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Kidd and LuEllen #4
The Hanged Man's Song
When Kidd’s superhacker friend Bobby is murdered and his laptop is stolen, Kidd knows it’s panic time. The secrets stashed in Bobby’s computer are enough to hang Kidd and everyone else in Bobby’s criminally ingenious cyber-circle. It’s up to Kidd and his partner LuEllen to track it down, find Bobby’s killer, and save their own necks—because the secrets are downloading faster than anyone anticipated. And they’re far more staggering than anyone imagined.
332 pages, Kindle Edition
First published November 1, 2003
1012 people are currently reading
2346 people want to read
About the author
John Sandford
234 books9,630 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 330 reviews
August 8, 2019
Remember the good old days when media revelations about illegal or unethical behavior by politicians would cause a scandal that could remove them from office? Me neither at this point, but that’s when this book is set. Way back during the mid-00s when the internet was still growing, but social media hadn’t yet turned the world into a screaming hellscape devoid of decency and hope. (Sorry. It’s been a long couple of years.)
Anyhow…. Professional artist/hacker/saboteur Kidd has gone mostly legit with his paintings selling well, and he is even doing a favor for a politician that involves playing slot machines as part of a statistical investigation into potential casino skimming. His occasional snuggle bunny, the professional thief LuEllen, is helping out with this when they get word that Kidd’s infamous hacker buddy Bobby has gone offline in such a way that it’s raised an alarm, and Kidd is geographically close enough to help check on him.
What Kidd finds is Bobby murdered, and his laptop filled with hacked data is missing. Then someone claiming to be Bobby starts feeding bombshells to the media about government secrets as well as political corruption. With scandal after scandal setting cable news ablaze, Kidd and his friends are sweating what information about them might be in Bobby’s files and who has them. They have to perform a delicate balancing act of trying to get Bobby’s murder investigated without tipping off the feds to his true identity as a wanted hacker until they can get the laptop and make sure they won’t get burned in the process.
Like the other Kidd & LuEllen novels this one involves a lot of hacking, breaking & entering, a fair amount of detective work, and some fairly devious scheming. All four of the novels are at a comparable level of enjoyment and quality, and the only real knock I can put on this one is that it’s just a little too close to the previous book in which Kidd also got pulled into a bad situation when a hacker friend gets killed.
It’s interesting to note that while the series ran from the late-80s until 2003 and always had a lot about computer tech that they never feel horribly dated in the way that many of ‘90s net-crazy books did. The hacking is also portrayed with a sense of practical authenticity that feels believable, unlike the near magic that computer hacking is regularly shown to be like in most fiction anymore.
However, this last one feels the most dated in some ways. Like there’s a scene in which Kidd cobbles together a WiFi antenna from parts bought a Radio Shack, and then explains what WiFi is and how it’s becoming very popular. (Although he also wryly notes that it might be obsolete tomorrow.) That all seems very quaint now, but maybe the thing that seems really old fashioned is the idea that a political scandal revealed in the media might actually get that person removed from office at the very least. Since a lot of the plot hinges on that concept it seems hilariously out of touch these days.
Still, those are minor gripes, and as always Sandford is a master of plotting to build tension and momentum. Like a good heist movie there is a lot of planning and cleverness to the things that Kidd and Lu-Ellen need to pull off, and that’s probably the aspect I enjoy most. This also has one of my favorite sequences in the series when LuEllen gets into trouble, and Kidd quickly goes to extreme lengths in an effort to pull her out of the soup. The growing closeness of the relationship between two professional criminals who are so paranoid that Kidd doesn’t even know her real name is another interesting aspect of the series.
Like a lot of fans, I wish that Sandford had done more of these. Unfortunately, the FAQ on his official website states that he probably won’t simply because they don’t sell well enough compared to his other series although he doesn’t completely rule it out. And we do get to see more of Kidd & LuEllen now and then in the Prey novels, including a big subplot in Silken Prey that seems almost like a final curtain call for them. Still, with the way this one wraps up it seems like a shame we never got more because it opened the door to a lot of interesting possibilities.
Anyhow…. Professional artist/hacker/saboteur Kidd has gone mostly legit with his paintings selling well, and he is even doing a favor for a politician that involves playing slot machines as part of a statistical investigation into potential casino skimming. His occasional snuggle bunny, the professional thief LuEllen, is helping out with this when they get word that Kidd’s infamous hacker buddy Bobby has gone offline in such a way that it’s raised an alarm, and Kidd is geographically close enough to help check on him.
What Kidd finds is Bobby murdered, and his laptop filled with hacked data is missing. Then someone claiming to be Bobby starts feeding bombshells to the media about government secrets as well as political corruption. With scandal after scandal setting cable news ablaze, Kidd and his friends are sweating what information about them might be in Bobby’s files and who has them. They have to perform a delicate balancing act of trying to get Bobby’s murder investigated without tipping off the feds to his true identity as a wanted hacker until they can get the laptop and make sure they won’t get burned in the process.
