Dark of the Moon | 
|  | | | Title: | Dark of the Moon | | Author: | John Sandford | | Publisher: | Putnam Adult | | Type: | Book / Hardcover | | Publication Date: | 02 October, 2007 | | ISBN / ISBN-13: | 0399154779 / 9780399154775 | | List Price: | $26.95 | | You Save: | $9.16 | | Amazon Price: | $17.79 | |
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Product Description
Virgil Flowers-tall, lean, late thirties, three times divorced, hair way too long for a cop's-had kicked around for a while before joining the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension. First, it was the army and the military police, then the police in St. Paul, and finally Lucas Davenport had brought him into the BCA, promising him, "We'll only give you the hard stuff."
He'd been doing the hard stuff for three years now-but never anything like this. In the small town of Bluestem, where everybody knows everybody, a house way up on a ridge explodes into flames, its owner, a man named Judd, trapped inside. There is a lot of reason to hate him, Flowers discovers. Years ago, Judd had perpetrated a scam that'd driven a lot of local farmers out of business, even to suicide. There are also rumors swirling around: of some very dicey activities with other men's wives; of involvement with some nutcase religious guy; of an out-of-wedlock daughter. In fact, Flowers concludes, you'd probably have to dig around to find a person who didn't despise him.
And that wasn't even the reason Flowers had come to Bluestem. Three weeks before, there'd been another murder-two, in fact-a doctor and his wife, the doctor found propped up in his backyard, both eyes shot out. There hadn't been a murder in Bluestem in years-and now, suddenly, three? Flowers knows two things: This wasn't a coincidence, and this had to be personal.
But just how personal is something even he doesn't realize, and may not find out until too late. Because the next victim . . .may be himself.
Filled with the audacious plotting, rich characters, and brilliant suspense that have always made his books "compulsively readable" (Los Angeles Times), Dark of the Moon is vintage Sandford, further proof that he "is in a class of his own" (The Orlando Sentinel).
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Customer Reviews:
• Prey Without The Predator 08 April, 2008
I can't keep track of all the titles I've read in the Prey series, very often buying the hard cover because I can't wait for the paperback to come out. I'm usually hooked on the first page and then have trouble putting it down until it's finished, after which time I'll never pick it up again. So I always half wonder why I keep buying these books, but there must be something about them I enjoy. I guess they're like watching TV or eating fast food--to site a couple of obvious comparisons.
I actually didn't feel that way after finishing the last in this series. The quality of "Invisible Prey" was just a notch higher than usual. Normally the writing gets a bit lazy and perfunctory somewhere between the precisely constructed, intriguing beginning and the overall suspenseful story that keeps you rapidly turning the pages to see how things will eventually play out. But I almost savored parts of "Invisible Prey", especially certain unnecessary touches, such as the way the author would throw in a two or three paragraph interlude of Lucas getting up early and driving the Interstate for an hour or so to spend the morning fishing on the river in a borrowed boat. Also, the killers in this story were intelligent, interesting characters---two antique dealers, one a big man who always dressed like an effete in a fashion magazine, and a woman who was much smaller but the smarter of the two, constantly scheming and even contemplating killing her partner if it would suit her purposes.
This last book started in the same way as all the others, with one of those paragraphs that immediately pique your interest in such a deceptively effortless way that I have to quote it in its entirety: "Six garbage bags full of red cedar shavings, purchased two at a time for a dollar a bag, at midnight, at the self-serve shed at Dunstead & Daughter Custom Furniture, serving your fine cabinetry needs since 1986. No cameras, no lights, no attendant, no theft, no problem."
That's the point where I close the cover and make a snap decision to buy the book, since I've never been disappointed in the past. This time I was. I thought "The Dark of the Moon" appeared very soon after "Invisible Prey", and in fact they both were published in 2007. Another curious thing was an acknowledgment at the start in which Sanford admits he had help from another author. That might be the reason right there.
It says something that the book I finished just previous to this one was "The Pillars of the Earth" by Ken Follett, a 971-page historical novel which I read a few pages of every night before falling asleep, but had no problem immediately picking up the thread of the story the following night and never once found it confusing or tedious. This latest John Sanford was the total opposite. I constantly had to remind myself of where the story had left off; the killer was not interesting, and in a sort of whodunit style, he isn't even identified until the very end, by which time you're not sure you really care. Don't waste your money on this one.
