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Heat Lightning (The Virgil Flowers) Hardcover – September 23, 2008

4.5 4.5 out of 5 stars 7,904 ratings

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John Sandford's introduction of Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension investigator Virgil Flowers was an immediate critical and popular success. Flowers is only in his late thirties, but he's been around the block a few times, and he doesn't think much can surprise him anymore. He's wrong.
It's a hot, humid summer night in Minnesota, and Flowers is in bed with one of his ex-wives (the second one, if you're keeping count), when the phone rings. It's Lucas Davenport. There's a body in Stillwater, two shots to the head, found near a veteran's memorial. And the victim has a lemon in his mouth.
Exactly like the body they found last week.
The more Flowers works the murders, the more convinced he is that someone's keeping a list, and that the list could have a lot more names on it. If he could only find out what connects them all . . . and then he does, and he's almost sorry he did. Because if it's true, then this whole thing leads down a lot more trails than he thought - and every one of them is booby-trapped.
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Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

At the start of bestseller Sandford's solid second thriller to feature officer Virgil Flowers of the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension (after Dark of the Moon), a gunman shoots Bobby Sanderson as he's walking his dog one night in Stillwater, Minn., then places a lemon in the dead man's mouth. Sanderson's killing is one in a series, and Flowers soon discovers that all the victims served together in Vietnam. When Flowers learns that Vietnamese firing squads stuck lemons in the mouths of their human targets, he pursues leads in the local immigrant community, where he hooks up with the attractive daughter of a radical professor who'd written a paper about Agent Orange. Eventually, he settles on the owner of a security company involved with the upcoming Republican National Convention as his prime suspect. While the less than credible plot builds to a highly unlikely resolution, most readers will enjoy spending time in the company of the genial Flowers. (Oct.)
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

About the Author

John Sandford is the pseudonym of Pulitzer Prize���winning journalist John Camp. He is the author of the Prey novels, the Kidd novels, the Virgil Flowers novels, The Night Crew, and Dead Watch. He lives in New Mexico.

Product details

  • ASIN ‏ : ‎ 0399155279
  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ G. P. Putnam's Sons; First Edition (September 23, 2008)
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • Hardcover ‏ : ‎ 388 pages
  • ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 9780399155277
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0399155277
  • Reading age ‏ : ‎ 18 years and up
  • Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 1.3 pounds
  • Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 6.28 x 1.34 x 9.3 inches
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.5 4.5 out of 5 stars 7,904 ratings

About the author

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John Sandford
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John Sandford is the pseudonym for the Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist John Camp. He is the author of the Prey novels, the Kidd novels, the Virgil Flowers novels, and six other books, including three YA novels co-authored with his wife Michele Cook.

Customer reviews

4.5 out of 5 stars
7,904 global ratings

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Customers say

Customers find the book enjoyable and engaging. They appreciate the interesting plot with twists and turns. The characters are well-developed and likable. The book keeps readers hooked with its fast pace and humorous thread throughout. Readers praise the writing quality as superb and enjoyable.

AI-generated from the text of customer reviews

296 customers mention "Readability"296 positive0 negative

Customers find the book an enjoyable read. They appreciate the engaging story and find it well-written. The author keeps readers interested throughout, making it a worthwhile experience.

"...Personally, I like this. All around, a very worthy read, not just for Sandford fans, but newcomers to his books as well...." Read more

"...and places, interesting story lines, plots with twists and turns, real life, although not for the sensitive to vulgarity, conversations and page-..." Read more

"...I enjoyed this book. Plot, characters, and action are all well-done, and the story's interesting...." Read more

"Boy, Where is that effing flowers when the nation needs him. Great yarn. An All American story. You won’t regret it" Read more

166 customers mention "Story quality"154 positive12 negative

Customers enjoy the engaging story with its unique plot and witty dialogue. They describe it as a suspenseful mystery with plenty of twists and turns. Readers appreciate the real-world action and investigative procedures.

