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Letty Davenport #1
The Investigator
Letty Davenport, the brilliant and tenacious adopted daughter of Lucas Davenport, takes the investigative reins in the newest thriller from #1 bestselling author John Sandford.
By age twenty-four, Letty Davenport has seen more action and uncovered more secrets than many law enforcement professionals. Now a recent Stanford grad with a master’s in economics, she’s restless and bored in a desk job for U.S. Senator Colles. Letty’s ready to quit, but her skills have impressed Colles, and he offers her a carrot: feet-on-the-ground investigative work, in conjunction with the Department of Homeland Security.
Several oil companies in Texas have reported thefts of crude, Colles tells her. He isn’t so much concerned with the oil as he is with the money: who is selling the oil, and what are they doing with the profits? Rumor has it that a fairly ugly militia group—led by a woman known only as Lorelai—might be involved. Colles wants to know if the money is going to them, and if so, what they’re planning.
Letty is partnered with a DHS investigator, John Kaiser, and they head to Texas. When the case quicky turns deadly, they know they’re on the track of something bigger. Lorelai and her group have set in motion an explosive plan . . . and the clock is ticking down.
By age twenty-four, Letty Davenport has seen more action and uncovered more secrets than many law enforcement professionals. Now a recent Stanford grad with a master’s in economics, she’s restless and bored in a desk job for U.S. Senator Colles. Letty’s ready to quit, but her skills have impressed Colles, and he offers her a carrot: feet-on-the-ground investigative work, in conjunction with the Department of Homeland Security.
Several oil companies in Texas have reported thefts of crude, Colles tells her. He isn’t so much concerned with the oil as he is with the money: who is selling the oil, and what are they doing with the profits? Rumor has it that a fairly ugly militia group—led by a woman known only as Lorelai—might be involved. Colles wants to know if the money is going to them, and if so, what they’re planning.
Letty is partnered with a DHS investigator, John Kaiser, and they head to Texas. When the case quicky turns deadly, they know they’re on the track of something bigger. Lorelai and her group have set in motion an explosive plan . . . and the clock is ticking down.
392 pages, Hardcover
First published April 12, 2022
4214 people are currently reading
8813 people want to read
About the author
John Sandford
234 books9,634 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 2,329 reviews
April 11, 2022
3.5 ⭐
I enjoyed it but I need some balance. This was an entertaining read despite some character drawbacks.
I love John Sandford's writing, storytelling, and humor. My following of his Lucas Davenport and Virgil Flowers series proves that I'm a huge fan. When I heard he has a spinoff, I was ecstatic! This is a well-written mystery crime thriller involving stolen crude oil. Oil companies want to capture the thieves, while Homeland security is concerned about what the right-wing militia group is doing with the money. Letty and John Kaiser, DHS investigator and former Delta Force head to Texas.
If you haven't read Lucas Davenport series, you won't be lost. The backstory of Letty Davenport is told seamlessly by the author. Letty had a tragic childhood. She grew up with an alcoholic single mother whom she looked after as a pre-teen. She hunted and trapped animals to sell or feed them both. She killed multiple bad people in self-defense and when her mother was murdered, twelve-year-old Letty was adopted by Lucas and his wife, Weather.
A little problem I have is that the NOW Letty is exceptional in every way; a Stanford grad, good-looking and fit, wears fashionable clothes and expensive jewelry (including high-end underwear), a sharpshooter (beats Delta Force guy at a shooting range), she owns a variety of firearms (the kind that made gun nuts droool) just to name a few.
Letty has an interesting background but is too perfect. I understand that Letty represents a strong modern woman. She's extremely confident for a twenty-four-year-old who just start working. She leads the investigation while John Kaiser sort of tags along as partner. I'm happy he was given a chance to demonstrate his experience in one scene which was refreshing!
Letty's spin-off from the Lucas Davenport series reminds me of how Renee Ballard is Harry Bosch. The authors created a new series with a female lead a carbon copy of their successful male characters. I would love this more if Letty's perfection is more understated. Despite my mini-rant, I'm still all-in for the next one!
Audio note: I saw that Richard Ferrone narrates this, an interesting choice. He does all Lucas books which I love and I'll listen to this at some point.
Thank you G.P. Putnam's Sons and NG for this ARC.
Available April 12, 2022!
I enjoyed it but I need some balance. This was an entertaining read despite some character drawbacks.
I love John Sandford's writing, storytelling, and humor. My following of his Lucas Davenport and Virgil Flowers series proves that I'm a huge fan. When I heard he has a spinoff, I was ecstatic! This is a well-written mystery crime thriller involving stolen crude oil. Oil companies want to capture the thieves, while Homeland security is concerned about what the right-wing militia group is doing with the money. Letty and John Kaiser, DHS investigator and former Delta Force head to Texas.
If you haven't read Lucas Davenport series, you won't be lost. The backstory of Letty Davenport is told seamlessly by the author. Letty had a tragic childhood. She grew up with an alcoholic single mother whom she looked after as a pre-teen. She hunted and trapped animals to sell or feed them both. She killed multiple bad people in self-defense and when her mother was murdered, twelve-year-old Letty was adopted by Lucas and his wife, Weather.
A little problem I have is that the NOW Letty is exceptional in every way; a Stanford grad, good-looking and fit, wears fashionable clothes and expensive jewelry (including high-end underwear), a sharpshooter (beats Delta Force guy at a shooting range), she owns a variety of firearms (the kind that made gun nuts droool) just to name a few.
Letty has an interesting background but is too perfect. I understand that Letty represents a strong modern woman. She's extremely confident for a twenty-four-year-old who just start working. She leads the investigation while John Kaiser sort of tags along as partner. I'm happy he was given a chance to demonstrate his experience in one scene which was refreshing!
Letty's spin-off from the Lucas Davenport series reminds me of how Renee Ballard is Harry Bosch. The authors created a new series with a female lead a carbon copy of their successful male characters. I would love this more if Letty's perfection is more understated. Despite my mini-rant, I'm still all-in for the next one!
Audio note: I saw that Richard Ferrone narrates this, an interesting choice. He does all Lucas books which I love and I'll listen to this at some point.
Thank you G.P. Putnam's Sons and NG for this ARC.
Available April 12, 2022!
January 28, 2022
John Sanford brings investigation, suspense, and plenty of action to the first book in the Letty Davenport series. Letty has had an unconventional, tragic, and violent childhood mixed with her beneficial adoption by Lucas Davenport, the protagonist in the author’s Prey series. She’s now twenty-four, a graduate of Stanford, and working for Senator Christopher Colles. Letty is also bored until she is offered a position as a liaison between the senator’s office and the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). In her first assignment, she is a researcher partnered with investigator John Kaiser. There are complaints about missing oil. DHS is concerned about what the thieves are going to do with the money they are getting.
Letty is smart and lean with a somewhat warped sense of humor and a tendency to be rash at times. She also takes after Lucas in several ways including her proficiency and knowledge of guns and her love of fashion. John and Letty start out on somewhat rocky ground when they first meet, but this is soon resolved via showing their areas of expertise and how they balance one another. Their personalities and approaches to an investigation are somewhat different, but they quickly learn to trust and depend on each other. Both characters have depth and show growth.
The story is part investigation and part action thriller. The opening is memorable and, starting with chapter three, readers get the occasional point of view of the antagonists, rather than the entire book being from Letty’s point of view.
Sandford’s writing is always great. It was fluid and flowed well, and his world-building was fantastic. There was a strong sense of place causing me to feel transported to Texas and its border towns, as though living the events alongside the characters. He’s a superb storyteller who kept me on the edge of my seat as the investigation and action unfolded. The final action scenes are riveting and hauntingly memorable. The conflict is seen from different angles as readers get insight from both Letty and the antagonists. It is very relevant and has a terrifying realism to it. Themes include violence, murder, immigration, childhood trauma, theft, security, and much more.
Overall, this was suspenseful, unsettling, and action packed with compelling characters that kept me turning the pages. With a heart-rending plot, exciting scenes, and fascinating story, it captivated and terrified me. It’s a great start to a series and I’m looking forward to reading more about Letty and her future assignments.
PENGUIN GROUP Putnam, G.P. Putnam's Sons and John Sandford provided a complimentary digital ARC of this novel via NetGalley. This is my honest review. Opinions are mine alone and are not biased in any way. Publication date is currently set for April 12, 2022. This review was originally posted at Mystery and Suspense Magazine.
----------------------------
My 5 star review will be posted 3-4 days after it is published in Mystery and Suspense Magazine.
Letty is smart and lean with a somewhat warped sense of humor and a tendency to be rash at times. She also takes after Lucas in several ways including her proficiency and knowledge of guns and her love of fashion. John and Letty start out on somewhat rocky ground when they first meet, but this is soon resolved via showing their areas of expertise and how they balance one another. Their personalities and approaches to an investigation are somewhat different, but they quickly learn to trust and depend on each other. Both characters have depth and show growth.
The story is part investigation and part action thriller. The opening is memorable and, starting with chapter three, readers get the occasional point of view of the antagonists, rather than the entire book being from Letty’s point of view.
Sandford’s writing is always great. It was fluid and flowed well, and his world-building was fantastic. There was a strong sense of place causing me to feel transported to Texas and its border towns, as though living the events alongside the characters. He’s a superb storyteller who kept me on the edge of my seat as the investigation and action unfolded. The final action scenes are riveting and hauntingly memorable. The conflict is seen from different angles as readers get insight from both Letty and the antagonists. It is very relevant and has a terrifying realism to it. Themes include violence, murder, immigration, childhood trauma, theft, security, and much more.
