P)2011 Penguin Audio

Critic reviews

“[Sandford]’s a thorough professional who knows exactly what he’s doing. Whether you’re new to Sandford or not, whether you’ve ever read a Virgil Flowers novel or not, once you start Shock Wave, you’ll read it straight through, quickly, compulsively, happy the whole time to be in such good hands.” (The Washington Post)

“Wry humor, a fully realized lead, and tense atmospherics...Sandford effortlessly conjures up the rhythms and personalities of a small town in one of his best outings to date.” (Publishers Weekly)

“If Shock Wave is any indication, Flowers has a better than even chance of equaling if not surpassing Davenport in the hearts and minds of Sandford’s legion of readers.” (Bookreporter)

Great book.

Great storyline. Fooled me on this one. Narrator is getting better on the Flowers novels.

review

great story and audio. I love the presenters pacing and vocal inflections. i definitely recommend

Virgil does it again

Starts slow, but grabs you at the half-way point. Virgil Flowers is a great character. The reader is perfect, with his narration, the characters really come alive.

Great for commuting

Where does Shock Wave rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

As a confirmed paperphile I was a bit skeptical that I would enjoy this as much as I have reading his other novels. NOT SO! I only listened while on my commuter bus but couldn't wait to get back into the story each day. The narration allowed and hilited Sandford's tongue in cheek humor and, from my perspective did a great job. Nothing lost in this translation from page to earbud for me!

Again!! Stanford does not disappoint!

I am definitely hooked on Stanford’s writing style! His characters are down to earth and believable people! The people who read his books for audible are excellent! Happy Camper here!!

Another EXCELLENT story by John Sandford

Eric Conger IS Virgil Flowers. I can’t get enough of that F’ing Flowers. Exciting, Smart, Funny. What else do you need? You’ll love it

Always a good mystery.

I really like all of John Sandford's novels and have really enjoyed the Virgil Flowers line. There is always a good mystery and real detective work to be found in a Sandford novel.

Gotta love Flowers and narrator Conger

Virgil Flowers is one of my favorite characters in this genre, and I was really looking forward to this book's audio release. It wasn't a terrific book, but I can't say I was very disapointed either.

First, I can't imagine anyone doing Flowers but Conger. And, Conger did an excellent job with this book just like he has with the other Flowers books.

This book didn't have the same gusto as the previous Flowers books, and it was dangerously teetering on the ridiculous. But the author pulled us back from the place called "ridiculous" just in time.

In the end, I love Flowers enough and the book was good enough to give it a thumbs up.

When can we get another Flower's book!?!

Virgil is getting better

Once again Virgil is called on to solve the crime and the story weaves its way through the Minnesota countryside. This is one of Sanford’s better stories as he keeps you guessing until the end. It touches on many of today’s social issues and the impact of big box stores on local economies as well as how easy it is to use explosives to disrupt lives. And then there is the local corruption to add to the confusion. Overall – a good read/listen.

Virgil - at his best

What did you love best about Shock Wave?

Sandford has another marvelous book in a great character series. When Lucas Davenport eventually retires, I hope that Sandford keeps virgil around for equally as long a run, just a good old boy with a great outlook on life.

What about Eric Conger’s performance did you like?

Conger is a great reader and he does a marvelous job of bringing Virgil to life portraying his emotions and insights.