Helpful Score: 1
Great Davenport novel about 5 executives out hunting when one ends up dead. Everyone has a motive but then another dies and Davenport has to figure out who dunit.
Helpful Score: 1
Another enjoyable action read by Sandford.
Helpful Score: 1
Lucas Davenport Series Book #9
After his muscle-stretching sidestep in 1997's The Night Crew, Sandford is back with his ninth Prey novel featuring dapper, dangerous Minneapolis cop Lucas Davenport. Fans of the series will be glad to hear that this is the best installment in years; full of smart suspense and deduction as well as explosive action. Newcomers can plunge in without backstory research; all they need to know is that Davenport and his fellow cops are still nursing the wounds they garnered in Sudden Prey and that a depressed Lucas has gotten dumped by Weather, his girlfriend in that novel, when he is sent to investigate the murder of banking executive Daniel Kresge in a hunting lodge north of Minneapolis. Any of Kresge's four fellow hunters, all employees at his Polaris Bankcould have shot him, and all had motives (as did his "soon-to-be-ex-wife"). We find out about halfway through the book who the real killer is, just a few pages before Lucas does, and that villain is a masterful creation. This is where Sandford's suspense-making skills really kick in, keeping us fascinated as Davenport, revitalized by an affair with a jaunty colleague, tries to turn what we all know into hard evidence.
After his muscle-stretching sidestep in 1997's The Night Crew, Sandford is back with his ninth Prey novel featuring dapper, dangerous Minneapolis cop Lucas Davenport. Fans of the series will be glad to hear that this is the best installment in years; full of smart suspense and deduction as well as explosive action. Newcomers can plunge in without backstory research; all they need to know is that Davenport and his fellow cops are still nursing the wounds they garnered in Sudden Prey and that a depressed Lucas has gotten dumped by Weather, his girlfriend in that novel, when he is sent to investigate the murder of banking executive Daniel Kresge in a hunting lodge north of Minneapolis. Any of Kresge's four fellow hunters, all employees at his Polaris Bankcould have shot him, and all had motives (as did his "soon-to-be-ex-wife"). We find out about halfway through the book who the real killer is, just a few pages before Lucas does, and that villain is a masterful creation. This is where Sandford's suspense-making skills really kick in, keeping us fascinated as Davenport, revitalized by an affair with a jaunty colleague, tries to turn what we all know into hard evidence.
Helpful Score: 1
The best 'Prey' book yet. Well-written, enjoyable to read, intelligent.
Helpful Score: 1
Great Lucas Davenport thriller!
Helpful Score: 1
Maybe I'm not the best one to review this series, haven't read one yet that I don't love - this is no exception. Maybe I didn't hold my breath at the end on this one but it had a funny ending - not typical but fun. Very easy read.
Excellent book. Will continue to read the Prey series.
The company chairman lay on the cold ground of the woods, his eyes unseeing, his orange hunting jacket punctured by a bullet at close range. Around him stood four executives with whom he had been hunting, each with a reason not to be sorry about the man's death. Lucas Davenport investigates but it isn't going to be easy.
I have enjoyed each of the books in this series. It is hard to put them down so if you read them at bedtime you might be up all night.
John Sandford is back with his dapper, dangerous Minneapolis deputy police chief Lucas Davenport for a ninth "preyer" meeting. Fans of the series will be glad to hear that it's full of smart suspense and deduction as well as explosive action. Davenport and his fellow cops are still recovering from the deadly revenge scheme that maimed them in Sudden Prey, which seems to have ended the relationship between Lucas and his doctor lady friend. This accounts for the depression that dogs him as he is sent to investigate the killing of top banking executive Daniel Kresge in a hunting lodge north of Minneapolis. Any of Kresge's four fellow hunters--all employees at his Polaris Bank--could have shot him, and all had motives, as did his almost ex-wife. About halfway through the book we find out who the real killer is, just a few pages before Lucas does, and that villain is a masterful creation, an example of the banality of evil worthy of Hannah Arendt. This is where Sandford's beautifully honed skills at creating suspense really kick in: he keeps us fascinated as Davenport, revitalized by an affair with a jaunty colleague, tries to turn what we all know into hard evidence.
Very good ending.
Another good book in a long series of Lucas Davenport novels. John Sandford is one of my
favorite crime novel/mystery authors out there.
favorite crime novel/mystery authors out there.
Even if you haven't read any other "Prey" novels you will enjoy this book if you like crime novels. The characters are interesting, the plot is interesting. It is a quick and fun read.
Great thriller and murder mystery in a great series.
intelligent, slower paced mystery in the Sandford era
n a series of books all based around the same police officer I would've thought that by now the books would've become extremely repetitive and similar. I would think that every book would follow the same format, with different names and methods of killing. However, thus far I have not been disappointed (outside of a very small number of instances).
This book takes a totally different approach to Lucas Davenport's case files. This book starts out with the investigation of a single murder. Most of the books so far have been about serial killers or multiple homicides. Multiple murders is one way to keep the action level in a book up. This book focuses more on the complex relationships of those close to the victim. The group of people is all top executives at a major bank. The psychology of the characters is what makes this book interesting. We also see Davenport drifting back into depression at the beginning of this book.
When the killer gets revealed and tries to stay innocent-looking a few more murders pop-up. There are also some more murders in the past that come to light and the investigation into those take Davenport into some interesting situations.