Overall, this was suspenseful, unsettling, and action packed with compelling characters that kept me turning the pages. With a heart-rending plot, exciting scenes, and fascinating story, it captivated and terrified me. It’s a great start to a series and I’m looking forward to reading more about Letty and her future assignments.
PENGUIN GROUP Putnam, G.P. Putnam's Sons and John Sandford provided a complimentary digital ARC of this novel via NetGalley. This is my honest review. Opinions are mine alone and are not biased in any way. Publication date is currently set for April 12, 2022. This review was originally posted at Mystery and Suspense Magazine.
----------------------------
My 5 star review will be posted 3-4 days after it is published in Mystery and Suspense Magazine.
May 1, 2022
Loved this one. Another hit. It has the same structure as other Sanford novels. There are two protagonists one playing off the other. Letty is the leader even though her male partner has a vast amount of experience. Great strong female character. This series is set to go the distance.
Sanford always finds a way to empower someone through legal channels that makes it sound so real.
What I found interesting is that the antagonist is also a well-thought-out character with great depth. This places Jane and Letty at odds—who’s smarter, who’s going to win. Great conflict and an interesting juxtaposition.
The setting plays a major role in this book as it does in most Sanford novels.
I could see some readers not liking this book because of the political triggers. I too read for entertainment and dislike authors who use this medium as a way to vent their political view. But in this case Sanford needed a political view point for fuel his story, to give it legs and make it run. I was okay with it. Better than okay, I was so invested in the story I did not even think about this aspect until I sat down to write the review.
For the most part the overall structure of the book mirrors some of the other Davenport books, where someone in Washington uses the talents of Davenport, in this case Letty, as a secret weapon.
I loved the character development between Kaiser and Letty, their banter. Just the right amount. The bad guys plan progresses at a pace easy to follow and even though the author juggled a lot of crooks and their names, I was never confused or lost. The sign of a true master.
There were a couple of plot holes, one large enough to fall into. Having to do with communication with Letty and Kaiser on the ground cut off from the other law enforcement agencies, why did law enforcement not up a drone, or high-flying surveillance aircraft. Didn’t matter for me I was in it for the ride.
David Putnam author of the Bruno Johnson series.
Sanford always finds a way to empower someone through legal channels that makes it sound so real.
What I found interesting is that the antagonist is also a well-thought-out character with great depth. This places Jane and Letty at odds—who’s smarter, who’s going to win. Great conflict and an interesting juxtaposition.
The setting plays a major role in this book as it does in most Sanford novels.
I could see some readers not liking this book because of the political triggers. I too read for entertainment and dislike authors who use this medium as a way to vent their political view. But in this case Sanford needed a political view point for fuel his story, to give it legs and make it run. I was okay with it. Better than okay, I was so invested in the story I did not even think about this aspect until I sat down to write the review.
For the most part the overall structure of the book mirrors some of the other Davenport books, where someone in Washington uses the talents of Davenport, in this case Letty, as a secret weapon.
I loved the character development between Kaiser and Letty, their banter. Just the right amount. The bad guys plan progresses at a pace easy to follow and even though the author juggled a lot of crooks and their names, I was never confused or lost. The sign of a true master.
There were a couple of plot holes, one large enough to fall into. Having to do with communication with Letty and Kaiser on the ground cut off from the other law enforcement agencies, why did law enforcement not up a drone, or high-flying surveillance aircraft. Didn’t matter for me I was in it for the ride.
David Putnam author of the Bruno Johnson series.
July 22, 2022
Rated 3.5
Not a big fan of Lettie the killer. I liked her as she grew up in the Prey series. Now she seems to be a female Lucas Davenport (her father (adopted)) in the making.
Not a big fan of Lettie the killer. I liked her as she grew up in the Prey series. Now she seems to be a female Lucas Davenport (her father (adopted)) in the making.
June 20, 2022
I feel awful about the rating that I gave this book, I feel like I have lost an old and dear friend. I loved John Sandford’s early “Prey” novels where Lucas was just a slightly dirty cop who hunted killers but always had a sense of justice and respect for right, and a no tolerance policy for wrong. I read every single one of them...some more than once. I even liked most of the books when Lucas Davenport became more "in power" for the law enforcement in his state...and before he became a political operative. The Virgil Flowers books and the characters that appeared in them were some of the best. Virgil’s cockiness and humor made him a very believable and real-life character. Joining forces with Lucas made the books even better. Now...we come to a series featuring Lucas’s daughter...Letty. Humm.... John Sandford has, for some unknown reason, gotten caught up and now swings way too far on the side of politics. I hear enough about this without it infiltrating my choice reading material. There were several situations that he wrote into this story that are probably extremely sensitive topics for certain regions of the county and perhaps shouldn’t have been as big a part of this story or have been there at all...much less portraying this untrained young woman, even if she is Davenport’s daughter, as an expert on them. Letty's character didn't "age" well. She was so different and quite frankly...overbearing and unlikeable. Nothing like she was when she first appeared in the books as a pre-teen and grew into an adult. For most of the book, she is an impossibly, and unnecessarily, rude, crude and obnoxious know-it-all. I really don't think that I’m going to devote any more reading time to this series. Rest in Peace old friend.
November 26, 2022
The first book in a series featuring Lettie Davenport, adopted daughter of Lucas Davenport from the Prey series. Letty is only 24 years old but she has had an unusual life so far and she is more than ready to stand up to the bad guys.
She gets plenty of opportunity so to do when Senator Colles gives her the job of investigating some very bad guys in partnership with John Kaiser who is an Investigator for the Department of Homeland Security. This book is action packed and we get to see both sides of events as we alternately follow Letty and her antagonist, Jane Hawkes.
The character of Letty is fun if a little over the top. John Kaiser on the other hand is spot on and the interactions between the two are excellent. It was all very well worth reading and I will certainly be reading book 2 in the near future.
.
She gets plenty of opportunity so to do when Senator Colles gives her the job of investigating some very bad guys in partnership with John Kaiser who is an Investigator for the Department of Homeland Security. This book is action packed and we get to see both sides of events as we alternately follow Letty and her antagonist, Jane Hawkes.
The character of Letty is fun if a little over the top. John Kaiser on the other hand is spot on and the interactions between the two are excellent. It was all very well worth reading and I will certainly be reading book 2 in the near future.
.
March 18, 2022
I received a free advance copy from NetGalley for review.
And so begin the adventures of Lucas Davenport Jr.
Wait, I guess it’s technically the adventures of Letty, the adopted daughter of super-cop Lucas Davenport, but calling her Davenport Jr. is still accurate because she is definitely a chip off the old block. In fact, she may be even more dangerous than her father.
Letty has come a long way since we first met her when she was a desperately poor kid who had to depend on herself rather than her alcoholic mother. Her life got much better once Lucas Davenport and his wife took her in, but she’s remained an independent pragmatist capable of making tough choices and taking action when its needed. Now in her early ‘20s and just out of college, Letty is working in the office of a US senator, but she’s bored with it and thinking of moving on. After she pulls a couple of bold moves to help catch an embezzler, the senator wants Letty to check into an odd problem and offers her a spot with Homeland Security as an investigator.
Some petroleum companies in west Texas think that someone has been stealing oil from them, and there’s a suspicion that a right-wing militia group might be responsible. The amount of money involved is small for an oil company, but it’d fund a lot of domestic terrorism so Letty gets teamed up with an ex-soldier named John Kaiser to try and sort it out. Letty and Kaiser start by investigating the disappearance of an oil company employee who had been looking into the thefts. Soon enough Letty and Kaiser figure out that something big is in the works, and they may be the only people who might be able to stop a catastrophic attack.
Letty was introduced as a character in the Prey novels almost 20 years ago, and I’ve often suspected that Sandford would someday do a book or series with her in the lead. (In reality, Letty would be in her 30s by now, but Sandford characters exist in a slowed down version of reality.) She’s been a big part of several of the books, often driving her adopted father crazy by her stubborn insistence on doing things her way, but also saving the day a couple of times. Despite the Prey books having one successful spin-off series with the Virgil Flower novels, I was always a little uneasy about how Letty seemed destined to be the hero of a Sandford thriller someday. I’m not sure why, it just seemed like nepotism even if these are all fictional characters.
However, at one point in one of the recent books Lucas and Letty had a conversation which indicated that she wasn’t interested in a career in law enforcement so it seemed like maybe Sandford was letting us know that the long teased Letty-book would never happen. Yet here we are so I don’t know if this was always the plan, or if something changed, but it did seem a little odd to me.
I got nervous right at the start of this one when Letty is pulling a break-in to investigate the embezzling going on at one of the senator’s campaign offices. She has several tricks to get into an office building that Sandford has used before in both the Davenport and Kidd novels, so I was instantly worried that this was just going to be a rehash of things done before with just a new character in the lead.
As usual, I was wrong to doubt Sandford.
While that opening was familiar, Letty quickly establishes herself as a different person than Lucas, Virgil Flowers, Kidd, or any other Sandford hero. Like all of them, Letty is smart, resourceful, and capable of pulling a sneaky and/or illegal move when necessary, but what sets her apart is that Letty has what might best be described as a mean streak. Yeah, Lucas could be a real bastard when necessary, and capable of outright murder when the situation calls for it. But Letty takes that a step further and seems even more ruthless than her father at times.
The plot of this one also seems like Sandford kicked things up a notch. There’s the usual cat-and-mouse thing where he follows the bad guys for part of the book and lets us know some of what they’re planning, but just enough is held back to give us some twists and turns. The last act is one of the biggest and most ambitious things to happen in any of the books. A few years back, I might have said that it seemed unlikely, but these days, it sounds horrifyingly plausible.
