Dark of the Moon

Written by John Sandford

Narrated by Eric Conger

The first Virgil Flowers novel from #1 New York Times bestselling author John Sandford.

Virgil's been doing the hard stuff for three years, but he's never seen anything like this. In the small rural town of Bluestem, an old man is bound in his basement, doused with gasoline and set on fire. Three weeks before, a doctor and his wife were murdered. Three homicides in Bluestem in just as many weeks is unheard of. It's also no coincidence. And it's far from over.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Penguin Random House Audio
• Release date: Oct 2, 2007
• ISBN: 9781429592246

John Sandford

John Sandford is the pseudonym for the Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist John Camp. He is the author of thirty-three Prey novels, two Letty Davenport novels, four Kidd novels, twelve Virgil Flowers novels, three YA novels co-authored with his wife, Michele Cook, and five stand-alone books.

Reviews for Dark of the Moon

[readafew · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Great book, I really enjoy the Virgil Flowers stories, quite a bit more than Davenport if I must say so. I think it's the lighthearted fun Virgil displays in everything he does. This one, an old man was murdered in his home and the home was burned down around him. This little town has a lot of secrets, and as with any little town someone else knows them.

[jburlinson_3 · Rating: 2 out of 5 stars]

Somewhere, I guess on the web, there must be a full database of templates for the construction of a mystery novel. It must be multiply cross-referenced so authors can simply click on a few variables to construct product. Some of the choices in the case of this book would be: sleuth (hetero, cowboy type, two fists, cognitive aptitude -- low, medium), love interest (been around, good ass ["world class" according to hero and confirmed by local sheriff, the ladies brother !?!?], dark side); villain (only one left standing), etc. etc. Somebody needs to declare a moratorium on starting mystery novels in the mind of the killer (unidentified, of course), leading the reader to be on the lookout for a complete psycho; only to come to find out the bad guy is really pretty bland custard.

[sleahey_3 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Virgil Flowers of Minnesota's BCA is called in to get to the bottom of the murder of an elderly couple in a small town. As he arrives, another murder by arson is taking place, and subsequently another elderly couple is murdered. Flowers and the local sheriff, a high school acquaintance and sports rival, work together to try to sort out the common threads that tie the murders together, most likely carried over from the past. There are many suspects in Virgil's mind, including the sheriff and his sister, who has become a romantic interest..

[debavp · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

I had the hardest time deciding when to read this. Virgil Flowers is introduced to us in the Prey series, but I was afraid to read it to soon—I didn’t want to risk a spoiler. So I waited until I was through with Invisible Prey before picking this series up. Virgil is almost the anti-Lucas, and I think deep down Lucas realizes Virgil might be his match. He can be an ass when necessary, but that’s not often. He’s extremely self-deprecating and it’s like everyone is drawn to him like moths to a flame. With Virgil, Sandford gives a physical description that still manages to keep Virgil vague enough that he average reader wouldn’t know him if he passed him on the street EXCEPT for the fact that every reader would instantly recognize him, should they chance to meet, knowing for certain he was that “fucking Flowers”. I look forward to learning more about this enigma that is Virgil Flowers. 

[tatoosh-3 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

The first full length novel featuring Virgil Flowers. This is a solid introduction to this series. In this book Virgil is tasked with solving three murders within a few days in a town/location that has not seen a murder in half a century. Three themes that appear throughout the Flowers novels originate here. Virgil seems to have an unlimited supply of t-shirts featuring obscure musical groups; Virgil, seemingly irresistible to women, has an affair with the local sheriff's sister, and he drives back and forth lot. The first seems to reflect the writer's interest expertise as a music critic (See Broken Prey). The second seems to be a knock-off of Lee Child's Jack Reacher character. The last seems to be a filler to substitute pseudo action for something that will advance the plot meaningfully. Either that or the author wants us to think that Flowers is not particularly well organized.

