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Letty Davenport #2
Dark Angel
Letty Davenport, the tough-as-nails adopted daughter of Lucas Davenport, takes on an undercover assignment that brings her across the country and into the crosshairs of a dangerous group of hackers.
Letty Davenport's days working a desk job at are behind her. Her previous actions at a gunfight in Texas--and her incredible skills with firearms--draw the attention of several branches of the US government, and make her a perfect fit for even more dangerous work. The Department of Homeland Security and the NSA have tasked her with infiltrating a hacker group, known only as Ordinary People, that is intent on wreaking havoc. Letty and her reluctant partner from the NSA pose as free-spirited programmers for hire and embark on a cross country road trip to the group's California headquarters.
While the two work to make inroads with Ordinary People and uncover their plans, they begin to suspect that the hackers are not their only enemy. Someone within their own circle may have betrayed them, and has ulterior motives that place their mission--and their lives--in grave danger.
Letty Davenport's days working a desk job at are behind her. Her previous actions at a gunfight in Texas--and her incredible skills with firearms--draw the attention of several branches of the US government, and make her a perfect fit for even more dangerous work. The Department of Homeland Security and the NSA have tasked her with infiltrating a hacker group, known only as Ordinary People, that is intent on wreaking havoc. Letty and her reluctant partner from the NSA pose as free-spirited programmers for hire and embark on a cross country road trip to the group's California headquarters.
While the two work to make inroads with Ordinary People and uncover their plans, they begin to suspect that the hackers are not their only enemy. Someone within their own circle may have betrayed them, and has ulterior motives that place their mission--and their lives--in grave danger.
384 pages, Hardcover
First published April 11, 2023
3394 people are currently reading
3945 people want to read
About the author
John Sandford
234 books9,633 followersJohn Sandford is the pen name of John Roswell Camp, a Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist and bestselling author known for his gripping thrillers and popular crime series. After earning degrees in history, literature, and journalism from the University of Iowa, Camp began his writing career as a reporter, first at The Miami Herald and later at The Saint Paul Pioneer Press, where he earned critical acclaim for in-depth series on Native American communities and American farm life. His work won him the Pulitzer Prize for Feature Writing in 1986.
In 1989, Camp transitioned into fiction, publishing two novels: The Fool's Run under his real name and Rules of Prey under the pseudonym John Sandford. The latter launched the long-running “Prey” series, starring Lucas Davenport, a sharp, fearless investigator navigating politically sensitive crimes across Minnesota and beyond. The series grew to include spin-offs and crossovers, notably featuring characters like Virgil Flowers, a laid-back BCA agent with a sharp wit, and Letty Davenport, Lucas's equally determined daughter, who stars in her own series starting in 2022.
Sandford’s books have consistently appeared on the New York Times bestseller list, with over two dozen debuting at number one. Known for his dynamic storytelling, fast pacing, and keen attention to detail, Sandford combines his journalistic roots with a gift for character-driven narratives. He remains an avid reader and outdoorsman, and continues to write compelling fiction that resonates with readers who enjoy intelligent thrillers grounded in realism and driven by memorable protagonists.
In 1989, Camp transitioned into fiction, publishing two novels: The Fool's Run under his real name and Rules of Prey under the pseudonym John Sandford. The latter launched the long-running “Prey” series, starring Lucas Davenport, a sharp, fearless investigator navigating politically sensitive crimes across Minnesota and beyond. The series grew to include spin-offs and crossovers, notably featuring characters like Virgil Flowers, a laid-back BCA agent with a sharp wit, and Letty Davenport, Lucas's equally determined daughter, who stars in her own series starting in 2022.
Sandford’s books have consistently appeared on the New York Times bestseller list, with over two dozen debuting at number one. Known for his dynamic storytelling, fast pacing, and keen attention to detail, Sandford combines his journalistic roots with a gift for character-driven narratives. He remains an avid reader and outdoorsman, and continues to write compelling fiction that resonates with readers who enjoy intelligent thrillers grounded in realism and driven by memorable protagonists.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 1,396 reviews
March 11, 2023
John Sanford brings investigation, suspense, and plenty of action to the second book in the Letty Davenport series. Letty has had an unconventional, tragic, and violent childhood. Her adoption by Lucas Davenport, the protagonist in the author’s Prey series, has led to a much happier life. She’s now twenty-five, a graduate of Stanford, and an investigator for inspector general of the Department of Homeland Security. However, her real boss is Senator Christopher Colles.
The events in book one of the series has brought her to the attention of several branches of the U.S. government. A joint operation between the Department of Homeland Security and the National Security Agency seems perfect. Along with a reluctant government computer programmer, Rod Baxter, Letty is asked to infiltrate a hacker group. While they work to uncover the plans of the hacker group, Letty and Rod believe they’ve been lied to about the mission.
Letty is smart and determined, 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. Rod is somewhat stereotyped in the beginning of the novel. He’s characterized as cowardly, intelligent, and slovenly. However, he is the character who experiences the most dramatic changes in attitude and outlook as the story unfolds.
The story is part undercover investigation and part action thriller. The opening chapter is memorable, but it isn’t part of the main storyline. However, it does give some insight into the types of missions Letty has been given lately, and it gives some insight into her personal life. This personal insight is needed to make Letty more relatable. Additionally, it is a way to introduce some new characters into the series.
Sandford’s writing is always great. It is fluid and flows well, and his world-building is fantastic. There is a strong sense of place causing me to feel transported to California. He’s a superb storyteller who kept me on the edge of my seat as the undercover operation and action unfolded. The final action scenes are riveting and hauntingly memorable. It is very relevant and has a terrifying realism to it. I also liked the fact that Letty was learning from others during the course of the novel, which made her more realistic and slightly less of a larger-than-life over-the-top protagonist. Themes include violence, murder, espionage, hacking, theft, and much more. The novel also highlights the complexity of international and national politics and government activities.
