Bad Blood

A Virgil Flowers Novel

By: John Sandford

Narrated by: Eric Conger

Length: 9 hrs and 44 mins

Publisher's summary

Thriller Award for Best Hard Cover Novel, 2011

The brilliant new Virgil Flowers thriller from the number-one New York Times-best-selling author.

One late fall Sunday in southern Minnesota, a farmer brings a load of soybeans to a local grain elevator - and a young man hits him on the head with a steel bar, drops him into the grain bin, waits until he's sure he's dead, and then calls the sheriff to report the "accident". Suspicious, the sheriff calls in Virgil Flowers, who quickly breaks the kid down...and the next day the boy's found hanging in his cell.

Remorse? Virgil isn't so sure, and as he investigates he begins to uncover a multigeneration, multifamily conspiracy - a series of crimes of such monstrosity that, though he's seen an awful lot in his life, even he has difficulty in comprehending it...and in figuring out what to do next.

Stemming crime: listen to another Virgil Flowers novel.

©2010 John Sandford (P)2010 Penguin Audio

Critic reviews

“Flowers is a fun character, smart and honest with a healthy supply of cynicism and snark...a thoroughly engaging, suspenseful, satisfying story.” (The Washington Examiner)

“Sandford’s exciting fourth thriller to feature Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension agent Virgil Flowers. [His] biggest...case to date.” (Publishers Weekly)

"A Pandora’s box of multiple murders, criminal behavior…and revelations of deviancy that go back generations. As usual, Sandford delivers a great mystery with action, suspense, humor, and, yes, sex. Virgil always gets his man, but he also gets the girl. Good reading.” (Booklist)

That F**kin' Flowers. Always a good read.

Sandford's series of Virgil Flowers and Lucas Davenport mysteries are good writing - just enough levity to smile, but not too much to ruin the mystery. This narrator was excellent, too. Recommend.

Tough Subject

While this was a tough subject to read about (child molestation), the story was captivating, and John Sandford does a great job continuing to develop the lead character, Virgil Flowers. Unlike the earlier books in this series, you don't have to wait until the last chapters to discover what is truly going on. This allowed the author to give a more thorough ending.

First Virgil Flowers Novel - Enjoyed

Any additional comments?

This is my first taste of Virgil Flowers - On my second one now. A "I've got to keep listening" book. Eric Conger gives us a great narration. A difficult story line made believable and interesting.

LOVED IT!

One of Sandford's best. I could not put it down! I just started reading his Virgil Flowers novels and I am hooked.

Lovers it!

John Sandford enforme . Dialogue rings authentic. Virgil Flowers still smart and naive at one time.

Excellent book and well read

Best book I've listened to in a long time. Well constructed, logical and intelligently plotted. Eric Conger's reading is flawless. Highly recommended.

fine reading, engaging story, troubling subjec

Would you listen to Bad Blood again? Why?

no, I would not listen to this again. It is very troubling subject matter.I generally enjoy Sandford's stories, although they do walk the edge of my tolerance.This story, however, has children being routinely abused.I'm not sure I see the societal value in stories like this. on the other side, the author never portrays the bad actors as being good. Evil is always evil. you never feel sympathy for the bad actors.And, in fairness, the story is well written and the narrator does a fine job.

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

as is typical with other books in the series, this one has an engaging plot. It holds your attention from beginning to end.

Which scene was your favorite?

I didn't have any favorite scenes. I did however, enjoy the authors ability to portray areasand people in the rural communities.

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

No

Any additional comments?

before purchasing be aware that the book subject matter features: routine child sexual abuse. Generally, the author is not very graphic with it. But in places it is.

Great from start to finish

Excellent but disturbing story. Really hard to put down. And the reader made the characters come to life. Can't wait to listen to others by this author.

Good Virgil Story

I really like the Virgil Flowers series, different from the Prey series. Virgil comes across more like a "good ole boy". This one covers some hinky topics but nothing foreign to reality. For that matter, we have one in the news right now.

May have liked an abridged version better.

I found I had a hard time listening to so much detail about sexual abuse. It was a book I had to force myself to finish.