Bloody Genius (A Virgil Flowers Novel)

A covert assignation in a University library is interrupted by an uninvited third party. A man accosts the trespasser but is bludgeoned to death for his troubles. The killer disappears under the cover of darkness, hiding his victim. The female counterpart in the tryst frantically makes her escape. Virgil Flowers receives a call, interrupting his domestic bliss. The murder is sensitive, the victim related to a financial powerbroker. The lack of leads in the investigation flusters local cops and inflames the media firestorm. Flowers meets with the local detective, who sees Flowers’ role as intrusive. Flowers reassures her of his secondary role, together they examine the case with fresh eyes. The victim was a prominent doctor, but the suspect list appears stacked. Multiple ex-wives, a neglected daughter, a rival fill out the top spots. Virgil has to dig in deep, beyond the obvious to solve this murder.

Bloody Genius is proof positive that John Sandford continues to craft enjoyable mystery-thrillers. The story contains plenty of twists and turns, with humor, heart and humanity sprinkled throughout. Flowers remains iconoclastic and sharp, the characters introduced funny, sarcastic, some downright scary. A quick, yet completely enjoyable book.