‘Bloody Genius’ a cunning classic procedural

BOOK REVIEW

“BLOODY GENIUS”

By John Sandford

G.P. Putnam’s & Sons, $29)

Grade: A

John Sandford continues to put some literary distance between his two Minnesota-based detectives. Although Lucas Davenport and Virgil Flowers still cross paths — they chat by phone in this book — Davenport’s stories remain more adventure-oriented, while Flowers’ books are leaning toward whodunits.

This story lands Flowers in a classic police procedural. A University of Minnesota professor is found dead from a blow to the head. Depending on your perspective, there are either no suspects — there’s no useful evidence at the scene — or lots of suspects: The professor was brilliant but insufferably arrogant to the point that no one (including his estranged daughter) seems surprised that someone finally hauled off and bashed him over the head.

The plot ultimately boils down to a series of interrogations, but don’t mistake that for a lack of narrative tension. Sandford is a terrific storyteller who can spin an intriguing tale without having to fill it with death-defying mayhem. Flowers’ investigation leads to several dead ends, trips over a couple of red herrings and is detoured by developments that initially look like distractions but later turn out to be crucial. Armchair sleuths who are intent on solving the crime for themselves will need to be on their toes.

from Boston Herald https://ift.tt/354GLw5