Publisher's Weekly Review
Wry humor, a fully realized lead, and tense atmospherics lift Sandford's suspenseful fifth novel featuring Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension agent Virgil Flowers (after Edgar-winner Bad Blood). When a bomb kills a construction superintendent in Butternut Falls, a small community divided over the imminent arrival of a PyeMart megastore, Virgil gets on the case, even though it's his day off. Three weeks earlier, a bomb exploded at PyeMart's Michigan headquarters shortly before a board meeting. Willard Pye, the company head, was unharmed, but his executive assistant was blown to pieces. Given the number of locals hostile to the company, Virgil has no shortage of possible suspects, and the ante rises as more bombs are detonated. Coupling a thoroughly modern investigative approach with old-fashioned logical deduction, Virgil narrows in on his target. Sandford effortlessly conjures up the rhythms and personalities of a small town in one of his best outings to date. Author tour. (Oct.) (c) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved.
Library Journal Review
Lucas Davenport (Buried Prey), a senior agent with the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension, sends his junior colleague, Virgil Flowers, to investigate mysterious bombings at the construction site of a new PyeMart megastore in the tiny town of Butternut Falls and at its headquarters. Flowers, starring in his fifth series outing (after Bad Blood), has a number of suspects from which to identify his likely culprit: the many local merchants, environmentalists, and politicians who oppose the new venture for economic, environmental, personal, and professional reasons. Verdict The plot, a thinly disguised reference to the local community opposition that Walmart has faced for years, lacks the excitement and panache characteristic of Buried Prey and other Davenport titles. Also, introducing local humor and personalities may help to create a more credible story, but-dang it, Sandford-that ain't enough! [See Prepub Alert, 4/11/11.]-Jerry Miller, GSLIS, Simmons Coll., Boston (c) Copyright 2011. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.