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Lucas Davenport #17
Invisible Prey
In the richest neighborhood of Minneapolis, two elderly women lie murdered in their home, killed with a pipe, the rooms ransacked and only small items stolen. It's clearly a random break-in by someone looking for money to buy drugs. But as he looks more closely, Lucas Davenport with the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension begins to wonder if the items are actually so small or the victims so random, and whether there might not be some invisible agenda at work here.
Gradually, a pattern begins to emerge — and it will lead Davenport to somewhere he never expected. Which is too bad, because the killers — and yes, there are more than one — are expecting him.
Gradually, a pattern begins to emerge — and it will lead Davenport to somewhere he never expected. Which is too bad, because the killers — and yes, there are more than one — are expecting him.
384 pages, Hardcover
First published May 15, 2007
1895 people are currently reading
4852 people want to read
About the author
John Sandford
234 books9,627 followersJohn 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.
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.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 841 reviews
September 27, 2021
Invisible Prey is another enjoyable book in the Lucas Davenport series.
The novel starts with two cases.
One is of an underage young woman who might have had a sexual relationship with a politician and Lucas is called to find out the truth and deal with the repercussions.
The second investigation is about an elderly woman and her maid found at home murdered in a gruesome way. At first, it looks like a simple burglary but soon it looks more like it's an antique robbery with the possibility that other murders might be connected to this case.
Lucas's hands are full. Time is ticking and he needs to solve the mystery before someone else dies.
I have learned to love Lucas and to root for him to catch the bad guys with the exception of Clara Rinker.
It's always great to be able to "see" Lucas working through the investigation, connecting leads, and understanding what makes the killers tick.
Invisible Prey has also a bonus in the form of John Sandford introducing the readers to his other series main character, Virgil Flowers.
I got to say that I'm intrigued about "F**cking Flowers" already.
Cliffhanger: No
4/5 Fangs
MrsLeif's Two Fangs About It | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram
The novel starts with two cases.
One is of an underage young woman who might have had a sexual relationship with a politician and Lucas is called to find out the truth and deal with the repercussions.
The second investigation is about an elderly woman and her maid found at home murdered in a gruesome way. At first, it looks like a simple burglary but soon it looks more like it's an antique robbery with the possibility that other murders might be connected to this case.
Lucas's hands are full. Time is ticking and he needs to solve the mystery before someone else dies.
I have learned to love Lucas and to root for him to catch the bad guys with the exception of Clara Rinker.
It's always great to be able to "see" Lucas working through the investigation, connecting leads, and understanding what makes the killers tick.
Invisible Prey has also a bonus in the form of John Sandford introducing the readers to his other series main character, Virgil Flowers.
I got to say that I'm intrigued about "F**cking Flowers" already.
Cliffhanger: No
4/5 Fangs
MrsLeif's Two Fangs About It | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram
June 25, 2020
With this one, I have now reviewed all 23 of John Sandford’s Prey series. I really feel like I should get a nicely framed certificate or perhaps a medal along with a ceremony commemorating the occasion….Maybe a small gathering with some cake and punch?…. No? Nothing?
Fine, ya bunch of ingrates….
A rich old lady and her housekeeper have been brutally killed in what appears to be a home invasion burglary of the type that small time crooks might pull. However, when there are indications that a few valuable antiques might have gone missing Minnesota state investigator Lucas Davenport thinks that there may be more complex killers hiding their true motives in the mix. As he looks into the murders Lucas also has to deal with the headache of a politically sensitive case involving a state legislator who may or may not have had sex with an underage girl.
This is yet another rock solid thriller from Sandford with all the things fans have come to expect from this series. There’s some offbeat and twisted villains operating with a mixture of greed and blood lust. Davenport has an interesting puzzle to untangle as the bad guys make moves to try and throw him off the scent so it’s another entertaining cat-and-mouse game.
Lucas relies on his supporting cast to help him figure out what’s going on, and there’s an interesting new addition in the form of Virgil Flowers. Virgil is introduced here as another state investigator working for Lucas before Sandford spun him off in his own series, and it’s soon apparent why everyone he deals with starts referring to him as ‘that fuckin’ Flowers’.
Next: Lucas goes goth in Phantom Prey.
Fine, ya bunch of ingrates….
A rich old lady and her housekeeper have been brutally killed in what appears to be a home invasion burglary of the type that small time crooks might pull. However, when there are indications that a few valuable antiques might have gone missing Minnesota state investigator Lucas Davenport thinks that there may be more complex killers hiding their true motives in the mix. As he looks into the murders Lucas also has to deal with the headache of a politically sensitive case involving a state legislator who may or may not have had sex with an underage girl.
This is yet another rock solid thriller from Sandford with all the things fans have come to expect from this series. There’s some offbeat and twisted villains operating with a mixture of greed and blood lust. Davenport has an interesting puzzle to untangle as the bad guys make moves to try and throw him off the scent so it’s another entertaining cat-and-mouse game.
Lucas relies on his supporting cast to help him figure out what’s going on, and there’s an interesting new addition in the form of Virgil Flowers. Virgil is introduced here as another state investigator working for Lucas before Sandford spun him off in his own series, and it’s soon apparent why everyone he deals with starts referring to him as ‘that fuckin’ Flowers’.
Next: Lucas goes goth in Phantom Prey.
October 3, 2018
There are few tasks as straightforwardly simple as naming a literary series, particularly a mystery series. Easiest and most obvious is to name it after the protagonist. If the series is ensemble in nature, then it’s named for the organization for which they work. If the prominent characters interact frequently but do not necessarily work together, then the most common fallback is the area or region in which they operate. But there is one obvious exception to the obvious, and it’s usually staring you in the face: the titles. The late Sue Grafton wrote what was labeled “the alphabet series” because the first word of each title was each successive letter of the alphabet. Similarly, John Sandford’s novels about Lucas Davenport are known as the Prey series because that one word appears in the title of every book. It was an easy concept to make work in the beginning.
Shadow Prey had a villain named Shadow Love. Eyes of Prey featured a villain obsessed with eyes. Winter Prey took place during the harshest winter in memory. But the longer the series continues, the more difficult it becomes to designate titles that fit the novel--particularly as the author’s only focus is on the story and the characters, and the publisher names the books. Over time the titles and the work have had an increasingly more tenuous relationship, and in some cases the titles are so arbitrarily selected that there may not be a connection to be found. Invisible Prey is the first truly appropriate title in quite some time.
Lucas Davenport, as the head of the state agency that handles high-profile cases in Minnesota, is called to a mansion where an extremely rich old woman and her maid were killed in a home invasion. He is also concurrently working another case that is more political in nature. In your traditional novel, further investigation would reveal a connection between the two cases. They do end up intersecting--though not in the past--in a way that Lucas should see. The real motive for the break-in is also quickly surmised but Lucas only sees a part of that too. The villains are standing right in front of him and they are also invisible. And the ensuing moves and countermoves are in plain sight of those that should see them, and they too go unnoticed. Of course none of the above comes to pass because of character incompetence or author’s convenience; Sandford is far too skilled a practitioner. Invisibility--credible invisibility--is a theme that runs throughout the book.
For longtime fans, Invisible Prey is also a gathering of sorts. When Lucas needs information on art he visits Kidd, who was featured in a Sandford series of his own. LuEllen, under her real name, is there with Kidd, their newborn son in hand. To counterpoint the reader's reunion with old friends, this marks the debut of Virgil Flowers, who will soon be launching off into a series of his own with Sandford’s next effort. And even before he steps on stage, multiple times he is referred to as “that F’n Flowers.” While admitting that he displayed quite a few unique traits, I was surprised he did not make more of an impression. The buildup, I suppose. I guess I’ll discover the full experience with Sandford’s next book.
As for this book . . .