Like the other Kidd & LuEllen novels this one involves a lot of hacking, breaking & entering, a fair amount of detective work, and some fairly devious scheming. All four of the novels are at a comparable level of enjoyment and quality, and the only real knock I can put on this one is that it’s just a little too close to the previous book in which Kidd also got pulled into a bad situation when a hacker friend gets killed.
It’s interesting to note that while the series ran from the late-80s until 2003 and always had a lot about computer tech that they never feel horribly dated in the way that many of ‘90s net-crazy books did. The hacking is also portrayed with a sense of practical authenticity that feels believable, unlike the near magic that computer hacking is regularly shown to be like in most fiction anymore.
However, this last one feels the most dated in some ways. Like there’s a scene in which Kidd cobbles together a WiFi antenna from parts bought a Radio Shack, and then explains what WiFi is and how it’s becoming very popular. (Although he also wryly notes that it might be obsolete tomorrow.) That all seems very quaint now, but maybe the thing that seems really old fashioned is the idea that a political scandal revealed in the media might actually get that person removed from office at the very least. Since a lot of the plot hinges on that concept it seems hilariously out of touch these days.
Still, those are minor gripes, and as always Sandford is a master of plotting to build tension and momentum. Like a good heist movie there is a lot of planning and cleverness to the things that Kidd and Lu-Ellen need to pull off, and that’s probably the aspect I enjoy most. This also has one of my favorite sequences in the series when LuEllen gets into trouble, and Kidd quickly goes to extreme lengths in an effort to pull her out of the soup. The growing closeness of the relationship between two professional criminals who are so paranoid that Kidd doesn’t even know her real name is another interesting aspect of the series.
Like a lot of fans, I wish that Sandford had done more of these. Unfortunately, the FAQ on his official website states that he probably won’t simply because they don’t sell well enough compared to his other series although he doesn’t completely rule it out. And we do get to see more of Kidd & LuEllen now and then in the Prey novels, including a big subplot in Silken Prey that seems almost like a final curtain call for them. Still, with the way this one wraps up it seems like a shame we never got more because it opened the door to a lot of interesting possibilities.
January 28, 2021
While I've mostly enjoyed this series, this is my least favorite and is just okay. 4 of 10 stars
March 3, 2015
Very enjoyable and entertaining book! Too bad this is the last book of the series. I like the Kidd books better than The Virgil Flowers series because he and LuEllen are such loveable characters!
February 5, 2017
This is the fourth and final Kidd & LuEllen novel, final because John Sandford has stated that sales are not high enough to justify bumping Virgil Flowers from his schedule in order to produce a fifth installment. After reading The Hanged Man’s Song, I suspect the quality of this effort is part of the reason for the series’ demise.
The protagonist is a computer hacker and because the World Wide Web is his arena, this begets an additional expectation beyond the thrilling conclusions that are a Sandford staple. If you are facing vast and near-omnipotent forces, then your novel needs to finish with more than just a physical confrontation. This greater enemy needs to be rendered frustrated and powerless. The first and third novels in the series--The Fool's Run and The Devil's Code--succeed at this. The second--The Empress File--ends in typical thriller fashion. The Hanged Man’s Song takes such a sudden turn from everything that had been built up, you actually feel a pang of despair settle in as you realize that certain major plot elements are going to be left unresolved.
In fairness, the bulk of the novel does entail the hunt for a single individual. The problem is that those other forces were always a part of the background, and then are revealed to be part of the problem, and, finally, they become involved in the action. To have them go unresolved--or resolved “off-screen” without the hero’s participation--fails the expectation of the premise.
Of course the perceived expectation could be mine alone. But when you stop to consider that John Sandford is incapable of writing an uninteresting novel, there must be some reason for this book failing to reach his accustomed level of success. My only conclusion, upon closing the book and with appropriate reflection, is that The Hanged Man’s Song neglected to meet implied promises.
The protagonist is a computer hacker and because the World Wide Web is his arena, this begets an additional expectation beyond the thrilling conclusions that are a Sandford staple. If you are facing vast and near-omnipotent forces, then your novel needs to finish with more than just a physical confrontation. This greater enemy needs to be rendered frustrated and powerless. The first and third novels in the series--The Fool's Run and The Devil's Code--succeed at this. The second--The Empress File--ends in typical thriller fashion. The Hanged Man’s Song takes such a sudden turn from everything that had been built up, you actually feel a pang of despair settle in as you realize that certain major plot elements are going to be left unresolved.
In fairness, the bulk of the novel does entail the hunt for a single individual. The problem is that those other forces were always a part of the background, and then are revealed to be part of the problem, and, finally, they become involved in the action. To have them go unresolved--or resolved “off-screen” without the hero’s participation--fails the expectation of the premise.
