In 2007, he published “Invisible Prey” in which he introduced a secondary character, Virgil Flowers. Virgil assists Lucas Davenport, the protagonist of the “Prey” series. They work for the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Investigation.
Each “Prey” book comes out in the spring. In the fall of 2007, Sandford started a standalone series featuring Virgil Flowers. The fifth Virgil novel, “Shock Wave,” just came out. Sandford’s fans now get new “Prey” books in the spring and Virgil books in autumn.
Virgil works southern Minnesota. As “Shock Wave” begins, a bomb is about to explode in the boardroom of the Pye Pinnacle building in Michigan. This is the corporate headquarters of the PyeMart Corporation, a fictitious company somewhat like Walmart.
PyeMart is opening new stores and is building one in the southern Minnesota town of Butternut Falls. Soon, another bomb is detonated at the construction site. There are fatalities. Federal agencies are brought in to investigate. And Virgil is summoned to the crime scene.
Sandford admits that he gets input for the Virgil Flowers books from his golfing buddy David Cronk. There are distinct differences between each series. The “Prey” series can be quite dark and humorless. Then there’s Virgil; even in the midst of a serious homicide investigation, he can still be rather playful. He rarely seems to lose his sense of humor.
Virgil is a true Minnesotan, he loves to fish. He heads to Butternut Falls towing his fishing boat. Perhaps he could check out the local lakes?
As he dives into this case, he wonders if the bombings in Michigan and in Butternut Falls are connected, and if so, how?
The first bomb went off at the top of a seemingly inaccessible office building. There were security cameras that should have recorded the perpetrator. Whoever placed the explosives was able to elude detection. The cameras failed to capture any images of the bomber.
In Butternut Falls, Virgil finds a unique way to gather the names of potential suspects. He mails out a confidential survey to some area residents and asks them to compile lists of any fellow residents who they think could have had motives for bombing the PyeMart.
In classic Sandford fashion, readers are also treated to the mysterious bomber’s viewpoint as this drama unfolds. “Shock Wave” is populated with a cast of eccentrics: disgruntled fishermen, corrupt politicians, jaded investigators, philandering spouses and the billionaire owner of PyeMart, who pays someone to record every word he speaks.
We expect Virgil to solve the case. He’ll crack jokes. He might lose his beloved fishing boat, but he seldom loses his sense of humor — or his goofy wardrobe.
Vick Mickunas of Yellow Springs interviews authors every Friday at 1:30 p.m. and on Sundays at 11 a.m. on WYSO-FM (91.3). For more information, go online to www.wyso.org/programs/book-nook. Contact him at vick@vickmickunas.com.
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