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Lucas Davenport #28
Twisted Prey
Listening Length: 11 hours and 30 minutes
Lucas Davenport confronts an old nemesis, now more powerful than ever as a U.S. senator, in the thrilling new novel in the #1 New York Times-bestselling Prey series
Lucas Davenport had crossed paths with her before.
A rich psychopath, Taryn Grant had run successfully for the U.S. Senate, where Lucas had predicted she'd fit right in. He was also convinced that she'd been responsible for three murders, though he'd never been able to prove it. Once a psychopath had gotten that kind of rush, though, he or she often needed another fix, so he figured he might be seeing her again.
He was right. A federal marshal now, with a very wide scope of investigation, he's heard rumors that Grant has found her seat on the Senate intelligence committee, and the contacts she's made from it, to be very...useful. Pinning those rumors down was likely to be just as difficult as before, and considerably more dangerous.
But they had unfinished business, he and Grant. One way or the other, he was going to see it through to the end.
Lucas Davenport confronts an old nemesis, now more powerful than ever as a U.S. senator, in the thrilling new novel in the #1 New York Times-bestselling Prey series
Lucas Davenport had crossed paths with her before.
A rich psychopath, Taryn Grant had run successfully for the U.S. Senate, where Lucas had predicted she'd fit right in. He was also convinced that she'd been responsible for three murders, though he'd never been able to prove it. Once a psychopath had gotten that kind of rush, though, he or she often needed another fix, so he figured he might be seeing her again.
He was right. A federal marshal now, with a very wide scope of investigation, he's heard rumors that Grant has found her seat on the Senate intelligence committee, and the contacts she's made from it, to be very...useful. Pinning those rumors down was likely to be just as difficult as before, and considerably more dangerous.
But they had unfinished business, he and Grant. One way or the other, he was going to see it through to the end.
12 pages, Audio CD
First published April 24, 2018
5047 people are currently reading
4881 people want to read
About the author
John Sandford
238 books9,674 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 1,701 reviews
May 11, 2018
I think John Sandford has outdone himself with this book. Where he shines is in getting the details exactly right. Lots of dry humor here, especially when it comes to DC and politics.
There’s a wonderful sense of tension throughout. Even though Davenport knows who’s behind the foul play, that doesn’t mean he can prove it for a court of law. Watching him put the pieces of the puzzle together kept me riveted. You can see the ending coming, but it was the perfect ending.
I have to give Sandford credit. It’s wild to imagine this is the 28th book in the series. If anything, he’s getting better.
I listened to this book and once again Richard Ferrone does a great job as the narrator.
There’s a wonderful sense of tension throughout. Even though Davenport knows who’s behind the foul play, that doesn’t mean he can prove it for a court of law. Watching him put the pieces of the puzzle together kept me riveted. You can see the ending coming, but it was the perfect ending.
I have to give Sandford credit. It’s wild to imagine this is the 28th book in the series. If anything, he’s getting better.
I listened to this book and once again Richard Ferrone does a great job as the narrator.
June 20, 2022
I received a free advance copy of this from NetGalley for review.
Me in 2013: “I love John Sandford novels, but this Silken Prey seems a bit outlandish. Could a rich person with a narcissistic personality disorder who engages in criminal behavior really hope to win an election to an important position in the US government? That seems highly unlikely.”
Me on Election Night 2016: “Why didn’t we heed John Sandford’s warning?!?”
Back in Silken Prey Lucas Davenport tangled with a crazy woman named Taryn Grant who was running for the Senate. She was capable of framing a rival for child pornography and then forming a conspiracy to commit murder to cover it all up. Since she was rich and this is America, .
Now a rival of Grant’s is almost killed in a car accident which he is positive was an attempt to murder him, and Lucas Davenport is asked to check into the case. Davenport is off to D.C. and is quickly convinced that the accident was indeed a professional attempted hit. He suspects that Grant’s friends at a military contractor filled with ex-special forces members were responsible for it on her orders. Getting evidence on trained killers who know how to cover their tracks and are backed by a powerful rich woman with her eye on the White House won’t be easy though.
Despite the DC setting and Davenport facing off against a crew of bad ass ex-soldiers this all feels like pretty standard stuff for Sandford. Not that it’s a bad thing. Sandford at his worst can write circles around most of the thriller writers on the best seller list, and this has a lot of intriguing elements like figuring out how the bad guys could have rigged the car accident without leaving a trace. Davenport joined the US Marshals in the last book, and that change has enabled the series to do some interesting new stuff like this.
However, I think this one fell a little short of high potential in a few areas. For starters, even though this is set in DC and involves members of Congress it just doesn’t seem like the circus it would be. I also thought that Grant's response to being investigated would be more politically vicious and involve her trying to do more to smear Davenport in the media rather than going after him with more direct methods. It all just seems a little naïve and optimistic in that the system pretty much works and Davenport is free to investigate without having to worry about the press or the politics of it much at all.
And bear in mind that what I’m essentially saying here is the biggest problem with a plot that involves a member of the US Congress trying to assassinate a political rival and cover it up with the help of shady intelligence connections is that IT'S NOT CYNICAL ENOUGH!
Welcome to America 2018.
There’s a few other issues too, but most of them fall into the category of spoilers.
While I was a little let down by some of this it was still a solid page turner, and I very much enjoyed the ending which went a long way towards making me forget about some of my quibbles.
Next: Lucas vs. the cannibal in Neon Prey.
Me in 2013: “I love John Sandford novels, but this Silken Prey seems a bit outlandish. Could a rich person with a narcissistic personality disorder who engages in criminal behavior really hope to win an election to an important position in the US government? That seems highly unlikely.”
Me on Election Night 2016: “Why didn’t we heed John Sandford’s warning?!?”
Back in Silken Prey Lucas Davenport tangled with a crazy woman named Taryn Grant who was running for the Senate. She was capable of framing a rival for child pornography and then forming a conspiracy to commit murder to cover it all up. Since she was rich and this is America, .
Now a rival of Grant’s is almost killed in a car accident which he is positive was an attempt to murder him, and Lucas Davenport is asked to check into the case. Davenport is off to D.C. and is quickly convinced that the accident was indeed a professional attempted hit. He suspects that Grant’s friends at a military contractor filled with ex-special forces members were responsible for it on her orders. Getting evidence on trained killers who know how to cover their tracks and are backed by a powerful rich woman with her eye on the White House won’t be easy though.
Despite the DC setting and Davenport facing off against a crew of bad ass ex-soldiers this all feels like pretty standard stuff for Sandford. Not that it’s a bad thing. Sandford at his worst can write circles around most of the thriller writers on the best seller list, and this has a lot of intriguing elements like figuring out how the bad guys could have rigged the car accident without leaving a trace. Davenport joined the US Marshals in the last book, and that change has enabled the series to do some interesting new stuff like this.