Overall, this was suspenseful and action packed with compelling characters that kept me turning the pages. With exciting scenes and a fascinating story, it captivated me. 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. All opinions expressed in this review are my own. The publication date is currently set for April 11, 2023. This review was originally posted at Mystery and Suspense Magazine.
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My 4.12 rounded to 4 stars review is coming soon.
The events in book one of the series has brought her to the attention of several branches of the U.S. government. A joint operation between the Department of Homeland Security and the National Security Agency seems perfect. Along with a reluctant government computer programmer, Rod Baxter, Letty is asked to infiltrate a hacker group. While they work to uncover the plans of the hacker group, Letty and Rod believe they’ve been lied to about the mission.
Letty is smart and determined, 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. Rod is somewhat stereotyped in the beginning of the novel. He’s characterized as cowardly, intelligent, and slovenly. However, he is the character who experiences the most dramatic changes in attitude and outlook as the story unfolds.
The story is part undercover investigation and part action thriller. The opening chapter is memorable, but it isn’t part of the main storyline. However, it does give some insight into the types of missions Letty has been given lately, and it gives some insight into her personal life. This personal insight is needed to make Letty more relatable. Additionally, it is a way to introduce some new characters into the series.
Sandford’s writing is always great. It is fluid and flows well, and his world-building is fantastic. There is a strong sense of place causing me to feel transported to California. He’s a superb storyteller who kept me on the edge of my seat as the undercover operation and action unfolded. The final action scenes are riveting and hauntingly memorable. It is very relevant and has a terrifying realism to it. I also liked the fact that Letty was learning from others during the course of the novel, which made her more realistic and slightly less of a larger-than-life over-the-top protagonist. Themes include violence, murder, espionage, hacking, theft, and much more. The novel also highlights the complexity of international and national politics and government activities.
Overall, this was suspenseful and action packed with compelling characters that kept me turning the pages. With exciting scenes and a fascinating story, it captivated me. 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. All opinions expressed in this review are my own. The publication date is currently set for April 11, 2023. This review was originally posted at Mystery and Suspense Magazine.
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My 4.12 rounded to 4 stars review is coming soon.
February 25, 2023
I’m a huge John Sandford fan, especially his Lucas Davenport and Virgil Flowers series. Dark Angel is the second in the Letty Davenport series. It has the same brisk pace and energetic style as his other series, but lacks the same amount of humor. That’s not to say it isn’t humorous, but don’t go into this expecting a lot of laughs.
This time, Letty has been matched with Baxter, a NSA computer nerd. I liked that he’s not the typical good looking, athletic hero. Nope, he’s overweight, hairy and not an agent who's spent any time in the field. They are sent to LA to infiltrate a group of hackers known as the Ordinary People. But no sooner do they make contact, that things turn violent. It turns out that there are other folks looking for the OP members and they’re not good guys. A CIA agent friend of Letty’s is also called in to help. Barbara can match Letty in shooting capabilities.
Having just read another popular author with a very basic writing style, in contrast I had a much better appreciation for Sandford’s ability to nail a description. “He wore a dark suit over a black tee-shirt, with poorly polished, blunt tipped black shoes that looked like weapons, designed to kick someone to death. None of his three companions looked like him, but they had a GRU family resemblance, a built-in necked glower, than any Russian civilian would have recognized and carefully walked around.” Just perfect!
This is a very timely story and held my interest. At times, Letty comes across as just a little too much of the superhero. But Sandford’s books are never meant to be believable. It’s all about the entertainment factor. I’m hoping that Barbara becomes an ongoing character in this series. It’s nice to have multiple competent women in a thriller.
My thanks to Netgalley and Penguin Books-Putnam for an advance copy of this book.
This time, Letty has been matched with Baxter, a NSA computer nerd. I liked that he’s not the typical good looking, athletic hero. Nope, he’s overweight, hairy and not an agent who's spent any time in the field. They are sent to LA to infiltrate a group of hackers known as the Ordinary People. But no sooner do they make contact, that things turn violent. It turns out that there are other folks looking for the OP members and they’re not good guys. A CIA agent friend of Letty’s is also called in to help. Barbara can match Letty in shooting capabilities.
Having just read another popular author with a very basic writing style, in contrast I had a much better appreciation for Sandford’s ability to nail a description. “He wore a dark suit over a black tee-shirt, with poorly polished, blunt tipped black shoes that looked like weapons, designed to kick someone to death. None of his three companions looked like him, but they had a GRU family resemblance, a built-in necked glower, than any Russian civilian would have recognized and carefully walked around.” Just perfect!
This is a very timely story and held my interest. At times, Letty comes across as just a little too much of the superhero. But Sandford’s books are never meant to be believable. It’s all about the entertainment factor. I’m hoping that Barbara becomes an ongoing character in this series. It’s nice to have multiple competent women in a thriller.
My thanks to Netgalley and Penguin Books-Putnam for an advance copy of this book.
May 1, 2023
A very good second novel in the series!
An opportunity arises for a twenty-something Letty to go undercover for the Department of Homeland Security and the NSA. Even without prior experience, Letty best fits the job to insert herself into young hackers' circle who are trying to do America harm.
I found it very entertaining when Letty learns some spycraft from John Kaiser, her Delta Force vet partner in the previous book. She's paired up with a hacker, Baxter to be his girlfriend. They are so opposites which makes it even better. Other girls who formed her team are badasses as well. I have to say the characters really pulled this one through for me as the hacker-tech storyline isn't really my thing.
I love Sandford's storytelling, but Letty #1 was not a favorite of mine because the main character rubbed me the wrong way. In Dark Angel, Letty's character has immensely improved. She's much more likable now without the bossy "know it all" attitude. Yay!
I was a bit disappointed that Richard Ferrone didn't read this book, BUT Robert Petkoff is excellent and I hope to listen to the next one as well.
An opportunity arises for a twenty-something Letty to go undercover for the Department of Homeland Security and the NSA. Even without prior experience, Letty best fits the job to insert herself into young hackers' circle who are trying to do America harm.
