HEAT LIGHTNING by John Sandford
In DARK OF THE MOON novelist John Sandford introduced a new lead character to his books. Investigator Virgil Flowers moved front and center and proved to be a fascinating character who made John Sandford’s complex plots even more enjoyable. Now he is back for his second starring role in HEAT LIGHTNING, another winner from the mind of Sandford.
Flowers gets the call from his boss Lucas Davenport one night and is told to investigate a murder. The murder victim is a Vietnam veteran and he has been tortured and killed. Then his body was left in front of a war memorial. He also has a lemon stuck in his mouth.
Soon after Virgil begins to investigate this murder a second similar death occurs. Virgil begins to piece together some leads and finds that there are a couple of more men who might be targeted as victims.
One of his leads takes Flowers to interrogate a Vietnam War activist. Flowers thinks this man might have information as to the motive behind these murders. While talking with him, he meets the man’s daughter Mai. Flowers is quite taken with the beautiful Mai and spends some time with her. He is unaware that the link to the whole crime spree might be her.
Virgil Flowers is a rough and tumble type of investigator, but his rough exterior belies the fact that he is also a writer and a lover of music. The beauty of Sandford’s writing is that he makes this character, and all his others, so multi-faceted.
Adding to the fun of this book is the appearance in a few scenes of Lucas Davenport. He is usually Sandford’s lead character and has been the focus in all the PREY series of stories. Not only does Davenport make a cameo appearance but his wife Weather also does. Plus there are a few of Davenport’s working cronies who help Flowers with his case.
The plots in Sandford’s novels are never simple. He sometimes takes us on a winding trail. Still the reader can always rely on the author bringing everything full circle and explaining all the different elements of the story to the fullest.
HEAT LIGHTNING is another Virgil Flowers adventure and it is a good one. He is a unique individual with a novel approach to crime solving. His stories make good companion pieces to the ones involving Lucas Davenport. Sandford has himself two winners with which to work.
HEAT LIGHTNING is published by G P Putnam’s Sons. It contains 400 pages and sells for $26.95.