There are some authors who just never disappoint and for me John Sandford is one of those authors.  His books have great characters, good plot lines, suspense, excitement, humor and he still manages to have some deeper insights that make you pause and think.

Deadline starring Virgil Flowers, otherwise know as  “that effing Flowers” by his boss, Lucas Davenport of the Bureau of Apprehension in Minnesota, unexpectedly receives a call from his old fishing buddy, Johnson.  Virgil learns that there have been a significant number of dogs that have gone missing in Johnson’s small community, and this has so enraged the town’s folk that Johnson is afraid that they are ready to take matters into their own hands. Hoping that Virgil might be able to head off a lynching, Johnson invites Virgil to come and meet with them, and sweetens the deal with the promise of a little fishing afterwards.  Virgil meets with Johnson and the town’s folk and manages to get them to back down by promising that he will look into things himself. After doing some reconnaissance Virgil narrows the search to an isolated area in the hills outside of town. But before they can even get close enough to really look at that area, a murder occurs close to town. And then there is another murder and suddenly Virgil is no longer just looking into dognapping, but into something much more dangerous and pervasive.  Using all the resources of the BA and then some, Virgil uses his creativity and intuition to bring law and order back to this town.

Sandford is adept at creating a town of real people, who act and talk with the values and cadences of the people of my mother’s hometown in Minnesota. Sandford  doesn’t stoop to caricatures but writes with both respect and humor about small town life, letting you see its beauty and limitations. Virgil’s sly humor and his compassion are what makes you respond to him as a a character. This was one book I had a hard time putting down!

Brenda’s Rating: ***** (5 Stars out of 5)

Recommend this to: Sharon and Marian

Books Study Worthy? No

Read in ebook format.