[bookconcierge · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

3.5*** Sanders is perhaps best known as the author of the Lucas Davenport mystery series set in Minneapolis / St Paul MN. Now he gives one of Davenport’s colleagues his own series. Virgil Flowers has been in the Army and the St Paul Police. Now Davenport has recruited him to the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension, promising him “We’ll only give you the hard stuff.” This case begins as Flowers heads to the western end of the state, to help the local police solve a grisly murder. As he approaches the town, he notices a glow in the sky which can only be a fire. In fact, it is the mansion of a well-known man – Bill Judd – which has erupted in flames, with Judd trapped inside. Not too many people are sorry to see Judd go; years ago he perpetrated a scam involving Jerusalem artichokes which resulted in many farmers losing their land, and one or more suicide. Flowers is curious but doesn’t begin to notice a pattern until yet another murder happens. Sandford crafts a tight plot with several twists and turns, plenty of suspects, a little love interest, and a skilled, likeable lead detective. I like the way Flowers pieces together the puzzle. He’s deliberate and cautious, but aggressive when questioning a reluctant witness. He’s an astute observer and is careful when drawing conclusions, keeping his theories to himself until he is more certain both of the person he might confide in, and of who the culprit is. If he has a fault, it’s that Virgil is a bit more of a ladies’ man than I like, but he’s always honest about his intentions and women seem to willingly go along for the ride. The supporting characters seem to be a good match for Flowers; they hold their own and support/challenge him as they see fit (including the women).

[sunnysd_1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Flowers (that eff'n) was only headed for Bluestem to take a deposition. But when the most reviled man in town burns to death after a particularly gruesome double murder, the Minnesota BCA agent finds himself neck deep in small town secrets, lies, and motives.Sanford's heroes aren't always the most morally upright, but they're flawed in (mostly) the right directions. A good, fast, action-packed read.

[thelibraryhag · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

I listened to this on my smart phone (second audio book ever!) I enjoyed the story and the narrator. I have read several of the Lucus Davenport books and always enjoyed them. Virgil Flowers is also an interesting character. I thought the mystery was pretty good and I enjoyed the small town relationships. I will be reading the next Virgil Flowers novel. (or maybe listening)

[dickmanikowski · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Even by John Sandford's standards, this is an exceptional novel. Both the characters and the plot are gripping.

[delphimo_1 · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

I enjoy exploring other areas when I am reading, and the State of Minnesota is a state I have visited while reading a bakery mystery series. The Virgil Flowers series is more intense and better written than the other Minnesota series. This story has many twists and turns while Virgil attempts to solve the murders of 5 elderly people and to find the Man in the Moon. I like the character description and the setting description, but sometimes felt too at a loss as to what was happening. The ease of forming intimate relationships seems a little too simple, but then people follow strange habits. Also, I felt that Virgil's boss gave him too much free rein.

[marybeth494 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Mysteries are the mainstay of my reading diet. I've found some amazing books in other genres and since Ive started reading book blogs, my wish list just gets longer and longer, but mysteries will always be my comfort zone.I've read quite a few of John Sandford's Lucas Davenport PREY novels and really enjoyed them. This was the first I've read with Virgil Flowers as the lead detective.THE PREMISE: Flowers, a member of the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension, is on his way into Bluestem, MN to investigate a ritual style murder where the victim's eyes have been shot out, when he sees a fire burning on the outskirts of town. The victim in the fire is Bill Judd, someone everyone loved to hate after he took all their money in a pyramid scheme 20 years ago. Is this latest victim connected to the case Flowers has been called into investigate? This is just one of many questions he will need to answer before he can stop the killer from continuing his deadly vendetta.MY TAKE: I liked this book a lot. I had an idea if who the killer might be a quarter of the way through the book (I was wrong, I might add) but Sandford doesn't skimp on the suspects. He has several that remain viable right up until the end. Even when, near the end, I was sure of the killer, he kept dropping hints that made me have doubts.There were a couple of little things that kept me from loving this book. At one point Flowers gets a list of names of people who had heard a piece of important information and he recognizes one of the names on the list. Well, would you like to share the names with the readers?? How are we supposed to keep up if we don't get all the info? I HATE when authors do that. Also, I thought the very end (last chapter) was superfluous. It wasn't absolutely necessary to the story and to me, all it served was to provide an easy out of a relationship for the protagonist. It just ended the book on an off note. Otherwise the story was good and held up throughout, I was never bored and waiting for the end, and I made my sister wait ten minutes before we went out the other night so I could finally find out "who-dunnit".

[carol420 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Virgil Flowers wades into small town intrigue to stop a killer with a very old ax to grind.
I have read the Lucas Davenport Prey series for years. Virgil Flowers was a character within that series. He makes a very interesting as well as different character in his own books.