Through it all, we’ve got Letty doing a lot of good detective work as she’s hot on the trail of the militia, and while she’s already a force to be reckoned with, there are still things for her to learn as well so she doesn’t seem too perfect as an action hero. The partner Kaiser provides a nice counterpoint to her as a veteran soldier who knows a lot about some aspects of the job, but he isn’t really an investigator so lets Letty take point.
It's just once again Sandford doing what he does so well, creating a high-octane mystery-thriller that keeps you turning pages. If the next book also stars Letty, I won’t be disappointed.
And so begin the adventures of Lucas Davenport Jr.
Wait, I guess it’s technically the adventures of Letty, the adopted daughter of super-cop Lucas Davenport, but calling her Davenport Jr. is still accurate because she is definitely a chip off the old block. In fact, she may be even more dangerous than her father.
Letty has come a long way since we first met her when she was a desperately poor kid who had to depend on herself rather than her alcoholic mother. Her life got much better once Lucas Davenport and his wife took her in, but she’s remained an independent pragmatist capable of making tough choices and taking action when its needed. Now in her early ‘20s and just out of college, Letty is working in the office of a US senator, but she’s bored with it and thinking of moving on. After she pulls a couple of bold moves to help catch an embezzler, the senator wants Letty to check into an odd problem and offers her a spot with Homeland Security as an investigator.
Some petroleum companies in west Texas think that someone has been stealing oil from them, and there’s a suspicion that a right-wing militia group might be responsible. The amount of money involved is small for an oil company, but it’d fund a lot of domestic terrorism so Letty gets teamed up with an ex-soldier named John Kaiser to try and sort it out. Letty and Kaiser start by investigating the disappearance of an oil company employee who had been looking into the thefts. Soon enough Letty and Kaiser figure out that something big is in the works, and they may be the only people who might be able to stop a catastrophic attack.
Letty was introduced as a character in the Prey novels almost 20 years ago, and I’ve often suspected that Sandford would someday do a book or series with her in the lead. (In reality, Letty would be in her 30s by now, but Sandford characters exist in a slowed down version of reality.) She’s been a big part of several of the books, often driving her adopted father crazy by her stubborn insistence on doing things her way, but also saving the day a couple of times. Despite the Prey books having one successful spin-off series with the Virgil Flower novels, I was always a little uneasy about how Letty seemed destined to be the hero of a Sandford thriller someday. I’m not sure why, it just seemed like nepotism even if these are all fictional characters.
However, at one point in one of the recent books Lucas and Letty had a conversation which indicated that she wasn’t interested in a career in law enforcement so it seemed like maybe Sandford was letting us know that the long teased Letty-book would never happen. Yet here we are so I don’t know if this was always the plan, or if something changed, but it did seem a little odd to me.
I got nervous right at the start of this one when Letty is pulling a break-in to investigate the embezzling going on at one of the senator’s campaign offices. She has several tricks to get into an office building that Sandford has used before in both the Davenport and Kidd novels, so I was instantly worried that this was just going to be a rehash of things done before with just a new character in the lead.
As usual, I was wrong to doubt Sandford.
While that opening was familiar, Letty quickly establishes herself as a different person than Lucas, Virgil Flowers, Kidd, or any other Sandford hero. Like all of them, Letty is smart, resourceful, and capable of pulling a sneaky and/or illegal move when necessary, but what sets her apart is that Letty has what might best be described as a mean streak. Yeah, Lucas could be a real bastard when necessary, and capable of outright murder when the situation calls for it. But Letty takes that a step further and seems even more ruthless than her father at times.
The plot of this one also seems like Sandford kicked things up a notch. There’s the usual cat-and-mouse thing where he follows the bad guys for part of the book and lets us know some of what they’re planning, but just enough is held back to give us some twists and turns. The last act is one of the biggest and most ambitious things to happen in any of the books. A few years back, I might have said that it seemed unlikely, but these days, it sounds horrifyingly plausible.
Through it all, we’ve got Letty doing a lot of good detective work as she’s hot on the trail of the militia, and while she’s already a force to be reckoned with, there are still things for her to learn as well so she doesn’t seem too perfect as an action hero. The partner Kaiser provides a nice counterpoint to her as a veteran soldier who knows a lot about some aspects of the job, but he isn’t really an investigator so lets Letty take point.
It's just once again Sandford doing what he does so well, creating a high-octane mystery-thriller that keeps you turning pages. If the next book also stars Letty, I won’t be disappointed.
February 23, 2022
Absolutely fantastic.
I loved this book as much as I have always loved the Lucas Davenport series. I think Letti will be a whole new environment that works for me.
Love how this series is going…
5 out of 5 stars
thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read this ARC.
POSTED TO Goodreads 2/01/22
Publishing in April, 2022
I loved this book as much as I have always loved the Lucas Davenport series. I think Letti will be a whole new environment that works for me.
Love how this series is going…
5 out of 5 stars
thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read this ARC.
POSTED TO Goodreads 2/01/22
Publishing in April, 2022
February 16, 2022
Thank you NetGalley and Penguin Group Putnam for this arc.
My first impression... It's Lucas' "Mini-Me"! Then it seemed as if Letty was channeling Virgil Flowers at times.
At 24 years old, Letty is an absolute sponge. There's not much she hasn't picked up and absorbed for herself.
Just don't call her "babe".
Letty is a fascinating character and is balanced with an equally strong partner Kaiser, a DHS Investigator in the book. Enough of each of their backgrounds is presented so their "skill sets" appear to make sense. Letty is currently attached to a Senator's office and is bored silly with her job. The Senator is alerted by one of his constituents to some peanutty oil thefts and calls on Letty to "partner" with Kaiser to "look into" them. They're paired up on this blind date and sent down to Texas to poke around to see what might be going on down there....
They stir up a Texas size hornet's nest. It's a fast and furious paced read, typical of Sandford.
I loved it and hope this is just the first of a new series!
My first impression... It's Lucas' "Mini-Me"! Then it seemed as if Letty was channeling Virgil Flowers at times.
At 24 years old, Letty is an absolute sponge. There's not much she hasn't picked up and absorbed for herself.
Just don't call her "babe".
Letty is a fascinating character and is balanced with an equally strong partner Kaiser, a DHS Investigator in the book. Enough of each of their backgrounds is presented so their "skill sets" appear to make sense. Letty is currently attached to a Senator's office and is bored silly with her job. The Senator is alerted by one of his constituents to some peanutty oil thefts and calls on Letty to "partner" with Kaiser to "look into" them. They're paired up on this blind date and sent down to Texas to poke around to see what might be going on down there....
They stir up a Texas size hornet's nest. It's a fast and furious paced read, typical of Sandford.
I loved it and hope this is just the first of a new series!
January 30, 2023
The Investigator (Letty Davenport, #1) by John Sandford
Synopsis /
Letty Davenport, the brilliant and tenacious adopted daughter of Lucas Davenport, takes the investigative reins in the newest thriller from #1 bestselling author John Sandford.
By age twenty-four, Letty Davenport has seen more action and uncovered more secrets than many law enforcement professionals. Now a recent Stanford grad with a master’s in economics, she’s restless and bored in a desk job for U.S. Senator Colles. Letty’s ready to quit, but her skills have impressed Colles, and he offers her a carrot: feet-on-the-ground investigative work, in conjunction with the Department of Homeland Security.
Several oil companies in Texas have reported thefts of crude, Colles tells her. He isn’t so much concerned with the oil as he is with the money: who is selling the oil, and what are they doing with the profits? Rumour has it that a fairly ugly militia group—led by a woman known only as Lorelai—might be involved. Colles wants to know if the money is going to them, and if so, what they’re planning.
Letty is partnered with a DHS investigator, John Kaiser, and they head to Texas. When the case quicky turns deadly, they know they’re on the track of something bigger. Lorelai and her group have set in motion an explosive plan . . . and the clock is ticking down.
My Thoughts /
Alice asked, quietly, “Are you DHS? Really?” Letty smiled and patted her on the arm. “There’s a bumper sticker I saw in El Paso; it said, heavily armed and easily pissed. That’s more or less me.”
Letty Davenport is the adopted daughter of U.S. Marshal Lucas Davenport, in author John Sandford’s long running 32 book Lucas Davenport series. He’s given Letty her own spin-off series, in which The Investigator is the first book. If, like me, you haven’t read any of the Lucas Davenport series, have no fear, as you will have no trouble starting this one, as Letty’s backstory has been included here to seamlessly catch us up. Let me quickly fill you in. Letty, now twenty-four years of age, had a tragic early childhood. Growing up in a single parent home, her mother an alcoholic, Letty learned from an early age that she was the one who was going to have to be the adult in the family. When she turned twelve, her mother was murdered and Letty was adopted by Lucas Davenport and his wife, Weather.
At twenty-four, and a graduate of Stanford, Letty is currently working for Senator Christopher Colles, Chair of Homeland Security and Government Affairs. But this smart, savvy protagonist is bored, her low-ranking senatorial assistant and researching job for Colles just isn’t cutting it anymore, so she tenders her resignation. Colles however, has other ideas, he recognises Letty might be useful, and offers her a liaison position between the senator’s office and the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). Letty agrees to give this new position a month’s trial. Her first assignment – to investigate the circumstances surrounding missing oil out in West Texas.