However, I think this one fell a little short of high potential in a few areas. For starters, even though this is set in DC and involves members of Congress it just doesn’t seem like the circus it would be. I also thought that Grant's response to being investigated would be more politically vicious and involve her trying to do more to smear Davenport in the media rather than going after him with more direct methods. It all just seems a little naïve and optimistic in that the system pretty much works and Davenport is free to investigate without having to worry about the press or the politics of it much at all.
And bear in mind that what I’m essentially saying here is the biggest problem with a plot that involves a member of the US Congress trying to assassinate a political rival and cover it up with the help of shady intelligence connections is that IT'S NOT CYNICAL ENOUGH!
Welcome to America 2018.
There’s a few other issues too, but most of them fall into the category of spoilers.
While I was a little let down by some of this it was still a solid page turner, and I very much enjoyed the ending which went a long way towards making me forget about some of my quibbles.
Next: Lucas vs. the cannibal in Neon Prey.
July 24, 2022
I listened to the audiobooks of the Lucas Davenport series with my husband and we both agree that this one is probably one of the best.
If you have read the Lucas Davenport books you know that Lucas has wanted to catch Senator Taryn Grant for past crimes. He is sure she orchestrated the death of several people and she needs to be stopped. If she has killed once, she won't stop. People like her will try again.
When Senator Porter Smalls's car is hit by a truck and derailed causing the car to crash and leaving the driver dead but there is no evidence of the car being hit by another vehicle, he knows he needs to call Lucas. Someone wants him dead and his first instinct is to believe that Taryn has a hand in it. Lucas believes Smalls and he is sure that Taryn has the right connections now that she is part of the Senate intelligence committee. The hard part for Lucas is trying to prove it. He lost Taryn once, is she going to escape him again?
Twisted Prey is a nail-biting novel. I wanted Lucas to succeed in catching Taryn but I wasn't sure he was going to be able to pull it off.
Lucas once again teams up with US Marshalls, Bob, and Rae who are great at the dry humor that this series is known for. Also, Kidd, Virgil, Weather, and Letty all make an appearance in Twisted Prey.
As always Richard Ferrone does a magnificent job with his narration.
Cliffhanger: No
5/5 Fangs
MrsLeif's Two Fangs About It | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram
If you have read the Lucas Davenport books you know that Lucas has wanted to catch Senator Taryn Grant for past crimes. He is sure she orchestrated the death of several people and she needs to be stopped. If she has killed once, she won't stop. People like her will try again.
When Senator Porter Smalls's car is hit by a truck and derailed causing the car to crash and leaving the driver dead but there is no evidence of the car being hit by another vehicle, he knows he needs to call Lucas. Someone wants him dead and his first instinct is to believe that Taryn has a hand in it. Lucas believes Smalls and he is sure that Taryn has the right connections now that she is part of the Senate intelligence committee. The hard part for Lucas is trying to prove it. He lost Taryn once, is she going to escape him again?
Twisted Prey is a nail-biting novel. I wanted Lucas to succeed in catching Taryn but I wasn't sure he was going to be able to pull it off.
Lucas once again teams up with US Marshalls, Bob, and Rae who are great at the dry humor that this series is known for. Also, Kidd, Virgil, Weather, and Letty all make an appearance in Twisted Prey.
As always Richard Ferrone does a magnificent job with his narration.
"I don't know what you're talking about."
Cliffhanger: No
5/5 Fangs
MrsLeif's Two Fangs About It | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram
June 6, 2019
Fantastic! One of my favorite "Prey!" 10 of 10 stars!
July 3, 2018
Lucas Davenport is one of my favourite characters in crime fiction. Good looking and rich (some time ago he designed some software that made him his pile) he’s also mean and funny. Sandford has cleverly managed Davenport’s career in law enforcement, finding him new jobs that provide him with ever more freedom to chase down villains anywhere he chooses to roam. His latest job is that of a U.S. Marshall and this time around he receives a call from Minnesota Senator Porter Smalls who has just survived an attempt on his life – in an incident that cost the life of his lover. But Smalls is having a hard time persuading the local cops that the incident itself was anything other than a routine motor accident. He’s convinced that Taryn Grant is behind the attempt: the pair have history and hate each other (an earlier novel in the series Silken Prey provides the full background). Grant is a deliciously bad woman, beautiful but also a deadly sociopath who seemingly has no conscience whatsoever. Lucas sets off to Washington DC to scout out the background to the incident and to liaise with the local police.
One of the clever things Sandford does in this series is to maintain a sense of continuity through Davenport’s contact with his family and ex-colleagues whilst moving the whole thing forward by continuously introducing new characters who become part of ’the family’. His focus in one book may be his wife or his daughter or a particular colleague and then in the next book they may be absent or just a peripheral background figure. I really like this approach as it stops the books from feeling samey and routine. And another thing he does is to cleverly show both sides of the story, so that at the same time the reader knows both what the hunters and the hunted are doing and thinking. It all adds up to a quality product, one that rivals Michael Connelly’s brilliant novels in terms of pure readability and clarity.
In all honesty, this isn’t my favourite book in the series - but it’s still good. My only real qualm is that the mid section of the book feels a little slow, but that’s judging this episode against the very high standard of the author’s very best books. Here, it all makes sense, the characters (particularly Smalls and Grant) are great, the new guys are interesting and amusing and, once the pace picks up, the whole thing races to a brilliant conclusion. What’s not to like!
There are now 28 books in the Lucas Davenport (‘Prey’) series and a further 11 in the offshoot series featuring Davenport’s close friend and former colleague Virgil Flowers. The quality of these books is extremely high and I’d recommend any lover of crime fiction to seek them out if, for some reason, Sandford has flown under their personal radar.
One of the clever things Sandford does in this series is to maintain a sense of continuity through Davenport’s contact with his family and ex-colleagues whilst moving the whole thing forward by continuously introducing new characters who become part of ’the family’. His focus in one book may be his wife or his daughter or a particular colleague and then in the next book they may be absent or just a peripheral background figure. I really like this approach as it stops the books from feeling samey and routine. And another thing he does is to cleverly show both sides of the story, so that at the same time the reader knows both what the hunters and the hunted are doing and thinking. It all adds up to a quality product, one that rivals Michael Connelly’s brilliant novels in terms of pure readability and clarity.
In all honesty, this isn’t my favourite book in the series - but it’s still good. My only real qualm is that the mid section of the book feels a little slow, but that’s judging this episode against the very high standard of the author’s very best books. Here, it all makes sense, the characters (particularly Smalls and Grant) are great, the new guys are interesting and amusing and, once the pace picks up, the whole thing races to a brilliant conclusion. What’s not to like!
There are now 28 books in the Lucas Davenport (‘Prey’) series and a further 11 in the offshoot series featuring Davenport’s close friend and former colleague Virgil Flowers. The quality of these books is extremely high and I’d recommend any lover of crime fiction to seek them out if, for some reason, Sandford has flown under their personal radar.