Of course the perceived expectation could be mine alone. But when you stop to consider that John Sandford is incapable of writing an uninteresting novel, there must be some reason for this book failing to reach his accustomed level of success. My only conclusion, upon closing the book and with appropriate reflection, is that The Hanged Man’s Song neglected to meet implied promises.
March 7, 2018
This was better than the previous installment of the Kidd and Luellen series, The Devil’s Code, but it was still not up to the normal Sandford standard. I think what is taking away from the overall excitement of the book is the amount of computer technology in it. It doesn’t lend to the excitement in the story, and in all honesty makes the book drag. Kidd’s hacker friend, Bobby, is murdered. Kidd and Luellen come down to try and solve the case. Sandford spends some time at the end of the book tying up the Kidd and Luellen story. I think this is a good thing. I’m glad I read this as I have now read all of Sandford’s novels minus his teen series. I would recommend starting with the Lucas Davernport series or the Virgil Flowers series if you want to experience the best of Sandford.
November 3, 2023
The 4th of John Sandford's Kidd & LuEllen novels, The Hanged Man's Song was a fast paced novel over possession of a laptop containing lots of potentially damaging information about numerous famous and or highly placed political people. After the murder of the original owner of the laptop there's a hunt for the murdeer who is simultaneously hunting the hunters. Lots of high tech involved but it's easy for the reader to keep up.
I've only been able to get the 1st and 4th of this series but both have been quite good and I'm on the lookout for the other two. These books aren't quite as good as the Virgil Flowers or Lucas Davenport novels but what is. They plenty good enough to recommend.
I've only been able to get the 1st and 4th of this series but both have been quite good and I'm on the lookout for the other two. These books aren't quite as good as the Virgil Flowers or Lucas Davenport novels but what is. They plenty good enough to recommend.
February 1, 2011
The Kidd series is, without question, one of my favorite fiction series. In fact, I've been waiting patiently for another installment from Mr. Sandford since 2003! Of the four novels, The Hanged Man's Song stands out as the finest work. Since reading it for the first time, I grabbed the abridged audio version read by Richard Ferrone and have listened to it multiple times. THAT is how good the story is. Just make sure you read the first three books first...
September 3, 2012
The Hanged Man’s Song is the fourth (and final?) of the Kidd/LuEllen novels by John Sandford. The first two, The Empress File and The Fool’s Run, were written under his own name, John Camp.
This book should not be read by someone who is not familiar with the series until they have read the first books. The character, Bobby, who is murdered in the first chapter is integral to the first books and without that background, the reader would not know who has been killed. Kidd and John (another early character) discover Bobby’s body and immediately search for his computer. Not finding it the search is on for the killer and that computer. Again, without reading the first of the series, the reader really has no idea of the real significance of the missing computer. Sandford makes an effort to fill the reader in, but nothing beats the background of earlier books.
After that the book is pretty much a chase novel, moving from New Orleans to Washington D.C. and then further along in the pursuit of Carp, the killer.
While I really enjoyed the Kidd series I can also understand the reasons behind Sandford abandoning the character and moving on to Flowers. Computer hacking might have been exciting back when he first started the series, ‘89, but in the 21st Century, it really is a boring subject, as everyone has a PC and access to a lot of information on the ‘net and corporate firewalls and alarms are so much more sophisticated than they were 20 some years ago. To make the stories exciting would push credibility too much.
For those Sandford fans who have not read the Kidd series, I strongly suggest you go back to the beginning and read them. You won’t be disappointed.
This book should not be read by someone who is not familiar with the series until they have read the first books. The character, Bobby, who is murdered in the first chapter is integral to the first books and without that background, the reader would not know who has been killed. Kidd and John (another early character) discover Bobby’s body and immediately search for his computer. Not finding it the search is on for the killer and that computer. Again, without reading the first of the series, the reader really has no idea of the real significance of the missing computer. Sandford makes an effort to fill the reader in, but nothing beats the background of earlier books.
After that the book is pretty much a chase novel, moving from New Orleans to Washington D.C. and then further along in the pursuit of Carp, the killer.
While I really enjoyed the Kidd series I can also understand the reasons behind Sandford abandoning the character and moving on to Flowers. Computer hacking might have been exciting back when he first started the series, ‘89, but in the 21st Century, it really is a boring subject, as everyone has a PC and access to a lot of information on the ‘net and corporate firewalls and alarms are so much more sophisticated than they were 20 some years ago. To make the stories exciting would push credibility too much.
For those Sandford fans who have not read the Kidd series, I strongly suggest you go back to the beginning and read them. You won’t be disappointed.