"...Great story, lots of twists and turns and humor throughout too. I will look for other Flowers books." Read more

"...development, good descriptions of people and places, interesting story lines, plots with twists and turns, real life, although not for the sensitive..." Read more

"...Plot, characters, and action are all well-done, and the story's interesting. The ending was something of a surprise, though pretty believable...." Read more

"...Great yarn. An All American story. You won’t regret it" Read more

108 customers mention "Character development"99 positive9 negative

Customers enjoy the character development in the book. They find Virgil Flowers a fun and engaging character, and the storylines interesting. The descriptions of people and places are also appreciated.

"...and know what to expect. Excellent character development, good descriptions of people and places, interesting story lines, plots with twists and..." Read more

"...So he's an interesting character for a series like this, and you really enjoy the scenes that involve him...." Read more

"...some excellent tense scenes, some good dialogue and a passion for his established characters (davenport, making an appearance, included)...." Read more

"...He has finely crafted the characters personalities to a point where you recognize friends from one story to another, and the dead pan dialogue and..." Read more

104 customers mention "Entertainment value"104 positive0 negative

Customers enjoy the book's entertainment value. They find the characters entertaining and well-developed. The story is engaging with a humorous thread throughout. It covers important issues within the nation and has unexpected twists without being too outrageous. Readers describe it as a good detective novel that captures their imagination and stirs emotions.

"...Great story, lots of twists and turns and humor throughout too. I will look for other Flowers books." Read more

"...He often forgets his gun. In spite of all of this, he's a very good detective, and his "closure rate" is near perfect...." Read more

"...of several of the characters in the book and that he keeps the reader guessing at about the same level those in the book are operating at, as to..." Read more

"...On State time. Sandford has created a cast of entertaining, likable characters, and gives them good classic whodunit plots to work with...." Read more

81 customers mention "Pacing"64 positive17 negative

Customers enjoy the book's pacing. They find it fast-paced and engaging, keeping them turning the pages until the end. The story keeps them in suspense until the end, and they find the read hard to put down. Readers appreciate the author's down-to-earth writing style and praise his Lucas and Virgil novels.

"...The plot starts off at a good pace, then when you think you know where it's going, you go, "Oh please - BO-ring!" Then...there's a twist...." Read more

"...pleasure as great or greater than the first reading because the fast-paced narrative and unexpected plot developments pulls you to read fast the..." Read more

"Kept u reading. Hard to decide who did the deed" Read more

"...Sandford has written a fast paced intrguing plot with plenty of action & great sub characters..." Read more

76 customers mention "Writing quality"71 positive5 negative

Customers enjoy the writing quality of the book. They find it readable and enjoyable, with good dialogue and suspenseful scenes. The narrator differentiates the voices of the characters well. The story keeps readers in suspense with its elegant conversational structure. The characters are relatable and humorous, making the dialogues entertaining.

"...and turns, real life, although not for the sensitive to vulgarity, conversations and page-turning, have to see what happens next stories...." Read more

"...and sandford does deliver some excellent tense scenes, some good dialogue and a passion for his established characters..." Read more

"...friends from one story to another, and the dead pan dialogue and humor never disappoint. Heat lightening is the latest, and best so far...." Read more

"Another great book written by one of the best authors of all time. Virgil is definitely likable and has a one in a million personality" Read more

38 customers mention "Appeal"38 positive0 negative

Customers enjoy the book's plot and characters. They find the story appealing, with an exotic setting featuring beautiful and deadly Asians. The natural style and gunfights are also appreciated. Readers appreciate the philosophical aspects presented through Virgil Flowers' thinking.

"...Like most Sandford characters, Flowers is multi-dimensional and nicely fleshed out...." Read more

"...The weather, long drives, the food and people are drawn realistically and because we're familiar with the area add to our enjoyment." Read more

"...and concise therefore you as the reader can follow and understand the picture painted by Mr. Standford in terms of a plot...." Read more

"...Sandford has created in Flowers so different to Lucas Davenport & most appealing...." Read more

16 customers mention "Series"16 positive0 negative

Customers enjoy the series. They find the characters wonderful and look forward to more books from the author.