I found it very entertaining when Letty learns some spycraft from John Kaiser, her Delta Force vet partner in the previous book. She's paired up with a hacker, Baxter to be his girlfriend. They are so opposites which makes it even better. Other girls who formed her team are badasses as well. I have to say the characters really pulled this one through for me as the hacker-tech storyline isn't really my thing.
I love Sandford's storytelling, but Letty #1 was not a favorite of mine because the main character rubbed me the wrong way. In Dark Angel, Letty's character has immensely improved. She's much more likable now without the bossy "know it all" attitude. Yay!
I was a bit disappointed that Richard Ferrone didn't read this book, BUT Robert Petkoff is excellent and I hope to listen to the next one as well.
April 24, 2023
I liked Letty #1, this one not so much.
Letty is undercover looking into some hackers and so there is a monumental amount of information about computers and hacking all of which made my eyes glaze over.
Russians are brought into play leading up to the invasion of Ukraine - a timely topic of course but had no place in this book. Ukraine is still under attack and what they are going through is still too fresh and raw to be in a book like this - and that’s my opinion.
The first few pages engaged me and I thought I was going to love the book, but it went downhill fast. It could have been cut in half leaving out the description of every gun known to man and every scenario that could be conceived by a hacker.
I liked the new character Baxter who is Letty’s sidekick in this undercover operation mostly because he is not your typical rugged, handsome he-man, just a very smart guy who is overweight, eats too much junk food and not a top notch gun slinger. Letty does enough gun slinging for the two of them.
Can’t say I enjoyed this read.
Letty is undercover looking into some hackers and so there is a monumental amount of information about computers and hacking all of which made my eyes glaze over.
Russians are brought into play leading up to the invasion of Ukraine - a timely topic of course but had no place in this book. Ukraine is still under attack and what they are going through is still too fresh and raw to be in a book like this - and that’s my opinion.
The first few pages engaged me and I thought I was going to love the book, but it went downhill fast. It could have been cut in half leaving out the description of every gun known to man and every scenario that could be conceived by a hacker.
I liked the new character Baxter who is Letty’s sidekick in this undercover operation mostly because he is not your typical rugged, handsome he-man, just a very smart guy who is overweight, eats too much junk food and not a top notch gun slinger. Letty does enough gun slinging for the two of them.
Can’t say I enjoyed this read.
May 19, 2023
This is a five star for me. Has to be. Sanford is my go-to mainly because he has never let me down. Never. And that is saying a mouthful when put up against the vast number of books I read and have read. When I try book after contemporary book and founder in search for that "Fictive Dream," and can't find one, I drop back to the solitary comfort of an early John Sanford. (I just finished reading Shadow Prey for the third time).
Dark Angel is well worth the read. I liked it a great deal. But once put up against early Sanford this book doesn't have the same depth of prose, the attention to detail. The thrust of the book main focuses on servicing the story rather than the character (unlike in earlier books). This isn't uncommon with many authors (John Connolly, puts forth his all in every book).
No matter, I still devoured this one in two sittings and can easily recommend it. As with all books there is the "reader world," and the real world. Great fiction straddles the line between both. The closer to real world the better chance for experiencing that ever elusive, "Fictive dream." This is why, of late I have shied away from action/adventure fiction ie, military and some spy (not all). Because they cross the line too deep into the world of incredulity. This book ventures a smidgen too deep into that world. But again, this is a John Sanford novel. Loved it.
Will I buy the next hardcover? Already preordered it.
David Putnam author of the Bruno Johnson series (and now the Dave Beckett series)
Dark Angel is well worth the read. I liked it a great deal. But once put up against early Sanford this book doesn't have the same depth of prose, the attention to detail. The thrust of the book main focuses on servicing the story rather than the character (unlike in earlier books). This isn't uncommon with many authors (John Connolly, puts forth his all in every book).
No matter, I still devoured this one in two sittings and can easily recommend it. As with all books there is the "reader world," and the real world. Great fiction straddles the line between both. The closer to real world the better chance for experiencing that ever elusive, "Fictive dream." This is why, of late I have shied away from action/adventure fiction ie, military and some spy (not all). Because they cross the line too deep into the world of incredulity. This book ventures a smidgen too deep into that world. But again, this is a John Sanford novel. Loved it.
Will I buy the next hardcover? Already preordered it.
David Putnam author of the Bruno Johnson series (and now the Dave Beckett series)
April 25, 2023
This reader admires women of strength in character. 8 of 10 stars
February 8, 2023
I liked Letty a bit more in this one than I did in the first book, but she has a long way to grow before she's anywhere near as good as her father, Lucus Davenport, who has been a favorite of mine for years. The National Security Agency (NSA) brings her in for an undercover operation to track down a well-organized cell of hackers known as "Ordinary People". The NSA tells her the hackers are nosing around natural gas distribution systems and they think the group intends to shut down the natural gas supply of a northern city in a ransomware attack which could, in the dead of winter, cause civilian fatalities. The NSA wants Letty to hook up with one of their computer specialists and to protect him as he tries to infiltrate the hacker cell to identify as many of them as possible so the agency can avert the attack. Letty still works as an investigator for the inspector general of the Department of Homeland Security, although her real boss is Senator Christopher Colles, chairman of the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee. While Letty suspects the NSA reps aren’t telling her the entire story, she accepts the assignment when Colles asks her to take it. They soon learn that there is much more about the operation than the NSA told her and Baxter when they signed on. It isn’t long before they discover the NSA has pitted them against a far more dangerous adversary than a bunch of computer nerds, and their actual mission has nothing to do with keeping someone from shutting off natural gas supplies. Letty is a strong female lead character for this series, and she is so much like her father even if she was adopted. John Sandford's "Prey" series will always be my favorite because of the Lucas Davenport character and Lucas's friends and fellow agents, but I think this series will eventually be equally s good. I really didn't like anything about the first book in the series, mainly because of Letty's "better than anyone else" attitude and it read as if aliens had taken over John Sandford's body to write it, but I did more enjoy this one.