November 29, 2020
Somewhere out there are two would-be authors who got short changed when they were handing out creativity and literary chops. This must be true, since John Sandford has three-- count 'em-- three distinct novel series that are just top drawer good: The Prey series, the Virgil Flower series, and this Kidd & LuEllen series. So, the way I figure it, there's gotta be at least two writers that just plain got robbed!
All of that notwithstanding, this fourth book is highly entertaining, despite the need to suspend disbelief a bit more than usual. Kidd and LuEllen seem to spend a lot more time together, intimately and otherwise, than they have in the past. Call me a hopeless romantic, but it made me glad to see.
They are knee-deep in the plot early on, and while LuEllen actually plays a lesser role in the recovery of a stolen computer that is central to the entire story, her presence lends something to the book that makes it more enjoyable. The plot is well drawn and, if you squint, pretty believable, up to a point. The notion of the government playing around with big data and collecting info on the citizens that might be used nefariously is pretty easy to buy, especially nowadays. The portrayal of "good-guy" hackers serving an invaluable role in sort of a checks-and-balances manner feels good, even if it might be wishful thinking.
I hope that this is not the end of the series since these stories, dated though they might be in terms of tech, are highly entertaining in ways that the aforementioned series are not. They are more quirky and lighthearted, and told from a distinctly "not cop" perspective. It's the only one of the three series that I'd say reading in order is strongly recommended which, given the limited number of books, is easy to do. Easy to endorse this series and an author who, well, doesn't need any more endorsement. Sorry, you two would-be authors...
All of that notwithstanding, this fourth book is highly entertaining, despite the need to suspend disbelief a bit more than usual. Kidd and LuEllen seem to spend a lot more time together, intimately and otherwise, than they have in the past. Call me a hopeless romantic, but it made me glad to see.
They are knee-deep in the plot early on, and while LuEllen actually plays a lesser role in the recovery of a stolen computer that is central to the entire story, her presence lends something to the book that makes it more enjoyable. The plot is well drawn and, if you squint, pretty believable, up to a point. The notion of the government playing around with big data and collecting info on the citizens that might be used nefariously is pretty easy to buy, especially nowadays. The portrayal of "good-guy" hackers serving an invaluable role in sort of a checks-and-balances manner feels good, even if it might be wishful thinking.
I hope that this is not the end of the series since these stories, dated though they might be in terms of tech, are highly entertaining in ways that the aforementioned series are not. They are more quirky and lighthearted, and told from a distinctly "not cop" perspective. It's the only one of the three series that I'd say reading in order is strongly recommended which, given the limited number of books, is easy to do. Easy to endorse this series and an author who, well, doesn't need any more endorsement. Sorry, you two would-be authors...
July 31, 2018
SUBJECTIVE READER REVIEW WITH PLOT SPOILERS FOLLOWS:
The Kidd & LuEllen Series is fairly old--published between '89-'03--so they're difficult to find hard copies of, but Mr. K's didn't let me down. 'The Hanged Man's Song' was pre-refined Sandford; before he settled into his slick money trough called Davenport. But it wasn't that bad a read; interestingly Sandford keeps the number of characters introduced during the book to an absolute minimum, so you don't have trouble remembering who's who. I'll be damned if I could find one reference to the title phrase in the book however, so that remains a mystery. Kidd is sorta like a white collar criminal, and is totally paranoid about anyone ever knowing who he is. So Lucas Davenport mighta started off as a sociopathic sexual prize collector BW, and Kidd might just have been the rough stone Sandford carved Lucas from. Oh, BW? Before Weather.
If this book had been written 15 years later, Robert 'Bobby' Fields would have been known as a prince of the dark internet. As it is, he's the best sleuth of data in the world, and the files he builds in his databases pull from all of the net-connected systems run by private and public America. Bobby's laptop's got encrypted files containing all the hellishly felonious activities of all key politicians and corporate moguls--sorta the latter day J. Edgar. The key to his survival is anonymity, and he manages this while keeping dozens of 'friends' in his network of 'specialists.' The thing that finally undoes him is his charitable heart, as one of his 'network' trace him back after he gifts a poor black teenage girl with a laptop loaded with the 'basic communications' software. Jimmy James Carp obviously didn't think through the burglary/murder of Bobby too well, because the dark side 'friends' of Bobby's recognize the potential for exposure by Carp and set out to stop him. Kidd is one of Bobby's 'network friends.'
Kidd's relationship with LuEllen was self-analyzed as a 'years long, on-again off-again, re-emergent one' where both found solace of predictable, comfortable and aggressive sex. Predictably it was great fun reading about their travels, where Kidd and/or LuEllen would focus intently on crucial investigative matters until screwing each other's brains out was the most crucial matter of need. Most of the time they were pretty savvy hunters, but it was 'find the laptop' instead of 'follow the money.' When Carp begins releasing snippets of Bobby's files, all hell breaks loose. For instance: a picture exposé of government-sponsored release of the Norwalk-virus in San Francisco; film footage of a US Special Forces Captain executing a Taliban prisoner in Afghanistan; a prominent US Senator's covering up his daughter's DUI via political shakedown; and the President's National Security Advisor performing in a 19 years old college play with blackface makeup. But Kidd's more interested in the dirt Bobby no doubt had on him and LuEllen, and that's what motivated the hunt.