"Great reading. I want the whole series!" Read more

"Another great series. I hesitated to read the Virgil Flowers series because I like Lucas Davenport so much. I like Virgil just as much." Read more

"Enjoyed the book very much. I like the series of the same author. Looking forward to seeing more!" Read more

"Love this series! Great author! Enjoy the Minnesota references! Always ready for the next book, keep them coming! Great story lines" Read more

Bad book "workmanship"
1 out of 5 stars
Bad book "workmanship"
The book is a great read. I am a fan of John Sandford-got almost all his Davenport and Flowers novels.. But this book is coming apart from the seams - nor properly glue to the "binder-back". I am just reading this now and the other "holy ghost" (next to read) looks good compared to this one. Is this a "surplus" run.?
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Top reviews from the United States

  • Reviewed in the United States on September 22, 2024
    I have read all the Prey series by Sanford and this fits right in with them. Great story, lots of twists and turns and humor throughout too. I will look for other Flowers books.
  • Reviewed in the United States on October 25, 2009
    It always annoys me when you're reading along, enjoying a good book with a solid plot and interesting characters, and out of the blue comes some snarky political interjection that has nothing to do with what's going on, but is merely an outlet for the author's own ideology.

    Aside from that irritation, which really does detract from the plot and throws off the pace, this is a solid Sandford offering. I wasn't all that high on Virgil Flowers in his first starring role, but he's growing on me. Like most Sandford characters, Flowers is multi-dimensional and nicely fleshed out. A player with the ladies, but nice about it - you wouldn't mind having your daughter date Virgil, whereas you'd shoot Lucas Davenport to keep him away.

    The plot starts off at a good pace, then when you think you know where it's going, you go, "Oh please - BO-ring!" Then...there's a twist. Then another twist. And before you know it, you can't put the book down. Sandford has a knack for the gruesome, but Heat Lightening is more toned down in the descriptive violence department. Personally, I like this.

    All around, a very worthy read, not just for Sandford fans, but newcomers to his books as well. But please, stop with the jarring political remarks.
    2 people found this helpful
    Report
  • Reviewed in the United States on November 20, 2024
    I have enjoyed the Lucas Davenport novels to the max, and the Virgil Flowers character is different enough in Heat Lightning and another Flowers novel I have read to not be just another Davenport character with long hair and wearing rock and roll t-shirts- well done!
  • Reviewed in the United States on May 15, 2017
    The Virgil Flowers Series by John Sandford
    I’d read all Sandford’s “Prey” novels then decided to order the most recently released Virgil Flowers one. That lead to my ordering all the rest of this series. After they’d all arrived, I put them in publication order. Beginning with the first of the series,
    I began a John Sandford’s Virgil Flowers series reading marathon. If you’re a mystery/thriller fan you’ve probably read Sandford
    and know what to expect. Excellent character development, good descriptions of people and places, interesting story lines, plots with twists and turns, real life, although not for the sensitive to vulgarity, conversations and page-turning, have to see what happens next stories. Rather than get into the storyline of each book in the series, since so many other reviews have already done that, I think that pretty much says it all. The one thought I had after completing each one was…”How does he come up with all these different story lines?” If you like reading mystery/thriller books, I highly recommend John Sandford.
    8 people found this helpful
    Report
  • Reviewed in the United States on November 20, 2009
    Virgil Flowers was a secondary character in Sandford's Prey series. A couple of years ago, the author decided to split Flowers off and make him the central character in a new series. Sandford drops hints that what's going on is that he just wants to keep writing, and Lucas Davenport might be getting too old to be the center of a series of books along the lines that he's been writing. Virgil's younger than Lucas, so he can keep the series going longer.

    Virgil's an interesting guy. He sort of drifted into being a cop. He's sort of counterculture, rarely wears a suit, has long hair, and wears a series of amusing t-shirts with strange themes which occasionally induce interesting reactions from those he comes into contact with, other cops, witnesses, victims, suspects. He often forgets his gun. In spite of all of this, he's a very good detective, and his "closure rate" is near perfect. So he's an interesting character for a series like this, and you really enjoy the scenes that involve him.