Well, I understand some once considered it bad form to quote yourself. I don’t know if the computer age has altered that standard but I figure if I’m going to repeat myself (or re-repeat myself, as you will soon see), I might as well get it right. From my reviews of Hidden Prey and Broken Prey, respectively, where in the former I discussed the consistent quality and with the latter my inability to find new things to say:
Shadow Prey had a villain named Shadow Love. Eyes of Prey featured a villain obsessed with eyes. Winter Prey took place during the harshest winter in memory. But the longer the series continues, the more difficult it becomes to designate titles that fit the novel--particularly as the author’s only focus is on the story and the characters, and the publisher names the books. Over time the titles and the work have had an increasingly more tenuous relationship, and in some cases the titles are so arbitrarily selected that there may not be a connection to be found. Invisible Prey is the first truly appropriate title in quite some time.
Lucas Davenport, as the head of the state agency that handles high-profile cases in Minnesota, is called to a mansion where an extremely rich old woman and her maid were killed in a home invasion. He is also concurrently working another case that is more political in nature. In your traditional novel, further investigation would reveal a connection between the two cases. They do end up intersecting--though not in the past--in a way that Lucas should see. The real motive for the break-in is also quickly surmised but Lucas only sees a part of that too. The villains are standing right in front of him and they are also invisible. And the ensuing moves and countermoves are in plain sight of those that should see them, and they too go unnoticed. Of course none of the above comes to pass because of character incompetence or author’s convenience; Sandford is far too skilled a practitioner. Invisibility--credible invisibility--is a theme that runs throughout the book.
For longtime fans, Invisible Prey is also a gathering of sorts. When Lucas needs information on art he visits Kidd, who was featured in a Sandford series of his own. LuEllen, under her real name, is there with Kidd, their newborn son in hand. To counterpoint the reader's reunion with old friends, this marks the debut of Virgil Flowers, who will soon be launching off into a series of his own with Sandford’s next effort. And even before he steps on stage, multiple times he is referred to as “that F’n Flowers.” While admitting that he displayed quite a few unique traits, I was surprised he did not make more of an impression. The buildup, I suppose. I guess I’ll discover the full experience with Sandford’s next book.
As for this book . . .
Well, I understand some once considered it bad form to quote yourself. I don’t know if the computer age has altered that standard but I figure if I’m going to repeat myself (or re-repeat myself, as you will soon see), I might as well get it right. From my reviews of Hidden Prey and Broken Prey, respectively, where in the former I discussed the consistent quality and with the latter my inability to find new things to say:
I feel safe in stating that Sandford’s just not going to write a bad novel. As soon as I open the cover, it’s a 4-Star book . . . When Sandford delivers the obvious with little tension or a lack of suspense, or he fails to meet the implied promises of the story, that’s when the rating falls to 3 Stars. When it finishes with a sense of excitement or satisfaction, an exclamation point befitting the moves and countermoves that led up to it, 5 Stars are automatic. 4 Stars seem to be the norm.And:
I’m forced to repeat myself: Sandford is a master of the craft. Davenport is fascinating, multi-faceted character. The supporting cast are like old friends. The novel keeps you riveted until the end.In other words, just another gripping 4-Star page-turner from John Sandford.
December 28, 2014
In any long-running series, even one as good as this one surely is, inevitably some books have to be better and some weaker than others, and although I certainly enjoyed reading Invisible Prey, it's not among the best books in John Sandford's Prey series.
In every one of the books, at least thus far, the lead character, Lucas Davenport, and his supporting cast have always been consistently excellent--witty, intelligent, and always a lot of fun to hang out with, even if only vicariously. Given that, these books always tend to rise or fall depending on the quality of the villains involved, and through the years, Sandford has created some truly unique, creepy and compelling bad guys. Unhappily, that's not the case here. The crimes at the heart of the book are fairly pedestrian and the villains are sort of ho-hum, not nearly as capable of engaging the reader or of scaring the living bejeesus out of him or her as is often the case with a Sandford antagonist.
As the book opens, an elderly and very wealthy woman in St. Paul is murdered in her home, along with her maid. The house is chock full of paintings, antiques and other such things, some of which are very valuable and some of which are not. The problem is that there's so much of the stuff that no one knows for sure whether anything valuable is missing. It's possible that some junkie broke in and killed the women, simply looking to score enough loot to finance his next fix, especially since there's a half-way house, filled with offenders, right across the street. Or, of course, there could be something more involved.
As the chief investigator of the Minnesota BCA, Lucas Davenport would not normally be involved in an investigation of this type, but the wealthy victim was politically connected and so the governor puts Lucas on the job. At the same time, Lucas, along with that f***ing Virgil Flowers is involved in the investigation of a state official who may have been having hot, kinky sex with an underage girl. This is a very sensitive investigation politically, and it's a lot more interesting than the murder case.
The plot of the book is somewhat convoluted and involves antiques, quilts, frauds perpetrated against museums, and other such things. The villains are revealed early on and part of the story is told from their point of view. But they aren't all that interesting and they're not all that much fun to watch. The book flags a bit whenever the scene switches away from Davenport to them. Certainly these people don't hold a candle to Clara Rinker or to most of the other Sandford villains.
Again, that's certainly not to say that this is a bad book; it isn't. And even a mediocre book by John Sandford is a lot more fun to read than a lot of other books that one might pick up. I enjoyed the book, but it certainly won't rank among my favorites in the series.
In every one of the books, at least thus far, the lead character, Lucas Davenport, and his supporting cast have always been consistently excellent--witty, intelligent, and always a lot of fun to hang out with, even if only vicariously. Given that, these books always tend to rise or fall depending on the quality of the villains involved, and through the years, Sandford has created some truly unique, creepy and compelling bad guys. Unhappily, that's not the case here. The crimes at the heart of the book are fairly pedestrian and the villains are sort of ho-hum, not nearly as capable of engaging the reader or of scaring the living bejeesus out of him or her as is often the case with a Sandford antagonist.
As the book opens, an elderly and very wealthy woman in St. Paul is murdered in her home, along with her maid. The house is chock full of paintings, antiques and other such things, some of which are very valuable and some of which are not. The problem is that there's so much of the stuff that no one knows for sure whether anything valuable is missing. It's possible that some junkie broke in and killed the women, simply looking to score enough loot to finance his next fix, especially since there's a half-way house, filled with offenders, right across the street. Or, of course, there could be something more involved.
As the chief investigator of the Minnesota BCA, Lucas Davenport would not normally be involved in an investigation of this type, but the wealthy victim was politically connected and so the governor puts Lucas on the job. At the same time, Lucas, along with that f***ing Virgil Flowers is involved in the investigation of a state official who may have been having hot, kinky sex with an underage girl. This is a very sensitive investigation politically, and it's a lot more interesting than the murder case.
The plot of the book is somewhat convoluted and involves antiques, quilts, frauds perpetrated against museums, and other such things. The villains are revealed early on and part of the story is told from their point of view. But they aren't all that interesting and they're not all that much fun to watch. The book flags a bit whenever the scene switches away from Davenport to them. Certainly these people don't hold a candle to Clara Rinker or to most of the other Sandford villains.
Again, that's certainly not to say that this is a bad book; it isn't. And even a mediocre book by John Sandford is a lot more fun to read than a lot of other books that one might pick up. I enjoyed the book, but it certainly won't rank among my favorites in the series.
August 9, 2014
I love “That Fuckin’ Flowers.” He may not be the main show or even a Romeo, but he’s one hilarious bastard. He may need to spend a bit more time at the range, and there’s the distinct possibility he’s more interested in writing and fly fishing than he is detective work, but that just makes him memorable and interesting.
The usual suspects populate INVISIBLE PREY, so if you’re familiar with Lucas Davenport and Weather and Kidd, you’ll feel right at home. But if this is your first rodeo, then I should probably ask you “Where the hell have you been for the past 25 years?” By my calculations there are 24 Davenport novels and 8 Flowers novels, plus you have the Kidd novels, and yeah, I’m probably missing a few along with some screws.