That's enough of the plot to tell whether you're interested or not; you gotta put out the karmic energy to read the damn book! I liked it, so I think you will too, if for no other reason than to experience Sandford before he became the machine with Putnam. I kinda liked John in the raw, before he became famous. You will too, if you can find the book; it's probably readily available in ebook, but I'm just a dinosaur. Enjoy!
The Kidd & LuEllen Series is fairly old--published between '89-'03--so they're difficult to find hard copies of, but Mr. K's didn't let me down. 'The Hanged Man's Song' was pre-refined Sandford; before he settled into his slick money trough called Davenport. But it wasn't that bad a read; interestingly Sandford keeps the number of characters introduced during the book to an absolute minimum, so you don't have trouble remembering who's who. I'll be damned if I could find one reference to the title phrase in the book however, so that remains a mystery. Kidd is sorta like a white collar criminal, and is totally paranoid about anyone ever knowing who he is. So Lucas Davenport mighta started off as a sociopathic sexual prize collector BW, and Kidd might just have been the rough stone Sandford carved Lucas from. Oh, BW? Before Weather.
If this book had been written 15 years later, Robert 'Bobby' Fields would have been known as a prince of the dark internet. As it is, he's the best sleuth of data in the world, and the files he builds in his databases pull from all of the net-connected systems run by private and public America. Bobby's laptop's got encrypted files containing all the hellishly felonious activities of all key politicians and corporate moguls--sorta the latter day J. Edgar. The key to his survival is anonymity, and he manages this while keeping dozens of 'friends' in his network of 'specialists.' The thing that finally undoes him is his charitable heart, as one of his 'network' trace him back after he gifts a poor black teenage girl with a laptop loaded with the 'basic communications' software. Jimmy James Carp obviously didn't think through the burglary/murder of Bobby too well, because the dark side 'friends' of Bobby's recognize the potential for exposure by Carp and set out to stop him. Kidd is one of Bobby's 'network friends.'
Kidd's relationship with LuEllen was self-analyzed as a 'years long, on-again off-again, re-emergent one' where both found solace of predictable, comfortable and aggressive sex. Predictably it was great fun reading about their travels, where Kidd and/or LuEllen would focus intently on crucial investigative matters until screwing each other's brains out was the most crucial matter of need. Most of the time they were pretty savvy hunters, but it was 'find the laptop' instead of 'follow the money.' When Carp begins releasing snippets of Bobby's files, all hell breaks loose. For instance: a picture exposé of government-sponsored release of the Norwalk-virus in San Francisco; film footage of a US Special Forces Captain executing a Taliban prisoner in Afghanistan; a prominent US Senator's covering up his daughter's DUI via political shakedown; and the President's National Security Advisor performing in a 19 years old college play with blackface makeup. But Kidd's more interested in the dirt Bobby no doubt had on him and LuEllen, and that's what motivated the hunt.
That's enough of the plot to tell whether you're interested or not; you gotta put out the karmic energy to read the damn book! I liked it, so I think you will too, if for no other reason than to experience Sandford before he became the machine with Putnam. I kinda liked John in the raw, before he became famous. You will too, if you can find the book; it's probably readily available in ebook, but I'm just a dinosaur. Enjoy!
December 29, 2017
I'm actually sorry to see this series end. This was an enjoyable book, perhaps the best of the series. Sandford must have known he was going to end the series, as he ended this one with no where to go. It could have gotten so much better if it was extended into the future we have now where cyber hacking and events affect so much more of our lives than it did back when the Kidd series of books was written. The only thing I can guess is that Sandford really didn't understand computers all that well to know the affect they have on our lives, and how easily they can be subverted by those with the skill and intent to do harm. It behooves us to be especially vigilant. Well worth reading.
September 7, 2020
I'm reading this series backwards. lol. really enjoying the computer hacker, KIDD. I love electronics, was into computers at 10.
March 16, 2023
This is the 4th, and hopefully last, book from the Kidd & Lauren series. Yes, I know it is LuEllen but if you read the book you will see.
I am a big fan of John Sandford. I love the Flowers and Davenport series. Actually, this book is the best of the K&L series. Not as much computer hacking minutia. More action and hunting down the bad guy, who is known early on.
Bobby, the computer hacking mentor of many, including Kidd, is killed. Kidd, LuEllen, and others go after the killer who has stolen Bobby's computer and is using it to attack our beloved politicians because of scandals that Bobby knew about and had documented. What else was on Bobby's computer? Are there things on it that can hurt the hacking world, including Kidd? The goal of the group is to get Bobby's computer back and capture his killer. A young girl named Rachel, who Bobby had helped out with, makes a memorable appearance.