May 22, 2018
After 28 books, the Lucas Davenport series is still going strong. This was a very enjoyable read. Lucas is asked to investigate the attempted assassination of a U. S. Senator, and he calls on Bob and Rae for assistance. Along with local law enforcement and the FBI, the U. S. Marshals follow leads and try to put together a case. There are several deaths as the investigation is thwarted time and time again.
Both Virgil (of “that fuckin' Flowers” fame) and Kidd make minor appearances in this book. Good to know they are both well, and it seems Virgil is still headed toward domestication. You’ll know what I mean if you’ve read Sandford's Virgil Flowers series. Lucas's wife, Weather, and their daughter, Letty, have small roles as well.
As is usual in John Sandford's books, the dialogue feels natural with lots of ribbing and humor. Lucas is a clotheshorse, and some downtime allows him to visit a tailor with Bob. I enjoy those little side stories. There is cooperation between all agencies involved, meaning they share information, so the case moves along to a satisfying conclusion.
Both Virgil (of “that fuckin' Flowers” fame) and Kidd make minor appearances in this book. Good to know they are both well, and it seems Virgil is still headed toward domestication. You’ll know what I mean if you’ve read Sandford's Virgil Flowers series. Lucas's wife, Weather, and their daughter, Letty, have small roles as well.
As is usual in John Sandford's books, the dialogue feels natural with lots of ribbing and humor. Lucas is a clotheshorse, and some downtime allows him to visit a tailor with Bob. I enjoy those little side stories. There is cooperation between all agencies involved, meaning they share information, so the case moves along to a satisfying conclusion.
April 7, 2019
I confess that I'm having more trouble than I would have expected warming up to the idea of U.S. Marshal Lucas Davenport. When I first heard John Sandford explain his rationale for moving Davenport out of Minnesota and freeing him up to move about the country taking on interesting cases, it sounded like an appealing idea. And apparently, for many readers, the approach is working. But not so much for me, at least not yet.
While Davenport is still much the same character, I find that once he's unmoored from his traditional surroundings and especially from his usual supporting cast, the stories just aren't working as well for me. As in the previous book, Sandford has given Lucas a pair of new sidekicks, marshal Rae Givens and her partner Bob. But the idea of Bob and Rae, and of naming a female marshal Rae Givens seems too cute by half, and the two are a pale shade of Shrake and Jenkins, and the rest of the cast that previously surrounded Davenport.
In an earlier book, Davenport saved the bacon, political and otherwise, of a United States Senator named Porter Smalls. As this book opens, someone attempts to kill Smalls but winds up killing instead a woman he was riding with, leaving Smalls relatively unhurt. Smalls demands that Davenport be assigned to the investigation, hoping that he can track down whoever was behind the attempt before they try again.
Both Lucas and Smalls have a pretty good idea who might have been attempting to kill Smalls, another U. S. Senator named Taryn Grant. The both believe that she is psychotic and Lucas is convinced that Grant was responsible for at least three earlier murders. But he couldn't prove his suspicions and so she remains untouched in the Senate.
The book thus becomes something of a cat and mouse game between Lucas and other federal officers and Grant and a handful of other evil-doers. Grant and her pals determine early on that Lucas needs to be removed from the investigation one way or another, and so the battle will quickly become personal.
I don't mean to suggest that this is a bad book. I enjoyed reading it, but to my mind it's not nearly on a par with the best books in this long-running series. A particular problem I had in this case was the character of Taryn Grant. Through the years, Sandford has excelled at creating excellent villains, and the success of the books in this series has largely depended on Sandford creating a worthy antagonist for Davenport. I really had trouble, though, buying into Grant who seemed more a cartoon villain than a credible character. She's certainly no Clara Rinker who remains, in my book at least, the gold standard of Sanford villains.
I understand that Sandford decided that it might be time after more than twenty-five books to take this series in a different direction, but the last two books haven't felt to me like real Lucas Davenport novels. Maybe I will ultimately get with the new program, but I'm sorry to say that I'm just not there yet.
While Davenport is still much the same character, I find that once he's unmoored from his traditional surroundings and especially from his usual supporting cast, the stories just aren't working as well for me. As in the previous book, Sandford has given Lucas a pair of new sidekicks, marshal Rae Givens and her partner Bob. But the idea of Bob and Rae, and of naming a female marshal Rae Givens seems too cute by half, and the two are a pale shade of Shrake and Jenkins, and the rest of the cast that previously surrounded Davenport.
In an earlier book, Davenport saved the bacon, political and otherwise, of a United States Senator named Porter Smalls. As this book opens, someone attempts to kill Smalls but winds up killing instead a woman he was riding with, leaving Smalls relatively unhurt. Smalls demands that Davenport be assigned to the investigation, hoping that he can track down whoever was behind the attempt before they try again.
Both Lucas and Smalls have a pretty good idea who might have been attempting to kill Smalls, another U. S. Senator named Taryn Grant. The both believe that she is psychotic and Lucas is convinced that Grant was responsible for at least three earlier murders. But he couldn't prove his suspicions and so she remains untouched in the Senate.
The book thus becomes something of a cat and mouse game between Lucas and other federal officers and Grant and a handful of other evil-doers. Grant and her pals determine early on that Lucas needs to be removed from the investigation one way or another, and so the battle will quickly become personal.
I don't mean to suggest that this is a bad book. I enjoyed reading it, but to my mind it's not nearly on a par with the best books in this long-running series. A particular problem I had in this case was the character of Taryn Grant. Through the years, Sandford has excelled at creating excellent villains, and the success of the books in this series has largely depended on Sandford creating a worthy antagonist for Davenport. I really had trouble, though, buying into Grant who seemed more a cartoon villain than a credible character. She's certainly no Clara Rinker who remains, in my book at least, the gold standard of Sanford villains.
I understand that Sandford decided that it might be time after more than twenty-five books to take this series in a different direction, but the last two books haven't felt to me like real Lucas Davenport novels. Maybe I will ultimately get with the new program, but I'm sorry to say that I'm just not there yet.
April 15, 2018
Can this possibly be the 28th book in the Prey series? I know I haven't missed many, so guess that makes me an oldie (but goodie). And so is the series; even if "star" character Lucas Davenport, now a federal marshal, seems to be a bit more laid back these days, there's plenty of action here that kept me reading until my Kindle battery insisted it needed a recharge.
Happily - and in one case, unhappily - a few other characters make return appearances in this one. There's Weather, Lucas's surgeon wife, Letty, his daughter, some former professional colleagues and the even more lovable (to me, at least) Virgil Flowers, upon whom Mr. Sandford has bestowed a series all his own.
Still another blast from the past is Taryn Grant, a psychopath who's now a U.S. Senator. Lucas is certain she's up to her old tricks (and being a billionaire, she's able to grease wheels till the Minnesota cows come home). One of her other enemies, Sen. Porter Smalls, knows firsthand how dangerous the woman is. In fact, he's convinced that a recent auto accident that nearly killed him - and did kill the driver - was all her doing. Proving that, though, just isn't in his skill set.
