Holy Ghost is a pretty solid mystery novel by the prolific John Sandford and features his Minnesota state investigator, Virgil Flowers.
The small, dying town of Wheatfield, Minnesota is the beneficiary of an economic boon when images of the Virgin Mary are seen at the local church. Visitors from all over start to galvanize the town’s economy. Then, the shootings start. Virgil Flowers is sent by the state’s investigation bureau to get to the bottom of the violence. At first, people were just seriously wounded, and Flowers becomes even more desperate when a woman is murdered, and a local hunter is found dead in his house. Flowers is not sure if this is the work of an unhinged psychopath or if there is more of a purpose to the terror unleashed on Wheatfield.
Sandford has been around for a long time, and his popularity is well deserved. Flowers is an interesting, proficient protagonist. There is something very stable and reassuring when Flowers is on the scene. Also, Sandford knows how to write some pretty amusing banter between Flowers and his colleagues who come in to assist.
There are some pretty interesting twists and turns as Flowers narrows down a motive. Most of the characters are pretty interesting. There is a peculiar young man named Skinner who seems savvier than his fellow townsfolk. He has an interesting friendship with the mayor in that they open a shop together once the money from the tourists starts coming in.
It’s a pretty quick read, and Sandford is a competent and engaging writer. He does a good job with keeping a reader engaged, and he does gallows humor quite effectively.
The novel is interesting and does the job of keeping the reader entertained and interested in the outcome of the mystery. Sandford has certainly had a lot of practice with that, and I expect it will not be too much longer before I dive into another of his works.
Next up, I will be staying in the mystery genre with my next read, which is The Final Detail by Harlan Coben.
Reviews, Musings, and Other Things... 