June 23, 2023
Ah! The joy of reading. This is a book that will keep you up reading past your bedtime. There are no philosophical musings, no social message, no literary merit—it is just a frolicking good thriller.
This is the second book by John Sandford that features Letty Davenport. She is the adopted daughter of Lucas Davenport, Sandford’s major character. Letty now works for the Department of Homeland Security, but after the action described in the previous book she has attracted the attention of other government agencies. She is summoned to a meeting with the National Security Agency where they ask her to go undercover to learn about a group of computer hackers from CalTech who have been causing havoc. She is to be paired up with Rod Baxter, a wimpy computer nerd, and Letty is there is protect him while he infiltrates the hackers.
Lettie and Baxter figure out early on that the NSA wants something more than just the identities of the hackers.
A couple of interesting takeaways from this book are:
John Sandford has been publishing a book each spring and my daughter has been sending them for my Father’s Day gift. She has been doing this for almost 30 years.
This is the second book by John Sandford that features Letty Davenport. She is the adopted daughter of Lucas Davenport, Sandford’s major character. Letty now works for the Department of Homeland Security, but after the action described in the previous book she has attracted the attention of other government agencies. She is summoned to a meeting with the National Security Agency where they ask her to go undercover to learn about a group of computer hackers from CalTech who have been causing havoc. She is to be paired up with Rod Baxter, a wimpy computer nerd, and Letty is there is protect him while he infiltrates the hackers.
Lettie and Baxter figure out early on that the NSA wants something more than just the identities of the hackers.
A couple of interesting takeaways from this book are:
Lettie is invited to join a group called the Washington Ladies Peace-Makers, which is a gun club. There are a lot of guns and gun violence in this book. The interesting thing here is that when Lettie needs some help later in the book it is women from this gun club that provide her backup. The only male has a very passive role. Not the usual macho fare.
The action takes place as the Russians are preparing to invade the Ukraine. The hackers are used to hinder this invasion by disrupting the supplies of material by trains. Wars in the future may be fought more by computers and robots than by humans.
John Sandford has been publishing a book each spring and my daughter has been sending them for my Father’s Day gift. She has been doing this for almost 30 years.
July 4, 2023
Here comes my neighbor again with his hotlist bestseller discard after reading it.
This is the latest Letty Daveport novel.
For those who haven’t been following this series, Letty is Lucas’ adopted daughter. Which leads me to recommend, that you might be better off following the series than cold-feet jumping into this one as a stand-alone.
Letty Davenport currently works for a United States Senator who has gotten her a position as investigator for the inspector general of the Department of Homeland Security.
She is more than ready to move into this position and is now partnered with Rod Baxter an out-of-shape computer programmer that the NSA wants to insert into Ordinary People (OP), a hacker collective. Letty will act as his bodyguard.
They have to drive from Florida to the OP base in CA to safely decrypt a Bitcoin wallet that the company stashed to protect from getting in the wrong hands.
This is an interesting partnership of two opposites. Letty’s calm. Baxter’s fatalistic. But they both have a sense of humor, human decency and basic justice as their focus.
Their patriotism anchors the complex story.
Even if some of the slang might feel dated, modern innovations make up for it.
It is a fast-paced mystery that doesn’t shy away from current events. This may be uncomfortable for some – for others, they may see it as characters on a mission to do what they believe is right for their country.
April 10, 2023
My thanks to Penguin Group/Putnam, John Sandford and Netgalley.
This is my second Letty book, and I don't mind telling y'all that it's much better than the first!
I'm not sure if Sandford decided to drop us all in the middle of Letty's life and assume that we would be gung-ho with the little we knew of her from Davenport books or not.
Far as I'm concerned, an author should never assume.
Yeah, I'm still fucking mad as hell that I've lost Virgil! But then he's replaced by Lettie?
Lettie is an o.k. character. Believe it or not, I do like her. Sandford should have let us ease into her. But no. It's balls to the wall.
Letty is too advanced in skills for her age. If this was fantasy or horror then I would find it more believable. It's not, and I don't.
My biggest problem with the last book was all the gun stuff. Talk guns, car engines or mathematics and my mind finds itself wandering. Thankfully, this book was "slightly" less.
I liked this book much more than the first, and I guess I might read the next. That is the one that will be the deciding factor for me.
This is my second Letty book, and I don't mind telling y'all that it's much better than the first!
I'm not sure if Sandford decided to drop us all in the middle of Letty's life and assume that we would be gung-ho with the little we knew of her from Davenport books or not.
Far as I'm concerned, an author should never assume.
Yeah, I'm still fucking mad as hell that I've lost Virgil! But then he's replaced by Lettie?
Lettie is an o.k. character. Believe it or not, I do like her. Sandford should have let us ease into her. But no. It's balls to the wall.
Letty is too advanced in skills for her age. If this was fantasy or horror then I would find it more believable. It's not, and I don't.
My biggest problem with the last book was all the gun stuff. Talk guns, car engines or mathematics and my mind finds itself wandering. Thankfully, this book was "slightly" less.
I liked this book much more than the first, and I guess I might read the next. That is the one that will be the deciding factor for me.
May 20, 2023
To begin with, I think it is only appropriate that I admit to being a fairly avid reader of John Sandford over the years, a fan of both of his Lucas Davenport “Prey” and Virgil Flowers series, which easily captured my imagination. Davenport and Flowers are perfect opposites, providing a great compare and contrast personalities, as well as approaches to investigative work.
Now, for the second time, Davenport’s adopted daughter, Letty, continues to take her own turn in the lead role of her own adventures. When we are reintroduced to Letty “Dark Angel” a year following her reputation building shootout in Pershing, Texas, she is working for Homeland Security on a stakeout of a FEMA warehouse where a group of employees are stealing heavy equipment and selling it to a Chinese company for some serious fringe benefits. During the mission, Letty gets partnered with Cartwright, a strong sharpshooter and fellow agent from another unnamed government agency. Afterwards, they become shooting partners and friends.