So, he calls in Lucas - who turns to local law enforcement, the FBI and others to help with the investigation. All heck breaks loose in the process, with suspicions turning into twists and turns that threaten the well-being of everyone involved, including Lucas's own family. And in the end, getting to the truth doesn't necessarily mean justice will be done. Or does it?
Many thanks to the publisher, via NetGalley, for the opportunity to read and review an advance copy.
Happily - and in one case, unhappily - a few other characters make return appearances in this one. There's Weather, Lucas's surgeon wife, Letty, his daughter, some former professional colleagues and the even more lovable (to me, at least) Virgil Flowers, upon whom Mr. Sandford has bestowed a series all his own.
Still another blast from the past is Taryn Grant, a psychopath who's now a U.S. Senator. Lucas is certain she's up to her old tricks (and being a billionaire, she's able to grease wheels till the Minnesota cows come home). One of her other enemies, Sen. Porter Smalls, knows firsthand how dangerous the woman is. In fact, he's convinced that a recent auto accident that nearly killed him - and did kill the driver - was all her doing. Proving that, though, just isn't in his skill set.
So, he calls in Lucas - who turns to local law enforcement, the FBI and others to help with the investigation. All heck breaks loose in the process, with suspicions turning into twists and turns that threaten the well-being of everyone involved, including Lucas's own family. And in the end, getting to the truth doesn't necessarily mean justice will be done. Or does it?
Many thanks to the publisher, via NetGalley, for the opportunity to read and review an advance copy.
August 7, 2024
The psychopathic Minnesota Senator Taryn Grant and U.S. Marshall Lucas Davenport have faced off before in a murderous duel in the book Silken Prey. The best one can say is that is was a draw between the two.
But now Grant is becoming more powerful and is eyeing the White House. Holding on to her coattails, I mean skirts, are members of a private and lethal military contracting company. Fortunately, they aren’t completely successful in their assignment to eliminate another senator but they draw the attention of Davenport. Always a big mistake.
With whip smart dialogue, returning characters and a logical but a twisting plot, the fast moving Twisted Prey is a pleasure to read. A pleasure, but I have a few problems.
I also found it annoying that Flowers and Kidd would show up for very minor appearances. A couple of paragraphs? Really? Why bother?
I’m also confused about all of the Marshals in this book. U.S.Marshals are politically appointed by the President and approved by the Senate. There are very few of them. Most people who work for the Marshal’s service are Deputy U.S. Marshals. In theory Davenport could be a Marshall, but I doubt the rest of the Marshals that show up are actually Marshals, more like Deputy Marshals. Stuff like this really bothers me in a book.
I don't understand why if the first person they plan to arrest is killed that they wouldn’t go eyes on with their next subjects. Oh come on, that’s not a spoiler, its obvious early on that he is a red shirt.
If y’all think I am being a bit bitchy about minor plot holes, think about this being book 28. This is a hugely popular series for very good reasons. Carelessness makes no sense.
Set mostly in the Washington DC area, Sandford amusingly portrays the disdain that most hold for the area. He managed to get in some terrific shots at the current political climate too.
Everyone is fair game in this book. Big mistake, because Davenport is nothing if not Machiavellian.
Thanks to NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for a fair and honest review.
But now Grant is becoming more powerful and is eyeing the White House. Holding on to her coattails, I mean skirts, are members of a private and lethal military contracting company. Fortunately, they aren’t completely successful in their assignment to eliminate another senator but they draw the attention of Davenport. Always a big mistake.
With whip smart dialogue, returning characters and a logical but a twisting plot, the fast moving Twisted Prey is a pleasure to read. A pleasure, but I have a few problems.
I also found it annoying that Flowers and Kidd would show up for very minor appearances. A couple of paragraphs? Really? Why bother?
I’m also confused about all of the Marshals in this book. U.S.Marshals are politically appointed by the President and approved by the Senate. There are very few of them. Most people who work for the Marshal’s service are Deputy U.S. Marshals. In theory Davenport could be a Marshall, but I doubt the rest of the Marshals that show up are actually Marshals, more like Deputy Marshals. Stuff like this really bothers me in a book.
I don't understand why if the first person they plan to arrest is killed that they wouldn’t go eyes on with their next subjects. Oh come on, that’s not a spoiler, its obvious early on that he is a red shirt.
If y’all think I am being a bit bitchy about minor plot holes, think about this being book 28. This is a hugely popular series for very good reasons. Carelessness makes no sense.
Set mostly in the Washington DC area, Sandford amusingly portrays the disdain that most hold for the area. He managed to get in some terrific shots at the current political climate too.
Everyone is fair game in this book. Big mistake, because Davenport is nothing if not Machiavellian.
Thanks to NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for a fair and honest review.
August 24, 2021
The 28th book in the series and a strong entry. Part of what I enjoy about a John Sandford novel is his humor and he doesn't disappoint in Twisted Prey. With Washington D.C. and politics as the backdrop he has plenty of opportunity. And a favorite (?) foe, Taryn Grant, is back.
Taryn Grant was first introduced in Silken Prey. Lucas Davenport couldn't prove she was guilty of three murders then and now she is a powerful U.S. senator. She has a seat on the Senate intelligence committee and eyes on the White House. Davenport is a U.S. Marshall now and he has more power too. He receives a call from Minnesota Senator Porter Smalls. He and a supporter/sometime girlfriend/ and his wife’s best friend, Cecily “CeCe” Whitehead, were returning from his remote cabin in West Virginia where they were having "a planning session" when a pick up truck runs them off the road. Her skillful driving prevents them from going over a cliff but she is killed. Porter Smalls is convinced that Taryn Grant tried to have him assassinated but the local authorities believe it was just a routine vehicular accident. Smalls calls Davenport for assistance. Lucas and Taryn Grant have unfinished business and he receives permission to investigate Smalls claim.
This is politics and it is Washington D.C. You can see where the "twisted" in the books title comes from. Thankfully we have Sandford's humor and dialogue to help make this bearable. Those readers familiar with Lucas Davenport know that he is a clotheshorse and a Prey novel would not be complete without a trip to the tailor to augment his wardrobe. We also meet many familiar friends. Bob and Rae are called in for assistance. Virgil Flowers, Kidd, Davenport's wife Weather, their daughter Letty also have small roles as well. I am still waiting for a book where Letty Davenport is the protagonist. She has been great as a side character in these stories and I think it is time for her to be the main character. If anyone were to mess with her they would have Lucas and that "F@$&ing" Flowers to contend with.
All in all a very fun read with lots of twists and turns. Fans of the Prey series should not miss.
