3 Complete Novels: Rules of Prey / Shadow Prey / Eyes of Prey

by John Sandford

A low-priced omnibus edition collects three suspenseful thrillers--complete and unabridged--from the author's popular Prey series, featuring the engaging and iconoclastic detective, Lucas Davenport.

Genres: Mystery, Thriller, Fiction, Crime, Detective

725 pages, Hardcover

First published November 16, 1995

About the author

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.

Reviews

[Ronald · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Prey series us far and away my favorite series. They always end up in such a tense and fast paced rhythm that you can not put them down. I have enjoyed seeing Lucas progress and change over the years. A man's man and male chauvinist (kinda) who dresses in the best fashion and could kick anyone's ass. Kinda scary himself at times.

[Susan · Rating 4 out of 5]

I discovered this author when one his latest books at the time was being reviewed in my newspaper. I like mysteries that have continuing characters from one book to the next. You know, the Hero or Heroine. I tried to start with the first book in the series and work my through it. Now I've read them all and now wait until the next one comes out. They are all simply wonderful and entertaining. I get so enthralled with the lead character and all his family and friends and co-workers. They all have a part in each story.

John Sanford's PREY books are just wonderful.

[Bobbi · Rating 4 out of 5]

All I can say is WOW!!! I love Lucas Davenport.

[Anita Mott · Rating 4 out of 5]

I've read other later books by Sandford and have always liked Davenport. I certainly don't care for him much in this one. Also, don't think much of the women who put up with his behavior. However, the story is good and interesting.

[Lesly · Rating 4 out of 5]

Gruesome in parts but interesting.

[Lauren · Rating 3 out of 5]

I thought this was a suspenseful book. The murderer was creepy and scary. I liked detective Lucas Davenport who had some unusual job at the the police and also wrote computer games. The clever part, that was also annoying was that the police made so many mistakes, but that's probably more true to life actually. The chase kept me very interested. It was exciting. The bad guy was really believable and the fact that on the outside he looked like a normal successful citizen. No one would have suspected him.
I didn't like the romantic thread that involved the two reporters. Yikes, his girl friend secretly listens to his phone call with the police that he had asked her NOT to listen to, and not only that, she uses it in her TV reporting. When he confronts her, she says "too bad", that's my job, but they continue in the relationship!!! He doesn't get angry but starts feeding info to her competitor and starts sleeping with one of the victims. What a wuss. Yes, she's pregnant, but she got pregnant with him on purpose without telling him! What a dishonest conniving bitch! At the end, he is still in a relationship with her and still is involved other women. I found this so annoying, it kind of took away from the crime they were investigating. I'll read the next and hope it doesn't include so much of his complicated love life.

[Diane · Rating 5 out of 5]

#1 Rules of Prey - I finished reading the 1st Lucas Davenport book on 1/18/18. The title comes from notes/rules the killer/lawyer puts on his victim and the only evidence that it's a serial killing. I didn't appreciate Davenport having 3 women at a time, with one of the pregnant with his child.

#2 Shadow Prey - I finished reading the 2nd book on 3/27/18. This one was the least rated of the 3 books, although I gave each of them a 9. The beginning raping of Indian girls was a bit offset by the political theme of the Indian reservation, but I can see the connection (at a stretch).

#3 Eyes of Prey - I finished reading the 3rd book on 4/30/18. This one caught my attention right away with the husband having someone kill his wife, only to be surprised by an interesting complication. This complication is revealed as an unsuspecting surprise at the very end. The future books in the series will be interesting with Lucas no longer on the Minneapolis/St. Paul Police Dept.

[Nancy · Rating 5 out of 5]

When my husband and I many years ago heard about the prey books, we went all the way back to the first one. We are anal that way. We loved it and have gone back and read all of them so far. We also read all the Virgil Flowers books and the ones featuring Lucas Davenport’s daughter Letty. These characters have become like family and we look forward to new releases.

[Christina Fyke · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good old fashioned murder mystery! Somewhat predictable, and the bad guy is gross, which makes you hate him and that's the point! And big thanks to a sweet talking foxy agent who is on the case, it's a pretty good read.

