Virgil Flowers will have to watch his back – and his mouth – as he investigates a culture war turned deadly in this tense page-turner from the master of pulse-pounding thrillers.

At the local state university, renowned Professor Quill goes to the library one night – and winds up dead. With no suspects, no prints, no murder weapon – not even a time of death – Virgil Flowers is brought in to investigate.

Flowers discovers that, prior to his death, Quill had sparked a feud between two departments at the university. Each side carries their views to extremes, and Flowers soon realises he's dealing with people who, on this particular issue, are functionally crazy.

Somewhere among this group of diametrically opposed zealots lurks a murderer. But with no leads, little evidence and the media breathing down his neck, can Flowers find him before he kills again?

* * * Praise for John Sandford and the Virgil Flowers novels * * *

'John Sandford knows all there is to know about detonating the gut-level shocks of a good thriller' The New York Times Book Review

'Sandford has always been at the top of any list of great mystery writers. His writing and the appeal of his lead character are as fresh as ever' The Huffington Post

'Sandford is consistently brilliant' Cleveland Plain Dealer

‘Along the way to the satisfying ending, Virgil displays the rough humor and rough justice that make him such an appealing character’ Publishers Weekly on Deep Freeze

‘A knowing portrait of small-town life layered into a very well plotted mystery. Virgil understands that, in small towns, no one ever outgrows high school... One of the very best novels in a superior series’ Booklist (starred review) on Deep Freeze

‘Add a gripping storyline, a generous helping of exquisitely conceived characters and laugh-out-loud humor that produce explosive guffaws, not muted chuckles, and you’re in for the usual late-night, don’t-even-think-of-stopping treat when Flowers hits town’ Richmond Times-Dispatch on Deep Freeze

‘An outstanding novel’ Publishers Weekly (starred review) on Escape Clause

‘Perfect entertainment’ Kirkus Reviews on Escape Clause