The pace jerked me more than a socket wrench; the bodies stacked up faster than a New York City morgue; there were antiques and robberies and a few dichotomies; and smack dab in the middle stood Lucas Davenport in all of his infinite glory. Was it the best Prey novel I’ve ever read? It’s really hard to say, because I’ve read them in spurts and squirts, but it’s a damn good read if you’re into that sort of thing.
Cross-posted at Robert's Reads
The usual suspects populate INVISIBLE PREY, so if you’re familiar with Lucas Davenport and Weather and Kidd, you’ll feel right at home. But if this is your first rodeo, then I should probably ask you “Where the hell have you been for the past 25 years?” By my calculations there are 24 Davenport novels and 8 Flowers novels, plus you have the Kidd novels, and yeah, I’m probably missing a few along with some screws.
The pace jerked me more than a socket wrench; the bodies stacked up faster than a New York City morgue; there were antiques and robberies and a few dichotomies; and smack dab in the middle stood Lucas Davenport in all of his infinite glory. Was it the best Prey novel I’ve ever read? It’s really hard to say, because I’ve read them in spurts and squirts, but it’s a damn good read if you’re into that sort of thing.
Cross-posted at Robert's Reads
November 30, 2023
4.5 ⭐️ rounded up. Easy and fun read. The rhythm or flow of this story was great. Better than the last couple in the Prey series that I’ve read.
I’ve found that I prefer the Prey books that reveal the killers in the beginning/at the outset. Also, it was nice to be introduced to Virgil Flowers. I can tell that he is going to be a fun character in the Flowers series.
I’ve found that I prefer the Prey books that reveal the killers in the beginning/at the outset. Also, it was nice to be introduced to Virgil Flowers. I can tell that he is going to be a fun character in the Flowers series.
January 5, 2025
4 Stars. Maybe not a top drawer 'Davenport' but darn close! Sandford is such a great writer. Keep an eye open for some subtle highlights. Here's my favourite. In an old St. Paul mansion, where a rich, elderly widow and her companion have been brutally clubbed to death, two police officials are conversing about the difficulties they're encountering. "Smith looked glumly at .. who was peering at the bottom of a silver plant-watering pot, [and said to Lucas Davenport]: 'It'd spread the blame [if we called in the FBI], if we fall on our asses, .. but I want to catch those motherfuckers. Me." Please pardon Sandford's language. The amusement? The two are talking within eyesight of one of the murderers. Lucas is up to his neck in two cases. Mrs. Bucher and Mrs. Peebles referred to above, among others, were involved in collecting antiques including six, 19th century quilts with hidden messages which had been gobbled up by galleries at outrageous prices. He's also trying to pin the goods on State Senator Kline for having sex with an underage girl. It's only when someone tries to kidnap the teenager, Jesse Barth, that connections surface. A great read. (Ja2024)
September 2, 2018
Virgil Flowers is introduced in this book, a big deal since he has a spin-off series of his own. (I've already read the first one & it was great.) Early on, Sandford tried "that fucking Davenport" a couple of times, but it never fit all that well. Virgil is best known as "that fucking Flowers" & it fits to a tee. He didn't have a huge part in this book, but there was enough contrasting with Lucas to introduce him well. While he's an odd-ball like Del, he travels better.
There wasn't much mystery this time. It was a thriller where we get to see Lucas piece together the clues while watching the bad guys trying to get out from under. It was engrossing the whole way with a superb ending. My mother collects antiques & we have a high-end shop nearby that I've browsed a few times, so I found that aspect engaging &, as usual, spot on. That's the best part of Sandford's novels, he gets the details right or right enough that I don't mind the very few sour spots.
As usual, very well narrated again. On to the next! By publication date, I think that should be the first Virgil Flowers novel, Dark of the Moon, which I've already read, so I'm going on to the next Prey book.
There wasn't much mystery this time. It was a thriller where we get to see Lucas piece together the clues while watching the bad guys trying to get out from under. It was engrossing the whole way with a superb ending. My mother collects antiques & we have a high-end shop nearby that I've browsed a few times, so I found that aspect engaging &, as usual, spot on. That's the best part of Sandford's novels, he gets the details right or right enough that I don't mind the very few sour spots.
As usual, very well narrated again. On to the next! By publication date, I think that should be the first Virgil Flowers novel, Dark of the Moon, which I've already read, so I'm going on to the next Prey book.
June 3, 2012
No. 17 in the series down; I'm closing in fast with five more to go! I admit I'm always a bit skeptical of writers who churn out this many books; it's not uncommon to see the quality drop off - sometimes considerably - as they seem to be writing almost by rote (James Patterson comes to mind). But so far, Sanford hasn't fallen into that trap. Although I've enjoyed some better than others, not a single one has been disappointing.
This one, I think, is among his best so far. It centers on the murder of a couple of elderly women and the theft of seemingly small items from their home. Lead character, Minneapolis detective Lucas Davenport, then discovers similar crimes in other places, all involving expensive art and antique quilts that are said to be cursed. Similtaneously, he's working on a case in which a top political figure is suspected of having an illicit (and illegal) affair with an under-age girl. Never the twain shall meet? Maybe, and maybe not. As is his custom, readers are let in on who did the dirty deeds before Davenport does; watching how he figures it out then becomes half the fun.
Interestingly, a familiar name -- Virgil Flowers -- is working that second case and interacts here and there with Davenport; I'm pretty sure this is Flowers' first appearance in a Davenport book before he gets a series all his own (Dark of the Moon, Heat Lightning, Rough Country and Bad Blood). Most of the time he's referred to as "that f***in' Flowers -- establishing a persona that's carried over to "his" books (which, by the way, I've enjoyed even more than the Davenport series, if that's possible).
And speaking of characterizations, Sanford is a pro when it comes to providing a detailed description of each character, particularly as he or she makes an appearance: "She couldn't frown, exactly, because of the Botox injections, but she made a frowning look..." Not that I'd want to because they're interesting and often humorous, but I never skip over these details. That's because it's a sure bet references to some of them will turn up in future mentions of that character (that Botox thing, for instance, takes on more significance several chapters down the road when that character is interviewed by police. How on earth can they determine whether or not she's lying when much of her face is expressionless?
What a concept, I thought - if I were a Texas Holdem player, I'd head straight for a Botox doctor! I'm not, though, so instead I'll head straight for Sanford's next Davenport book.
This one, I think, is among his best so far. It centers on the murder of a couple of elderly women and the theft of seemingly small items from their home. Lead character, Minneapolis detective Lucas Davenport, then discovers similar crimes in other places, all involving expensive art and antique quilts that are said to be cursed. Similtaneously, he's working on a case in which a top political figure is suspected of having an illicit (and illegal) affair with an under-age girl. Never the twain shall meet? Maybe, and maybe not. As is his custom, readers are let in on who did the dirty deeds before Davenport does; watching how he figures it out then becomes half the fun.
Interestingly, a familiar name -- Virgil Flowers -- is working that second case and interacts here and there with Davenport; I'm pretty sure this is Flowers' first appearance in a Davenport book before he gets a series all his own (Dark of the Moon, Heat Lightning, Rough Country and Bad Blood). Most of the time he's referred to as "that f***in' Flowers -- establishing a persona that's carried over to "his" books (which, by the way, I've enjoyed even more than the Davenport series, if that's possible).
And speaking of characterizations, Sanford is a pro when it comes to providing a detailed description of each character, particularly as he or she makes an appearance: "She couldn't frown, exactly, because of the Botox injections, but she made a frowning look..." Not that I'd want to because they're interesting and often humorous, but I never skip over these details. That's because it's a sure bet references to some of them will turn up in future mentions of that character (that Botox thing, for instance, takes on more significance several chapters down the road when that character is interviewed by police. How on earth can they determine whether or not she's lying when much of her face is expressionless?
What a concept, I thought - if I were a Texas Holdem player, I'd head straight for a Botox doctor! I'm not, though, so instead I'll head straight for Sanford's next Davenport book.
April 22, 2015
Not my favorite in the Prey series, still very good.