[Charlie Hayes · Rating 4 out of 5]

I suspect that today's world of political correctness it would be difficult to write this book. Good mystery but dated. I will move on to the next one. Finding something to read to avoid the political noise.

[Kate · Rating 4 out of 5]

John sanford is my go to for escape murder mystery.He has written so many “prey” books, I can always find one.

[Loren Zanetell · Rating 5 out of 5]

Rules of Prey by Standford Great read. Held your attention. Hard to put down

[Janet · Rating 4 out of 5]

good easy read

[Neil McGee · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm hooked, good thing you're provided a large selection to enjoy.

[Adrianna · Rating 4 out of 5]

these were soo good! and the ending of the 3rd book blew my mind lol. thanks aunt jan for buying me the series :)

[Steve Samples · Rating 4 out of 5]

My first Lucas Davenport book. I think I'm gonna like this series.

[Betty Stoneking · Rating 5 out of 5]

it was very good i would read

[Bryan · Rating 4 out of 5]

It is a unique experience to read a mystery-thriller written in 1989. No cell phones, no DVDs, no iPads -- and PCs are still called IBMs. On top of that, video games are developed using mathematics with pen an paper, and persons with physical challenges are called crippled. Having said all that, however, the story still works, with our hero Lucas hot on the trail of what must have seemed to be a bizzare and psychotic killer, in circa 1989. The payoff is somewhat predictable and it seems that the author understands men better than women as he develops their characters, but, still, it's not unsatisfying.

[Pattie Kassube · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received the first three of this series as a Christmas gift from my son. He knows what I like and this is definitely on the list of likes!

Lucas Davenport is good, but flawed enough to be realistic. Fun reading about neighborhoods around Minneapolis. More fun is knowing his get-away is a cabin in WI!!! Easy to read with enough details to create a great movie in my head, and thrilling enough to not put down.

[Martip · Rating 3 out of 5]

To be fair, I find what I term "rape kill" books difficult because of something that happened in my family. The older I get, the less I willingly read or view these types of sorrow. I'll read Sandford again to give him another try, but this book for me is a 2.5 for subject. Writing...engaging, enjoyable, straightforward. He writes in a manner that keeps things moving.

[Barry Bridges · Rating 4 out of 5]

I am going through the Lucas Davenport series in order, reading ebooks from bibliotech. I have always licked Lucas Davenport, picking him up further along in his career. I have to say that he is pretty much a jerk in these early books. Glad he learned his lessons and found Weather to give him focus.

[Emily]

Rules of Prey - I like this one. I like the whole idea and how the murderer has rules he follows. It adds more to the understanding of the mind of the murderer. Definintely would recommend this one.

Shadow Prey - just started. Like it so far.

Eyes of Prey - yet to read

[Garlan ✌ · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed reading these first three novels from the Lucas Davenport series. I gave each book a 4 star rating fro their entertainment and quick pacing. Davenport is a lot more violent than what his later novels show. I'm glad to put this tome down and work on "smaller" books in the future.

[Dirk Struan · Rating 5 out of 5]

The great thing about Sandford's books is that they not only move quickly and efficiently, but reveal undisclosed facts about the world. I have never read a book by him that I didn't like. This author is fantastic; great characters, great stories and much to learn--who could ask for more?

[Larry Leeds · Rating 5 out of 5]

John Sandford has created a wonderful series Lucas Davenport is an ever changing and growing Detective who knows there are certain boundaries that can be slipped across and back again without too much strain on his conscience.

[Karen]

I have read all of these books and find Sandford to be one of the best in this genre.

[Cws]

M San

[Darla Frey · Rating 5 out of 5]

Any of John Sandford's Prey series are fantastic reads. One Minneapolis cop knows how to dig deep to solve the crime.

[Sally · Rating 2 out of 5]

My first John Sanford book read after a friend's recommendation. I find the detective not quite as interesting as Alex Delaware (Jonathan Kellerman) and the violence more graphic.

[Ashley Booth · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm READ ONE OF THE PREY BOOKS A WHILE AGO AND I'm starting to read the rules of prey. So far I really like it. Because it's in mn I can picture the story as I read.