Taryn Grant was first introduced in Silken Prey. Lucas Davenport couldn't prove she was guilty of three murders then and now she is a powerful U.S. senator. She has a seat on the Senate intelligence committee and eyes on the White House. Davenport is a U.S. Marshall now and he has more power too. He receives a call from Minnesota Senator Porter Smalls. He and a supporter/sometime girlfriend/ and his wife’s best friend, Cecily “CeCe” Whitehead, were returning from his remote cabin in West Virginia where they were having "a planning session" when a pick up truck runs them off the road. Her skillful driving prevents them from going over a cliff but she is killed. Porter Smalls is convinced that Taryn Grant tried to have him assassinated but the local authorities believe it was just a routine vehicular accident. Smalls calls Davenport for assistance. Lucas and Taryn Grant have unfinished business and he receives permission to investigate Smalls claim.
This is politics and it is Washington D.C. You can see where the "twisted" in the books title comes from. Thankfully we have Sandford's humor and dialogue to help make this bearable. Those readers familiar with Lucas Davenport know that he is a clotheshorse and a Prey novel would not be complete without a trip to the tailor to augment his wardrobe. We also meet many familiar friends. Bob and Rae are called in for assistance. Virgil Flowers, Kidd, Davenport's wife Weather, their daughter Letty also have small roles as well. I am still waiting for a book where Letty Davenport is the protagonist. She has been great as a side character in these stories and I think it is time for her to be the main character. If anyone were to mess with her they would have Lucas and that "F@$&ing" Flowers to contend with.
All in all a very fun read with lots of twists and turns. Fans of the Prey series should not miss.
May 12, 2018
This is one of those series that is kind of a sure thing. You may have favourites among the 28 books but if you like one, you'll enjoy them all.
In this outing Lucas Davenport runs up against an old foe while investigating the politically charged assassination attempt of a senator. Politics, secret military contracts & backroom deals...you guessed it. We're in Washington D.C. & the swamp is alive & well.
Luca again gets assistance from Bob & Rae, 2 characters I really enjoyed in the previous book & even that fuckin' Flowers does a walk on. Sandford is a master storyteller & keeps you turning the pages with a tightly spun plot & expert pacing. As usual, a quick & entertaining read.
In this outing Lucas Davenport runs up against an old foe while investigating the politically charged assassination attempt of a senator. Politics, secret military contracts & backroom deals...you guessed it. We're in Washington D.C. & the swamp is alive & well.
Luca again gets assistance from Bob & Rae, 2 characters I really enjoyed in the previous book & even that fuckin' Flowers does a walk on. Sandford is a master storyteller & keeps you turning the pages with a tightly spun plot & expert pacing. As usual, a quick & entertaining read.
December 13, 2024
4 Stars. Can I give away the last line? I don't believe it's a spoiler but it is a hint. Throughout the novel, a police procedural if there ever was one, U.S. Marshal Lucas Davenport and his two associates-in-arms, Marshal Rae Givens, she's tall, black, and a former basketball star, and Marshal Bob Matees, he's short, husky and a former wrestling star, bemoan the low probability of bringing this case to a successful conclusion. You see, they are operating this time in Washington, D.C. with all its agencies, especially the FBI, wanting to protect their turf, and powerful politicians like Minnesota Senators Porter Smalls and Taryn Grant interfering at every opportunity. The last line? Lucas says to his wife Weather, "But it's finished now." I won't say anything else! We first meet the lovely and wealthy Grant in 'Silken Prey,' #23 in the series, when she's running for Senate against incumbent Smalls and uses every dirty trick, including murder, to win. He returns to the Senate two years later and they face-off. There's an assassination attempt on Smalls, and Sandford reveals up front that Grant was behind it. The task of Lucas, Rae and Bob? Get to a successful conclusion. (Se2023/De2024)
November 3, 2018
Back in Silken Prey Davenport faced off against Taryn Grant: a psychopath who was running for senator , in order to ensure her victory she framed her opponent by planting child pornography in his computer , she also killed to cover other murders she orchestrated in the past .... Despite our charming and stylish detective's best efforts he couldn't find any evidence linking her to any crime and everything was blamed on her security team , he proved the innocence of the other candidate but it was too late: the damage was already done ...
In this book Lucas gets another shot at taking her down, she is now a senator...He is a "presidential" appointee in the US Marshals service so He has more power and political clout .
He was contacted by the same person as before who is now a senator too and who claims that Grant tried to have him assassinated ,instead his mistress was killed while saving him in the process.... Davenport did everything right : he found the why ,the how and the where of the crime , he identified the killers (ex-army/CIA) contractors , not without some difficulties "he almost got killed "again" and his wife too "... On the verge of taking her down she decided to take matters in her own hands and she slipped away"again" .... Being the dirty cunning bastard that he is and having lost to her before , Davenport have been preparing for such a possibility by :. AS always Sandford doesn't disappoint i enjoyed this book thoroughly i can't believe it's number 28 already ... Great memories with this series so far...
In this book Lucas gets another shot at taking her down, she is now a senator...He is a "presidential" appointee in the US Marshals service so He has more power and political clout .
He was contacted by the same person as before who is now a senator too and who claims that Grant tried to have him assassinated ,instead his mistress was killed while saving him in the process.... Davenport did everything right : he found the why ,the how and the where of the crime , he identified the killers (ex-army/CIA) contractors , not without some difficulties "he almost got killed "again" and his wife too "... On the verge of taking her down she decided to take matters in her own hands and she slipped away"again" .... Being the dirty cunning bastard that he is and having lost to her before , Davenport have been preparing for such a possibility by :. AS always Sandford doesn't disappoint i enjoyed this book thoroughly i can't believe it's number 28 already ... Great memories with this series so far...
July 8, 2018
Twisted Prey is a perfunctory and disposable entry into John Sandford’s usually stellar Lucas Davenport mystery series. Consider it the foil-lined wrapper your takeout hamburger comes in. Or better yet, imagine you have just driven your hungry self to the nearest Shake Shack (it’s easy if you try) and ordered a double Shack Stack and a large black and white shake. You unwrap your burger only to dismay at finding inside just another wrapper! You wanted a Shack Stack, not some throwaway paper. Disappointing! Well, at least you have this shake. But when you suck at that straw no delicious hand-spun ice cream shoots into your mouth performing an enticing Tango of happiness across your taste buds. You take off the lid to discover the cup is empty except for another hamburger wrapper. And that my friend is Twisted Prey.
What makes this so hard to swallow (the complete opposite of Shake Shack’s black and white shakes that are not only easy to swallow, but also easy to order with the new Shake Shack iPhone app) is that Sandford can usually be relied upon to deliver tight, exciting, and well-written thrillers. I can only imagine that perhaps his attentions were otherwise occupied. Maybe he took up a new hobby or perhaps he decided to seriously tackle learning the ins-and-outs of that acoustic guitar that has been sitting in the corner of his living room for years. That F barre chord can be a bear.