July 10, 2015
Somehow I missed this one when it was released. Thru the magic of Goodreads, I spotted that this was the only one not read and quickly rectified the situation. The Lucas Davenport series is one of my favorite series of all time and Invisable Prey didn't disappoint!
January 18, 2017
This book wasn't unique in any way for me, although I was entertained. I believe this book had the first introduction to Virgil Flowers, who now has his own book series. That counts for something.
December 2, 2025
2nd reading - An elderly, wealthy St.Paul lady is murdered, along with her live-in maid/helper. Missing - some home items that make it look like a drug related robbery. But - there could be some high end antiques gone.
Thus begins Davenport's journey through a twisted labyrinth of dead bodies and lost treasures.
1st reading - Davenport tale involving art swindles, theft, and murder. Not one of his tighter spun tales, but always enjoy the characters.
Thus begins Davenport's journey through a twisted labyrinth of dead bodies and lost treasures.
1st reading - Davenport tale involving art swindles, theft, and murder. Not one of his tighter spun tales, but always enjoy the characters.
October 25, 2023
I thoroughly enjoyed this 17th book in John Sandford's "Lucas Davenport" series!
February 21, 2018
'Invisible Prey' is the 17th book in the Minnesota state detective Lucas Davenport series. I found this book to have a mellower Lucas, married with a young son. This story integrated a local murder investigation with an unseemly investigation of a Senator having sex with a minor in an election year. Several times, the murder was put on the back burner to free up Lucas for the political investigation.
When a rich elderly woman and her older maid are both bludgeoned to death, Lucas is asked to help with the case. As he looks into it, he comes across some other cases that are similar. With the way his mind works, he is able to fit puzzle pieces together to convince others that the cases are linked. The only problem is finding proof as well as finding the culprits. As is normal in the Prey stories, the reader knows who did it. We see their story running parallel to the police investigation. As the police close in, they devise plans to get away or distract the police. This is where the two plotlines come together. The thieves/murderers are pretty smart, as most are that Lucas comes up against, but he is smarter. Fortunately, Davenport has a free hand to run investigations across police jurisdictions due to his standing with the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension and the Department of Public Safety, and the support of the Governor's office. Once Art, Antiques, Quilts and furniture are identified as things that were either stolen or have a common thread, the chase is on as to whether the culprits will get away or Lucas will solve the case first.
Many of the same characters show up in this story and they are always entertaining. "That F....ing Flowers" who gets his own series later is an eccentric detective. He is often towing his boat behind when he shows up when called. There is a new character, an intern named Sandy, who does a lot of background work for Davenport. She is a bit in awe of him, but begins to develop a backbone as the story progresses. I hope she is in other books. Overall, a good detective story. This is definitely not a police procedural, as they break so many rules in the story, but it is a fun mystery. This fulfills my letter "I" in the ABC read your own books, challenge.
When a rich elderly woman and her older maid are both bludgeoned to death, Lucas is asked to help with the case. As he looks into it, he comes across some other cases that are similar. With the way his mind works, he is able to fit puzzle pieces together to convince others that the cases are linked. The only problem is finding proof as well as finding the culprits. As is normal in the Prey stories, the reader knows who did it. We see their story running parallel to the police investigation. As the police close in, they devise plans to get away or distract the police. This is where the two plotlines come together. The thieves/murderers are pretty smart, as most are that Lucas comes up against, but he is smarter. Fortunately, Davenport has a free hand to run investigations across police jurisdictions due to his standing with the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension and the Department of Public Safety, and the support of the Governor's office. Once Art, Antiques, Quilts and furniture are identified as things that were either stolen or have a common thread, the chase is on as to whether the culprits will get away or Lucas will solve the case first.
Many of the same characters show up in this story and they are always entertaining. "That F....ing Flowers" who gets his own series later is an eccentric detective. He is often towing his boat behind when he shows up when called. There is a new character, an intern named Sandy, who does a lot of background work for Davenport. She is a bit in awe of him, but begins to develop a backbone as the story progresses. I hope she is in other books. Overall, a good detective story. This is definitely not a police procedural, as they break so many rules in the story, but it is a fun mystery. This fulfills my letter "I" in the ABC read your own books, challenge.
January 31, 2008
Lucas Davenport, special agent for Minnesota’s Bureau of Criminal Apprehension, is trying to deal with the sensitive investigation of a local politician who has been accused of having a sexual relationship with a minor when his boss calls him in on another case that occurred in one of St. Paul’s richest neighborhoods. Two elderly women have been found bludgeoned to death in a home filled with antiques. Although robbery is the suspected motive, not much has been taken, so Lucas asks his intern, Sandy, to cross-match crimes of a like nature. What she discovers takes Lucas back to a cold case and has him researching the antiquities venue as he follows a twisting investigation that leads him away from the killers.
Although this is not the best in the Prey series, it is a good read. The two plots at times seemed to compete with one another, which made the read seem somewhat convoluted. Sandford is strong with characterization and the addition of Sandy, the intern, was a bonus, along with Detective Flowers, both of whom this reader hopes to see in future books. Sandford’s tendency to drop designer names grows tiring at times (can’t someone just once wear a simple shirt and pants?). One major disappointment for this reader is Davenport’s laid-back mellowness compared to the earlier books, where he was sharper, with a dangerous edge.
Although this is not the best in the Prey series, it is a good read. The two plots at times seemed to compete with one another, which made the read seem somewhat convoluted. Sandford is strong with characterization and the addition of Sandy, the intern, was a bonus, along with Detective Flowers, both of whom this reader hopes to see in future books. Sandford’s tendency to drop designer names grows tiring at times (can’t someone just once wear a simple shirt and pants?). One major disappointment for this reader is Davenport’s laid-back mellowness compared to the earlier books, where he was sharper, with a dangerous edge.
September 29, 2019
How are these goddamn books so good? A quick scan of the covers will impress no one, but inside lies so much literary bliss. This one’s about Davenport investigating a seemingly random and run-of-the-mill murder of an old rich lady and her maid. It’s hardly a spoiler to say that things are not what they seem and this one boasted a great duo in the antagonists.
February 5, 2013
I found this prey novel tight and well written.
January 7, 2019
At first I was a bit lost with all of the law enforcement characters and agencies involved but the cob webs cleared. As always, well written with an excellent plot!
October 7, 2020
Very disappointed in this Prey Book. The plot and characters seemed to go around in circles. It was well written and the plot was good, just not what I expected.
May 4, 2015
Seventeenth in the Lucas Davenport series and revolving around a maverick detective determined on justice no matter how or who. It's based in Minneapolis.
My Take
Lucas Davenport is an interesting character. Definitely a complex one. I recently read that Sandford thought of him as a kind of sociopath but that Lucas has mellowed out since. And there is a line early on in the story that makes me think that Sandford is too right. I also suspect it's part of what makes him such a good cop.
The forensic investigation into this initial murder is fascinating. It was quite clever of the thieves to camouflage it as they did. They just didn't reckon with the very bright Ronnie, the more practical-minded Weather, or the granddaughter who thinks outside the box and gives Lucas a hard time. She also puts the pieces in play.
One of the things I love about the Lucas Davenport stories is how real it is. The cops laugh and joke around about the criminals and each other. They rail about the media and the politicians…and their fellow cops. It's too weird reading about the defending lawyers chatting and socializing with Lucas, making plans for dinner or a benefit together, and then the lawyer gets tough to defend his client. It's fascinating how they can keep their jobs from interfering with a friendship. Acquaintanceship??
The witnesses and criminals are real as well. Ronnie's mom keeps talking about how they all say to get a lawyer, and I can "hear" someone saying that. Heck, I could hear me saying that! Meanwhile, Smith thinks about how eager he is to get Ronnie alone so "he'd be able to sweat Ronnie without a lawyer…"
Oh, boy. You'd think politicians would have learned to keep it in their pants by now. Instead, they're always thinking they're the ones who won't get caught. Then there's the other side of the coin. Momma is more anxious to know how much money she can get and thought the cops would help her put the screws to him. I do have to laugh at her. She started it all off, pimping out her daughter, greedy for money, and then all the hurt that rains down on her.