As a graduate of a heavyweight West Coast university, with a master’s degree in something useful, combined with her cool reserve and the way she dressed, Letty was different. She was smart, hard-nosed and hard-bodied, lean, muscled like a dancer, and occasionally displayed a sharp, dry wit.
And to do this, Colles has partnered Davenport with DHS investigator and former Delta Force operative, John Kaiser. Together, the pair travel to Texas to investigate the oil thefts. Their main objective, is not the who (although that is relevant); but more the why and the what. Why are they stealing oil and what are they doing with it. One of the perks that comes with Letty’s new investigative role is that she’s now allowed a carry permit. No stranger to guns and weapons being raised in the Davenport household, she a dab hand at shooting and marksmanship.
She [Letty] was reaching for the doorknob when Kaiser knocked. “You got your baby gun?”
“I do.”
“I don’t want to carry until I know what’s going on,” he said. “If anyone checked me, they’d find it. I’ll be counting on you for protection.”
“I’m a better shot anyway,” Letty said.
“Think you could slide a couple extra mags in your sock?”
“Of course. What else are socks for?”
So, we’ve met the ‘good’ guys. The ‘bad’ guys? A group of ‘far right’ militia types led by a woman called Jane ‘Jael’ Hawkes. Hawkes believes that the influx of illegal immigrants is hurting American citizens by taking jobs which would otherwise be left free for lower earning Americans. She and her group are planning something big. Something which will capture the nation’s attention and bring honour to their cause.
One of the things I loved about Sandford’s characterisation of Letty is that although she is smart and has plenty of confidence in her own abilities; she’s not above listening to her partner. Both Kaiser and Davenport learn from one another and it’s one of the things that makes this pairing so successful.
Written from multiple points of view, Sandford gives the reader a clear picture of what is about to happen and why. But don’t think you can presume to know what’s going to happen, you’re not spoon fed that easily! What makes this story interesting is that the plot is based on a totally realistic scenario. Militias; immigrants; public opinion and politics all play a part in the underlying themes here. Plus, the fact that you have a female protagonist who can kick butts with the best of them is a lovely bonus! The writing was fluid and flowed well. Fast paced and suspenseful, Sandford’s writing keeps you turning pages. Am looking forward to reading what Letty is heading into next.
Synopsis /
Letty Davenport, the brilliant and tenacious adopted daughter of Lucas Davenport, takes the investigative reins in the newest thriller from #1 bestselling author John Sandford.
By age twenty-four, Letty Davenport has seen more action and uncovered more secrets than many law enforcement professionals. Now a recent Stanford grad with a master’s in economics, she’s restless and bored in a desk job for U.S. Senator Colles. Letty’s ready to quit, but her skills have impressed Colles, and he offers her a carrot: feet-on-the-ground investigative work, in conjunction with the Department of Homeland Security.
Several oil companies in Texas have reported thefts of crude, Colles tells her. He isn’t so much concerned with the oil as he is with the money: who is selling the oil, and what are they doing with the profits? Rumour has it that a fairly ugly militia group—led by a woman known only as Lorelai—might be involved. Colles wants to know if the money is going to them, and if so, what they’re planning.
Letty is partnered with a DHS investigator, John Kaiser, and they head to Texas. When the case quicky turns deadly, they know they’re on the track of something bigger. Lorelai and her group have set in motion an explosive plan . . . and the clock is ticking down.
My Thoughts /
Alice asked, quietly, “Are you DHS? Really?” Letty smiled and patted her on the arm. “There’s a bumper sticker I saw in El Paso; it said, heavily armed and easily pissed. That’s more or less me.”
Letty Davenport is the adopted daughter of U.S. Marshal Lucas Davenport, in author John Sandford’s long running 32 book Lucas Davenport series. He’s given Letty her own spin-off series, in which The Investigator is the first book. If, like me, you haven’t read any of the Lucas Davenport series, have no fear, as you will have no trouble starting this one, as Letty’s backstory has been included here to seamlessly catch us up. Let me quickly fill you in. Letty, now twenty-four years of age, had a tragic early childhood. Growing up in a single parent home, her mother an alcoholic, Letty learned from an early age that she was the one who was going to have to be the adult in the family. When she turned twelve, her mother was murdered and Letty was adopted by Lucas Davenport and his wife, Weather.
At twenty-four, and a graduate of Stanford, Letty is currently working for Senator Christopher Colles, Chair of Homeland Security and Government Affairs. But this smart, savvy protagonist is bored, her low-ranking senatorial assistant and researching job for Colles just isn’t cutting it anymore, so she tenders her resignation. Colles however, has other ideas, he recognises Letty might be useful, and offers her a liaison position between the senator’s office and the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). Letty agrees to give this new position a month’s trial. Her first assignment – to investigate the circumstances surrounding missing oil out in West Texas.
As a graduate of a heavyweight West Coast university, with a master’s degree in something useful, combined with her cool reserve and the way she dressed, Letty was different. She was smart, hard-nosed and hard-bodied, lean, muscled like a dancer, and occasionally displayed a sharp, dry wit.
And to do this, Colles has partnered Davenport with DHS investigator and former Delta Force operative, John Kaiser. Together, the pair travel to Texas to investigate the oil thefts. Their main objective, is not the who (although that is relevant); but more the why and the what. Why are they stealing oil and what are they doing with it. One of the perks that comes with Letty’s new investigative role is that she’s now allowed a carry permit. No stranger to guns and weapons being raised in the Davenport household, she a dab hand at shooting and marksmanship.
She [Letty] was reaching for the doorknob when Kaiser knocked. “You got your baby gun?”
“I do.”
“I don’t want to carry until I know what’s going on,” he said. “If anyone checked me, they’d find it. I’ll be counting on you for protection.”
“I’m a better shot anyway,” Letty said.
“Think you could slide a couple extra mags in your sock?”
“Of course. What else are socks for?”
So, we’ve met the ‘good’ guys. The ‘bad’ guys? A group of ‘far right’ militia types led by a woman called Jane ‘Jael’ Hawkes. Hawkes believes that the influx of illegal immigrants is hurting American citizens by taking jobs which would otherwise be left free for lower earning Americans. She and her group are planning something big. Something which will capture the nation’s attention and bring honour to their cause.
One of the things I loved about Sandford’s characterisation of Letty is that although she is smart and has plenty of confidence in her own abilities; she’s not above listening to her partner. Both Kaiser and Davenport learn from one another and it’s one of the things that makes this pairing so successful.
Written from multiple points of view, Sandford gives the reader a clear picture of what is about to happen and why. But don’t think you can presume to know what’s going to happen, you’re not spoon fed that easily! What makes this story interesting is that the plot is based on a totally realistic scenario. Militias; immigrants; public opinion and politics all play a part in the underlying themes here. Plus, the fact that you have a female protagonist who can kick butts with the best of them is a lovely bonus! The writing was fluid and flowed well. Fast paced and suspenseful, Sandford’s writing keeps you turning pages. Am looking forward to reading what Letty is heading into next.
January 31, 2022
Please note that I received this book via NetGalley. This did not affect my rating or review.
Well I DNFed this at 35 percent. I could not force myself to keep reading this one. I don't know how a new series starring Letty Davenport was so boring and also repetitive in equal measure, but it was. Letty has never been my favorite (see prior reviews of Lucas Davenport series) and this book didn't make me want to get to know the character more. Sandford really does turn her into a Mary Sue similar to Dean Koontz and how he writes women now.
"The Investigator" follows Letty Davenport, adopted daughter of Lucas and Weather. For long-time readers of the series, we last left Letty with about to graduate college. She was of course supposedly some wunderkind in college and Lucas said that she could pretty much do anything. When the book opens we have Letty doing a break-in based on work she is doing for a Senator. But Letty is boring during her 9 to 5 job. And when the Senator proposes that Letty do more work that needs more finesse and would allow her to carry a gun, she's all for it. Now Letty is working for Homeland Security and has a sort of partner who is former Delta Force. No you can't see my face, but you can tell what expression I am making right now right? With Letty and her partner off to figure out why crude oil is disappearing, the whole book seems to be a set up of some big old terrorism plot line and I tapped out.
Letty is not the heir apparent to the Davenport series. Sorry, she's not that interesting. There's all of these flashbacks to the times that Letty has killed people and I just did not care. Sandford should have referenced that once or twice, but to just whole sale lift parts of prior books and just stick them here made me shake my head. I assume they did that since there may be readers who have not read the Davenport series and he didn't want them totally in the dark, but there should have been a happy medium there. Also Letty is just like Lucas via her eyes, her manner, her ability to work out, and her liking good clothes. She's the male version of Lucas and not the latter Lucas, but the ones from the earlier books which I did not enjoy.
There is zero character development of other characters. There's a reason why I referred to the Senator as Senator and the special ops guy as Delta Force. Pretty much everyone is in awe of Letty and thinks she's smarter than the local police.
The flow was pretty bad and by the time I got to the 35 percent point I just decided enough was enough.
Well I DNFed this at 35 percent. I could not force myself to keep reading this one. I don't know how a new series starring Letty Davenport was so boring and also repetitive in equal measure, but it was. Letty has never been my favorite (see prior reviews of Lucas Davenport series) and this book didn't make me want to get to know the character more. Sandford really does turn her into a Mary Sue similar to Dean Koontz and how he writes women now.
"The Investigator" follows Letty Davenport, adopted daughter of Lucas and Weather. For long-time readers of the series, we last left Letty with about to graduate college. She was of course supposedly some wunderkind in college and Lucas said that she could pretty much do anything. When the book opens we have Letty doing a break-in based on work she is doing for a Senator. But Letty is boring during her 9 to 5 job. And when the Senator proposes that Letty do more work that needs more finesse and would allow her to carry a gun, she's all for it. Now Letty is working for Homeland Security and has a sort of partner who is former Delta Force. No you can't see my face, but you can tell what expression I am making right now right? With Letty and her partner off to figure out why crude oil is disappearing, the whole book seems to be a set up of some big old terrorism plot line and I tapped out.