In Twisted Prey, federal marshal Davenport hunts an old adversary: the wealthy killer Taryn Grant. Now a Senator, Grant has just attempted to knock off a fellow Congressman and a buddy of Davenports. This leads to mayhem and mischief on “the Hill”. Unfortunately, everything comes off as halfhearted and empty. Grant is an extremely uninteresting antagonist; she is billed as a psychopath but is written as a lifeless and dull individual who is more grumpy than insane. Seriously, my Uncle Marty would be a more compelling adversary and he pretty much just sits around in Aunt Flo’s basement completing TV Guide crossword puzzles, eating Cheetos, and writing book reviews for Goodreads. The plotting is slow and the action contains about as much tension as the elastic in an old pair of tube socks that refuse to stay up.
Probably much of this unusually poor storytelling lies in Sandford’s schedule to deliver two thrillers a year. I would imagine that the creative work of writing a novel cannot be rushed and these deadlines result in a lower quality of tale. But I also understand Sandford must pay his bills. The mortgage on his 75,000 square foot Bel Air mansion is due every month. As is the monthly payment for his Gulfstream V private jet, the costs of caring for his three Bengal tigers as well as the menagerie of his other exotic pets, and let’s be honest – while he’s dating Taylor Swift he will need to hit up only the hottest clubs and restaurants wearing only the hippest designer hats.
There is a Virgil Flowers book no doubt coming this winter, lets hope Sandford extends a little more effort and care.
What makes this so hard to swallow (the complete opposite of Shake Shack’s black and white shakes that are not only easy to swallow, but also easy to order with the new Shake Shack iPhone app) is that Sandford can usually be relied upon to deliver tight, exciting, and well-written thrillers. I can only imagine that perhaps his attentions were otherwise occupied. Maybe he took up a new hobby or perhaps he decided to seriously tackle learning the ins-and-outs of that acoustic guitar that has been sitting in the corner of his living room for years. That F barre chord can be a bear.
In Twisted Prey, federal marshal Davenport hunts an old adversary: the wealthy killer Taryn Grant. Now a Senator, Grant has just attempted to knock off a fellow Congressman and a buddy of Davenports. This leads to mayhem and mischief on “the Hill”. Unfortunately, everything comes off as halfhearted and empty. Grant is an extremely uninteresting antagonist; she is billed as a psychopath but is written as a lifeless and dull individual who is more grumpy than insane. Seriously, my Uncle Marty would be a more compelling adversary and he pretty much just sits around in Aunt Flo’s basement completing TV Guide crossword puzzles, eating Cheetos, and writing book reviews for Goodreads. The plotting is slow and the action contains about as much tension as the elastic in an old pair of tube socks that refuse to stay up.
Probably much of this unusually poor storytelling lies in Sandford’s schedule to deliver two thrillers a year. I would imagine that the creative work of writing a novel cannot be rushed and these deadlines result in a lower quality of tale. But I also understand Sandford must pay his bills. The mortgage on his 75,000 square foot Bel Air mansion is due every month. As is the monthly payment for his Gulfstream V private jet, the costs of caring for his three Bengal tigers as well as the menagerie of his other exotic pets, and let’s be honest – while he’s dating Taylor Swift he will need to hit up only the hottest clubs and restaurants wearing only the hippest designer hats.
There is a Virgil Flowers book no doubt coming this winter, lets hope Sandford extends a little more effort and care.
January 30, 2024
Another Great Lucas Davenport! Like his new role as a Federal Marshal, too! Next. . .
April 2, 2018
Lucas, you dirty dirty dog, you...I love you so much! Another Prey book that I started one day and finished the next, finding it very easy to want to pick up where I left off and harder still to put down. I found the 'S' sink thing a bit far fetched, but at the end of the day I don't really give a crap.
I was so happy to see more of Rae and Bob.
I really worried about having Davenport in the middle of politics, not that Sandford has ever been quiet in that regards, but having Davenport as a US Marshal just seemed to be pushing it a bit far, however, although it's clear that politics play a part in these novels, in Sandford's minds and yes, in Davenport's mind, it's still clear that at the end of the day Lucas doesn't really care about much except the adrenaline rush he gets from winning against these 'bad' guys and girls. Lucas seems to have cooled his hot head a bit in his older years and doesn't quite act so rashly...or maybe I should say, he's gained enough patience to think through his plans and the long term consequences. He also seems more and more willing to manipulate others to see that justice is served as it should be at the end of the day. In the past, he would have just flown off the handle and cleaned up best he could afterwards. Now he lines up the players and patiently sits back until justice is done.
As always, the dialogue is there, the action is there, and my love for Sandford is ALWAYS there...
ARC provided by Netgallery for an honest review
I was so happy to see more of Rae and Bob.
I really worried about having Davenport in the middle of politics, not that Sandford has ever been quiet in that regards, but having Davenport as a US Marshal just seemed to be pushing it a bit far, however, although it's clear that politics play a part in these novels, in Sandford's minds and yes, in Davenport's mind, it's still clear that at the end of the day Lucas doesn't really care about much except the adrenaline rush he gets from winning against these 'bad' guys and girls. Lucas seems to have cooled his hot head a bit in his older years and doesn't quite act so rashly...or maybe I should say, he's gained enough patience to think through his plans and the long term consequences. He also seems more and more willing to manipulate others to see that justice is served as it should be at the end of the day. In the past, he would have just flown off the handle and cleaned up best he could afterwards. Now he lines up the players and patiently sits back until justice is done.
As always, the dialogue is there, the action is there, and my love for Sandford is ALWAYS there...
ARC provided by Netgallery for an honest review
May 13, 2018
To begin with, I think it is only appropriate that I admit to being a fairly avid reader of John Sandford, especially a fan of his Lucas Davenport “Prey” series. A pretty big fan to be honest. However, I am coming off the last book, “Golden Prey” with a bit of disdain and disappointment. The plotting was one of his weaker ones and the last hundred pages was an overly drawn out, anti-climactic ending. Because of that I have been worried about how this one was going to turn out. Turns out I was wrong. What a difference a year makes…
When we last saw our fearless hero, Lucas Davenport, he was getting comfortable in his federal marshal job which afforded him lots of freedom in cases he investigates. He had two agents assigned to him – Bob and Rae - both of whom are witty, hard-working and never lack an opinion. When this book begins, we see the return of Taryn Grant, the rich and power-hungry psychopath that previously beat out Porter Smalls for his U.S. Senate seat using murder to help her achieve her lofty goals a few years ago back in “Silken Prey” (book 23). Grant is beautiful, intriguing, and downright pure evil.
Davenport is still angry over not being able to prove her responsibility in at least three murders back home in Minnesota and his opportunity for a second chance has arrived. Grant has found herself a seat on the Senate Intelligence Committee and is using it to seek the higher position in the land – the presidency. Lucas finds himself having to balance his own selfish desires when he is asked to investigate the claim that she is trying to eliminate those in her way. This time, Lucas is determined to settle his unfinished business with Grant, one way or another.
