Rough Country

A Virgil Flowers Novel

By: John Sandford

Narrated by: Eric Conger

Length: 10 hrs and 4 mins

Publisher's summary

Virgil's always been known for having a somewhat active, er, social life, but he's probably not going to be getting too many opportunities for that during his new case. While competing in a fishing tournament in a remote area of northern Minnesota, he gets a call from Lucas Davenport to investigate a murder at a nearby resort, where a woman has been shot while kayaking. The resort is for women only, a place to relax, get fit, recover from plastic surgery, commune with nature, and while it didn't start out to be a place mostly for those with Sapphic inclinations, that's pretty much what it is today.

Which makes things all the more complicated for Virgil, because as he begins investigating, he finds a web of connections between the people at the resort, the victim, and some local women, notably a talented country singer.

©2009 John Sandford (P)2009 Penguin

Critic reviews

"Rich, satisfying, and frequently hilarious.” (Stephen King, Entertainment Weekly)

"Unexpected twists...Sandford excels at all the required elements of the novelist: plot, personality, and prose. The melding is masterful and produces an exquisitely paced book at once beautiful and profane, a story that fans of both crime-novel approaches can enjoy. He makes Flowers as appealing and captivating a character as always. With a confident touch, Sandford brings it all home in Rough Country.” (Richmond Times-Dispatch)

“It’s a complicated case, but Virgil is up to the task, and, as always, he’s funny, smart, and tough when he needs to be.” (Publishers Weekly)

Sanford.

I always love the Virgil Flowers or Lucas Davenport stories. This one was another suspenseful drama.

Virgil Flowers: A Genius Piece Of Crumbcake??

Okay, y'gotta read Rough Country to get my title up there. But you gotta read it to have a good time too. Eric Conger brings Virgil Flowers to full bloom once again and he squeezes the stitching out of every character and plot twist that John Sandford imagined in this ass kickin' adventure. If you're looking for fun wrapped inside of a nice puzzle... here it be! I'll be reading another Virgil Flowers adventure with murder, wild folks and hot women. Why? Because this one was cool.

OH... BTW... don't start with this Flowers novel. Too many flashbacks to previous stories in this series. And most of them are spoilers if and when you go back to earlier books. So... do read this, but start earlier on with the series. You'll thank me... or John Sandford.

this gal enjoyed a peek into Virgil's head.

This is my second flowers novel and I enjoyed both of them. the distinct male view is refreshing after some chick lit. girls just need to hear a guy. Virgil is intuitive, smart, and yes he always gets his man.

good story

I always like these. Virgil is kind of like Lucas but with some of the edges softened, but not alot. I could see where this was going but that's okay. it was fun getting there.

Excellent!

If you could sum up Rough Country in three words, what would they be?

Unpredictable. Intense. Exciting.

What was one of the most memorable moments of Rough Country?

The very last part.

Have you listened to any of Eric Conger’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

Yes. They are all great.

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

Laughed at some parts.

Kept me to the last sentence! Love love Virgil!

These books kept me working at my desk 8 to 10 hours at my desk without getting bored.

Another good Sandford novel

I love the Prey books and now I look forward to the Virgil Flowers novels. Sandford mixes in just enough personal stuff without overdoing it. His descriptive talents bring the scenes alive and, again, without overdoing it. This was hard to put down and Eric Conger's narration is among the best.

Sandford finally hits pay-dirt with Flowers

I'm a big fan of Sandford's Lucas Davenport novels but have been disappointed with his Virgil Flowers spinoff. Not any more. Rough Country is a very good story with interesting characters, humor and a storyline that relies less on implausible twists and more on reasoned deduction. I also felt like Sandford didn't pad the story with a lot of details that were not germane to the story. He treated us to 10+ hours of narrative that was just enough to tell the story. I like long listens but I don't like it when I finish an 18-hour book and feel like it could have been told in 12-hours without losing anything. This book was the right length. Good narration makes this a must-listen for Sandford fans.

Best Listen in Quite Awhile

This is the most completely entertaining audiobook I've listened to in quite some time. It's a well-plotted story played-out by a really likable protagonist and a great mix of supporting characters. The story has considerable humor, dry and otherwise, woven into it which actually enhances the listening experience. The reader is very good -- especially his interpretation of Virgil Flowers. This is audiobook dollars well spent.

Yo Virgil

I've read the two previous Virgil Flowers' books and was so happy to see another installment. While not as good as Heat Lightning, it's still better than the re-warmed-over latest Davenport books. I love Virgil's character and philosophy about life. He's funny and quirky (however the T-shirt shtick is enough already) and he's a joy to read. To me, the mystery is less interesting than Virgil's actions, thoughts, and love life. All the Flowers books are good and fun reads, but to really get to know Virg, read them in order.

Can't wait for the next one!