Bloody Genius

A Virgil Flowers Novel, Book 12

By: John Sandford

Narrated by: Eric Conger

Virgil Flowers will have to watch his back - and his mouth - as he investigates a college culture war turned deadly in another one of Sandford's "madly entertaining Virgil Flowers mysteries" (New York Times Book Review).

At the local state university, two feuding departments have faced off on the battleground of science and medicine. Each carries their views to extremes that may seem absurd, but highly educated people of sound mind and good intentions can reasonably disagree, right?

Then a renowned and confrontational scholar winds up dead, and Virgil Flowers is brought in to investigate...and as he probes the recent ideological unrest, he soon comes to realize he's dealing with people who, on this one particular issue, are functionally crazy. Among this group of wildly impassioned, diametrically opposed zealots lurks a killer, and it will be up to Virgil to sort the murderer from the mere maniacs.

©2019 John Sandford (P)2019 Penguin Audio

Critic reviews

“[A] smartly plotted mystery.” (New York Times Book Review)

“Sandford is a terrific storyteller who can spin an intriguing tale without having to fill it with death-defying mayhem.... Armchair sleuths who are intent on solving the crime for themselves will need to be on their toes.” (Minneapolis Star Tribune)

“Compulsively readable.... Readers who like a bit of unrepentant wiseass in their sleuths will find Flowers fits the bill. Sandford makes blending humor and mystery look easy.” (Publishers Weekly)

“Flowers remains one of the great modern fictional detectives, and Sandford, as always, supplies amazing secondary characters, sharp dialogue, and plots that confound and amaze. A near-perfect crime novel.” (Booklist, starred)

Not bad but not Virgil’s best

Better than most other series but not quite up to Virgil standards. Still well worth getting.

It's Flower Time

I love the change of pace of a Virgil Flowers novel compared to a Lucas Davenport novel. Another solid entry in the series as Virgil ends up in the middle of a campus academic fight while investigating the murder of the professor. Figuring out the killer was not difficult. Having said that getting to the finale was another enjoyable ride. Eric Conger is a first-rate narrator. My only complaint there were times when I wasn't sure who was talking, but it didn't happen often. I highly recommend Bloody Genius.

Plot twist!

Great read and the plot twist at the end comes from nowhere. Sandford does it again!

Always fun hanging with Flowers

Ol Virgie is at it again, solving murders in a band t-shirt that annoys just about everyone, and cracking me up every step of the way. The narrator nails it as always.

great

love Virgil Flowers the Set up for his perfect life with Frankie seemed a little Pat A little predictable a little too Hollywood ish and the kind of unoriginal

Classic Flowers and Sanford

As usual that F$$$$$$ Flowers was sent into the middle of a confusing maelstrom and managed to get all of the pieces in the right place. It is nice to see him settling into family life and loving it! I do hope that this will not be the end of a great series.

Great fucking Flowers book

Excellent! I have read all of Sanford’s books and think this tops them all. Sanford draws the reader into Flowers personality to a point where you feel a strong kinship with the man. When the exciting, suspenseful book ends, you are saying good-bye to a good friend .

That Frickin Flowers

As usual, I could not stop listening. Sanford is so enjoyable; I have followed his books for years including all of Danvenports iTunes songs a ways back. Now I will be waiting for the next bit of reading (or listening) entertainment when it appears

it's still Sandford, Virgil, and Conger

OK, it's not the best of the Virgil series, but I'm a big fan, and will get the next one. It's a better than average story with a great narrator.

Virgil emerging

Is Virgil going to be the next go to guy in the series? Or is he getting ready to bow out and become a writer/farmer? Can't wait to find out! That being stated, excellent plot with good flow of the story