Jesus, you read the murderers' thoughts about each other. How willing they are to betray each other. It's so casual, like ticking off an item on a list.
Huh, interesting antiquity scam that gets explained here. Sandford did a nice job on it. No info dump!
Lol, it's another good Sandford. It amazes me how wide-ranging his scenarios are, from female assassins to Indian activists to quilt art scams to all those serial killers.
The Story
It's blackmail gone wrong in one case while another set of criminals is indulging all their tastes.
The Characters
Lucas Davenport is a hard cop with a love for fast cars, Italian suits, French ties, and English shoes — he subscribes to serious men's fashion magazines! He's head of BCA's Office of Regional Research, a troubleshooter for the governor. Dr. Weather Karkinnen is his wife and a plastic and microsurgeon. Sam is their baby son. Letty West — she's 15 now — is the ward they took on in Naked Prey , 14. Ellen is their housekeeper.
The Office of Regional Research at the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension (BCA) is…
…under the purview of Rose Marie Roux, the former Minneapolis chief of police and the current director for the Department of Public Safety. Lucas works under her. Del Capslock is another cop who transferred over with Lucas. He's got the funniest T-shirts. I wanna know where he gets 'em! Carol is Lucas' Machiavellian secretary. Sandy is an eager intern. Jenkins and Shrake are some of their agents along with Virgil f**king Flowers who has a side career going as a writer.
McMahon is a BCA investigator. Jerrold/Jerrod from the Highway Patrol gets borrowed to fly the chopper.
Governor Elmer Henderson wants Lucas and crew to keep him looking good. Neil Mitford is the governor's hatchet man. Jack Wentz is the idiot Ramsay County attorney.
The Minneapolis PD
Sloan is Lucas' best friend, a retired cop, and now the proprietor of a bar, Shooters, for cops and schoolteachers.
St. Paul PD
Harrington is the chief of police. Lieutenant John T. Smith is in charge of investigating the first murder. Ted is one of the medical examiner investigators. Officer Clark Wain and Detective Sy Schuber are part of the initial crime scene investigation. Andy Landis is the SWAT squad commander. Jerry Wilson is investigating the second murder. Jason is involved with Screw's case.
Dakota County
Jim Cole is the county's Republican county attorney. Susan Conoway is assigned to the Barths.
Chippewa County Sheriff's Office
Carl Frazier worked the Donaldson murder.
Jackson County
Larry White has his own problems with a dead girl and a possible suspect in Floyd.
Ruffe Ignace is a rather nasty journalist for the Star-Tribune ( Broken Prey , 16) who has a relationship with Lucas.
Karen Palm owns the café. Dan Westchester runs a halfway house. Kidd is a successful artist Lucas called on in Chosen Prey , 12, and he's got a new baby with Lauren. Archie Carton is a vice president at Sotheby's. Alice Schirmer is the folk art curator at the Walker. Tricia Bundt is the woman who handled the Armstrong quilt donation. James Wilson was the folk art specialist at the time of the donation. Cannon Associates seems to have been one of the donors; Barbra Cannon was part of it. Billie Walker was the Amon Carter Museum's curator. Porfiro Quique Ramírez is an illegal immigrant doing lawn maintenance.
Ted Marsalis has sources at Wells Fargo.
Senator Burt Kline is a politician with a very nasty hobby. Burt Jr. is his porky heir. Kathy Barth is the greedy momma; Jesse is the now-sixteen-year-old daughter. James is their lawyer. Kelly McGuire and Mike Sochich are Jesse's best friends. Screw is Mike's protective dog.
The victims
Mrs. Sugar-Rayette Peebles works for Mrs. Constance Bucher in Oak Walk. Ronnie Lash is Mrs. Peebles' nephew, and Aunt Sugar watched him after school until his nurse mom got off work. Weldon Godfrey is a jerk and a neighbor of Ronnie's. Carol Ann Barker is Mrs. Bucher's niece.
Marilyn Coombs remembers another acquaintance, Claire Donaldson. Lucy Coombs is Marilyn's daughter, and Gabriella Coombs is Marilyn's granddaughter. Gabriella thought an artist, Ron Stack, was a potential boyfriend.
Claire's sister is Margaret Booth and her husband is Landford. Amity Anderson was Claire's secretary, and now she's working for a foundation. Don Harvey was a boyfriend. Jacob Toms was on a lot of boards including that of the art museum. Duane Child is the man serving time for Toms' death.
Kathy is Mrs. Bucher's neighbor and Lucas characterizes her as a "vicious political wolverine". Shelley Miller is another neighbor. Leslie and Jane Little Widdler are antique experts with a shop; they're called on by the police to help in the valuations. Carmody and Loan (Melody Loan) are their biggest competition.
Big and Little are the murdering thieves. Fleckstein is their go-between for stolen jewels. Nathan Brown is a small-time guy. Joe Wyzinsky is a criminal lawyer recommended by Laymon Haycraft. Annabelle Ramford does a lot of pro bono work for the homeless.
The Cover and Title
The cover is lurid with its night sky and the overarching trees shading the neon red road curving off into the distance.
The title, Invisible Prey, could go two ways: unexpected perpetrators who might have escaped or their prey, the seemingly unconnected victims.
My Take
Lucas Davenport is an interesting character. Definitely a complex one. I recently read that Sandford thought of him as a kind of sociopath but that Lucas has mellowed out since. And there is a line early on in the story that makes me think that Sandford is too right. I also suspect it's part of what makes him such a good cop.
"…he'd be pleased to chase down whoever had done it.I love that Lucas and the rest of the cops start out thinking that Ronnie is obviously a person of interest until Ronnie shows up. He turns that stereotype right on its head, lol, and Smith wants to turn Ronnie into a cop. Okay, okay, that part of it is funny, but what was done to his aunt and her employer is really nasty.
He didn't have a mission; he had an interest."
The forensic investigation into this initial murder is fascinating. It was quite clever of the thieves to camouflage it as they did. They just didn't reckon with the very bright Ronnie, the more practical-minded Weather, or the granddaughter who thinks outside the box and gives Lucas a hard time. She also puts the pieces in play.
One of the things I love about the Lucas Davenport stories is how real it is. The cops laugh and joke around about the criminals and each other. They rail about the media and the politicians…and their fellow cops. It's too weird reading about the defending lawyers chatting and socializing with Lucas, making plans for dinner or a benefit together, and then the lawyer gets tough to defend his client. It's fascinating how they can keep their jobs from interfering with a friendship. Acquaintanceship??
The witnesses and criminals are real as well. Ronnie's mom keeps talking about how they all say to get a lawyer, and I can "hear" someone saying that. Heck, I could hear me saying that! Meanwhile, Smith thinks about how eager he is to get Ronnie alone so "he'd be able to sweat Ronnie without a lawyer…"
"'Jesus had no problem with a good time,' Ronnie said.The Widdlers crack me up and horrify me. Jane is so anxious to appear sophisticated and classy while Leslie runs around in his bow ties.
'He turned water into wine, not the other way around.'"
Oh, boy. You'd think politicians would have learned to keep it in their pants by now. Instead, they're always thinking they're the ones who won't get caught. Then there's the other side of the coin. Momma is more anxious to know how much money she can get and thought the cops would help her put the screws to him. I do have to laugh at her. She started it all off, pimping out her daughter, greedy for money, and then all the hurt that rains down on her.
Jesus, you read the murderers' thoughts about each other. How willing they are to betray each other. It's so casual, like ticking off an item on a list.
Huh, interesting antiquity scam that gets explained here. Sandford did a nice job on it. No info dump!
Lol, it's another good Sandford. It amazes me how wide-ranging his scenarios are, from female assassins to Indian activists to quilt art scams to all those serial killers.
The Story
It's blackmail gone wrong in one case while another set of criminals is indulging all their tastes.
