Escape Clause: The Ninth Book in the Virgil Flowers Series by John Sandford

Escape Clause (A Virgil Flowers Novel) Download

If you are looking for a thrilling and suspenseful novel that will keep you hooked from start to finish, you might want to download Escape Clause by John Sandford. This is the ninth book in the Virgil Flowers series, but it can be read as a standalone. In this novel, Virgil Flowers, a detective with the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension, faces double trouble as he tries to solve two cases: one involving the theft of two rare and valuable tigers from the Minnesota Zoo, and another involving the exploitation of illegal immigrants at a local food processing plant. Along the way, he encounters a variety of colorful and dangerous characters, such as a greedy and addicted doctor, a ruthless Chinese millionaire, a vengeful Armenian family, and a feisty sister-in-law.

Escape Clause (A Virgil Flowers Novel) download

Introduction

In this section, we will introduce you to the novel Escape Clause by John Sandford. We will give you a brief overview of what the novel is about, who the author is, and why you should read it.

What is Escape Clause about?

Escape Clause is a novel that combines mystery, thriller, and humor genres. It follows the adventures of Virgil Flowers, a detective with the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension (BCA), who is assigned to investigate the theft of two Amur tigers from the Minnesota Zoo. These tigers are extremely rare and valuable, as they are used in alternative Asian medicine for their body parts. The thieves have a complicated plot to smuggle the tigers out of the country and sell them to a wealthy Chinese buyer. However, they also have to deal with a violent Armenian family who wants revenge for their relatives who were killed by the tigers during the heist. Virgil has to race against time to find and rescue the tigers before they are killed and processed.

Meanwhile, Virgil also has to deal with a secondary case that involves his girlfriend's sister, Sparkle. Sparkle is a graduate student who is doing research on illegal immigrants working at a local food processing plant. She suspects that the plant is exploiting and abusing its workers, and she wants to expose them. However, her investigation puts her and her sister in danger, as the plant owners are willing to do anything to protect their secrets. Virgil has to balance his professional and personal life as he tries to help Sparkle and keep his girlfriend happy.

Who is John Sandford?

John Sandford is the pen name of John Roswell Camp, an American journalist and novelist. He was born in 1944 in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. He graduated from the University of Iowa with a bachelor's degree in American Studies in 1966. He then served in the U.S. Army from 1966 to 1968 as a reporter for The Stars and Stripes. After his military service, he worked as a reporter for various newspapers, such as The Miami Herald and The St. Paul Pioneer Press. He won the Pulitzer Prize for Feature Writing in 1986 for a series of articles on the farm crisis in the Midwest.

He started writing novels in 1989 under the name John Sandford. His first novel was Rules of Prey, which introduced his most famous character, Lucas Davenport, a detective with the Minneapolis Police Department. He has written 31 novels featuring Lucas Davenport, which are collectively known as the Prey series. He has also written 12 novels featuring Virgil Flowers, a detective with the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension, which are collectively known as the Virgil Flowers series. He has also written six novels featuring Kidd, a computer hacker and painter, and four novels featuring Rinker, a professional assassin. He has also written two standalone novels, The Night Crew and Dead Watch. His novels have been translated into 30 languages and have sold more than 50 million copies worldwide. He lives in Santa Fe, New Mexico, with his wife and son.

Why should you read Escape Clause?

You should read Escape Clause if you enjoy novels that are:

• Fast-paced and action-packed: The novel has a lot of twists and turns that will keep you on the edge of your seat. The novel is divided into short chapters that switch between different points of view and locations. The novel also has a lot of scenes that involve chases, fights, shootings, explosions, and escapes.

• Funny and witty: The novel has a lot of humor and sarcasm that will make you laugh out loud. The novel also has a lot of witty dialogue and banter between the characters, especially Virgil and his colleagues. The novel also has a lot of references to pop culture, such as movies, music, books, and celebrities.