This was the enjoyable read that I was hoping it would be. The plotting had more energy, tension, and risk for our hero. Unlike the last book, we get to see more of the family members and team mates that are a key part of Davenport’s life. In some ways, some appearances are for the wrong reasons, but that adds to the strong challenges that Lucas faces in this increased emotional plot line. We see Davenport’s wife, Weather. His outspoken daughter, Letty. We even get to see Kidd, the computer hacking wizard in action, as well as that awesome freaking Virgil Flowers. I missed them the last time out.
The first third of the book is spent setting up the chess pieces on the game board and stirring the pot to get the action bubbling. Then when things just start to settle in – WHAM – the plot completely turns on an emotional game changing twist that boils over. What a twist! I found myself caught off guard but completely impressed by Sandford’s wicked manipulation of his reader’s emotions. No spoilers will be shared here other than to say there are “classic” Davenport moments in this outing that will not be forgotten for a long time.
Sandford is definitely dipping into the emotional bank account this time around. And it paid off handsomely. In some ways that I did see coming and in some ways that didn’t see anticipate. There is a character introduced in this book that has multiple names, none of which may even be the real one, that develops an interesting relationship with Lucas and serves as a wildcard in in one of the outcomes. I definitely want to see her again in a future outing and I am sure there’s a lot more we can learn about her own background and story.
Overall, this book was the great summer-time read that Stephen King talks about in his cover blurbs promoting John Sandford’s Lucas Davenport series. It was much better plotted and tension-filled than the last one where less feared bad guys provided a much weaker climax. Taryn Grant serves as a stronger adversary that challenges Davenport on a much more analytical and emotional level. There is no one around him she is not afraid to go after, whether it be professional relationships or personal ones.
In my humble opinion, with “Twisted Prey” John Sandford has regained his writing groove and Lucas Davenport has rediscovered his detective mojo. He is the true law enforcement rebel with a badge and a cause. Unlike last year at this time, I cannot wait to read Davenport’s next adventure. If you haven’t tried reading him, pick up the first book and get started…
When we last saw our fearless hero, Lucas Davenport, he was getting comfortable in his federal marshal job which afforded him lots of freedom in cases he investigates. He had two agents assigned to him – Bob and Rae - both of whom are witty, hard-working and never lack an opinion. When this book begins, we see the return of Taryn Grant, the rich and power-hungry psychopath that previously beat out Porter Smalls for his U.S. Senate seat using murder to help her achieve her lofty goals a few years ago back in “Silken Prey” (book 23). Grant is beautiful, intriguing, and downright pure evil.
Davenport is still angry over not being able to prove her responsibility in at least three murders back home in Minnesota and his opportunity for a second chance has arrived. Grant has found herself a seat on the Senate Intelligence Committee and is using it to seek the higher position in the land – the presidency. Lucas finds himself having to balance his own selfish desires when he is asked to investigate the claim that she is trying to eliminate those in her way. This time, Lucas is determined to settle his unfinished business with Grant, one way or another.
This was the enjoyable read that I was hoping it would be. The plotting had more energy, tension, and risk for our hero. Unlike the last book, we get to see more of the family members and team mates that are a key part of Davenport’s life. In some ways, some appearances are for the wrong reasons, but that adds to the strong challenges that Lucas faces in this increased emotional plot line. We see Davenport’s wife, Weather. His outspoken daughter, Letty. We even get to see Kidd, the computer hacking wizard in action, as well as that awesome freaking Virgil Flowers. I missed them the last time out.
The first third of the book is spent setting up the chess pieces on the game board and stirring the pot to get the action bubbling. Then when things just start to settle in – WHAM – the plot completely turns on an emotional game changing twist that boils over. What a twist! I found myself caught off guard but completely impressed by Sandford’s wicked manipulation of his reader’s emotions. No spoilers will be shared here other than to say there are “classic” Davenport moments in this outing that will not be forgotten for a long time.
Sandford is definitely dipping into the emotional bank account this time around. And it paid off handsomely. In some ways that I did see coming and in some ways that didn’t see anticipate. There is a character introduced in this book that has multiple names, none of which may even be the real one, that develops an interesting relationship with Lucas and serves as a wildcard in in one of the outcomes. I definitely want to see her again in a future outing and I am sure there’s a lot more we can learn about her own background and story.
Overall, this book was the great summer-time read that Stephen King talks about in his cover blurbs promoting John Sandford’s Lucas Davenport series. It was much better plotted and tension-filled than the last one where less feared bad guys provided a much weaker climax. Taryn Grant serves as a stronger adversary that challenges Davenport on a much more analytical and emotional level. There is no one around him she is not afraid to go after, whether it be professional relationships or personal ones.
In my humble opinion, with “Twisted Prey” John Sandford has regained his writing groove and Lucas Davenport has rediscovered his detective mojo. He is the true law enforcement rebel with a badge and a cause. Unlike last year at this time, I cannot wait to read Davenport’s next adventure. If you haven’t tried reading him, pick up the first book and get started…
April 17, 2024
The book has it all. Psychopaths, murders, humor, Lucas being a dick, fine tailored suits, and all the weaponry that Sandford loves to describe. Another Sandford masterpiece that ends with Lucas and Flowers having a beer and barbeque, talking childcare. I love how at the end, he wants our last image to be of the guys just being normal guys. I also loved Grant being brought back for another book, she is just wicked!
Sandford is one of the few authors who can give us the bad guys first, and still keep the chase interesting. This is what he does here - we know right off that Grant is going DOWN (or we hope anyway), but Lucas and the Marshals, with eventual FBI assistance, have to get solid evidence and break the case at a lower level first.
I do miss the BCA days, but the larger scale of these US Marshal cases is also pretty great. Not much has really changed except the side characters. Sandford still manages to keep it fresh and interesting after all these years. Laughed at loud at Lucas needing glasses and Letty being mostly all grown up - I feel like I have grown up with these characters. New characters are brought in now but I do like Bob and Rae as the new sidekicks.
Poor Weather in this book, it made me flash back to the other times she suffered due to one of the cases, but now they are married with kids and a much more stable unit. Was she really not having any PTSD or anything though? Will she in the next book? Also Letty is (doing WHAT with Flowers?) I am shocked Lucas didn't kill him😂
Anyway - yeah. Thankfully this year's book arrived today and I can dig right into it!
Sandford is one of the few authors who can give us the bad guys first, and still keep the chase interesting. This is what he does here - we know right off that Grant is going DOWN (or we hope anyway), but Lucas and the Marshals, with eventual FBI assistance, have to get solid evidence and break the case at a lower level first.
I do miss the BCA days, but the larger scale of these US Marshal cases is also pretty great. Not much has really changed except the side characters. Sandford still manages to keep it fresh and interesting after all these years. Laughed at loud at Lucas needing glasses and Letty being mostly all grown up - I feel like I have grown up with these characters. New characters are brought in now but I do like Bob and Rae as the new sidekicks.