[lisalynne_1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

I have long been a fan of John Sanford's "Prey" series featuring Lucas Davenport of the Bureau of Criminal Apprehension. In this book, Sanford focuses on a different member of the BCA, Virgil Flowers, with the same excellent results. (Maybe he was running out of adjectives to go with "prey"?) I thought that Sanford captured the dynamics of a small town very well. The way that histories intermingle and everyone knows everyone's business is very different from investigating a crime in the city. Even the politics within the sherriff's department rang true. (My father is on the town council in my home town, so I get to hear a lot about what goes on.) Even the complicated loyalties that develop when your friends and neighbors have known you for generations are perfectly portrayed.There are some plot holes. Virgil talks to anyone and everyone about the case, and although he explains it as an investigative tactic, I have to think that he'd get himself fired in the first week if he really played so fast and loose with the details. One key point (a gun found in a shoe) is never explained. Like Lucas Davenport, Virgil is a real Renaissance Man - an outdoorsman, hunter, writer, photographer and investigator. Still, the story provides enough meat and enough twists and turns to be a very pleasant read. Or listen, in my case, since I picked this up on audiobook and it managed to provide a couple of "driveway moments." Sanford fans shouldn't miss this one.

[sonicquack · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

An offshoot from the 'Prey' series of books sees Virgil Flowers, another member of the BCA, become embroiled in a series of murders outside the Twin Cities. Sandford creates a distinctly different lead character from that of Lucas Davenport, although his signature writing style is still prevalent. There are moments of amusement, well though out action sequences and plenty of misdirection to keep readers guessing. That said, the myriad of characters involved requires series attention to keep on top of the thought processes of Flowers as he deciphers the clues and conversations around him. The overall likeability of the characters and narrative style make up for the convoluted plot, and as a result Dark of the Moon is a welcome diversion to the Prey series, although not (yet) as captivating.

[askum_1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

This was the first book of John Sandford's that I have read and enjoyed it and wanna read more of his collection. This book kept me thinking and kept my mind wanting more throughout.

[marywj · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

This was fine, a run of the mill cop story; just disappointing because Sandford's Prey series and his Kidd series are so interesting and have such interesting main characters, and this suffers in the comparison.

[hchannell-1 · Rating: 2 out of 5 stars]

Although I like John Sandford's Prey series, I did not enjoy this book. I almost gave up on it on several occasions. The story was slow, boring and went nowhere. I will continue reading the Prey books but will not read more from this series.

[bushard · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

very good, Minnesota author John Standford writes about Virgil Flowers an investigator for the bureau of crimal apprehension

[melydia_1 · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

Virgil Flowers is sent to a tiny Minnesota town to solve a vicious murder. It's a fairly straightforward thriller, but Virgil is a fun character, with all his irreverence. I grew up in the Midwest, though not nearly as rural an area, and it was a nice trip back to familiar territory. If you like thrillers, you'll probably like this one, but it doesn't really stand out from the genre.

[zachmontana · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Another enjoyable Vigil Flowers crime solver in small town Minnesota. Must solve seemingly unrelated murders and intriquing inter-relationships.

[miyurose_1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

While not technically part of the Prey series, this book showcases another of Davenport’s crew, Virgil Flowers. Or, “That fuckin’ Flowers”, as he is often known. It took me a little time to warm up to Flowers, but I was soon sucked into the mystery. I don’t think it had quite the same punch as a good Prey book, but Lucas Davenport pops his head up enough to remind you where you are.

[sarah_buckley-1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

John Sandford is an author I have read extensively. His "Prey" series of books which follow the life/case files of Lucas Davenport were probably the first "real" mystery books I read. I was fascinated by the idea of not only following the detectives on the case as they figured everything out, but also seeing things from the killers POV.

My long history of reading Sandford has never led to reading the Virgil Flowers series and so I recently decided to pick a few up and see if they were as great. Happily I can say that I liked this book quite a bit. I found the mystery interesting and engaging and Virgil Flowers himself is unique and an engaging character.

Virgil is a bit of a cowboy cop. he dresses in a loose manner and his hair is longer than regulation. He also has some exposition about how bored he got with "regular" police work. That's the cue for Lucas Davenport of the BCA to hire him for his team. Virgil is promised only the most interesting cases and he never gets bored. Virgil is a bit of a hound dog in his personal life and has hints of many ladies in his past.

The case in this book is an interesting one. The book starts with a huge fire and races off from there. I liked all the twists and turns and I never really guessed who the killer was or his/her motivations until mostly the end.

i really liked this book and it was an excellent start to the series. I look forward to reading some more!

