Review: HOLY GHOST by John Sandford

HOLY GHOST by John Sandford  (G.P. Putnam’s Sons, October 2018)  Hardcover, 373 pages.  ISBN # 0735217327 / 9780735217324.  Virgil Flowers series #11.

 

Summary on the Goodreads website . . . . .

 

Pinion, Minnesota: a metropolis of all of seven hundred souls for which the word "moribund" might have been invented. Nothing ever happened there and nothing ever would—until the mayor of sorts (campaign slogan: "I'll Do What I Can") and a buddy come up with a scheme to put Pinion on the map. 

 

They'd heard of a place where a floating image of the Virgin Mary had turned the whole town into a shrine, attracting thousands of pilgrims. And all those pilgrims needed food, shelter, all kinds of crazy things, right? They'd all get rich! What could go wrong?

 

When the dead body shows up, they find out, and that's only the beginning of their troubles—and Virgil Flowers'—as they are all about to discover all too soon. 

 

My review on the Goodreads website . . . . .  

 

     You can always count on a Virgil Flowers novel to entertain and amuse. What I most appreciate is how, while they feature a returning set of characters, the situation and story is always different. What they all share in common is an intricate plot with twists, humorous situations, and fascinating characters. 

 

     Holy Ghost has more of a solve-the-murder-mystery feel to it than other Flowers novels, and that provides for some of the fun. While reading, I tried to solve the case along with Flowers - analyzing the clues and forming my own list of suspects. 

 

     Turns out I'm much better as a reviewer, and not a great detective. I won't provide any details as I don't want to spoil it for anyone else who wants to take the same approach while reading it. I shared my ideas with a fellow Flowers fan, who had already finished the novel and commented on my thoughts without spilling the beans. 

 

     I appreciate how Sandford includes odd details that help color the setting and help the reader get comfortable within it. Chock full of minuscule details that build the authenticity. This small Minnesota town feels real, and the eccentric characters within seem like people you would actually encounter.