• Storm Front

  • Virgil Flowers, Book 7
  • By: John Sandford
  • Narrated by: Eric Conger
  • Length: 9 hrs and 21 mins
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars (3,115 ratings)

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Storm Front  By  cover art

Storm Front

By: John Sandford
Narrated by: Eric Conger
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Publisher's summary

The thrilling new novel in the number one New York Times - bestselling series.

In Israel, a man clutching a backpack searches desperately for a boat. In Minnesota, Virgil Flowers gets a message from Lucas Davenport: You're about to get a visitor. It's an Israeli cop, and she's tailing a man who's smuggled out an extraordinary relic - a copper scroll revealing startling details about the man known as King Solomon.

Wait a minute, laughs Virgil. Is this one of those Da Vinci Code deals? The secret scroll, the blockbuster revelation, the teams of murderous bad guys? Should I be boning up on my Bible verses?

He looks at the cop. She's not laughing. As it turns out, there are very bad men chasing the relic, and they don't care who's in the way or what they have to do to get it. Maybe Virgil should start praying.

©2013 John Sandford (P)2013 Penguin Audio

Critic reviews

“One of the best in that series so far...[it is] exciting, complex and funny.... The beauty of Sanford's writing is that the narrative of the book is told in perfect harmony with Flowers' personality. The descriptions of the plot and the locale of the story have the same laconic quality as Virgil's tone and speaking habits. You seem to be in Virgil's mind and thoughts as the narrative unfolds...Storm Front is an enjoyable and relaxing read. Sandford knows his characters, his locale and his plot. There are no missteps. It is entertaining reading all the way.” (Huffington Post)

“With another gritty storyline and appealing characters, Sandford has penned another winner, one sure to shoot to the top of the best-seller lists.” (Richmond Times-Dispatch)

“Clever, quirky...unusually good-natured intrigue distinguishes this outing.” (Publishers Weekly, starred review)

What listeners say about Storm Front

Average customer ratings
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  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars
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    3 out of 5 stars

Still a fan, but...

What did you like best about Storm Front? What did you like least?

I enjoyed the humor and actually LOL'd a few times. But for some reason the baddies just weren't very bad and the chase scene just ran out of gas. I am usually able (and willing) to suspend belief if I am invested in a story, but I found myself shaking my head and saying 'no way', one too many times.

The thing I liked least (read: hated!) was every time Virgil spoke to his maybe girl-friend and called her "Ma" . That was just wrong...

What was the most interesting aspect of this story? The least interesting?

There were too many characters who were just not well-developed.

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

I did enjoy Anwan. I would actually like to see him again.

Could you see Storm Front being made into a movie or a TV series? Who should the stars be?

I think Eric Christian Olsen from NCIS LA would make a good Virgil. I would love to see a Virgil movie, just not this one...

Any additional comments?

Virgil deserves better.

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18 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
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    3 out of 5 stars

What storm? Barely a sprinkle

Maybe it's me. Who knows what subjective criteria influence enjoyment, but I'll bet there are plenty. Still, after having listened to everything by John Sandford available either at Audible or on discs at the library, and loving all featuring Lucas and/or Virgil Flowers, I was not intrigued by this title.

The plot is massively unlikely, and it limps along. Virgil remains a fabulous character and I especially like his sometime-girlfriend this time out, but the story made me feel tired. I didn't care about the stone, real or fake, and didn't believe a minister working for so many summers in Israel would so abuse the country's hospitality. Plus, when the payoffs came, making the story work, I must have been daydreaming. Who paid?

Sandford is good at making his evil-doers scary, but the thug in this book said to be famous for cutting off men's balls seems as if he wandered in off the set of a sitcom. Who'd be scared of him?

Do good people turn to crime just because they need the money? Maybe sometimes, but I'd need a little more convincing than Sandford provides. And don't ministers at some point rely on God's grace and mercy? Shouldn't a minister in good standing in his profession at least be seen to pray about his problem, even once?

Even given all that, it's still a John Sandford title. If I knew all this before buying the title, I'd probably still buy it. At his worst, Sandford is better than most.