The Characters
Lucas Davenport is a hard cop with a love for fast cars, Italian suits, French ties, and English shoes — he subscribes to serious men's fashion magazines! He's head of BCA's Office of Regional Research, a troubleshooter for the governor. Dr. Weather Karkinnen is his wife and a plastic and microsurgeon. Sam is their baby son. Letty West — she's 15 now — is the ward they took on in Naked Prey , 14. Ellen is their housekeeper.
The Office of Regional Research at the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension (BCA) is…
…under the purview of Rose Marie Roux, the former Minneapolis chief of police and the current director for the Department of Public Safety. Lucas works under her. Del Capslock is another cop who transferred over with Lucas. He's got the funniest T-shirts. I wanna know where he gets 'em! Carol is Lucas' Machiavellian secretary. Sandy is an eager intern. Jenkins and Shrake are some of their agents along with Virgil f**king Flowers who has a side career going as a writer.
McMahon is a BCA investigator. Jerrold/Jerrod from the Highway Patrol gets borrowed to fly the chopper.
Governor Elmer Henderson wants Lucas and crew to keep him looking good. Neil Mitford is the governor's hatchet man. Jack Wentz is the idiot Ramsay County attorney.
The Minneapolis PD
Sloan is Lucas' best friend, a retired cop, and now the proprietor of a bar, Shooters, for cops and schoolteachers.
St. Paul PD
Harrington is the chief of police. Lieutenant John T. Smith is in charge of investigating the first murder. Ted is one of the medical examiner investigators. Officer Clark Wain and Detective Sy Schuber are part of the initial crime scene investigation. Andy Landis is the SWAT squad commander. Jerry Wilson is investigating the second murder. Jason is involved with Screw's case.
Dakota County
Jim Cole is the county's Republican county attorney. Susan Conoway is assigned to the Barths.
Chippewa County Sheriff's Office
Carl Frazier worked the Donaldson murder.
Jackson County
Larry White has his own problems with a dead girl and a possible suspect in Floyd.
Ruffe Ignace is a rather nasty journalist for the Star-Tribune ( Broken Prey , 16) who has a relationship with Lucas.
Karen Palm owns the café. Dan Westchester runs a halfway house. Kidd is a successful artist Lucas called on in Chosen Prey , 12, and he's got a new baby with Lauren. Archie Carton is a vice president at Sotheby's. Alice Schirmer is the folk art curator at the Walker. Tricia Bundt is the woman who handled the Armstrong quilt donation. James Wilson was the folk art specialist at the time of the donation. Cannon Associates seems to have been one of the donors; Barbra Cannon was part of it. Billie Walker was the Amon Carter Museum's curator. Porfiro Quique Ramírez is an illegal immigrant doing lawn maintenance.
Ted Marsalis has sources at Wells Fargo.
Senator Burt Kline is a politician with a very nasty hobby. Burt Jr. is his porky heir. Kathy Barth is the greedy momma; Jesse is the now-sixteen-year-old daughter. James is their lawyer. Kelly McGuire and Mike Sochich are Jesse's best friends. Screw is Mike's protective dog.
The victims
Mrs. Sugar-Rayette Peebles works for Mrs. Constance Bucher in Oak Walk. Ronnie Lash is Mrs. Peebles' nephew, and Aunt Sugar watched him after school until his nurse mom got off work. Weldon Godfrey is a jerk and a neighbor of Ronnie's. Carol Ann Barker is Mrs. Bucher's niece.
Marilyn Coombs remembers another acquaintance, Claire Donaldson. Lucy Coombs is Marilyn's daughter, and Gabriella Coombs is Marilyn's granddaughter. Gabriella thought an artist, Ron Stack, was a potential boyfriend.
Claire's sister is Margaret Booth and her husband is Landford. Amity Anderson was Claire's secretary, and now she's working for a foundation. Don Harvey was a boyfriend. Jacob Toms was on a lot of boards including that of the art museum. Duane Child is the man serving time for Toms' death.
Kathy is Mrs. Bucher's neighbor and Lucas characterizes her as a "vicious political wolverine". Shelley Miller is another neighbor. Leslie and Jane Little Widdler are antique experts with a shop; they're called on by the police to help in the valuations. Carmody and Loan (Melody Loan) are their biggest competition.
Big and Little are the murdering thieves. Fleckstein is their go-between for stolen jewels. Nathan Brown is a small-time guy. Joe Wyzinsky is a criminal lawyer recommended by Laymon Haycraft. Annabelle Ramford does a lot of pro bono work for the homeless.
The Cover and Title
The cover is lurid with its night sky and the overarching trees shading the neon red road curving off into the distance.
The title, Invisible Prey, could go two ways: unexpected perpetrators who might have escaped or their prey, the seemingly unconnected victims.
December 21, 2016
'Invisible Prey' is the 17th book in the Minnesota state detective Lucas Davenport series. It allows us a small peek at the intersection of how the crime occurs, and how politics and multiple police departments define the applied tactics and resources of the investigation of the crime, and how the identity of the victim determines whether police are thorough or superficial in their interest of solving a case. Old people who are poor and alone are just below the crimes of the underclass in where they rate for anyone caring about their deaths, except during free and democratic elections. A little above these two groups are old people who have very few friends or family although they are middle-class, and the death looks typical for an old person even if there are suspicious circumstances; i.e., fell and hit head or broke neck, or a house fire, or a car accident, along with the usual incidents of heart attacks or strokes. A rich, possibly murdered, old dead person who pledged thousands of dollars to political campaigns will have the entire police force of a city looking for the murderer.
Fortunately, Davenport has a free hand to run investigations across police jurisdictions since he has the authority of the Bureau of Criminal Apprehension and the Department of Public Safety, and the Governor's office. When it is learned old people, sometimes of the lower middle-class, are being murdered in several different counties, and every one of these elderly victims appear to collect antiques and quilts, Davenport's multi-jurisdictional powers come in handy, but at first, before they understand how there is more to the case, they begin by investigating one murder of one rich elderly person who is politically connected.
Davenport's team is also being publicly hard-pressed by a clamoring press and various politicos because of a simultaneous ongoing situation involving Minnesota Democrat state senator Burt Kline, accused of statutory rape of a 16-year-old girl. The situation is muddied further because Kline is claiming he dated the girl's mother, who is now, perhaps, claiming rape of her daughter in revenge of his breaking up with her. Despite the noise of the chattering classes, and perhaps a vengeful mother, Kline needs to be indicted in a manner that minimizes the political damage to the Democrat Party. Only Davenport has the pull and diplomacy to deal with both ends of this political mess, as well as find any supporting evidence for either story.
Of course, reading a somewhat glamoured story based on actual cases straight out of real headlines, is soon to be entirely a pure fantasy read in a Trump 'democracy' which plans to gut America's free press and institutions.
I can't really condemn the Davenport series' stories of intertwined political/police investigative realities of democratic societies, which as a rule, have to balance and prioritize taxpayer-supported public resources and the manipulated perceptions of a voting public through ad-supported or taxpayer-supported media, which trumpet holding people accountable, even if the supposed responsible people have no or limited responsibility or means to accomplish anything sometimes. It is the best democracies can do, even though lately for the most part, with the current policies of gutting government agencies of experienced employees and cutting out taxes for everyone with million-dollar incomes and above has basically tied up and slowed down gutted police departments and government agencies. Up to now, honest and earnest public citizens responsible for governance and protection of society outnumbered the bad guys.
The alternative to a democratic society is a police state with a command economy (once known as the way a Communist government operated, such as, for example, demanding that a business produce only what the President says to produce and how much and where they must build their products, and who a business can fire and hire; i.e. Carrier, while ignoring the other six HVAC manufacturers - for now); and having only a government-controlled media, which strictly allows only the publishing of state-controlled opinions and announcements appropriate to the dignity of a rigged-election President, with Presidential promises to his supporters of filling prisons with political opponents and non-whites who dare stand against his Presidency, unless he nuisance-sues them into poverty or obedience or committing suicide from fear and intimidation.