Letty is not the heir apparent to the Davenport series. Sorry, she's not that interesting. There's all of these flashbacks to the times that Letty has killed people and I just did not care. Sandford should have referenced that once or twice, but to just whole sale lift parts of prior books and just stick them here made me shake my head. I assume they did that since there may be readers who have not read the Davenport series and he didn't want them totally in the dark, but there should have been a happy medium there. Also Letty is just like Lucas via her eyes, her manner, her ability to work out, and her liking good clothes. She's the male version of Lucas and not the latter Lucas, but the ones from the earlier books which I did not enjoy.
There is zero character development of other characters. There's a reason why I referred to the Senator as Senator and the special ops guy as Delta Force. Pretty much everyone is in awe of Letty and thinks she's smarter than the local police.
The flow was pretty bad and by the time I got to the 35 percent point I just decided enough was enough.
May 10, 2022
John Sanford is an exceptional writer and that's why he's my favorite. This story features a strong female lead with Letty Davenport and I look forward to the next installment. 8 of 10 stars
June 6, 2022
3.75 Stars
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May 5, 2023
3.5-Stars ^ 4.0-Stars : "I enjoyed this novel"
The Investigator (Letty Davenport, #1) by John Sandford
Audiobook: 13:02 Hours - Narrator: Richard Ferrone
If you are a fan of Lucas Davenport and the "Prey" series, you probably already know Letty, as she made a number of "Prey" appearances following her adoption by Lucas and Weather Davenport in "Naked Prey, #14". Letty has grown up to be a smart, gun-loving, kick-arse character, working in the office of US Senator Colless, who oversees the activities of the Department of Homeland Security. Bored with desk work, Letty resigned, but her resignation was not accepted by the Senator, who appointed her as a 'researcher' for the DHS, giving her a US Senate identity card, and more important to Letty, a DHS licence to carry concealed weapons.
In the book, Letty is teamed with DHA investigator, a reluctant former US Army master-sergeant, John Kaiser, and they are tasked to investigate a presumed theft of crude oil in West Texas. 'Presumed', because the owner of a small oil company is convinced crude is being stolen, somehow, but he has no actual proof of any theft. Enter the DHS, whose main concern is that if money is being raised, it could be funnelled into the military and financial support to one or more of the many militia groups active within States close to the USA-Mexico border.
The main story-arc takes place prior to the attacks on the United States Capitol Building on January 6, 2021, and the subsequent riots. However there does appear to be some political bent within this book, with its focus on guns (lots and lots of guns!), private militias, and immigration.
After an unrushed start, epitomised by ponderous chapter 3 (if I remember correctly), the story picked up, with pretty much non-stop action, leading to a dramatic and suspenseful finish. Letty was the star of the show, all guns blazing, with a lot of capable support from her now not-so-reluctant partner, ex-army Master-Sergeant John Kaiser. Not really a likeable main protagonist, despite her prodigious shooting skills (and her Master of Economics degree!), Letty seemed unnecessarily confrontational and generally not empathetic with the many quasi-victims involved in the fracas. This did not faze me as I never felt that she was meant to be a loved twenty-four year old such as a sister or a daughter. As a fictional kick-ass heroine, she presented very well and I look forward toreading hearing the second book in the series.
Long-term narrator of the Prey Series, Richard Ferrone, delivered yet another masterly performance in "The Investigators". However, his narration style and delivery sounded remarkably similar to all the Prey audiobooks I have heard and I am not surprised that the producers of "Letty Davenport, #2, Dark Angel" have chosen Robert Petkoff as the narrator of the second book in the series. I have this audiobook, ready to go, and I have heard only a small sample of the narration, so at this stage my comments remain neutral, but I am quite looking forward to hearing the book.
From my Reading Activity:
@49%: Quite an interesting new novel from John Sandford, featuring the adopted daughter of Lucas Davenport as the main protagonist. I've had some difficultly keeping my nose out of this book!
The Investigator (Letty Davenport, #1) by John Sandford
Audiobook: 13:02 Hours - Narrator: Richard Ferrone
If you are a fan of Lucas Davenport and the "Prey" series, you probably already know Letty, as she made a number of "Prey" appearances following her adoption by Lucas and Weather Davenport in "Naked Prey, #14". Letty has grown up to be a smart, gun-loving, kick-arse character, working in the office of US Senator Colless, who oversees the activities of the Department of Homeland Security. Bored with desk work, Letty resigned, but her resignation was not accepted by the Senator, who appointed her as a 'researcher' for the DHS, giving her a US Senate identity card, and more important to Letty, a DHS licence to carry concealed weapons.
In the book, Letty is teamed with DHA investigator, a reluctant former US Army master-sergeant, John Kaiser, and they are tasked to investigate a presumed theft of crude oil in West Texas. 'Presumed', because the owner of a small oil company is convinced crude is being stolen, somehow, but he has no actual proof of any theft. Enter the DHS, whose main concern is that if money is being raised, it could be funnelled into the military and financial support to one or more of the many militia groups active within States close to the USA-Mexico border.
The main story-arc takes place prior to the attacks on the United States Capitol Building on January 6, 2021, and the subsequent riots. However there does appear to be some political bent within this book, with its focus on guns (lots and lots of guns!), private militias, and immigration.
After an unrushed start, epitomised by ponderous chapter 3 (if I remember correctly), the story picked up, with pretty much non-stop action, leading to a dramatic and suspenseful finish. Letty was the star of the show, all guns blazing, with a lot of capable support from her now not-so-reluctant partner, ex-army Master-Sergeant John Kaiser. Not really a likeable main protagonist, despite her prodigious shooting skills (and her Master of Economics degree!), Letty seemed unnecessarily confrontational and generally not empathetic with the many quasi-victims involved in the fracas. This did not faze me as I never felt that she was meant to be a loved twenty-four year old such as a sister or a daughter. As a fictional kick-ass heroine, she presented very well and I look forward to
Long-term narrator of the Prey Series, Richard Ferrone, delivered yet another masterly performance in "The Investigators". However, his narration style and delivery sounded remarkably similar to all the Prey audiobooks I have heard and I am not surprised that the producers of "Letty Davenport, #2, Dark Angel" have chosen Robert Petkoff as the narrator of the second book in the series. I have this audiobook, ready to go, and I have heard only a small sample of the narration, so at this stage my comments remain neutral, but I am quite looking forward to hearing the book.
From my Reading Activity:
@49%: Quite an interesting new novel from John Sandford, featuring the adopted daughter of Lucas Davenport as the main protagonist. I've had some difficultly keeping my nose out of this book!
February 10, 2023
If you’re already a follower of Sandford’s Prey series then in all likelihood you’ll have come across Letty Davenport. She was adopted, aged fourteen, by cop Lucas Davenport - the star of that series - and his surgeon wife Weather, after a tough start to her life. She’s confident, feisty and a crack shot with a handgun. Here, in the first book in which she’s in the lead role, we find her working in the office of a US Senator, Christopher Colles. But she’s bored; the job hems her in and it’s all just way too dull. On the point of quitting, Colles offers her a more free ranging role – complete with a gun carry permit! Oh yes, this looks like it’s going offer significantly more job satisfaction.
At this point I have to confess my mixed feelings regarding Letty: on one hand I really like her, uber-confident and glowing with positivity and also an in-your-face attitude to anyone who isn’t immediately on her side. But - and it’s a pretty big but – is it really conceivable that any twenty-four-year old could display quite the level of worldliness and nouse and be so absolutely cold blooded as Letty shows herself to be throughout this tale? I’m not sure I quite buy it. However, leaving that aside for the moment, having accepted her first assignment she and an ex-Delta Force master sergeant, with whom she’s forged an uneasy partnership, set off on the trail of some stolen oil. Actually, it isn’t so much the missing oil, but rather the suspicion that the proceeds of the theft might be used to stir up trouble that’s prompted their mission.
I’m a big fan of Sandford’s writing and in his hands this story gradually morphs from an interesting and often amusing account of Letty landing on her feet and directing traffic pretty much from the start, to something darker and more sinister. And because we can see what’s happening from the point of view of both the investigators and the criminals, we have a pretty good idea – although not in a detailed way – of what’s potentially coming down the line. The set-piece action scene, when when it arrives, is significant in size and scale, with Letty having a front row seat. By this point I was right with her and though it might be argued that the whole concoction is somewhat unlikely (actually, highly unlikely in my view) it was certainly dramatic and well told, and I was willingly dragged along with it.
Letty is a mini Lucas Davenport and is referred to as such regularly here, so to some degree I wonder why the author chose to insert her into this story rather than Lucas, and perhaps his sometime sidekick Virgil Flowers? I suppose Letty’s youth and, to some extent, her inexperience add a slightly different texture to events. Like many other writers of long running series, there’s also the temptation or sometimes even the necessity to freshen things up without casting the formula aside completely. This adventure ended in a way that suggests a loose end might still need to be tied off, and with another Letty Davenport book due to be released shortly, I think there was enough here to draw me back for a second outing from the junior Davenport. 3.5 stars, rounded up to 4.
My thanks to publishers Canelo for supplying a copy of this book via NetGalley in return for an honest review.