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13 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars

Flowers for Sanford

This tome haas Virgil at his best, the hormonal sleuth fights off the babes as he fights crime in this caper with not only international intrigue, his is tossed into the world's hottest frying pan. Don't want to throw too much out there, but Sanford may rile some feathers with the light hearted touch he lays on terrorism and terrorists.
This plot has a new, higher levels of deception and machination that will have some comparing him to James Bond (with a fishing rod rather than a Beretta)!
Thoroughly enjoyed this romp!

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Also see my "Prayer Review" on other titles

Would you listen to Storm Front again? Why?

I might end up doing all of them again. All of John Sandford, I mean.

Did the plot keep you on the edge of your seat? How?

Absolutely. There were SO many characters doing so many things, some expected and some not.

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

That f*ckin' Flowers, of course.

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

I almost cried when it was over because I had nothing half as good lined up. I laughed a number of times but I think my favorite was Chapter 23.

Any additional comments?

I think I may be ready to say John Sandford is my favorite writer ever. Definitely my favorite one still working.

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8 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    2 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
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    2 out of 5 stars

Unlike other Books, Flowers is NOT in Bloom

I think Sanford's Fuc*!#g Flowers is losing some steam, I pre-ordered this title & instead of a police type mystery I got some type of chase after an possible important artifact of history, BUT not anywhere near Indiana Jones style. I am all for these types of books but this takes place in Minnesota! The quad cities, the Twins, the Vikings, snow! I'm sorry for all the Minnesotans but I don't think this would have been interesting In NYC.

I gave the book 1 star extra just because I love the author although I believe he should stick to Davenport, & Kidd might be getting a tad more interesting but also has less books. I was disappointed overall with the caliber of this book & story, I might be sticking to the 'Prey' series from now on. The Virgil Flowers series started off with some good books but at this point I am a bit flustered with the storylines & the lack of Flowers character growth.

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8 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars

Classic f_ _ _in Flowers!

It's the Virgil we love. Interesting twists, not the darkness of some of Virgil's other books; but a great read just the same. Ignore the other comments to the contrary, get this and enjoy.

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7 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars
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    3 out of 5 stars
  • Ed
  • 11-04-13

Average story with nice twist at the end

Not sure that John Sandford spend a lot of time writing this novel. He introduced several characters that were not germane to the story and when they reappeared several pages later it had me trying to recall where they fit in. The agent with the double secret phone was one such character. That aside, this was a typical Flowers yarn, even though it didn't deal with the typical Flowers elements. Can't remember Virgil dealing with too many ancient biblical artifacts in his previous adventures. Lots of running in circles in this story but enough action, comedy and intrigue to keep Flowers fans interested. The twist at the end fit the story perfectly. The length was about right too. Those who like the Flowers series will be satisfied but not overly impressed.

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    5 out of 5 stars
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Virgil Flowers Is Back... Yea!

Tight plot, fast pace, odd characters, and - of course, Virgil Flowers - at his randy-est. In fact - I think it's Chapter 23 that might be one of the shortest hot writings in all of thriller/mystery/detective-dom. If you liked John Sanford's Flowers before he slacked off a tad in 'Mad River' well there's no slack in "Storm Front".

Oh, and Eric Conger's a terrific actor, builds a gripping ensemble, and suspends disbelief... Fine team here.

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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Loved it but then I'm a little in love with Virgil

If you could sum up Storm Front in three words, what would they be?

I've listened to all of the Lucas Davenport books at least 4 times and love them. With Virgil Flowers, Sandford has given us another awesome character that engages in really interesting "whodunits". He gets the cases no one else can solve.

I recommend ALL of the Virgil Flowers books including Storm Front. Still, if you haven't read one, don't start with this one. It's better that you start with the first or second in the series and get to know Virgil first.

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    3 out of 5 stars
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    2 out of 5 stars

Hard to Follow

I found this book hard to follow. I had to back up several times to relisten to it. I guess I had thought this was a Davenport novel, but it is a Flowers novel. I guess I should have looked at the title. John Sanford does not have a good range of different voices, so I had a hard time figuring out who was talking. I just found this book to be far fetched, and not very captivating.

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