“Crime fiction doesn’t have nearly enough droll master thieves like Kidd and his stunning partner in righteous crime, LuEllen” (Los Angeles Times). Enjoy the adventures of computer genius Kidd and cat burglar LuEllen in the first four novels from the #1 New York Times bestselling author of the Lucas Davenport series.
The Fool’s Run The Empress File The Devil’s Code The Hanged Man’s Song
John Sandford is the pen name of John Roswell Camp, a Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist and bestselling author known for his gripping thrillers and popular crime series. After earning degrees in history, literature, and journalism from the University of Iowa, Camp began his writing career as a reporter, first at The Miami Herald and later at The Saint Paul Pioneer Press, where he earned critical acclaim for in-depth series on Native American communities and American farm life. His work won him the Pulitzer Prize for Feature Writing in 1986. In 1989, Camp transitioned into fiction, publishing two novels: The Fool's Run under his real name and Rules of Prey under the pseudonym John Sandford. The latter launched the long-running “Prey” series, starring Lucas Davenport, a sharp, fearless investigator navigating politically sensitive crimes across Minnesota and beyond. The series grew to include spin-offs and crossovers, notably featuring characters like Virgil Flowers, a laid-back BCA agent with a sharp wit, and Letty Davenport, Lucas's equally determined daughter, who stars in her own series starting in 2022. Sandford’s books have consistently appeared on the New York Times bestseller list, with over two dozen debuting at number one. Known for his dynamic storytelling, fast pacing, and keen attention to detail, Sandford combines his journalistic roots with a gift for character-driven narratives. He remains an avid reader and outdoorsman, and continues to write compelling fiction that resonates with readers who enjoy intelligent thrillers grounded in realism and driven by memorable protagonists.
A friend recommended John Sandford as good crime/thriller and I borrowed the first and last of this series as e-books. The point of difference the series is that the main character/anti-hero is a highly skilled computer hacker who hijacks the computer systems of fraudsters, corrupt corporations and agencies and tracks down murderers and crooks through computer networks, well before the net was anything like as pervasive as it is now and before mobile phones had anything like their current capacities for tracking individual movements. The prose is humdrum, the US society he portrays is corrupt and violent, the sex scenes hold no appeal to this female reader. I started out on a book from a different Sandford series and after about 10 pages thought ‘why am I even thinking of going back into this world I dislike so much’. So I closed it and returned it to the library. Put down to experience.
This might be John Sanford's least popular series, but I really don't know why. In my mind, it's his best. I just went out & bought the 2 that I could find at my bookstore, & I'll get the there as soon as I can, because I know I'll want to re-read them (I already do, & I just finished). Kidd & LuEllen are the best kinds of protagonists- unlike Davenport & Flowers, they're full on anti-heroes. This makes them much more interesting in my book. I just wish he was writing more of these.
I read “The Fool’s Run” Kindle edition and met Kidd, liked him and wanted some more. The second choice, “The Empress File,” wasn’t available at the library in Overdrive, I would have had to put a hold on it and wait for it, but this collection of all four Kidd novels was there to be checked out immediately, so that’s what I did.
It’s a great collection of stories, and I enjoyed it immensely. I‘ve read all of Lucas Davenport and all of Virgil Flowers, and if you’re a John Sandford reader in the same boat, read these books and get to know Kidd; you won’t be disappointed.
The Kidd series-honestly the first time I checked them out of the library, I surprisingly had a hard time getting into it. I put it aside for something else. When I didn't have so much going on (distractions), I revisited the 1st one and thoroughly enjoyed the ride. After finishing the 1st, I immediately read the others back to back. They are definitely books to read more than once.
Wow, I love this author. I can't believe I've come to the end of all his stuff. The Kidd novels are very technical, but still very enjoyable. I get SO TENSE during the break ins! Nice atmosphere, great locations (Mississippi, some on the Delta), good characters. WRITE FASTER, JOHN SANDFORD!