Holy Ghost - John Sandford

I’m slowly returning to the Virgil Flowers series, and Holy Ghost reminded me of everything I like about it. Virgil gets himself into everything as usual, and the fun part is figuring out what’s related to the crimes and what isn’t. While Lucas Davenport is slick and a bit menacing, Virgil is rougher, more “country,” and easily underestimated. I love that Virgil gets into different types of trouble and traps than Lucas, while the story still unfolds with excellent tension and that aw-shucks mid-Western charm.

Book Information

Publisher: Penguin Publishing Group
Imprint: G.P. Putnam’s Sons
First Published: October 9 2018
Format: ebook
Source: Library
Genre: Mystery
Series: Virgil Flowers #11

Virgil’s journey into the community to uncover the motives and identify suspects in Holy Ghost is a fun ride. The supporting characters, including Mayor Holland and Skinner, led me astray more than once, defying my initial expectations. Danielle and Roy are great community resources for Virgil and provide hilarious dialogue. Their interactions added a layer of amusement to the story, making it less grim and more enjoyable. Virgil knows how to work in rural communities, bringing stakeholders into the game and taking risks disclosing information to people outside the investigation.

John Sandford does a really good job of banter and quips in Holy Ghost without making it cheesy or cliche. I enjoy the third-person POV. It stays very in the moment and relevant without giving away too much of the character’s motivations or goals.

Virgil Flowers got me hooked on John Sandford. This chill detective wants to see the right thing done and is willing to bend a few rules to make it happen. I appreciate so much that Virgil focuses on deescalation and tries to avoid aggression and unnecessary conflict with people. Still, he is capable of standing his ground and being vicious only when necessary. His relationship with Frankie is adorable too.

Heat Lightning was the book that sealed my love for Virgil Flowers and got me reading more of Sandford’s work. I was losing my mind on a plane because the chase scene was so intense and riveting. I tried explaining it to my husband, who looked at me skeptically and asked, ” So there’s a chase scene, and the guy is pulling a boat?” which made me laugh so hard. There are so many quirks that make the characters seem more like people you know.

Holy Ghost wasn’t as full of suspense as Heat Lightning; it feels more procedural. The character building was fantastic, and I’m glad we got to hang out with Shrake and Jenkins again. I have to read two or three books in the Lucas Davenport series before the next Virgil Flowers book, as I’m ever so slightly out of sync. I’m looking forward to it!