DARK OF THE MOON by John Sandford
Writer John Sandford has earned fame as the author of the PREY books which featured stories about Minneapolis detective Lucas Davenport. Every once in a while he leaves that character behind and introduces new lead characters, but never with as much success as when he writes about Davenport. In his new book DARK OF THE MOON he introduces Virgil Flowers, a man who works at the Bureau of Criminal Apprehension for Davenport. That connection should be enough to bring fans of the Davenport series to this new novel.
As the book begins Flowers is headed to the small town of Bluestem where there have been some murders. Just as he arrives he witnesses a raging house fire in which one of the richest men in Bluestem may have been killed. Investigating this and the other murders is Sheriff Jim Stryker, an old friend of Flowers.
If Stryker doesn't get these murders solved he might be out of a job soon, as the town wants the killer(s) found and found quickly. Flowers plunges onto the investigation but quickly finds a series of complications, one being that Stryker becomes a prime suspect.
Flowers is a fascinating character. He is not as polished as Davenport and doesn't have his smooth social skills. He is three times divorced and still has an eye for the ladies. In Bluestem his eye falls on Joan Stryker, Jim's little sister.
Sandford has assembled a motley crew of characters to populate his story and it makes for enjoyable and fun reading. There is also enough excitement in the chase of the killer to make the book compelling to read. Flowers seems to take one step forward and two steps backwards in his investigation but by the end of he story he solves the crime.
If you have been a fan of Sandford and the Davenport series of stories then you are going to fit right in with this new book and its lead character. Flowers is a bull in a china shop at times but he steamrolls his investigation through Bluestem and corners his killer.
A mystery, a fascinating lead character, an assortment of colorful sub-players and a logical resolution - Sandford gives all of this to his readers and more. That is what has made him one of America's most read mystery writers and is why he will continue to be popular for years to come.
DARK OF THE MOON is published by G P Putnam's Sons. It contains 373 pages and sells for $26.95.