• Informative and educational: The novel has a lot of information and details about various topics, such as tigers, zoos, alternative medicine, illegal immigration, food processing, Armenian culture, and Minnesota geography. The novel also has a lot of facts and trivia that will enrich your knowledge and curiosity.

Summary of Escape Clause

In this section, we will give you a brief summary of the main events that happen in the novel Escape Clause by John Sandford. We will divide the summary into five parts: the theft of the tigers, the investigation of Virgil Flowers, the alternative medicine market, the secondary case of Sparkle, and the climax and resolution.

The theft of the tigers

The novel begins with the theft of two Amur tigers from the Minnesota Zoo by a group of local thieves led by Winston Peck VI, a former doctor who lost his license due to malpractice. Peck has a contract with Zhang Lei, a Chinese millionaire from California who wants to buy the tigers for his father's birthday. Zhang's father is a believer in alternative Asian medicine, which uses tiger parts for various ailments. Peck also has an addiction to Xanax, which affects his judgment and behavior.

The thieves manage to sedate the tigers and transport them in a refrigerated truck to a warehouse near the airport. However, they encounter some problems along the way. First, they have to deal with two zoo employees who discover their crime and try to stop them. One of them is killed by the tigers while the other one is shot by Peck. Second, they have to deal with a family of Armenian brothers who own the warehouse and demand more money for their services. One of them is also killed by the tigers while another one is injured by Peck.

The investigation of Virgil Flowers

The theft of the tigers is soon discovered by the zoo authorities and reported to the police. Virgil Flowers, a detective with the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension (BCA), is assigned to lead the investigation. He is assisted by Johnson Johnson, another BCA agent who is an expert on zoos and animals. They are also joined by Marcy Sherrill, an FBI agent who is Virgil's former lover.

Virgil and his team start their investigation by interviewing the zoo staff and reviewing the security footage. They find out that one of the zoo employees who was killed by the tigers was actually involved in the theft as an inside man. They also find out that Peck used his real name when he rented the truck that was used for the theft. They trace Peck's address and phone number and learn that he is a disgraced doctor who has a history of drug abuse and fraud.

Virgil and his team then follow Peck's trail to the warehouse where he stored the tigers. They find out that Peck had already moved the tigers to another location after having a dispute with the Armenian brothers. They also find out that one of the Armenian brothers had called Zhang Lei's son in California to inform him about Peck's whereabouts.

The alternative medicine market

Here is the continuation of the article with HTML formatting: The secondary case of Sparkle

While Virgil is busy with the tiger case, he also has to deal with another problem that involves his girlfriend's sister, Sparkle. Sparkle is a graduate student who is doing research on illegal immigrants working at a local food processing plant called BCA Foods. She suspects that the plant is exploiting and abusing its workers, who are mostly from Mexico and Central America. She wants to expose the plant's practices and help the workers get better conditions and rights.

However, her investigation puts her and her sister in danger, as the plant owners are willing to do anything to protect their secrets. They have hired a security company called Blackwater Security, which is run by a former military officer named John Duncan. Duncan and his men are ruthless and violent, and they have no qualms about hurting or killing anyone who interferes with their business. They also have connections with local politicians and law enforcement, who turn a blind eye to their activities.

Sparkle manages to infiltrate the plant by posing as a worker, but she soon realizes that she is in over her head. She witnesses the harsh and inhumane treatment of the workers, who are forced to work long hours for low wages, live in crowded and filthy trailers, and endure physical and sexual abuse from their supervisors. She also learns that some of the workers have been killed or disappeared after trying to escape or complain.

Sparkle tries to contact Virgil for help, but he is too busy with the tiger case to pay much attention to her. She also tries to contact a local reporter named Bill Smith, who has been covering stories on illegal immigration and human trafficking. However, Smith is also under surveillance by Duncan and his men, who threaten him and his family if he exposes BCA Foods.

The climax and resolution

The novel reaches its climax when Virgil finally tracks down Peck and Zhang at a remote farm where they have moved the tigers. He arrives just in time to stop them from killing and processing the tigers. He also discovers that Zhang has brought his father with him, who is dying from cancer and hopes that the tiger pills will cure him.