    In this story, Flowers is called in to investigate a series of murders happening all over Minnesota. The killer, whoever he is, is professional enough to kill without being seen, but strange, too, in that he's leaving a lemon in each dead body's mouth. When Virgil begins to investigate, he discovers that several (but not all) of the victims served in Viet Nam during the war there, and decides that the killings might be related to the war. Also perhaps involved is a local academic, a Viet Nam war scholar who has made many enemies over the years with his anti-war editorials and books. He even had a Vietnamese wife (who has since died) and their daughter lives with him. Virgil thinks something interesting is going on, and investigates...with interesting results.

    I enjoyed this book. Plot, characters, and action are all well-done, and the story's interesting. The ending was something of a surprise, though pretty believable. I would recommend it.
    3 people found this helpful
    Report
  • Reviewed in the United States on September 30, 2024
    Boy, Where is that effing flowers when the nation needs him. Great yarn. An All American story. You won’t regret it

Top reviews from other countries

  • Maria L.
    5.0 out of 5 stars Always agood read
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on February 2, 2021
    I won't go into plots, but just give an opinion of the Virgil Flowers and Luke Davenport series of books. I have read nearly all of them and if you want stories of murder and mystery these are for you. Virgil Flowers books are sometimes funny, dark humour I suppose and although very fancyable he has flaws, Davenport has the trappings of a wealthy man, but these stories start with a simple crime but not what it seems, then throws in more and more darkness, danger and all is lost, but not so, as they delve into what is behind the reason they were called in the first place. A cracking good read
  • barry mead
    5.0 out of 5 stars Heat Lightning, John Sandford
    Reviewed in Spain on April 10, 2019
    As always a top quality and enjoyable read
  • Ian Witten
    5.0 out of 5 stars good plot, well told
    Reviewed in Australia on May 8, 2019
    enjoy the developing Virgil character and the humour
  • Mark O'Neill
    5.0 out of 5 stars Virgil Flowers hunts down an execution squad!
    Reviewed in Germany on December 10, 2008
    This book is for all those who are getting tired of Lucas Davenport and his domesticated boring ways and who are looking for a tough rugged cop to cheer for again. The fantastically named Virgil Flowers premiere appearance in "Dark Side Of The Moon" was depressingly boring which was ominously bad so I approached this book nervously. But ten pages in, I knew I was onto a winner and I was hooked to the very end.

    This book reminded me a lot of the early Prey books, when Davenport was unmarried, a bit reckless and a skirt chaser. Flowers is nowhere near the thug that Davenport was (he goes to bed thinking about God!) but nevertheless, this book was packed full of action and there was never a dull moment to be had.

    The plot is that a group of men who served in the US Special Forces in Vietnam are being targeted for execution by an assassin. One by one, they are being killed and no-one knows the reason (except the victims and they aren't in the mood to talk to the police). As they are each gunned down, the killer puts a lemon in their mouth which is what the Vietcong do when they kill their enemies. As each one dies, the surviving members of the group get even more scared and paranoid about their personal security and safety.

    Obviously the state police are investigating the murders and Davenport sends in Virgil Flowers to take over the investigation. He quickly focuses on a pacifist university professor with strong ties to Vietnam who may or may not be a CIA agent, the professor's daughter who may or may not be falling in love with Flowers, two Vietnamese businessmen who may or may not be Vietnamese Intelligence agents, a Vietnamese Consular official who may or may not be the head of his intelligence service in the US and several former Vietnam soldiers who may know why these former special forces soldiers are being targeted.

    But the bodies are stacking up fast, the assassin is relentless and he has a knack for knowing where Flowers is at all times - and he is now coming for Virgil Flowers - because Flowers is starting to learn too much and certain highly placed people have ordered his removal.

    If you like the Prey books, you'll definately love this book. It has Davenport (and his annoying wife and family), Rose-Marie Roux, the Minnesota Governor, Davenport's cop colleagues and all the other familar faces - and a brilliant story.

    Get this book now.
  • J. M. Jenkins
    4.0 out of 5 stars It is good story reflecting the Minnesota area of the USA
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on April 9, 2021
    It is a credible story with not over much in the way of character background. The hero Flowers is a is a gritty, lusty, officer not too troubled by political correctness and formality. He is tenacious not giving up until the mystery is solved. As with other Flowers book the climax is exciting. A good read, not all fisticuffs and gunfights as with some other modern authors