I have noticed that LuEllen always leaves Kidd before the end of the story and Kidd finishes the quest on his own. Why? I also dislike the use of Tarot cards by Kidd in every book.
Back to Flowers and his style for me.
I am a big fan of John Sandford. I love the Flowers and Davenport series. Actually, this book is the best of the K&L series. Not as much computer hacking minutia. More action and hunting down the bad guy, who is known early on.
Bobby, the computer hacking mentor of many, including Kidd, is killed. Kidd, LuEllen, and others go after the killer who has stolen Bobby's computer and is using it to attack our beloved politicians because of scandals that Bobby knew about and had documented. What else was on Bobby's computer? Are there things on it that can hurt the hacking world, including Kidd? The goal of the group is to get Bobby's computer back and capture his killer. A young girl named Rachel, who Bobby had helped out with, makes a memorable appearance.
I have noticed that LuEllen always leaves Kidd before the end of the story and Kidd finishes the quest on his own. Why? I also dislike the use of Tarot cards by Kidd in every book.
Back to Flowers and his style for me.
September 28, 2021
First read this book about 18 years ago. My reading buddy Frank got me hooked on Sandford. This was the 4th and probably the last of the Kidd & LuEllen series as Sandford had to write 31 Davenport novels. Can't beat a good Sandford story. Kidd a computer geek and artist while LuEllen is a high end thief and sometime lover to Kidd. In this story Bobby, Kidd's superhacker has gone off-line. Time to panic. One hell of a read. enjoy.
July 25, 2021
This is the 4th and final book in this series and the only one I read. I thought the book gave you a look at the possibilities of how information obtained through computer hacking can destroy a lot of people, create black mail situations, distrust of the federal government, and, overall, create chaos. The book follows Kidd, LuEllen as they try to set things right and take revenge for a fellow hacker. This series ended but I could see a future for Kid and LuEllen, if Sandford wanted to continue with the series, especially in the current cybercrimes environment. I enjoyed the book.
September 4, 2020
3.8 Stars
Not quite as good as his L. Davenport or V. Flowers novels but it was still real good. Its a good read while your waiting on the aforementioned characters new books to come out. Sanford fans should definitely check it out.
Not quite as good as his L. Davenport or V. Flowers novels but it was still real good. Its a good read while your waiting on the aforementioned characters new books to come out. Sanford fans should definitely check it out.
February 26, 2024
Számítógépes téma, részben krimi történet is, régen sokat olvastam a szerzőtől.
A hacker karakterek érdekesek, a bűnöket nem ők követik el, bár nyilván az „online kalózkodás” is törvénysértés. A sztori kb. 20 éves, még nem volt Facebook, és jó pár dolog döcögősebben ment a neten, fura volt olvasni, még úgy is, hogy igen keveset értek a computer-világból.
Ha valakit ez érdekel, és kedveli a lassabban folyó, és nem nagyon erőszakos krimit, érdekes karakterekkel, annak ajánlom!
Sandford a politikusokról igen rossz véleménnyel van:))
A hacker karakterek érdekesek, a bűnöket nem ők követik el, bár nyilván az „online kalózkodás” is törvénysértés. A sztori kb. 20 éves, még nem volt Facebook, és jó pár dolog döcögősebben ment a neten, fura volt olvasni, még úgy is, hogy igen keveset értek a computer-világból.
Ha valakit ez érdekel, és kedveli a lassabban folyó, és nem nagyon erőszakos krimit, érdekes karakterekkel, annak ajánlom!
Sandford a politikusokról igen rossz véleménnyel van:))
November 25, 2025
Really enjoyed this Kidd book! Some great twists and turns. For me it was the best Kidd book to date! Can’t wait for another to come out! C’mon John!
November 21, 2018
I am sad this is the last of the series. I do know that they pop up occasionally in the Prey books. I would have given it 5 stars if they had gotten married at the end of this book!
December 10, 2021
We learn a little more about LuEllen in this series this time. Kidd, the artist and Kidd the tech guy, not to mention the tough guy, nice fast paced thriller.
June 23, 2018
Good thriller with Thomas Kidd investigating the murder of computer hacker Bobby.
July 2, 2011
Out of all the Kidd novels, I thought this was the best one. After a "virtual" friend and associate is murdered, Kidd is brought in to the chase of his lifetime. Bobby, who was probably the most world-renowned computer hacker, was murdered and Kidd knows that this situation is about to get 100 times worse. With Kidd being an artist (painter) and a hacker himself, he understands that any information that was on Bobby's (stolen) computer could incriminate himself and everyone else that worked in the same ring as Bobby. Trying to find out who the person was that killed and stole Bobby's lap top, will lead him and his on-again off-again partner Luellen into some dangerous territory. When they find out that the killer has already de-encrypted Bobby's computer, and top blackmail information starts hitting the media, the race to find this man gets more intense. With some poetic justice from an old-time friend in Mississippi, they get their killer and all hackers are once again safe...because Kidd has all the information right in front of him to view at any time...