[crazybatcow · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

It was interesting enough that I'll read the next in the series. I prefer Flowers over Davenport because he feels just a bit less "dated" (of course, Davenport's stories are older, so that explains why they're more dated, but still). Flowers is still borderline sexist and really too "cute" to be real, and somehow falls into a sexual relationship immediately after arriving in a small town to investigate a crime... but anyway, this didn't detract too much from the story.The "mystery" wasn't really much of a mystery. I think Sandford intended there to be lots of suspects by suggesting it could have been anyone in the town, but in reality there was only one realistic suspect. I think, also, that the author attempted to explain the rationale behind the murders but it was a bit of a leap - it kinda can be summed up in that the killer was just plain crazy, but the 'why' behind this craziness is still unclear to me. The other thing that bothered me a bit is how the point of view would change periodically - most of the book (90%+) is from Virgil's point of view, but every now and again, with no warning, we're popped into someone else's head - I could understand if it was just the killer's head we visited, but it is not.Sounds like I disliked the book - but I did not... would I have liked a main character who was a bit more pro-active and a bit less "entitled"? Sure. Would I have liked more butt-kicking and less driving back-and-forth between towns? Sure... All in all: it might not have been very deep, very thought-provoking, or very suspenseful, but it passes a few hours just fine.

[elizchanlest · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

This is a quirky thriller. It doesn't reinvent the wheel, and plays mostly like a tv movie, but I enjoyed it. I liked the main character, who was off beat enough to set it apart from the rest of the pack.

[dragonfreak · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

 In the little town of Bluestem, things seem peaceful. This is a town where everybody knows each other and what they are doing at all times. But the horrific murder of Bill Judd Sr. uproots the whole town. His death was caused by a fire in his house and he went down with him. Judd wasn’t very popular, in fact, ever since the infamous Jerusalem Artichoke Scam, people hated him. It almost seemed inevitable that he’ll be killed.Virgil Flowers, part of the BCA, was called in to solve this murder. It seemed like a simple “Who Done It” case, but again there was another murder. Two actually, a couple about Judd’s age, the Gleasons. Now the case is stranger and gets more personal. Virgil realizes that these murders aren’t some random thrill-seeking kills, they’re something more, much more. This didn’t start with the scam, no, this started 30-40 years ago because of Judd’s actions, and the lives it will affect will be far great.Truth be told, I thought this book was pretty darn good. The plot is complicated, maybe a little too unnecessarily complicated at times, but overall, very good. Recommended.Rating: Four Stars ****

[claudia.anderson · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

takes place in southwestern Minnesota; as usual, lots of swearing

[jguidry-1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

I really enjoyed this book by a new-to-me author. The characters were interesting and well-developed. Each character had a human side. No one was completely good or completely evil. I also thought Sandford did an excellent job of describing Virgil Flower's viewpoint in the story. He was mostly sure" of the killer but wasn't absolutely certain until the reveal at the end. This let the narrator (Eric Conger did an excellent job narrating, btw) take you on twists and turns until the very end. I'm definitely continuing this series, and I'm going to check out the partner series starring Lucas Davenport."

[judithrs · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Dark of the Moon. John Sandford. 2008. Sandford the author of the “Prey” books has taken a character mentioned in the them, Virgil Flowers and made, what I hope is, the beginning of a series. Virgil works for the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension, and his supervisor in none other than Lucas Davenport, the main character of the “Prey” books. You do not have to have read the first series to enjoy this book. Virgil is sent to investigate the murder which turns into a series of murders of prominentpeople in a small town. He knows the sheriff from high school and becomes sexually involved with the sheriff’s sister. Suspects include the sheriff, a crazy preacher, the rich victim’s son and illegitimate daughter and son. This was a page turner, but not very demanding-a nice summer read.

[iluvvideo · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

An engaging thriller. It follows Virgil Flowers of the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension while trying to solve a series of murders in the rural heartland of America.It's hard to keep secrets in a small town, but much harder to dig through the myriad truths and rumors that develop in such an intimate group. Evidence of Bill Judd senior's murder is found in the ruins of his recently burned mansion. Many people wanted him dead, but who enough to murder him? Virgil, a small town guy himself, works through the maze while being a very visible figure to the locals. Will he be able to solve the mystery before anyone else dies?John Sandford has an engaging, easy to read style that allows you to become quickly locked in to the mystery. He personalizes the quirky characters and helps to bring them alive. He dosen't try to reinvent the genre. But he engages the reader while drawing a picture of small town life. It was an entertaining read. What more could I ask for?

[trayceetee · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

I read one of John Sandford's "Prey" books recently, and I loved it! A friend told me his Virgil Flowers series is also good. Good? It's fantastic! I loved this mystery, and I honestly did not see "whodunnit" until just when Flowers discovered it. Speaking of "that f**king Flowers," I would love to meet this guy in real life! Long hair, writer AND detective, wearer of jeans and concert/band t-shirts--sounds fabulous!!!

I'm just getting into mysteries, and both this series and the "Prey" series of Sandford's can be considered on my 'to read' list!!!