Poor Weather in this book, it made me flash back to the other times she suffered due to one of the cases, but now they are married with kids and a much more stable unit. Was she really not having any PTSD or anything though? Will she in the next book? Also Letty is (doing WHAT with Flowers?) I am shocked Lucas didn't kill him😂
Anyway - yeah. Thankfully this year's book arrived today and I can dig right into it!
May 7, 2018
Back when he was still at the Minnesota BCA, Lucas Davenport tangled with sociopath Taryn Grant, who while running for the Senate, framed her rival (Porter Smalls) for child pornography and killed a few people to cover it up. Lucas cleared Smalls, but did not have evidence to arrest Grant, who was elected. Senator Smalls is coming back from his cabin with a female political supporter/girlfriend when a pickup runs them off the road, killing her. When the police cannot find evidence of another vehicle, Smalls asks Lucas Davenport to investigate, and his superiors agree to the Senator's request. Lucas is joined by the husband and wife U.S. Marshal team of Bob and Rae, as well as a competent and cooperative FBI agent, and together, they begin to look into the matter, tracking down the culprits, a bunch of shady government military contractors. As Lucas gets close, they derail his efforts with a solid offense, and then the contractors start dying, closing off all ties to the Machiavellian Taryn Grant. Unlike Silken Prey, where I was disappointed by the ending, I was quite pleased with this one.
April 24, 2020
Maybe it should be five stars. The writing is smooth and and laced with humor. The characters all come alive, good guys and bad guys, fools and stuffed-shirts. And the plot! Here, as always, Sandford (Camp) crafts a twisty, surprising, satisfying plot.
May 14, 2018
Not much more to say than that this is my forty fifth John Sandford novel that I have read and I still thirst for the next one. Some people have strange addictions but mine is lawful. Lucas Davenport has become a U.S. Marshall and the only change is that I have already learned every town and backroad in Minnesota and now am learning towns and backroads throughout the country.
June 4, 2018
I believe this is book 28 in the Prey series, and what a fantastic addition to the series this is. Like me, many of you have followed Lucas Davenport from the beginning and he keeps getting better with age. With each Prey book I feel like I'm back with a dear old friend. There are quite a few humorous parts where I actually was laughing out loud, even though the topic of the book was very serious. Don't wait so long to come back to your friends, Lucas.
May 6, 2018
I love the way Lucas Davenport’s mind works. I certainly would never to be on his bad side.
January 5, 2025
I don't think John Sandford could write a bad book if he tried. The man just knows what he's doing! That being said, this one just seemed a little flat to me. Plenty of action, but it just wasn't one of his best. I think the difference is that usually the reader knows who the villain is, but Lucas doesn't. We watch with anticipation as he works the clues, getting closer and closer to the killer. This time, he knew from the beginning who the killer was--it was just a matter of finding the proof. I think that took away a lot of the suspense. I don't know--I'm just trying to put my finger on the reason I wasn't blown away when I'm not sure exactly what that is. Sandford is so very good at this, though, that I feel guilty even expressing this! Sorry, Mr. Sandford--it's not you, it's me!
April 27, 2018
It's a toss-up if I love Lucas Davenport or Virgil Flowers the most. But -- in this book, Lucas was outstanding. He is wonderful as a Marshal and this case was just fascinating. There were SO MANY bad guys, but all directed in some way by the worst guy of all -- an old enemy of Lucas. He gets help from fellow-marshals Bob and Rae and together, they meet all the many challenges thrown at them. John Sandford has such a way with words -- so clever, so funny, so insightful. I would not miss one of his books unless I was comatose.
April 15, 2018
Thank you Netgalley and the Penguin Group/G P Putman & Sons for this ARC.
I love Lucas as a US Marshall. He seems to really enjoy it as well. Seems like there's less bureaucratic red tape for him (no employee overtime sheets to approve) yet he still has the autonomy to work a case as he sees fit and the ability to get the resources he needs. Twisted Prey was the usual fast wild ride one expects from John Sandford with the usual suspects and supporting characters. I'm still giggling at the thought of Bob with the tailor.
I love Lucas as a US Marshall. He seems to really enjoy it as well. Seems like there's less bureaucratic red tape for him (no employee overtime sheets to approve) yet he still has the autonomy to work a case as he sees fit and the ability to get the resources he needs. Twisted Prey was the usual fast wild ride one expects from John Sandford with the usual suspects and supporting characters. I'm still giggling at the thought of Bob with the tailor.
January 31, 2019
This is a solid Sandford book: maybe not his best work, but still very enjoyable. The plot gets a bit convoluted, but you can still keep track of it all. There is a lot of his dry humor which is always refreshing.
If you want a mystery/ thriller that is easy to read and you can just relax and enjoy, then this is your book.
If you want a mystery/ thriller that is easy to read and you can just relax and enjoy, then this is your book.
March 2, 2018
Competent, by-the-numbers read; but dry and not overly compelling. Davenport just isn't fun anymore, and I find I much prefer the Virgil Flowers books these days. The ending was anticlimactic and unsatisfactory. Maybe it's time to wrap this series up...
January 24, 2020
Not too much to say about this one except it really didn't work for me (Lucas's family in danger again) and that the ending was pretty lackluster. Having Sandford bring up Clara Rinker in reference to Senator Taryn Grant was hilarious to me. Clara would have eaten Grant for breakfast. Lucas a marshal does not interest me much anymore. Most of the time he is just driving or flying someone and now with his two side-kicks (Rae and Bob) it just makes me miss the Minnesota cops much more.
"Twisted Prey" has Senator Taryn Grant up to her old tricks and trying to take out a rival. At this point she would definitely fit in with our current Senate set-up. I maybe laughed at the mention of the Twitter in Chief. So we have confirmation that Davenport's world is now synced up to our own and I am sad all over again. There's not much there in this story. We get shades of Blackwater in this one with former military people doing some underhanded things and Lucas almost getting murdered. And then he, Rae, and Bob trying to put the puzzles together. This just didn't grab me like previous books.
"Twisted Prey" has Senator Taryn Grant up to her old tricks and trying to take out a rival. At this point she would definitely fit in with our current Senate set-up. I maybe laughed at the mention of the Twitter in Chief. So we have confirmation that Davenport's world is now synced up to our own and I am sad all over again. There's not much there in this story. We get shades of Blackwater in this one with former military people doing some underhanded things and Lucas almost getting murdered. And then he, Rae, and Bob trying to put the puzzles together. This just didn't grab me like previous books.
April 24, 2021
Pretty good Davenport procedural from Sandford. He brings back characters from previous novels, both good guys and bad guy. Asked by Porter Small, senator from Minnesota, to investigate an attempt on his life, Davenport gets involved with the operators from a company that supplies private military contractors. From there Davenport brings in the FBI when he finds evidence of illegal weapons shipments by that contractor. All in all a pretty good read. And, as with all of Sandford's novels, it really is a 'no brainer' book.
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