Read
July 19, 2021A clever, economical and fast-paced thriller. I wonder why John Sandford gave up on this series.
April 7, 2019
This is the first Kidd book by John Sandford that I've read (although he turns up in one of the Lucas Davenport 'Prey' books, down the road). And it turns out that it's Sandford's last Kidd book, period. Kidd is a very Sandford character--kind of a smartass. His schtick is that he's an artist--a painter--who dabbles in computer crime.
Giving the book three stars doesn't mean I didn't like it. I did. But Sandford's other lead characters--Davenport and Virgil Flowers--are far more distinct and colorful personalities. And I can understand why Sandford left Kidd and moved to greener pastures: computer-based crime is no longer sexy or mysterious. In fact, the best part of the book is that it was written 16 years ago, using what was then cutting-edge technology that today is kind of hilarious. Kidd and his girlfriend, LuEllen, are constantly driving around looking for free wi-fi, for example--or dialing up at a phone booth. The mere fact that they can find phone booths with phones that work is...well, hilarious.
I am guessing that Sandford was an early adopter who got some traction with tech-based thrillers, but when everybody in the world started accessing everything online found he was no longer out front. He did the right thing in leaving Kidd behind. Nonetheless, it was a pretty good read.
Giving the book three stars doesn't mean I didn't like it. I did. But Sandford's other lead characters--Davenport and Virgil Flowers--are far more distinct and colorful personalities. And I can understand why Sandford left Kidd and moved to greener pastures: computer-based crime is no longer sexy or mysterious. In fact, the best part of the book is that it was written 16 years ago, using what was then cutting-edge technology that today is kind of hilarious. Kidd and his girlfriend, LuEllen, are constantly driving around looking for free wi-fi, for example--or dialing up at a phone booth. The mere fact that they can find phone booths with phones that work is...well, hilarious.
I am guessing that Sandford was an early adopter who got some traction with tech-based thrillers, but when everybody in the world started accessing everything online found he was no longer out front. He did the right thing in leaving Kidd behind. Nonetheless, it was a pretty good read.
June 14, 2020
I started reading the book this past week. I had not read any of the Kidd series previously. This one was published in 2003. Opening involves a black man being killed by a white man. Really? This is not what I wanted to read. My first thoughts included how does this keep going on? Why is this alright? I hadn't read a Sanford book in awhile--was he always like this? And because I have enjoyed past books, I thought--keep going.
It did get better. The story was not overly racially related despite the opening. The characters are solid, the dialogue (internal and external), the detail involved in the coding, the inter-related politics, and story plot overall is excellent.
I was in a car dealership yesterday for an early appointment for service. An older white woman sat in a socially distant chair near me and asked what I was reading. I held up the cover to show her. "Oh, don't you like F***ing Flowers, too?" she asks. Choking back laughter I nodded. Then she asked which of the Prey books were my favorite.
Again, this was a signed author copy from a charity book sale. The book cover is well designed, the chapter pages are interesting, the weight of the paper is good. It is a nice book to look at. I appreciate that.
It did get better. The story was not overly racially related despite the opening. The characters are solid, the dialogue (internal and external), the detail involved in the coding, the inter-related politics, and story plot overall is excellent.
I was in a car dealership yesterday for an early appointment for service. An older white woman sat in a socially distant chair near me and asked what I was reading. I held up the cover to show her. "Oh, don't you like F***ing Flowers, too?" she asks. Choking back laughter I nodded. Then she asked which of the Prey books were my favorite.
Again, this was a signed author copy from a charity book sale. The book cover is well designed, the chapter pages are interesting, the weight of the paper is good. It is a nice book to look at. I appreciate that.
May 2, 2022
Kidd calls Bobby his friend although they have never met in person. They are both computer hackers and Bobby heads up the group of those who make their living this way. When Kidd can't get in contact with Bobby, he knows its time to make the journey to Bobby's house. When he gets there, he finds what he had half expected and dreaded--Bobby has been killed. Worse, the laptop that may hold all the details of who is in the group and what they have been doing for years has been stolen.
With his sometime girlfriend, LuEllen, Kidd and another friend, start to unravel Bobby's life and determine who has killed Bobby and what they plan to do with the information on the laptop. It's an involved chase and there are other deaths along the way. Will Kidd be successful?
This is the fourth and final novel in the Kidd series. It was published in 2004 and eighteen years is a lifetime in computer terms so the technical side is a bit antiquated. But the story of murder and retribution is fresh and interesting and the reader will be totally involved in the chase. This book is recommended for mystery readers.
