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Camp's interests turned to fiction in the mid-1980s, and he took time off to write two novels which were ultimately accepted for publication: The Fool's Run, a techno-thriller featuring a complex con man known as Kidd, and Rules of Prey, a police procedural starring maverick Minneapolis detective Lucas Davenport. When both books were scheduled (by different publishers) to be released three months apart in 1989, Camp was persuaded to adopt a pseudonym for one. He chose his paternal grandmother's maiden name, "Sandford" for Rules of Prey, and the nom de plume has remained attached to all the books in the series.
Less Dick Tracy than Dirty Harry, hard-boiled, iconoclastic Lucas Davenport is a composite of the cops Camp met while working the crime beat as a reporter. Intelligent and street smart, Davenport is also manipulative and not above bending the rules to get results. And although he has mellowed over time (something of a skirt chaser in his youth, he is now married with children), he remains one of the edgiest and most popular protagonists in detective fiction. Fans keep returning to the Prey books for their intelligently hatched plots, high-octane pacing, and deft, fully human characterizations.
From time to time, Camp strays from his bestselling series for standalone thrillers (The Night Crew, Dead Watch), and in 2007 he introduced a new series hero, Virgil Flowers of the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension, who debuted in Dark of the Moon. Although he is no longer a full-time journalist, Camp contributes occasional articles and book reviews to various publications. He is also a passionate archaeologist and has worked at a number of digs, mainly in Israel.
The Sandford pseudonym has caused a few problems for Camp in the past. At an airport once, his ticket was reserved under Sandford, while all of his identification, of course, had the name Camp. Luckily, he had one of his novels with him, and thanks to the book jacket photo, he was able to convince airport security to let him on the plane.
The books in Camp's less successful Kidd series (The Fool's Run, The Empress File, The Devil's Code, and The Hanged Man's Song) have been re-released under the Sandford pseudonym.
Anonymous
Posted October 9, 2012
This was a great read as are most of Sanfords books. His characters are well developed and his descriptive narrative is topnotch. He knows how to grab you from start to finish. Couldnt put it down,but then I love Virgil Flowers.
A very good read.
9 out of 10 people found this review helpful.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.Anonymous
Posted October 4, 2012
Disclaimer
: I'm in love with Virgil Flowers. Ther goes any impartiality I might claim. Loved this book. I think the author gets better with each book he writes and am always anxious to read Flowers' latest thoughts on God. Its good as a stand alone but better to read the whole series in order so you can appreciate the wonder that is Flowers.
9 out of 13 people found this review helpful.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.alpro
Posted June 6, 2012
Sorry, I have not read this book yet. But after I do, I am sure it will be at least a 4 star. I have read 33 other Sanford books and they all were excellent.
5 out of 48 people found this review helpful.
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Posted October 13, 2012
Loved it, you can always count on Virgil Flowers novels for a well written and great story!
3 out of 5 people found this review helpful.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.Anonymous
Posted October 12, 2012
The virgil flowers series is my favorite os sandford's work. This book does not disappoint.
3 out of 4 people found this review helpful.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.Anonymous
Posted October 27, 2012
I just wish John Sandford would write more often. I look forward to his Virgil Flowers books and his other ones also. Mad River is a good read, I always buy the CD's so I can listen to them at bedtime or nap time.
2 out of 2 people found this review helpful.
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Posted December 8, 2012
Im here
1 out of 4 people found this review helpful.
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Posted October 26, 2012
Another fun Virgil Flowers... if you like his stories, then you will like this one. Very good images of northern midwest.. my husband and I thought Stanford did a great job of describing the countryside as well as life there. Then throw in the intrigue of mass murders. Stanford does a good job of having you see the tragedy of these kid's lives that got them to where they were. And a twist or two. Kept both of us wanting to read..
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.
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Posted October 26, 2012
I enjoyed this one almost as much as the earlier Flowers series books. Virgil goes on a quest to locate a trio of killers before they can rub out any more innocent lives. His pursuit is driven more by change and waiting for the next killing than it is by intelligent anticipation of their next moves. I asked myself if there was anything really special or unique of Virgil's handling of the case and answered, "Not much, really."
But the character continues to develop and mature and I do like the way he is going. I always look forward to a new Virgil Flowers installment.
Recommended, but don't expect any unique or cutting-edge crime solving skill.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.
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Posted May 17, 2013
If you are a fan of the Lucas Davenport and Virgil Flowers novels, then this is a great read. It is typical smart John Sandford writing, with a few twists even though you know who the killer are from the start. Great for a fun read at the beach.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.jwc2
Posted May 3, 2013
I feel like I know the characters. Great story line. Never wanted to stop reading, and would fight sleep when reading at night, just to get to the next chapter. John Sandford is one of the best!
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.tedfeit0
Posted March 26, 2013
The chase is on. Non-stop.
Virgil Flowers, the top investigator for the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension, takes on another weird case when a murder is discovered, followed by a trail of several more. It quickly is determined that three young people are on a murder spree, and just about everyone in law enforcement, with reinforcements from the National Guard, is deployed to find them before another person is killed.
The plot involves locating the perpetrators with sub-plots occupying some of Virgil’s analytical thinking. Not much is in doubt as far as the story is concerned, just an exciting chase. There could even be a western movie or a television show in its future.
Mr. Sanford knows how to write a crime novel, and keeps the pace moving forward to keep the reader’s interest. There really are few twists to the novel, which is more or less, in straightforward fashion, an exciting police procedural.
Recommended.
azboots47
Posted March 1, 2013
Good book, drug a little in the middle, but well written.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.Anonymous
Posted February 10, 2013
Tell me where that is at our place, moooncrystal.... i want to watch. Im entitled to at least that.
0 out of 1 people found this review helpful.
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Posted February 10, 2013
But y not?
0 out of 2 people found this review helpful.
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Posted February 10, 2013
No Flameclaw. Someof this u dont need to hear.
0 out of 1 people found this review helpful.
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Posted February 7, 2013
The ending was a bit of a let down. The book was a good read. Kept my attention.
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Posted January 28, 2013
0 out of 1 people found this review helpful.
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Posted January 25, 2013
I especially like his Virgil Flowers series. I buy his books without reading the back to see what they are about. Sanford is always a good read!
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.Anonymous
Posted January 7, 2013
She dipped her head and revealed a few grey patches behind her ears and a black star marking on her left ear.
T|-|€()|\|@
0 out of 2 people found this review helpful.
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Overview
The first person they killed was a highway patrolman. The second was a woman during a robbery. Then, hell, why not keep on going? As their crime spree cuts a swath through rural Minnesota, some of it captured on the killers’ cell phones and sent to a local television station, Bureau of Criminal ...