Virgil engages in a shootout with Peck, Zhang, and their associates, while trying to save the tigers. He manages to kill Peck and wound Zhang, but he also gets shot in the leg. He calls for backup and waits for Johnson and Marcy to arrive.

Meanwhile, Sparkle also reaches a breaking point when she decides to escape from BCA Foods with a group of workers who have had enough of their misery. They steal a truck and drive away from the plant, but they are soon chased by Duncan and his men. They also run into a roadblock set up by the local sheriff, who is in cahoots with Duncan.

Sparkle calls Virgil for help, but he is too far away to reach her. He tells her to call his friend Davenport, who is a higher-ranking officer at BCA. Davenport contacts the state police and sends them to help Sparkle and the workers.

The novel ends with a happy resolution for both cases. Virgil manages to rescue the tigers and return them to the zoo. He also arrests Zhang and his father, who confess to their crimes. He also recovers most of the money that Zhang paid Peck for the tigers. He gets treated for his wound and reunites with his girlfriend.

Sparkle also manages to escape from Duncan and his men with the help of Davenport and the state police. She also exposes BCA Foods' practices and helps the workers get justice and protection. She gets praised for her bravery and integrity by Virgil and Davenport.

Review of Escape Clause

In this section, we will give you our opinion of the novel Escape Clause by John Sandford. We will discuss the strengths and weaknesses of the novel, as well as our rating of it.

The strengths of the novel

We think that Escape Clause has many strengths that make it an enjoyable and engaging read. Some of these strengths are:

• The plot: The novel has a well-crafted plot that combines two different but related cases that challenge Virgil's skills and morals. The novel also has a lot of twists and turns that keep the reader guessing and interested. The novel also has a satisfying and realistic ending that wraps up both cases neatly.

• The characters: The novel has a lot of memorable and likable characters that add depth and humor to the story. Virgil is a smart and charismatic protagonist who has a knack for solving difficult cases and cracking jokes. He is also a complex and flawed character who struggles with his personal and professional life. The novel also has a lot of supporting characters who have their own personalities and roles in the story, such as Johnson, Marcy, Sparkle, Peck, Zhang, Duncan, and Davenport.

• The style: The novel has a lively and witty style that matches the tone and mood of the story. The novel uses short chapters that switch between different points of view and locations, creating a fast-paced and dynamic narrative. The novel also uses a lot of humor and sarcasm that lighten up the dark and serious themes of the story. The novel also uses a lot of references to pop culture, such as movies, music, books, and celebrities, that make the story more relatable and fun.

The weaknesses of the novel

We think that Escape Clause also has some weaknesses that could have been improved or avoided. Some of these weaknesses are:

• The villains: The novel has a lot of villains who are mostly one-dimensional and stereotypical. Peck is a greedy and addicted doctor who has no redeeming qualities or motives. Zhang is a ruthless and wealthy Chinese businessman who has no respect for animals or humans. Duncan is a violent and corrupt security officer who has no conscience or remorse. These villains are not very original or interesting, and they do not pose much of a threat or challenge to Virgil.

• The information: The novel has a lot of information and details about various topics, such as tigers, zoos, alternative medicine, illegal immigration, food processing, Armenian culture, and Minnesota geography. While some of this information is relevant and educational, some of it is also unnecessary and distracting. The novel sometimes spends too much time explaining or describing things that do not advance the plot or develop the characters. The novel could have been more concise and focused without losing its essence.

• The romance: The novel has a romantic subplot that involves Virgil and his girlfriend Frankie. However, this subplot is not very developed or convincing. Virgil and Frankie do not have much chemistry or interaction in the story, and their relationship seems to be based on convenience rather than love. The novel also introduces Marcy as Virgil's former lover, but this does not create much conflict or tension in the story. The novel could have either explored Virgil's romantic life more deeply or omitted it altogether.