Then Letty’s is called in to visit with her unofficial boss, Senator Colles, and other government officials who are drawn to her special skills and want for a dangerous assignment. Before she knows it, Letty is working with both Homeland Security and the NSA to infiltrate a hacker group going by the name of Ordinary People. They aren’t just any hacker team. They successfully got into the Russian train system and caused enough havoc that they were able to get a fifty million ransomware Bitcoin payoff.
It now appears that Ordinary People are currently in Southern California looking at striking again, this time shutting down the natural gas systems in different parts of the United States, and risking economic havoc for more ransomware rewards. Letty’s job, along with her reluctant NSA programmer partner and slob named Baxter, is to head off to So-Cal posing as free-spirited programming rebels for hire.
Needless to say, Letty and Baxter have severe personality differences, but that is only the first challenge they face. As they try to make connections with members of ordinary People, things immediately go haywire. People get killed. People are following them. And it doesn’t take long for Letty to realize the officials sending them on this mission were hiding things from them. Important things, like finding out that the hacker team is not their only enemy. There is a much more fearful one that will quickly move to permanently eliminate them. Even with the help of Cartwright being added to their twosome may not be enough to keep them alive…
My upfront view is that I enjoyed this book; however, to a lesser degree than Letty’s first adventure. Let me shar what I liked first, and then I will address the reasons why I just didn’t care for it as much as the first one.
There are some interesting aspects of Letty serving in a lead role. I appreciate that Sanford treats her as a complex, intelligent, and physically capable character, with depth and unique background that molds her into a strong female protagonist. Although she is still young and learning, Sanford gives her two different partners in this outing that contrast well with her personality and lifestyle. Cartwright serves as Letty’s own version of Spenser’s classic partner “Hawk”, providing self-contained violence and a sharp wit to match. Baxter, on the other hand, is brusque, whiny, and obnoxious, yet challenges Letty in her understanding of men and relationships. Cartwright and Baxter balance Letty’s aggressive style by letting her go and supporting her actions, and yet gently pull her back and teach her things that she still needs to learn. I really enjoyed the development of Letty and Cartwright’s relationship.
There were also several fun moments in this one in which Letty and her partners outthink and out-maneuver the bad guys. I appreciated how Sandford put them into tight situations and they creatively and/or skillfully got themselves out. As a writer, this is one of his strengths.
In addition, like her first outing, Sanford again provides Letty with the opportunity for adventure and development. He creates enough conflict and a dangerous adversary to challenge her face, and yet still allow her to learn the necessary lessons she needs along the way. The bad guys were bad, but not bad enough for her to outthink and strategically outflank them (along with governmental resource support). This is a tough thing for a writer to balance. She is still in her twenties and just gaining experience in her early career, even is she is in many ways (her stepfather) Lucas Davenport version 2.0. His influences on her are so much stronger than I previously thought. They both have a strong hunger for justice, for hunting down criminals, and a willingness to bend the law if needed for a righteous cause. I must admit that I like watching another Davenport take center stage as a young pup and blaze her trail in law enforcement.
On the other hand, there were several things that were less enjoyable than the previous book. As I mentioned, there was more time spent on Letty’s relationships and interaction with her partners, which was cool. However, I wish there had been more time spent on developing and strengthening the primary hacker storyline. Unlike the last book in which it felt like Letty’s life was in real danger several times and she was physically drained, I never felt like she was at risk of being hurt in this one. She was always one step ahead of the bad guys throughout, from beginning to end. I am not even sure she sweated at any time.
I have mentioned this previously and it has become a bit of a repeat. Over the last several Davenport and Letty books, the bad guys have been anti-government, political revolutionary-minded groups, ranging from racist supremacists to downright hicks with hatred and guns. One of the problems with using them as bad guys is that they don’t come across as organized, financially backed, or powerful. The other problem is that Letty spends more time running around and connecting the clues and investigation dots with lesser characters at the cost of building up the bad guys and making them more impressive and intimidating.
There was a lot of running around in the first half of the book before the plotline really got moving along. Although I like how Letty was thinking and analyzing what was going on during the investigation, too much time was spent running from one location to another having heavily detailed discussions about firearms, and violent shootouts. What was missing was building sustainable tension and a strong plotline that demanded my attention. I never doubted the outcome of the concluding shootout and it felt a bit anti-climactic.
Then there was the last five pages that came out of left field and came across as quite awkward – interesting, unexpected, but very awkward. It was so disjointed to the rest of the book and happened so fast that it lacked the proper development it deserved. It felt way out of character and I found myself shaking my head and mouthing what the heck? No spoilers here other than to say, it was a rather extreme behavior for Letty and it felt like there was a lot of situational context and explanation missing. It's almost like Sandford lost a bet and had to write those last five pages to force in a character action to make other people happy.
Having said all that, I am giving this 3-stars because the enjoyable things outweighed the constructive feedback and weird ending, for now. But if these issues continue in future books, my ratings on Sanford novels will start dipping again. Let’s hope that’s not the case.
Now, for the second time, Davenport’s adopted daughter, Letty, continues to take her own turn in the lead role of her own adventures. When we are reintroduced to Letty “Dark Angel” a year following her reputation building shootout in Pershing, Texas, she is working for Homeland Security on a stakeout of a FEMA warehouse where a group of employees are stealing heavy equipment and selling it to a Chinese company for some serious fringe benefits. During the mission, Letty gets partnered with Cartwright, a strong sharpshooter and fellow agent from another unnamed government agency. Afterwards, they become shooting partners and friends.
Then Letty’s is called in to visit with her unofficial boss, Senator Colles, and other government officials who are drawn to her special skills and want for a dangerous assignment. Before she knows it, Letty is working with both Homeland Security and the NSA to infiltrate a hacker group going by the name of Ordinary People. They aren’t just any hacker team. They successfully got into the Russian train system and caused enough havoc that they were able to get a fifty million ransomware Bitcoin payoff.