With his sometime girlfriend, LuEllen, Kidd and another friend, start to unravel Bobby's life and determine who has killed Bobby and what they plan to do with the information on the laptop. It's an involved chase and there are other deaths along the way. Will Kidd be successful?
This is the fourth and final novel in the Kidd series. It was published in 2004 and eighteen years is a lifetime in computer terms so the technical side is a bit antiquated. But the story of murder and retribution is fresh and interesting and the reader will be totally involved in the chase. This book is recommended for mystery readers.
June 22, 2025
YouTube link to my video book review:
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=NoVG_x_...
After his first three attempts in for the Kidd Series featuring THE FOOL'S RUN (Good beginning, but fell off the cliff badly in the middle and end.), THE EMPRESS FILE (Complete GARBAGE!!!), THE DEVIL'S CODE (Decent, yet my favorite Kidd novel), John Sanford finally fades the series to black with the last installment of THE HANGED MAN'S SONG. The $65,000 Final Jeopardy question that readers and John Sandford fans should ask themselves is: does THE HANGED MAN'S SONG live up to the hype? The answer to that question, in my honest opinion, is "No."
Overall, one of the biggest problems with THE HANGED MAN'S SONG is that some of the elements of the book can be intriguing in some aspects and fuzzy in others, nonetheless. On top of that, the integration of Kidd's with a character from Sandford's hallmark Prey Series is nonetheless silhouetted entirely. Thereby, this book gets the yellow light on the low end.
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=NoVG_x_...
After his first three attempts in for the Kidd Series featuring THE FOOL'S RUN (Good beginning, but fell off the cliff badly in the middle and end.), THE EMPRESS FILE (Complete GARBAGE!!!), THE DEVIL'S CODE (Decent, yet my favorite Kidd novel), John Sanford finally fades the series to black with the last installment of THE HANGED MAN'S SONG. The $65,000 Final Jeopardy question that readers and John Sandford fans should ask themselves is: does THE HANGED MAN'S SONG live up to the hype? The answer to that question, in my honest opinion, is "No."
Overall, one of the biggest problems with THE HANGED MAN'S SONG is that some of the elements of the book can be intriguing in some aspects and fuzzy in others, nonetheless. On top of that, the integration of Kidd's with a character from Sandford's hallmark Prey Series is nonetheless silhouetted entirely. Thereby, this book gets the yellow light on the low end.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 24, 2018
Invisible Prey 17 - have a new baby. Brief help about art questions.
18 - a Kidd painting makes an appearance. L knows him. Kidd is "goofy". Has a 1 year old.
23 Silken - at end Licas figures out that it wss L who tipped him about murder from stolen phone. He researches her background. Dad left family broke; she started stealing. Stole from police station after cop questions her. Sends her postcard from hometown: Glad you're not here. Oh shit moment. She and Kidd throw $250K watch in river o nothing links them to theft.
26 Extreme - K traces emails, then suspect, for Lucas; helping him solve crime. BBQ at Lucas's at end.
28 Twisted - K reverse finds some info for L. L gives K info about illegal activity by contractors, giving soldiers bad equipment. K "really hates that stuff".
18 - a Kidd painting makes an appearance. L knows him. Kidd is "goofy". Has a 1 year old.
23 Silken - at end Licas figures out that it wss L who tipped him about murder from stolen phone. He researches her background. Dad left family broke; she started stealing. Stole from police station after cop questions her. Sends her postcard from hometown: Glad you're not here. Oh shit moment. She and Kidd throw $250K watch in river o nothing links them to theft.
26 Extreme - K traces emails, then suspect, for Lucas; helping him solve crime. BBQ at Lucas's at end.
28 Twisted - K reverse finds some info for L. L gives K info about illegal activity by contractors, giving soldiers bad equipment. K "really hates that stuff".
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 2, 2023
This was the abridged version of the audiobook which may be one of the reasons for the 2-star rating. There were also some last-minute plot points that made it 2 stars as well. I wonder if these plot points were more fully expanded on in the full book because in this version they came out of nowhere and weren’t needed at all.
The other reason I didn’t like this story is because I was glad it was short as it was because I couldn’t see now the whole book would have been able to keep up the intensity of the timeline. This book also includes a ton of government conspiracy stuff, and I just am not a fan of those types of stories.
The narrator was fine. I kind of wish I would have started with the first book in the series to get to know more of the characters but this was the only one with Kidd I could locate on audio.
The other reason I didn’t like this story is because I was glad it was short as it was because I couldn’t see now the whole book would have been able to keep up the intensity of the timeline. This book also includes a ton of government conspiracy stuff, and I just am not a fan of those types of stories.
The narrator was fine. I kind of wish I would have started with the first book in the series to get to know more of the characters but this was the only one with Kidd I could locate on audio.
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