The rating of the novel

We would rate Escape Clause by John Sandford 4 out of 5 stars. We think that it is an entertaining and thrilling novel that will appeal to fans of mystery, thriller, and humor genres. We think that it has a strong plot, engaging characters, and lively style that make it a fun and satisfying read. We think that it also has some flaws, such as weak villains, excessive information, and underdeveloped romance, that prevent it from being a perfect novel. However, we think that these flaws do not overshadow its strengths, and we would recommend it to anyone who likes John Sandford's novels or similar ones.

Conclusion

In conclusion, Escape Clause by John Sandford is a novel that follows the adventures of Virgil Flowers, a detective with the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension, who tries to solve two cases: one involving the theft of two rare and valuable tigers from the Minnesota Zoo, and another involving the exploitation of illegal immigrants at a local food processing plant. Along the way, he encounters a variety of colorful and dangerous characters, such as a greedy and addicted doctor, a ruthless Chinese millionaire, a vengeful Armenian family, and a feisty sister-in-law.

Here is the continuation of the article with HTML formatting: The novel also has a lot of positive reviews from readers and critics, who praise its plot, characters, style, and humor. Some of these reviews are:

• "Exhilaratingly professional work by both Virgil and his creator."Kirkus Reviews

• "Rich characters [and] the descriptions of small-town life, politics and corruption and the concurrent trails of action make for a fast and entertaining read."Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

• "Sandford is a terrific storyteller who can spin an intriguing tale without having to rely on graphic sex or violence...Escape Clause is a perfect example."Associated Press

• "Sandford's trademark sly humor shines throughout."Publishers Weekly

• "Another winner in a series that is among the best in the genre."Booklist

Conclusion

In conclusion, Escape Clause by John Sandford is a novel that follows the adventures of Virgil Flowers, a detective with the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension, who tries to solve two cases: one involving the theft of two rare and valuable tigers from the Minnesota Zoo, and another involving the exploitation of illegal immigrants at a local food processing plant. Along the way, he encounters a variety of colorful and dangerous characters, such as a greedy and addicted doctor, a ruthless Chinese millionaire, a vengeful Armenian family, and a feisty sister-in-law.

The novel is fast-paced and action-packed, funny and witty, informative and educational. It has a well-crafted plot that combines two different but related cases that challenge Virgil's skills and morals. It has a lot of memorable and likable characters that add depth and humor to the story. It has a lively and witty style that matches the tone and mood of the story. It also has some flaws, such as weak villains, excessive information, and underdeveloped romance, that prevent it from being a perfect novel. However, these flaws do not overshadow its strengths, and we would recommend it to anyone who likes John Sandford's novels or similar ones.

If you are interested in downloading Escape Clause by John Sandford, you can find it on various online platforms, such as Amazon Kindle, Audible, Google Play Books, Apple Books, Barnes & Noble Nook, Kobo, and Scribd. You can also find it in print or audio format at your local library or bookstore.

FAQs

Here are some frequently asked questions about Escape Clause by John Sandford:

• Do I need to read the previous books in the Virgil Flowers series to enjoy Escape Clause?

No, you do not need to read the previous books in the Virgil Flowers series to enjoy Escape Clause. Each book in the series can be read as a standalone, as they have different plots and cases. However, you might enjoy Escape Clause more if you are familiar with Virgil's background and personality, as well as some of his recurring friends and enemies.

• What are some other books by John Sandford that are similar to Escape Clause?

Some other books by John Sandford that are similar to Escape Clause are:

• Deadline: The eighth book in the Virgil Flowers series, in which Virgil investigates a series of murders involving dog-napping, school board scandals, and meth labs in a small Minnesota town.

• Holy Ghost: The eleventh book in the Virgil Flowers series, in which Virgil investigates a series of shootings involving fake miracles, religious cults, and political conspiracies in a small Minnesota town.

• Neon Prey: The twenty-ninth book in the Lucas Davenport series, in which Lucas teams up with Virgil to track down a serial killer who is involved in a cannibalistic crime ring across America.

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