Rough Country by John Sandford

Rough Country by John Sandford is part of the series of books featuring Virgil Flowers.


Rough Country takes place in the countryside. This makes the book so unique.

There are many thrillers featuring crimes in the big cities, and hardly anything in the countryside. It is a change for me to read about the wild and beautiful countryside through this book.

The big cities are often depicted as crowded and dirty. The countryside in Rough Country by John Sandford shows a place where beauty lies, and where men and women can relax and ponder about life.

Rough Country by John Sandford is about Virgil Flowers. Virgil Flowers is a different detective from Lucas Davenport.

I find Virgil Flowers very talkative. He seems to discuss the case with every woman he meets. The very interesting part about Virgil Flowers is his habit to think about God every night. This trait of Virgil Flowers is running throughout this series.

The setting for the murder in this thriller is closely linked to a resort for women only. It seems so tranquil until Virgil Flowers discovers about the lesbians, and the sex with male prostitutes.

I like the intelligence of Virgil Flowers. He knows who is the murderer even before he discovers anything that points to the real murderer. That is the most frustrating part of the book.

The investigation seems to go nowhere, and there is no way to trap the murderer.

The action part of this book is rather disappointing. It gives me the impression of having a lot of air but no substance. Most books featuring Lucas Davenport are good at actions.

Compared to those blood chilling thrillers, Rough Country is a very cozy story. There is hardly a time when you need to worry about the safety of the detective. Virgil Flowers seems so immune to danger.

This book is not suitable for those people who enjoy clean language. Even though Virgil Flowers appear as a God-loving person who has a deep love for nature, he does not speak like a Pastor.

Rough Country by John Sa ndford is a most realistic book. It shows how a detective thinks, works, and the frustration of meeting with dead ends. It also highlights the fact that police can make mistakes.