At this point I have to confess my mixed feelings regarding Letty: on one hand I really like her, uber-confident and glowing with positivity and also an in-your-face attitude to anyone who isn’t immediately on her side. But - and it’s a pretty big but – is it really conceivable that any twenty-four-year old could display quite the level of worldliness and nouse and be so absolutely cold blooded as Letty shows herself to be throughout this tale? I’m not sure I quite buy it. However, leaving that aside for the moment, having accepted her first assignment she and an ex-Delta Force master sergeant, with whom she’s forged an uneasy partnership, set off on the trail of some stolen oil. Actually, it isn’t so much the missing oil, but rather the suspicion that the proceeds of the theft might be used to stir up trouble that’s prompted their mission.
I’m a big fan of Sandford’s writing and in his hands this story gradually morphs from an interesting and often amusing account of Letty landing on her feet and directing traffic pretty much from the start, to something darker and more sinister. And because we can see what’s happening from the point of view of both the investigators and the criminals, we have a pretty good idea – although not in a detailed way – of what’s potentially coming down the line. The set-piece action scene, when when it arrives, is significant in size and scale, with Letty having a front row seat. By this point I was right with her and though it might be argued that the whole concoction is somewhat unlikely (actually, highly unlikely in my view) it was certainly dramatic and well told, and I was willingly dragged along with it.
Letty is a mini Lucas Davenport and is referred to as such regularly here, so to some degree I wonder why the author chose to insert her into this story rather than Lucas, and perhaps his sometime sidekick Virgil Flowers? I suppose Letty’s youth and, to some extent, her inexperience add a slightly different texture to events. Like many other writers of long running series, there’s also the temptation or sometimes even the necessity to freshen things up without casting the formula aside completely. This adventure ended in a way that suggests a loose end might still need to be tied off, and with another Letty Davenport book due to be released shortly, I think there was enough here to draw me back for a second outing from the junior Davenport. 3.5 stars, rounded up to 4.
My thanks to publishers Canelo for supplying a copy of this book via NetGalley in return for an honest review.
May 8, 2022
Lucas Davenport's adopted daughter Letty is now 24 years old and a Stanford graduate with a masters in economics. She's taken a desk job in Washington DC in Senator Colles office and is bored with the job and ready to quit until Colles gives her an offer that's to good to refuse. Letty takes the job as a feet on the ground investigator working with the Department of Homeland Security and is partnered with DHS investigator John Kiaser. Someone is stealing oil from the oil fields in Texas. Why do they want the oil and what are their plans? Together Letty and John head to Texas to investigate the oil thefts and run across a militia group called Land Division. Then the case turns deadly and they know they're onto something much bigger than anyone expected. We were first introduced to Letty in Naked Prey and while I've liked her she has never been my favorite. I also miss the setting in Minnesota which first drew me to the Davenport and Flowers series. Having spent my life in Minnesota, without that connection it feels like something is missing. Good but not great. Three stars.
June 23, 2022
Yes. I received my Father’s Day present. As is frequently the case, John Sandford has written a book I couldn’t put down. I would steal a few minutes to read whenever I could. If this isn’t the fastest I have ever read a book it is certainly near the top.
This is the first book in a series featuring Letty Davenport, Lucas Davenport’s adopted daughter. Lucas is the main character in Sandford’s Prey series. Letty was introduced in Naked Prey. In a review of that book I mentioned that some people were predicting Letty would eventually become the main character of a future series. She did appear as a minor character in a few other Lucas Davenport books.
It isn’t necessary to read any of the previous books to learn about Letty. She fills in most of her background with flashbacks during this story. You will find out everything you need to know about her. If anyone has enjoyed one of the Prey books they should enjoy this one. Letty is just a younger, female version of Lucas.
As you might suspect from the fact I couldn’t put it down, the pace is fast and constant. Letty and her partner, a man named John Kaiser, an ex-Army veteran of the oil wars, are assigned a case to track down some stolen oil in Texas. In typical Sandford style they follow a path of clues as the suspense and urgency of their quest increases.
Spoiler Alert
The antagonist is a woman named Jane Hawkes. She is the leader of a militia that is involved in an attack against some immigrants coming to the United States from Central America. Although Letty and her partner kill some of the other leaders, Hawkes escapes. This sets up an excellent chance that these characters will interact in a future book.
The book ends with Letty receiving a phone call from her antagonist, Hawkes. At the end of the phone call Hawkes tells Letty she is coming after her.
This is the first book in a series featuring Letty Davenport, Lucas Davenport’s adopted daughter. Lucas is the main character in Sandford’s Prey series. Letty was introduced in Naked Prey. In a review of that book I mentioned that some people were predicting Letty would eventually become the main character of a future series. She did appear as a minor character in a few other Lucas Davenport books.
It isn’t necessary to read any of the previous books to learn about Letty. She fills in most of her background with flashbacks during this story. You will find out everything you need to know about her. If anyone has enjoyed one of the Prey books they should enjoy this one. Letty is just a younger, female version of Lucas.
As you might suspect from the fact I couldn’t put it down, the pace is fast and constant. Letty and her partner, a man named John Kaiser, an ex-Army veteran of the oil wars, are assigned a case to track down some stolen oil in Texas. In typical Sandford style they follow a path of clues as the suspense and urgency of their quest increases.
Spoiler Alert
The antagonist is a woman named Jane Hawkes. She is the leader of a militia that is involved in an attack against some immigrants coming to the United States from Central America. Although Letty and her partner kill some of the other leaders, Hawkes escapes. This sets up an excellent chance that these characters will interact in a future book.
The book ends with Letty receiving a phone call from her antagonist, Hawkes. At the end of the phone call Hawkes tells Letty she is coming after her.
Hawkes couldn’t see it, but Letty stood up and nodded, touched her pocket with the 938 nestled inside. “Do that, Jane,” she said. “Bring it on. Bring everything you fucking got.”
December 17, 2022
My thanks to Canelo Press, John Sandford and Netgalley.
I'm not sure if this is going to be the series for me.
I've been reading Sandford books since the 1990's and I've always loved them. I know that Lucas will make himself known in these Letty books, but I am completely bummed out about Flowers. I have managed to get my grubby hands on the next Letty book, so we'll see how that goes?
The fact that Letty seemed almost superhuman annoyed the crap out of me! Also, way too much information on everything about guns.
You know how some men talk about cars or tools? And some women talk about sewing or shopping or make-up? I tend to zone out when that happens. That's what happened here with the gun stuff.
I'm seriously hopeful that the next book is less gung-ho. Eh, we'll see.
I'm not sure if this is going to be the series for me.
I've been reading Sandford books since the 1990's and I've always loved them. I know that Lucas will make himself known in these Letty books, but I am completely bummed out about Flowers. I have managed to get my grubby hands on the next Letty book, so we'll see how that goes?
The fact that Letty seemed almost superhuman annoyed the crap out of me! Also, way too much information on everything about guns.
You know how some men talk about cars or tools? And some women talk about sewing or shopping or make-up? I tend to zone out when that happens. That's what happened here with the gun stuff.
I'm seriously hopeful that the next book is less gung-ho. Eh, we'll see.
April 19, 2025
Letty Davenport is Lucas Davenport’s adopted daughter, yet she feels more like his own than if she were his biological child.
Now fully grown, Letty works for the government. She starts with a desk job for U.S. Senator Colles in Washington, but just as she’s about to quit, he offers her a role as an investigator. She’s paired with John Kaiser from the Department of Homeland Security, and together they must uncover what happened to the missing petroleum—and why.
As the clues point to a militia plotting to harm people, Letty races to find and stop them before it’s too late.
I was thrilled to dive into Letty’s first standalone book. As a fan of Lucas and Virgil from their respective series, I had high hopes, especially since Letty appears in several of Lucas’s stories. Surprisingly, I found the plot dragged at times, and the villains felt too one-dimensional. Typically, John Sandford’s antagonists make you squirm with how bad they are, but not so much in The Investigator. Another big letdown was the humor—while there were a few funny moments, it lacked the sharp wit of the other two series.
Still, I’ll keep reading the series since I know it will get better.
Cliffhanger: No
3/5 Fangs
MrsLeif's Two Fangs About It | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram
Now fully grown, Letty works for the government. She starts with a desk job for U.S. Senator Colles in Washington, but just as she’s about to quit, he offers her a role as an investigator. She’s paired with John Kaiser from the Department of Homeland Security, and together they must uncover what happened to the missing petroleum—and why.
As the clues point to a militia plotting to harm people, Letty races to find and stop them before it’s too late.
I was thrilled to dive into Letty’s first standalone book. As a fan of Lucas and Virgil from their respective series, I had high hopes, especially since Letty appears in several of Lucas’s stories. Surprisingly, I found the plot dragged at times, and the villains felt too one-dimensional. Typically, John Sandford’s antagonists make you squirm with how bad they are, but not so much in The Investigator. Another big letdown was the humor—while there were a few funny moments, it lacked the sharp wit of the other two series.
Still, I’ll keep reading the series since I know it will get better.
Cliffhanger: No
3/5 Fangs
MrsLeif's Two Fangs About It | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram
July 3, 2022
3.5 Stars
As I read The Investigator two things happened repeatedly. 1) My eyes would roll and I would think "This is ridiculous!!". Other times I found myself thinking 2) This is really good!🤔
On the positive side, the good guy's scenes were interspersed with those from the viewpoints of the bad guys. I liked how this gave me insight into the motivations of each side. I was in suspense about how the situations in the book would be resolved!