I guess now that Trump is President, we Americans had better get used to the ways of ex-communist or brutal military dictatorships who run countries only for the top leaders' own financial benefit and who increase their own wealth without following or allowing actual Constitutional law and order. CSPAN should carefully study the Chinese, Russian, and in particular the North Korean, State TV productions in order to help Congress begin to capture the clean realityshow perfection of orchestrated clapping and synchronized standing of 'elected' (gerrymandered) officials when Trump is present, and to otherwise produce government shows which look more like the recorded laughtrack sitcoms with which we American anesthetize ourselves.
It appears a fake-fronted ex-democracy run by Republican business-oligarch resource-rapists, with, perhaps, backing by 'democratic' military generals and elected Democrats acquiescing to threats of stripped offices of power, isn't much harder to control than actual declared upfront dictatorships. A cowed stupified journalist class apparently is among the first steps to defeating true democracy, at least as demonstrated by America's current history, followed up by cowed quieted greedy rich people, particularly from the Silicon Valley, and the other sectors, either scared of losing their money or having been promised unencumbered access to billions more soon without penalty. It helps that regular citizens are easily led into distractions by induced class, religious and ethnic hatreds from planted false news and infrastructural segregation, and by reducing access to higher education and health care, along with changing education high school curriculums to teaching, for example, that a god created the earth in six days as a scientific fact, and killing all financial support for any disturbing teachings, such as actual science or higher math or history or civics classes. I expect next that the TV and video outlets will have more anodyne scary paranoid shows about enemies from outside and inside our borders secretly working and conspiring to undermine our beloved leaders-for-life, Trump and his family be praised, along with new family sitcoms with fun evangelical Christian-approved nuclear families of a male dad/female mom and eight kids, the new normal expected of the proletariat.
I wonder if free Libraries will follow newspapers into the dustbin of historical artifacts?
Fortunately, Davenport has a free hand to run investigations across police jurisdictions since he has the authority of the Bureau of Criminal Apprehension and the Department of Public Safety, and the Governor's office. When it is learned old people, sometimes of the lower middle-class, are being murdered in several different counties, and every one of these elderly victims appear to collect antiques and quilts, Davenport's multi-jurisdictional powers come in handy, but at first, before they understand how there is more to the case, they begin by investigating one murder of one rich elderly person who is politically connected.
Davenport's team is also being publicly hard-pressed by a clamoring press and various politicos because of a simultaneous ongoing situation involving Minnesota Democrat state senator Burt Kline, accused of statutory rape of a 16-year-old girl. The situation is muddied further because Kline is claiming he dated the girl's mother, who is now, perhaps, claiming rape of her daughter in revenge of his breaking up with her. Despite the noise of the chattering classes, and perhaps a vengeful mother, Kline needs to be indicted in a manner that minimizes the political damage to the Democrat Party. Only Davenport has the pull and diplomacy to deal with both ends of this political mess, as well as find any supporting evidence for either story.
Of course, reading a somewhat glamoured story based on actual cases straight out of real headlines, is soon to be entirely a pure fantasy read in a Trump 'democracy' which plans to gut America's free press and institutions.
I can't really condemn the Davenport series' stories of intertwined political/police investigative realities of democratic societies, which as a rule, have to balance and prioritize taxpayer-supported public resources and the manipulated perceptions of a voting public through ad-supported or taxpayer-supported media, which trumpet holding people accountable, even if the supposed responsible people have no or limited responsibility or means to accomplish anything sometimes. It is the best democracies can do, even though lately for the most part, with the current policies of gutting government agencies of experienced employees and cutting out taxes for everyone with million-dollar incomes and above has basically tied up and slowed down gutted police departments and government agencies. Up to now, honest and earnest public citizens responsible for governance and protection of society outnumbered the bad guys.
The alternative to a democratic society is a police state with a command economy (once known as the way a Communist government operated, such as, for example, demanding that a business produce only what the President says to produce and how much and where they must build their products, and who a business can fire and hire; i.e. Carrier, while ignoring the other six HVAC manufacturers - for now); and having only a government-controlled media, which strictly allows only the publishing of state-controlled opinions and announcements appropriate to the dignity of a rigged-election President, with Presidential promises to his supporters of filling prisons with political opponents and non-whites who dare stand against his Presidency, unless he nuisance-sues them into poverty or obedience or committing suicide from fear and intimidation.
I guess now that Trump is President, we Americans had better get used to the ways of ex-communist or brutal military dictatorships who run countries only for the top leaders' own financial benefit and who increase their own wealth without following or allowing actual Constitutional law and order. CSPAN should carefully study the Chinese, Russian, and in particular the North Korean, State TV productions in order to help Congress begin to capture the clean realityshow perfection of orchestrated clapping and synchronized standing of 'elected' (gerrymandered) officials when Trump is present, and to otherwise produce government shows which look more like the recorded laughtrack sitcoms with which we American anesthetize ourselves.
It appears a fake-fronted ex-democracy run by Republican business-oligarch resource-rapists, with, perhaps, backing by 'democratic' military generals and elected Democrats acquiescing to threats of stripped offices of power, isn't much harder to control than actual declared upfront dictatorships. A cowed stupified journalist class apparently is among the first steps to defeating true democracy, at least as demonstrated by America's current history, followed up by cowed quieted greedy rich people, particularly from the Silicon Valley, and the other sectors, either scared of losing their money or having been promised unencumbered access to billions more soon without penalty. It helps that regular citizens are easily led into distractions by induced class, religious and ethnic hatreds from planted false news and infrastructural segregation, and by reducing access to higher education and health care, along with changing education high school curriculums to teaching, for example, that a god created the earth in six days as a scientific fact, and killing all financial support for any disturbing teachings, such as actual science or higher math or history or civics classes. I expect next that the TV and video outlets will have more anodyne scary paranoid shows about enemies from outside and inside our borders secretly working and conspiring to undermine our beloved leaders-for-life, Trump and his family be praised, along with new family sitcoms with fun evangelical Christian-approved nuclear families of a male dad/female mom and eight kids, the new normal expected of the proletariat.
I wonder if free Libraries will follow newspapers into the dustbin of historical artifacts?
May 4, 2025
I was going to go 3.5, but I decided I have to go 4 as this one has all the classic hallmarks and many of the characters that make the Prey/Flowers books so good. First off, this book marks the first appearance of Virgil Flowers, a long haired, super mellow but whip smart and unorthodox detective. I actually prefer Flowers to Lucas. We got Shrake and Jenkins and their fantastic dialogue.
On the other hand, Lucas himself is pretty bland in this one, and the killer isnt among Sandford’s best. Nonetheless, it’s a very well paced and entertaining read. Sandford is a true master at what he does in this genre, and while he may not be fancy, he is almost always very effective.
On the other hand, Lucas himself is pretty bland in this one, and the killer isnt among Sandford’s best. Nonetheless, it’s a very well paced and entertaining read. Sandford is a true master at what he does in this genre, and while he may not be fancy, he is almost always very effective.
August 31, 2024
I listened to this one and love Richard Ferrone. He makes all of the characters come to life for me.
There is a murder that Lucas is called to because it is that of a very rich woman. It does not appear to be a robbery that they can see, but there are some things that are missing that a young boy calls to their attention. The hunt is on to find a killer and he enlists a lot of different people in this one. An intern, Del, and the introduction of Virgil Flowers.
There was also a side story about a political figure that had sex with an under age female. This is mentioned a couple of times and how they dealt with this as well.
I am giving this 5 out of 5 stars. Love Lucas Davenport.
There is a murder that Lucas is called to because it is that of a very rich woman. It does not appear to be a robbery that they can see, but there are some things that are missing that a young boy calls to their attention. The hunt is on to find a killer and he enlists a lot of different people in this one. An intern, Del, and the introduction of Virgil Flowers.
There was also a side story about a political figure that had sex with an under age female. This is mentioned a couple of times and how they dealt with this as well.
I am giving this 5 out of 5 stars. Love Lucas Davenport.