It now appears that Ordinary People are currently in Southern California looking at striking again, this time shutting down the natural gas systems in different parts of the United States, and risking economic havoc for more ransomware rewards. Letty’s job, along with her reluctant NSA programmer partner and slob named Baxter, is to head off to So-Cal posing as free-spirited programming rebels for hire.
Needless to say, Letty and Baxter have severe personality differences, but that is only the first challenge they face. As they try to make connections with members of ordinary People, things immediately go haywire. People get killed. People are following them. And it doesn’t take long for Letty to realize the officials sending them on this mission were hiding things from them. Important things, like finding out that the hacker team is not their only enemy. There is a much more fearful one that will quickly move to permanently eliminate them. Even with the help of Cartwright being added to their twosome may not be enough to keep them alive…
My upfront view is that I enjoyed this book; however, to a lesser degree than Letty’s first adventure. Let me shar what I liked first, and then I will address the reasons why I just didn’t care for it as much as the first one.
There are some interesting aspects of Letty serving in a lead role. I appreciate that Sanford treats her as a complex, intelligent, and physically capable character, with depth and unique background that molds her into a strong female protagonist. Although she is still young and learning, Sanford gives her two different partners in this outing that contrast well with her personality and lifestyle. Cartwright serves as Letty’s own version of Spenser’s classic partner “Hawk”, providing self-contained violence and a sharp wit to match. Baxter, on the other hand, is brusque, whiny, and obnoxious, yet challenges Letty in her understanding of men and relationships. Cartwright and Baxter balance Letty’s aggressive style by letting her go and supporting her actions, and yet gently pull her back and teach her things that she still needs to learn. I really enjoyed the development of Letty and Cartwright’s relationship.
There were also several fun moments in this one in which Letty and her partners outthink and out-maneuver the bad guys. I appreciated how Sandford put them into tight situations and they creatively and/or skillfully got themselves out. As a writer, this is one of his strengths.
In addition, like her first outing, Sanford again provides Letty with the opportunity for adventure and development. He creates enough conflict and a dangerous adversary to challenge her face, and yet still allow her to learn the necessary lessons she needs along the way. The bad guys were bad, but not bad enough for her to outthink and strategically outflank them (along with governmental resource support). This is a tough thing for a writer to balance. She is still in her twenties and just gaining experience in her early career, even is she is in many ways (her stepfather) Lucas Davenport version 2.0. His influences on her are so much stronger than I previously thought. They both have a strong hunger for justice, for hunting down criminals, and a willingness to bend the law if needed for a righteous cause. I must admit that I like watching another Davenport take center stage as a young pup and blaze her trail in law enforcement.
On the other hand, there were several things that were less enjoyable than the previous book. As I mentioned, there was more time spent on Letty’s relationships and interaction with her partners, which was cool. However, I wish there had been more time spent on developing and strengthening the primary hacker storyline. Unlike the last book in which it felt like Letty’s life was in real danger several times and she was physically drained, I never felt like she was at risk of being hurt in this one. She was always one step ahead of the bad guys throughout, from beginning to end. I am not even sure she sweated at any time.
I have mentioned this previously and it has become a bit of a repeat. Over the last several Davenport and Letty books, the bad guys have been anti-government, political revolutionary-minded groups, ranging from racist supremacists to downright hicks with hatred and guns. One of the problems with using them as bad guys is that they don’t come across as organized, financially backed, or powerful. The other problem is that Letty spends more time running around and connecting the clues and investigation dots with lesser characters at the cost of building up the bad guys and making them more impressive and intimidating.
There was a lot of running around in the first half of the book before the plotline really got moving along. Although I like how Letty was thinking and analyzing what was going on during the investigation, too much time was spent running from one location to another having heavily detailed discussions about firearms, and violent shootouts. What was missing was building sustainable tension and a strong plotline that demanded my attention. I never doubted the outcome of the concluding shootout and it felt a bit anti-climactic.
Then there was the last five pages that came out of left field and came across as quite awkward – interesting, unexpected, but very awkward. It was so disjointed to the rest of the book and happened so fast that it lacked the proper development it deserved. It felt way out of character and I found myself shaking my head and mouthing what the heck? No spoilers here other than to say, it was a rather extreme behavior for Letty and it felt like there was a lot of situational context and explanation missing. It's almost like Sandford lost a bet and had to write those last five pages to force in a character action to make other people happy.
Having said all that, I am giving this 3-stars because the enjoyable things outweighed the constructive feedback and weird ending, for now. But if these issues continue in future books, my ratings on Sanford novels will start dipping again. Let’s hope that’s not the case.
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May 12, 2023
4.0-Stars - "I Really Liked It"
John Sandford - Letty Davenport, #2: Dark Angel
Audiobook: 11:07 Hours - Narrator Robert Petkoff
A solid 4-Stars for the second book in John Sandford's latest series: "Letty Davenport".
Review to follow:
John Sandford - Letty Davenport, #2: Dark Angel
Audiobook: 11:07 Hours - Narrator Robert Petkoff
A solid 4-Stars for the second book in John Sandford's latest series: "Letty Davenport".
Review to follow:
April 26, 2023
Letty Davenport vs. the [Redacted]
Review of the Penguin Audio audiobook edition narrated by Robert Petkoff, released simultaneously with the G.P. Putnam's Sons hardcover & eBook editions (April 11, 2023).
In Dark Angel, Letty Davenport of Homeland Security is paired with reformed hacker Rod Baxter in an undercover assignment for the NSA. Letty is the adopted daughter of Lucas Davenport of John Sandford's Prey series (1989 - 2023 ongoing) and was introduced last year by the first book in her own series The Investigator, which I gave a 3-star rating and review as Letty the Bad-Ass at the time.
I thought that first book was a bit over the top when it introduced Letty as the 24-year-old equivalent of the 8-tour Delta Force veteran John Kaiser, whom she was paired with on that outing. This was the Letty we had first met as a feral wild-child, then adopted by Weather & Lucas Davenport, later Letty-the-kid-reporter in her teenage years, etc. Suddenly she has superhuman fighting and firearms abilities?!