On the negative side, when Letty is partnered with DHS investigator, John Kaiser, she suddenly becomes Wonder Woman. Letty is 24 years old, while John is a 47-year-old ex-Army master sergeant ... yet she is the one who figures everything out, time after time. It was too unbelievable. Had she been portrayed as a savant, that would have explained her ability to look at situations and know exactly what should be done - but she wasn't. (Maybe she was in the Prey books?) I truly feel as though I would have enjoyed the book more if Letty and John had been more equal partners. I tired of the young whippersnapper knowing more than her more life-experienced partner time after time.
Having written all of that, there were many times when I was enthralled and didn't want to put the book down! I definitely plan on reading the next book in the series.
As I read The Investigator two things happened repeatedly. 1) My eyes would roll and I would think "This is ridiculous!!". Other times I found myself thinking 2) This is really good!🤔
On the positive side, the good guy's scenes were interspersed with those from the viewpoints of the bad guys. I liked how this gave me insight into the motivations of each side. I was in suspense about how the situations in the book would be resolved!
On the negative side, when Letty is partnered with DHS investigator, John Kaiser, she suddenly becomes Wonder Woman. Letty is 24 years old, while John is a 47-year-old ex-Army master sergeant ... yet she is the one who figures everything out, time after time. It was too unbelievable. Had she been portrayed as a savant, that would have explained her ability to look at situations and know exactly what should be done - but she wasn't. (Maybe she was in the Prey books?) I truly feel as though I would have enjoyed the book more if Letty and John had been more equal partners. I tired of the young whippersnapper knowing more than her more life-experienced partner time after time.
Having written all of that, there were many times when I was enthralled and didn't want to put the book down! I definitely plan on reading the next book in the series.
March 23, 2022
Lucas Davenport fans have undoubtedly already met his daughter Letty, now 24 and a recent graduate of Stanford with a master’s degree in economics. Hmm. I didn’t really know much about Letty until reading The Investigator, but econ? Really? She’s just given her notice to her boss, U.S. Senator Colles. Her desk job offered too little excitement. The senator, however, has other things in mind for Letty. He tears up her resignation and offers her an investigative job with the Department of Homeland Security. It comes complete with her own closet-sized office and a partner, DHS agent John Kaiser, a 47-year-old former Army Master Sergeant and war veteran. The two don't immediately bond, but good chemistry sometimes takes a while. I enjoyed watching these two work together.
John and Letty’s job is to head to Texas to find out about some missing oil and what’s being done with the profits. There are rumors about various militia groups, including one that is led by a mystery woman.
Jane Jael Hawkes is former Army. Now she works at a Fleet & Ranch store in El Paso making $9.00 an hour. Feeling stuck with no future, she decides to do something about it. She organizes a whole passel of like-minded right-wing folks who think that foreigners from across the southern border and big corporations are keeping people like “Jael” and themselves from making decent wages. They start their own militia with a “ResistUS” website. Jael’s got plans, big plans.
There are some long sections that describe the group and the members interactions with one another. This wasn’t particularly in my bailiwick, but I was intrigued by where this was going. It had the makings of a horror story, ala January 6, 2020. While the gun-toting mentality is spooky, I did get some chuckles along the way. Sandford gets in some jabs at the GOP and right-wing groups. I should point out that Letty and John both love their guns. Letty has killed more than once. She is like her adoptive father in that regard, pragmatic and focused. As former military, John has different experiences; those experiences prove invaluable when they get to Texas.
I got more and more invested as I continued reading. I enjoyed the investigatory parts of the story the most. Letty shows that she can be a take-charge person and a great problem solver. She also proves to be a good team player and seems able to learn from Kaiser’s experience. She’s able to think quickly on her feet, as is Kaiser. It’s obvious that this will be a series, and I hope that she will continue to be paired with Kaiser.
For those who love action, there is plenty of it. The plot is well constructed and frighteningly believable, at least from the militia perspective. I’m not sure that two individuals could accomplish what the two DHS personnel do. I will add that despite the violence, both of our protagonists have a very human, compassionate side, which takes the edge off the terror of what is portrayed in this book.
3.5 stars rounded up for a well-written, engaging story. My thanks to NetGalley, G.P. Putnam’s Sons, and the author for this ARC copy of The Investigator in exchange for my honest review. My thoughts and opinions are my own.
John and Letty’s job is to head to Texas to find out about some missing oil and what’s being done with the profits. There are rumors about various militia groups, including one that is led by a mystery woman.
Jane Jael Hawkes is former Army. Now she works at a Fleet & Ranch store in El Paso making $9.00 an hour. Feeling stuck with no future, she decides to do something about it. She organizes a whole passel of like-minded right-wing folks who think that foreigners from across the southern border and big corporations are keeping people like “Jael” and themselves from making decent wages. They start their own militia with a “ResistUS” website. Jael’s got plans, big plans.
There are some long sections that describe the group and the members interactions with one another. This wasn’t particularly in my bailiwick, but I was intrigued by where this was going. It had the makings of a horror story, ala January 6, 2020. While the gun-toting mentality is spooky, I did get some chuckles along the way. Sandford gets in some jabs at the GOP and right-wing groups. I should point out that Letty and John both love their guns. Letty has killed more than once. She is like her adoptive father in that regard, pragmatic and focused. As former military, John has different experiences; those experiences prove invaluable when they get to Texas.
I got more and more invested as I continued reading. I enjoyed the investigatory parts of the story the most. Letty shows that she can be a take-charge person and a great problem solver. She also proves to be a good team player and seems able to learn from Kaiser’s experience. She’s able to think quickly on her feet, as is Kaiser. It’s obvious that this will be a series, and I hope that she will continue to be paired with Kaiser.
For those who love action, there is plenty of it. The plot is well constructed and frighteningly believable, at least from the militia perspective. I’m not sure that two individuals could accomplish what the two DHS personnel do. I will add that despite the violence, both of our protagonists have a very human, compassionate side, which takes the edge off the terror of what is portrayed in this book.
3.5 stars rounded up for a well-written, engaging story. My thanks to NetGalley, G.P. Putnam’s Sons, and the author for this ARC copy of The Investigator in exchange for my honest review. My thoughts and opinions are my own.
May 1, 2022
Letty Davenport was introduced to readers of John Sandford novels in Naked Prey. At that time she was a twelve-year-old muskrat trapper named Letty West. She was adopted by Lucas and Weather and has appeared in several of the Prey novels and as her character developed I always thought it would be interesting to see her as the protagonist. With this story that has happened.
Letty is now twenty-four, a Stanford grad, and working a desk job for Senator Christopher Colles in Washington, DC. Someone though must know about her background and skills because the story opens with her hiding outside an office building until after everyone has left. She then sneaks into one of the offices and gets into a computer and starts opening files. She obtains proof that a couple has been stealing campaign funds from Senator Colles. Letty is bored with her desk job and has given notice but the senator recognizes her abilities and is not about to lose her. Using his position as chairman of the Homeland Security and Government Affairs Office, Colles offers Letty a job as an investigator job with Homeland Security but reporting to the senator.
Someone has been stealing crude oil from small oil companies in Texas. Homeland Security isn't worried about the oil but rather the money the thieves are making from the thefts. Rumor is that the thieves are members of a militia group. What are they planning? Letty is partnered with John Kaiser ... a DHS agent and war veteran. It takes a little while before the two warm up to each other and become a team.
It took me a while to warm up to the new Letty. She started out as someone with an attitude and a little over the top. Not very believable. As I got into the story I started to enjoy it more. There were also moments that reminded me of the rioters who stormed the nation's capitol on January 6th 2020 in an attempt to overturn the election. But there is also plenty of Sandford's humor along the way. It sounds like this is the first book in a new series featuring Letty. I will be interested to see in what direction it goes.
Letty is now twenty-four, a Stanford grad, and working a desk job for Senator Christopher Colles in Washington, DC. Someone though must know about her background and skills because the story opens with her hiding outside an office building until after everyone has left. She then sneaks into one of the offices and gets into a computer and starts opening files. She obtains proof that a couple has been stealing campaign funds from Senator Colles. Letty is bored with her desk job and has given notice but the senator recognizes her abilities and is not about to lose her. Using his position as chairman of the Homeland Security and Government Affairs Office, Colles offers Letty a job as an investigator job with Homeland Security but reporting to the senator.
Someone has been stealing crude oil from small oil companies in Texas. Homeland Security isn't worried about the oil but rather the money the thieves are making from the thefts. Rumor is that the thieves are members of a militia group. What are they planning? Letty is partnered with John Kaiser ... a DHS agent and war veteran. It takes a little while before the two warm up to each other and become a team.
It took me a while to warm up to the new Letty. She started out as someone with an attitude and a little over the top. Not very believable. As I got into the story I started to enjoy it more. There were also moments that reminded me of the rioters who stormed the nation's capitol on January 6th 2020 in an attempt to overturn the election. But there is also plenty of Sandford's humor along the way. It sounds like this is the first book in a new series featuring Letty. I will be interested to see in what direction it goes.
March 17, 2022
As a longtime reader of this author's series featuring U.S. Marshals Service officer Lucas Davenport, I'm familiar with his adopted daughter Letty, who comes from a troubled background (to say the least) but has thrived under the care of Lucas and his physician wife, Weather. Now, she's 24, a college graduate and off on her own working in a ho-hum job for a U.S. Senator. When he learns of her unrest, he gives her an assignment of looking into the theft of oil from several Texas companies. The amount of oil missing and how much money the thefts amount to - chickenfeed in the overall scheme of oil industry profits - aren't of serious interest, but the senator is curious about where the profits are going and wants to make sure it's not to a right-wing militia group.