December 13, 2024
Another great read from the Prey series, narrated by the voice of Lucas Davenport (to me, at least) Richard Ferrone.
I read Sandford's Virgil Flowers series before this one, and liked it a lot. At first, I didn't take to Lucas Davenport, but at this point, I believe I like his series better than that damn Flowers. Which is a good thing, since there are a lot more of this one. Virgil made an appearance in this story, but he didn't particularly shine.
I won't go into a summary of the story, as that's easy to get from better sources. I'll just say if you like this series, you'll probably like this one. And if you don't like the series, why not?
I read Sandford's Virgil Flowers series before this one, and liked it a lot. At first, I didn't take to Lucas Davenport, but at this point, I believe I like his series better than that damn Flowers. Which is a good thing, since there are a lot more of this one. Virgil made an appearance in this story, but he didn't particularly shine.
I won't go into a summary of the story, as that's easy to get from better sources. I'll just say if you like this series, you'll probably like this one. And if you don't like the series, why not?
May 31, 2008
I’ve probably read all of the “Prey” books that Sanford wrote. There are a lot of them. But I’ve found Sandford to be an uneven writer. Sometimes his stuff is close to brilliant. Sometimes, well, you get the impression that deadlines were looming and he just had to bash the thing together and get it out the door. Also, he has a habit of writing in really brief chunks -- kind of like “mini chapters” -- and although there’s nothing inherently wrong with that technique, I find it annoys me from time to time. But never mind. I’m digressing.
This book, “Invisible Prey,” is one of his better books. Sandford’s a master at police procedurals, but when he’s in top form he’s great on character as well, particularly with his protagonist, Lucas Davenport. This story, like many of his stories, is tough and gritty, and if profanity in fiction offends you, stay away. The story involves murder among people who seem linked by their enthusiasm for and collections of antiques. But there are twists, and I suspect you’ll enjoy most of them in this book.
Bottom line? Classic Sandford. It won’t be an especially memorable read, but it’s a fast read, hard to put down, and perfect for sitting outside on your patio with a cup of coffee or a glass of wine. I say go for it.
This book, “Invisible Prey,” is one of his better books. Sandford’s a master at police procedurals, but when he’s in top form he’s great on character as well, particularly with his protagonist, Lucas Davenport. This story, like many of his stories, is tough and gritty, and if profanity in fiction offends you, stay away. The story involves murder among people who seem linked by their enthusiasm for and collections of antiques. But there are twists, and I suspect you’ll enjoy most of them in this book.
Bottom line? Classic Sandford. It won’t be an especially memorable read, but it’s a fast read, hard to put down, and perfect for sitting outside on your patio with a cup of coffee or a glass of wine. I say go for it.
August 17, 2018
A realistic, non-memorable crime event in this series.
The good: I am getting used to Sandford's anti-Republican attacks since he tosses some softballs at Democrats. Also, Sandford continues with his strength,which is his character creations.
The good: I am getting used to Sandford's anti-Republican attacks since he tosses some softballs at Democrats. Also, Sandford continues with his strength,which is his character creations.
December 1, 2019
Someone is killing elderly, wealthy art collectors. At the same time a state senator is accused of having sex with an underage girl. Lucas Davenport is assigned by the governor to clear both cases without political blowback. A fast, action packed story.
September 12, 2018
I enjoyed this mystery/suspense story so much, I am going to have to read other books by the author.
June 25, 2020
After the Grand Guignol and Thomas Harris-esque goings-on of Broken Prey, Sandford delightfully proves his range by giving us "Lucas Davenport meets the cozy mystery." We have a string of suspicious deaths tied to the theft of valuable but low-key--and often uninsured and, thus, unlisted--antiques, and Lucas is aided in his understanding of the case by some quirkily named husband and wife antique dealers. The scheme behind the killings turns out to involve quilting. There are even plot-relevant homemade cookies. I mean, it's still a John Sandford novel, so the antique dealers are chilly and unlikable , and we barely hear anything about how delicious those cookies are. But still.
As much as I enjoyed Lucas's detour through the land of antiques--there's a good, funny scene early on where Weather has to spell out for him how much all the furniture in their house cost--this is a slightly overstuffed novel where the plot is too light to carry everything the book tries to hang on it. The crime is unusual, and I like how it ties into the title: these murders, and the reason behind them, have often seemed invisible, mistaken for accidental deaths or ordinary home invasions, but all that cleverness is finally coming to an end. And Sandford's description of the quilts intricately stitched with curses against an abusive husband the quilter otherwise couldn't fight back against is great and made me want to check out some folk art exhibits as soon as museum-going becomes feasible again. There's a terrific, dramatic bit towards the end that I have no intention of spoiling but that was legitimately one of my favorite supporting character moments of the series. There's a lot to enjoy here, including the first appearance of Virgil Flowers.
But it's still a little slight and a little too busy. The statutory rape case--involving a State Senator--that Lucas and Flowers are working eventually intersects, in a cool way, with the antiques case, but the subplot ultimately doesn't have a strong enough payoff. The antagonists in the main plotline are smart enough and ruthless enough, willing to leave behind a lengthy trail of dead bodies just to cover up for their past sins, but they annoyed me more often than they scared, thrilled, or fascinated me. And while I liked that fuckin' Flowers immediately, his introduction is a little too abrupt, with him being too much of a character too quickly. It feels like the trope of TV shows suddenly adding a character to the ensemble with the pretense that he was in the background this whole time, really, and it might have worked better if his presence had either been seeded in earlier in the series or if he'd been relatively new to the area in this book. As is, it's a shade too obvious that he's there partly to set up his spinoff.
Then again, this does give us Weather having a mini-crush on Flowers, much to Lucas's confusion, so I'm willing to forgive it a lot.
Overall, this one has some very good bits, and while the antagonists are weaker than usual, there are some great new allies and (presumably) one-off supporting characters. I especially liked the mini-arc of intern Sandy discovering a real talent for useful research. Even if this one isn't a standout, it's still pretty fun.
As much as I enjoyed Lucas's detour through the land of antiques--there's a good, funny scene early on where Weather has to spell out for him how much all the furniture in their house cost--this is a slightly overstuffed novel where the plot is too light to carry everything the book tries to hang on it. The crime is unusual, and I like how it ties into the title: these murders, and the reason behind them, have often seemed invisible, mistaken for accidental deaths or ordinary home invasions, but all that cleverness is finally coming to an end. And Sandford's description of the quilts intricately stitched with curses against an abusive husband the quilter otherwise couldn't fight back against is great and made me want to check out some folk art exhibits as soon as museum-going becomes feasible again. There's a terrific, dramatic bit towards the end that I have no intention of spoiling but that was legitimately one of my favorite supporting character moments of the series. There's a lot to enjoy here, including the first appearance of Virgil Flowers.
But it's still a little slight and a little too busy. The statutory rape case--involving a State Senator--that Lucas and Flowers are working eventually intersects, in a cool way, with the antiques case, but the subplot ultimately doesn't have a strong enough payoff. The antagonists in the main plotline are smart enough and ruthless enough, willing to leave behind a lengthy trail of dead bodies just to cover up for their past sins, but they annoyed me more often than they scared, thrilled, or fascinated me. And while I liked that fuckin' Flowers immediately, his introduction is a little too abrupt, with him being too much of a character too quickly. It feels like the trope of TV shows suddenly adding a character to the ensemble with the pretense that he was in the background this whole time, really, and it might have worked better if his presence had either been seeded in earlier in the series or if he'd been relatively new to the area in this book. As is, it's a shade too obvious that he's there partly to set up his spinoff.
Then again, this does give us Weather having a mini-crush on Flowers, much to Lucas's confusion, so I'm willing to forgive it a lot.
Overall, this one has some very good bits, and while the antagonists are weaker than usual, there are some great new allies and (presumably) one-off supporting characters. I especially liked the mini-arc of intern Sandy discovering a real talent for useful research. Even if this one isn't a standout, it's still pretty fun.
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