- Reviewed by customer ID: A3NFV25JS9ZL9P
• Best Sanford Yet 09 April, 2008
I have read all of Sanford's "Prey" series and some of his other books as well...he has his formula down to a science in "Dark of the Moon" and it is his best one ever in my opinion. Super fast-paced, lots of plot twists, witty dialouge and an explosive ending.
- Reviewed by customer ID: AIA88JB33K4G9
• A Great Sandford Novel. 06 May, 2008
Dark of the Moon is the latest book published by John Sandford, the author of the Prey Series featuring Lucas Davenport. In this case Virgil Flowers, one of Davenport's investigators, takes center stage. In investigational styles, Virgil and Lucas are polar opposites. While Lucas is edgy, with an in-your-face attitude, Vigil is laid back. Vigil understands the small town psyche and uses it to his advantage. He makes a point of getting to know the town and its people as he unearths the skeletons in their closets.
The story opens with Virgil arriving in Bluestem, Minnesota. He was sent to Bluestem to investigate the murder of an elderly couple. He arrives in time to witness a huge house fire. It was set in an effort to cover up the murder of the elderly and much hated Bill Judd. A few days later another two elderly citizens are executed. Fear overwhelms the town. They know the culprit is one of their own.
Everyone is a suspect. The Bill Judd's son, his illegitimate daughter, the newspaper editor, the Sheriff's sister, a ex-con, a born-again Christian who is using his church as a cover for Methamphetamine production and distribution, and a couple of deputies, all had a reason to hate the victims and something to gain from their deaths. It's up to Virgil to untangle the threads before the culprit dubbed The Man on the Moon, struck again.
Dark of the Moon is an excellent mystery with a host of entertaining characters. The pace alternated between `nail-biting suspense' and `settle back and enjoy the story'. The plot twisted one way and then the other before looping back around. It held my attention and kept me guessing right up until the end.
- Reviewed by customer ID: A1VYLUOLS7H54I
• A Little Mayhem On The Prairie 12 April, 2008
Readers of John Sandford's "Prey" series might remember Virgil Flowers making some brief appearances at Lucas Davenport's side. Now Davenport has given Flowers free reign as a member of the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension. Davenport has assured Flowers that he will only get the difficult cases.
Agent Flowers has been assigned some murder cases in the southwest corner of the state. On his way to his assignment he stops to join officials and gawkers who are watching a fatal house fire. As Flowers begins to investigate his original assignment, the killing of a doctor and his wife, the agent begins to suspect that these murders are connected to the person killed in the house fire. As more dead bodies begin to show up, the more certain Flowers becomes.
In the small town everybody seems to know everybody else's business and background. As a result there is no shortage of suspects in the murders. The murderer might even be Sheriff Stryker who called Flowers in on the case in the first place...or the Sheriff's beautiful sister who Flowers has started a relationship with.
I confess that I am prejudiced...John Sandford is among my favorite writers. I thoroughly enjoyed this book. The mystery is pretty good. The action is good. The one-liners thrown into conversations from time to time are entertaining. The solution to the mystery is not the tidy package that ends most novels. I suspect that is the way it is in actual police work...at least in the difficult cases.
"Dark of the Moon" is more like one of Sandford's "Prey" novels than it is the "Kidd" novels. I suspect that if you enjoyed any of the Prey novels that you will like "Dark of the Moon."
- Reviewed by customer ID: A2MCFHZ4HVHFGF
• Another Excellent Job By This Writer 21 April, 2008
In a shift from his main character, Lucas Davenport who plays a minor role, this novel features one of his team who investigates on his own a vicious murderer. The opening scene is terrifying. The complicated plot unfolds slowly with lots of twists. Consistent with Sandford's previous novels, there is much tedious police work to be done in an effort to determine who the killer is. The final scene is full of surprise. The culminating moment in the novel where the villain is pursued by the protagonist is exciting. This book is a fine addition to the series by the writer. I've purchased all of his books. It's recommended to those who like this type of novel or to those who are seeking a different treatment of detective stories, or just enjoy skillful writing with original plots.
- Reviewed by customer ID: A3IBDDNKNP129I
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