Dark Angel brings things somewhat more down to earth and pairs Letty with several other characters not of the superhuman variety. Hacker Rod Baxter is a computer nerd with a penchant for unhealthy junk food consumed in large quantities. This makes for much of the banter between the two unlikely undercover partners.
The conspiracy they are sent to uncover is actually more of a cover story, and the real foes are not revealed until later in the book, which is why I put [Redacted] into my lede headline. It would be a spoiler to say more about that. It is definitely something from the international headlines of the past year, so the book is quite timely in that sense.
Sandford regulars Lucas Davenport and Virgil Flowers do not make cameo appearances in this book. Look for them in the upcoming Prey novel, currently listed on GR as Untitled Prey 33 Lucas Davenport #33, expected to be published October 3, 2023.
The narration by Robert Petkoff was excellent in all voices. It is still sad to think of the passing of the veteran John Sandford reader Richard Ferrone (1946-2022), whose gravelly voice was our Lucas Davenport for decades. His obituary at the New York Times can be read here.
Review of the Penguin Audio audiobook edition narrated by Robert Petkoff, released simultaneously with the G.P. Putnam's Sons hardcover & eBook editions (April 11, 2023).
"I looked you up, you know? When your name was first mentioned, before the NSA changed everything in your file," Baxter said. "You've killed five people. Your father has killed even more. Some people might argue that you're a family of psychopaths..."
LONG SILENCE. THEN:
"I have this theory that everyone is a little mentally ill," Letty said. "No such thing as perfectly normal. You’ve got all these branches extending out of some kind of theoretical normalcy. You’ve got the schizophrenic branch, the paranoid branch, the psychopathic branch, the sociopathic branch, the manic-depressive branch, the clinically depressive branch, the OCD branch, and so on. Nobody is dead center. Everybody is out on one of those branches. Or more than one. If you’re too far out, you’re nuts. If you’re just a little way out, you’re fine, but you have a tendency."
"Where are you?"
"A little paranoid, maybe a little manic, a little sociopathic..."
"I'm purely paranoid, right?" Baxter asked.
"I don't think you're paranoid at all, Rod. You gotta face it, people are out to get you," Letty said.
In Dark Angel, Letty Davenport of Homeland Security is paired with reformed hacker Rod Baxter in an undercover assignment for the NSA. Letty is the adopted daughter of Lucas Davenport of John Sandford's Prey series (1989 - 2023 ongoing) and was introduced last year by the first book in her own series The Investigator, which I gave a 3-star rating and review as Letty the Bad-Ass at the time.
I thought that first book was a bit over the top when it introduced Letty as the 24-year-old equivalent of the 8-tour Delta Force veteran John Kaiser, whom she was paired with on that outing. This was the Letty we had first met as a feral wild-child, then adopted by Weather & Lucas Davenport, later Letty-the-kid-reporter in her teenage years, etc. Suddenly she has superhuman fighting and firearms abilities?!
Dark Angel brings things somewhat more down to earth and pairs Letty with several other characters not of the superhuman variety. Hacker Rod Baxter is a computer nerd with a penchant for unhealthy junk food consumed in large quantities. This makes for much of the banter between the two unlikely undercover partners.
The conspiracy they are sent to uncover is actually more of a cover story, and the real foes are not revealed until later in the book, which is why I put [Redacted] into my lede headline. It would be a spoiler to say more about that. It is definitely something from the international headlines of the past year, so the book is quite timely in that sense.
Sandford regulars Lucas Davenport and Virgil Flowers do not make cameo appearances in this book. Look for them in the upcoming Prey novel, currently listed on GR as Untitled Prey 33 Lucas Davenport #33, expected to be published October 3, 2023.
The narration by Robert Petkoff was excellent in all voices. It is still sad to think of the passing of the veteran John Sandford reader Richard Ferrone (1946-2022), whose gravelly voice was our Lucas Davenport for decades. His obituary at the New York Times can be read here.
April 23, 2023
Letty Davenport made a name for herself in The Investigator and has come to the attention of several goverment agencies. Especially Homeland Security and the NSA. They have a job that is perfect for her skillset. They want her to infiltrate a group of hackers known as the Ordinary People.
She is told that the group intends to shut down the natural gas supply of a northern city in a ransomware attack in the dead of winter which could cause civilian fatalities. Her partner is a NSA computer nerd named Baxter. They are to drive cross country from Florida to California and infiltrate Ordinary People. Letty comes out of the meeting believing there is something else going on here. Something she is not being told. This is the NSA and Homeland Security after all. Baxter? He is constantly saying he is going to get killed.
When they get to California they are able to make contact with members of Ordinary People and quickly learn that they are not the only ones looking for the members. Letty figures out what the NSA didn't tell them and the mission changes from infiltrating to protecting. Domestic terror to international intrigue.
Here the ladies rule. Kaiser helps Letty with creating her cover and makes and appearance towards the end to assist but it is the ladies who rule. Who is going to take a young woman seriously? She looks like a teenager. That turns out to be a fatal mistake for the bad guys. This was a page turning thriller that left me looking forward to the next installment.
She is told that the group intends to shut down the natural gas supply of a northern city in a ransomware attack in the dead of winter which could cause civilian fatalities. Her partner is a NSA computer nerd named Baxter. They are to drive cross country from Florida to California and infiltrate Ordinary People. Letty comes out of the meeting believing there is something else going on here. Something she is not being told. This is the NSA and Homeland Security after all. Baxter? He is constantly saying he is going to get killed.
When they get to California they are able to make contact with members of Ordinary People and quickly learn that they are not the only ones looking for the members. Letty figures out what the NSA didn't tell them and the mission changes from infiltrating to protecting. Domestic terror to international intrigue.