In part because Letty is still green around the ears when it comes to investigative skills, she's teamed with John Kaiser, a Department of Homeland Security investigator. At first, she's not delighted with that and neither is he, but they manage to put those feelings aside and, ultimately, develop real respect for each other (if it matters, he won me over as well). The thinking is that a woman who runs a far-right website and a male accomplice may be behind the thefts; when Letty and John head for Texas and find a couple of dead bodies clearly related to the two suspects, it moves into the sure-thing department and the chase is on.
But exactly who they're chasing and what they're planning to do isn't quite so clear; all Letty and John know for sure is that many lives could be in the balance if they can't figure it out in time. Readers, of course, come along for the ride as chapters shift from the perspectives of the heroes and villains before reaching an explosive conclusion. From this reader's perspective, it was a heck of a journey - during which Letty earned her investigator stripes and made a believer out of me. Already, I'm looking forward to her next adventure. Meantime, thanks to the publisher, via NetGalley, for the opportunity to read and review a pre-release copy of this one. Well done!
In part because Letty is still green around the ears when it comes to investigative skills, she's teamed with John Kaiser, a Department of Homeland Security investigator. At first, she's not delighted with that and neither is he, but they manage to put those feelings aside and, ultimately, develop real respect for each other (if it matters, he won me over as well). The thinking is that a woman who runs a far-right website and a male accomplice may be behind the thefts; when Letty and John head for Texas and find a couple of dead bodies clearly related to the two suspects, it moves into the sure-thing department and the chase is on.
But exactly who they're chasing and what they're planning to do isn't quite so clear; all Letty and John know for sure is that many lives could be in the balance if they can't figure it out in time. Readers, of course, come along for the ride as chapters shift from the perspectives of the heroes and villains before reaching an explosive conclusion. From this reader's perspective, it was a heck of a journey - during which Letty earned her investigator stripes and made a believer out of me. Already, I'm looking forward to her next adventure. Meantime, thanks to the publisher, via NetGalley, for the opportunity to read and review a pre-release copy of this one. Well done!
March 21, 2022
I’ve been a fan of John Sandford’s books for decades, which makes this review especially difficult to write. I didn’t like The Investigator at all. In fact, I gave up halfway through.
I love that Letty now has her own series. She’s a great character, and I have high hopes for future books.
We immediately begin with a character dump. So many characters! Quite a few are interchangeable, and I found it difficult to keep track of who was doing what to whom and for what reason.
The plot is the kind of complex that becomes overly complicated. We spend a lot of time on oil fields, how they work, who does which job, and where the oil goes each step of the way. I was so incredibly bored because, quite honestly, I don’t care. I just wanted to get on with it already.
From there, we got into the ragtag militia group, more oil companies, and various government agencies. I just never connected with any of it.
I missed the character depth I’ve come to expect from Sandford’s novels.
Soon I was skimming, and by midway I saw no point in continuing.
Much of my disappointment here is a result of personal preference. The plot will no doubt work well for many readers.
*I received an eARC from the publisher, via NetGalley.*
I love that Letty now has her own series. She’s a great character, and I have high hopes for future books.
We immediately begin with a character dump. So many characters! Quite a few are interchangeable, and I found it difficult to keep track of who was doing what to whom and for what reason.
The plot is the kind of complex that becomes overly complicated. We spend a lot of time on oil fields, how they work, who does which job, and where the oil goes each step of the way. I was so incredibly bored because, quite honestly, I don’t care. I just wanted to get on with it already.
From there, we got into the ragtag militia group, more oil companies, and various government agencies. I just never connected with any of it.
I missed the character depth I’ve come to expect from Sandford’s novels.
Soon I was skimming, and by midway I saw no point in continuing.
Much of my disappointment here is a result of personal preference. The plot will no doubt work well for many readers.
*I received an eARC from the publisher, via NetGalley.*
June 14, 2022
Letty Davenport, U.S. Marshal Lucas Davenport’s adopted daughter takes the lead in this high-octane thriller. Senator Christopher Colles is a member of the committee overseeing the Department of Homeland Security and suggests that Letty might enjoy following up on reports that hundreds of thousands of barrels of crude oil are being stolen. More importantly, he would like her to use her research skills to determine what the thieves are funding with their ill-gotten gains. Are the funds being used for something that may present a national security threat? Colles partners her up with investigator John Kaiser, a former Delta Force veteran. The two of them develop a good working relationship with each respecting the other’s skills. Enjoy this action-packed thriller.
April 28, 2023
I had an audio version of this book and maybe I didn't like the narration or could be that I didn't like the main character as being unreal strong and experienced at 24, but this book didn't click with me.
May 14, 2022
“The Investigator” opens with a perfectly described scenario for that conjures up mystery, intrigue, and danger. A blue-eyed young woman waits. Adrenalin kicks in, and readers turn the pages.
Problems unfold that are numerous, multifaceted, and laden with political ramifications. The problems are created by complex, scheming, and deceptive people, and it will take people just as complex to solve them. Characters are introduced with complete backgrounds including idiosyncrasies and talents. They have diverse jobs, personalities, and social inclinations. Readers know who they and what they are. They do not just “hope” for things to work themselves out. They see things as they are, and project out both the actions and their consequences.
The story is told from alternation points of view so readers know what participants do not. People are professional, and deal with multiple complex problems at any given time. There are murders to be solved, and murders to be prevented. There is also that “little oil” thing, some money complications, as well as a potential political “slip-up.” Paths will inevitably cross, and the one who discovers the other one first will gain the advantage.
Sandford creates emotion and tension through vivid descriptions that drop readers into the action on the “hot flat plain, where in the distance, the circular horizon wraps around them like the edge of an old LP record,” and the “billiard-table highway dwindles to a pinpoint ahead of them.” I received a review copy of “The Investigator” from John Sandford, Penguin Group, and G.P. Putnam's Sons Publishing. Conflict and tension permeate the narrative, and it is a thrill ride from the first page to the last. This is book one in a new series featuring Letty Davenport, and I will certainly be reading the next book!
“The Investigator” by John Sandford is now available in print, as an e-book, and on audio from independent bookstores, online booksellers, retail stores, public libraries, or anywhere books are found.
Problems unfold that are numerous, multifaceted, and laden with political ramifications. The problems are created by complex, scheming, and deceptive people, and it will take people just as complex to solve them. Characters are introduced with complete backgrounds including idiosyncrasies and talents. They have diverse jobs, personalities, and social inclinations. Readers know who they and what they are. They do not just “hope” for things to work themselves out. They see things as they are, and project out both the actions and their consequences.
The story is told from alternation points of view so readers know what participants do not. People are professional, and deal with multiple complex problems at any given time. There are murders to be solved, and murders to be prevented. There is also that “little oil” thing, some money complications, as well as a potential political “slip-up.” Paths will inevitably cross, and the one who discovers the other one first will gain the advantage.
Sandford creates emotion and tension through vivid descriptions that drop readers into the action on the “hot flat plain, where in the distance, the circular horizon wraps around them like the edge of an old LP record,” and the “billiard-table highway dwindles to a pinpoint ahead of them.” I received a review copy of “The Investigator” from John Sandford, Penguin Group, and G.P. Putnam's Sons Publishing. Conflict and tension permeate the narrative, and it is a thrill ride from the first page to the last. This is book one in a new series featuring Letty Davenport, and I will certainly be reading the next book!
“The Investigator” by John Sandford is now available in print, as an e-book, and on audio from independent bookstores, online booksellers, retail stores, public libraries, or anywhere books are found.
April 9, 2022
Another exciting thriller from author John Sandford. This time around he's launching a spinoff series featuring Lucas Davenport's adopted daughter, Letty. She's been working for Senator Christopher Colles (R-Florida) but is getting bored and resigns. As the chairman of the Homeland Security and Government Affairs Office, Colles decides to enlist her as an investigator for the Homeland Inspector Inspector General and sends her to Texas, along with DHS agent John Kaiser, to look into the suspicion that someone is siphoning off oil. An oil company executive and his wife have gone missing so their first job is to figure out what's happened to them. Have they run off or are they dead? They follow the money, which seems to point to a militia group working the Texas border.
Smart investigative work that occasionally crosses the line of legality drives this thriller. Lots of guns and exciting action, if you are into that sort of thing. Letty is young and a little bit of a loose canon--after all, she's a product of her crazy life experiences. I liked how she seems willing to learn from Kaiser, the seasoned ex-Army soldier, as well. There's a satisfying ending that leaves the door open just a little for future stories. Fans of Sandford's Prey series will certainly enjoy this new spinoff.
I received an arc of this new thriller from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Many thanks for the opportunity.
Smart investigative work that occasionally crosses the line of legality drives this thriller. Lots of guns and exciting action, if you are into that sort of thing. Letty is young and a little bit of a loose canon--after all, she's a product of her crazy life experiences. I liked how she seems willing to learn from Kaiser, the seasoned ex-Army soldier, as well. There's a satisfying ending that leaves the door open just a little for future stories. Fans of Sandford's Prey series will certainly enjoy this new spinoff.
I received an arc of this new thriller from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Many thanks for the opportunity.
April 17, 2022
I’m giving this 3.75 but can’t lean to a 4. If you are a hardcore Lucas Davenport fan you know Letty’s story and you know that Letty is Lucas. She was tough the day she was born, hard by the time she was 10 and earned her place in Lucas’ heart. I had no problem believing the character in this book and I may even continue to follow the series but I am growing weary of Sanford showing his political leanings.
April 24, 2022
I have liked all of Sandford's books until this one. The book should be renamed Woke Prey.
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