The slower pace of this book is definitely refreshing. I think it adds an element to this series that make the series as a whole more credible because it is not trying to sell books on the same old formulae.
This book takes a totally different approach to Lucas Davenport's case files. This book starts out with the investigation of a single murder. Most of the books so far have been about serial killers or multiple homicides. Multiple murders is one way to keep the action level in a book up. This book focuses more on the complex relationships of those close to the victim. The group of people is all top executives at a major bank. The psychology of the characters is what makes this book interesting. We also see Davenport drifting back into depression at the beginning of this book.
When the killer gets revealed and tries to stay innocent-looking a few more murders pop-up. There are also some more murders in the past that come to light and the investigation into those take Davenport into some interesting situations.
The slower pace of this book is definitely refreshing. I think it adds an element to this series that make the series as a whole more credible because it is not trying to sell books on the same old formulae.
excellent...compelling...everything works
serial killer vs cop
John Sanford is one of my favorite authors.
A good story but the use of 'HUH" when it should be hum or ah was a little annoying. As was the foul language.
This book in the Prey series is the one where Sandford really shows his stuff! If you decide to skip any of the series, don't miss this one.
Marlene W. (KansasSunflower) -
The Prey series is great. I have enjoyed all of them.
First (and only) book I have read in the "Prey" series. It was "okay". Author seems to assume you have read previous books in the series, and mentions past happenings that you figure have occurred in other novels. The problem is, he mentions them as though you already KNOW about them, so his detail around them is too thin to seamlessly integrate them into the present story. Other authors do a better job at this, in their series books, where each can stand on its own.
This book had so many characters it was hard to keep track of them, and his character development is only Fair. When he brings back a set of characters toward the end of the book to bring the story to the finale, I was left wondering "who were these people and when did they occur in THIS story?"
This book had so many characters it was hard to keep track of them, and his character development is only Fair. When he brings back a set of characters toward the end of the book to bring the story to the finale, I was left wondering "who were these people and when did they occur in THIS story?"
Sallie M. (oldrockandroll) -
This is book #9 in the Prey Series with Lucas Davenport. Each book gives you more of a peek into who Lucas Davenport is and how he thinks. Each book seems to get better with each story. Some are better than others, but each book is good. Ready for the next one.
I am loving ALL of the Prey series and Secret Prey does not disappoint! Chief Lucas Davenport is on the hunt for a serial killer that is killing, of all things, bank executives. Just when Lucas thinks he's honed in on the guilty party, the unthinkable happens and he has to start from square one. This killer will stop at nothing to achieve the ultimate goal, even if it means killing innocent bystanders along with the targets.
The Prey series just gets better and better!
A Lucas Davenport thriller! Great read.
I love the Prey series of books. They have great characters and great storylines. One of my favorite authors, and favorite series.
This, like nearly all of the "Prey" series, is a fantastic book. Set in the fall in Minnesota, there are lots of reasons this book will make you shiver!
A slight departure from the crazed serial killer plot that's usual in the Prey series. The first half is more like a standard police procedural, but Sandford does veer back into familiar territory later in the book. Protagonist Lucas Davenport is more subdued this time out, and spends more time reacting to events than trying to set them up to his advantage.
Lucas Davenport returns in the most harrowing Prey of all. If he read it in a book Lucas thought it would seem like one of those classic murder mysterys the kind where the detective gathers everyone together at the end and solves it - but it was'nt going to be that easy. Everybody has Secrets. But some of them will get you killed.
"The company chairman lay onthe cold ground of the woods, jis eyes unseeing, his orange hunting jacket punctured by a rifle bullet fired at a close range"
Which one of his co-workers shot
read and find out
Which one of his co-workers shot
read and find out
Another great Prey book
A wealthy banker is dead, shot once in the chest during a hunting trip. There are many reasons for him to be killed, and many people who would do the deed. But who did? Lucas Davenport has an idea. But this "routine" murder investigation is about to turn into something different. A cat-and-mouse game with a killer who does not hesitate to take the fight to Lucas himself. And those he loves....
A wealthy banker is dead, shot once in the chest during a hunting trip. There are many reasons for him to be killed, and many people who would do the deed.
A wealthy banker is shot dead on a company hunting trip. There are many reasons a lot of different people would benefit if he were dead and even more who are satisfied to know he got what was coming to him. Lucan Davenport takes charge of the cat and mouse game to find the killer.
A wealthy banker is dead, shot once in the chest during a hunting trip. There are many reasons for him to be killed, and many people who would do the deed. But who did? Lucas Davenport has an idea. But this "routine" murder investigation is about to turn into something different. A cat-and-mouse game with a killer who does not hesitate to take the fight to Lucas himself. And those he loves...
From back of book:
A wealthy banker is dead, shot...during a hunting trip....Lucas Davenport has an idea of who did it. But this "routine" murder investigation is about to turn into something different--a cat-and-mouse game with a killer who does not hesitate to take the fight to Lucas himself--and those he loves.
A wealthy banker is dead, shot...during a hunting trip....Lucas Davenport has an idea of who did it. But this "routine" murder investigation is about to turn into something different--a cat-and-mouse game with a killer who does not hesitate to take the fight to Lucas himself--and those he loves.
great
