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)

I keep saying this is my favorite!

Love this line of books. They are the perfect blend of mystery action humor and reality. Virgil is the man!

Great Who Done It

Sandford takes you back in the back woods again with that Fing Flowers. Just enough romance, lots of clues, surprises, twists & turns. Can’t wait to start the next one.

Great story with several laugh out loud moments.

I have to say that I love the Virgil Flowers series. The characters are grungy real, the detecting is always sharp, and the narration is solid throughout. I find Flowers to be one of the most interesting and enjoyable characters in the genre. He is what we would all want to be.

Extraordinary Plot Twists

The 'guy' point of view gets a little tiresome, but the plot is extraordinary yet again. This is the second Virgil Flowers novel for me and I'll get more.

Flowers beginning to bloom

Although I doubt I'll ever tire of Lucas Davenport, Virgil Flowers gives John Sandford some fresh canvass to paint a new and interesting protaganist to go with an always interesting cast of characters and another great murder mystery set in the backwoods of northern Minnesota. I also didn't think Richard Ferone could be improved upon as a narrator, but Eric Conger puts in another great peformance, handling the different characters and genders and accents with ease and accuracy. I only wish there were more audio books of this caliber

Virgil Flowers

I just love the Virgil Flowers series. I have been a fan of John Sandford for years!

Best Virgil yet

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

So far out of the Virgil series, this one is my favorite. Lots of twists that u don't see coming. Love being blindsided by a plot!

Which character – as performed by Eric Conger – was your favorite?

Virgil, I love that guy!!!

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

The ending.

Great book

Loved the book. Loved Eric Congers performance! The book was very interesting and fun to listen too. Love the Virgil Flowers!

Virgil Flowers rocks

I found John Sandford's 'Prey' series to be okay, pretty good, and Lucas Davenport a better than average lead character for a mystery/crime series.
But with Virgil Flowers the author has struck gold. Virgil is immensely likable, and a far more unique creation. And Eric Conger is a superb narrator, he makes these stories immensely enjoyable to listen to. The plots vary a little in quality (and frankly none are great literary achievements) but they are plenty good enough because the character and the narrator are so winning.

A solid mystery

A very well done audio book of a pretty good mystery. The performance is just spirited enough to give the book life without being distracting. The book itself is good, but the story could have used some tightening in the middle, with a few to many plot threads running. Still, I was never bored, and the characters are all interesting enough to keep me entertained. Recommended.