Here the ladies rule. Kaiser helps Letty with creating her cover and makes and appearance towards the end to assist but it is the ladies who rule. Who is going to take a young woman seriously? She looks like a teenager. That turns out to be a fatal mistake for the bad guys. This was a page turning thriller that left me looking forward to the next installment.
September 28, 2023
I’ve been reading Sandford’s books for years, or more accurately I started listening to his Prey series of books around twenty years ago, when I had a long daily commute to and from my place of work. The local library had quite a few audiobooks in this series and after sampling one I quickly worked my way through the remaining stories they had in stock. Lucas Davenport, the lead cop in these tales, was just the sort of character I was looking for: smart and rich but a risk taker who did things his own way, breaking rules (and skulls) as he went. Over the years, I’ve worked my way through all 32 books in the Prey series as well as another dozen in an offshoot series featuring Virgil Flowers, a close friend and colleague of Lucas. I’ve enjoyed all of them (well, perhaps with one exception). But last year Sandford launched another offshoot series, this time featuring Letty, Davenport’s adopted daughter.
All regular readers of this author’s books will be familiar with Letty, a young girl whose difficult upbringing had made her self-sufficient, tough and fearless. Now a Stanford graduate in economics, she’s found a sponsor in Republican U.S. Senator Christopher Colles. In her first adventure The Investigator Letty, began working for a government agency – one of those three letter ones. Her role seemed to be whatever Colles wanted it to be. He even organised a gun carry permit for her. The tale was energetic and highly entertaining. But, as the bodies mounted up, it was also highly implausible.
So what of this latest offering? The first thing to say is that just about anything Sandford writes is going to include interesting characters and is guaranteed flow well, this one being no exception. Letty is dispatched from her East Coast base to chase down a group of L.A. based hackers who are suspected of concocting a plan to interrupt the flow of natural gas into major northern cities, this in order to extort millions from the government in exchange for restoring the supply. But once Letty reaches California the whole thing takes on a new life, one with serious International implications.
Once again, Letty is thrust into a situation that requires guns – lots of ‘em – and back-up manpower too. But, just like the last time, even though I knew the whole thing was just totally implausible, I’m thinking this with a smile on my face. Sandford is just such a good storyteller and all the key characters are fun and engaging. I raced through it, burning the midnight oil where necessary, and was sad when it was all over. Will I be back for episode 3 (assuming there is one)? You bet I will.
All regular readers of this author’s books will be familiar with Letty, a young girl whose difficult upbringing had made her self-sufficient, tough and fearless. Now a Stanford graduate in economics, she’s found a sponsor in Republican U.S. Senator Christopher Colles. In her first adventure The Investigator Letty, began working for a government agency – one of those three letter ones. Her role seemed to be whatever Colles wanted it to be. He even organised a gun carry permit for her. The tale was energetic and highly entertaining. But, as the bodies mounted up, it was also highly implausible.
So what of this latest offering? The first thing to say is that just about anything Sandford writes is going to include interesting characters and is guaranteed flow well, this one being no exception. Letty is dispatched from her East Coast base to chase down a group of L.A. based hackers who are suspected of concocting a plan to interrupt the flow of natural gas into major northern cities, this in order to extort millions from the government in exchange for restoring the supply. But once Letty reaches California the whole thing takes on a new life, one with serious International implications.
Once again, Letty is thrust into a situation that requires guns – lots of ‘em – and back-up manpower too. But, just like the last time, even though I knew the whole thing was just totally implausible, I’m thinking this with a smile on my face. Sandford is just such a good storyteller and all the key characters are fun and engaging. I raced through it, burning the midnight oil where necessary, and was sad when it was all over. Will I be back for episode 3 (assuming there is one)? You bet I will.
April 28, 2023
my favourite kind of audiobook ♡
Huge fan of John Sanford, could listen to a new book every month.
Huge fan of John Sanford, could listen to a new book every month.
February 8, 2023
When Lettie Davenport, the adopted daughter of U.S. Marshal Lucas Davenport and his surgeon wife, Weather, used to make an occasional appearance in one of Lucas's books, I never warmed up to her much. Then when she got her own series with last year's The Investigator, I started to take her a bit more seriously. With this, her second book, I started to like her a lot. Seriously.
At this point in her life - she's 25 - she's an investigator for Homeland Security, at least on the surface; under it, she works for a powerful U.S. Senator. Through him, she's asked to go under cover to try to infiltrate a ransomware hacking group known as Ordinary People, ostensibly to prevent another attack; in the process, she meets another hotshot investigator and crack sharpshooter, Barbara Cartwright, and they hit it off. Their camaraderie leads to both friendship and, when Lettie needs more help on her assignment, a professional assist (just for the record, I liked her too). Lettie also picks up an undercover "partner" named Rod Baxter - another very likable dude (the repartee between the two can get quite amusing).
It doesn't take too long, though, for Letty and Rod to figure out there's more to their assignment than they were led to believe - and the difference between the assumed adversaries and the real ones can become a matter of life and death with the slightest of missteps. All in all, it's another fast-paced book with an intriguing, timely plot that kept me entertained throughout. Many thanks to the publisher, via NetGalley, for allowing me to read and review a pre-release copy. Don't miss this one!
At this point in her life - she's 25 - she's an investigator for Homeland Security, at least on the surface; under it, she works for a powerful U.S. Senator. Through him, she's asked to go under cover to try to infiltrate a ransomware hacking group known as Ordinary People, ostensibly to prevent another attack; in the process, she meets another hotshot investigator and crack sharpshooter, Barbara Cartwright, and they hit it off. Their camaraderie leads to both friendship and, when Lettie needs more help on her assignment, a professional assist (just for the record, I liked her too). Lettie also picks up an undercover "partner" named Rod Baxter - another very likable dude (the repartee between the two can get quite amusing).
It doesn't take too long, though, for Letty and Rod to figure out there's more to their assignment than they were led to believe - and the difference between the assumed adversaries and the real ones can become a matter of life and death with the slightest of missteps. All in all, it's another fast-paced book with an intriguing, timely plot that kept me entertained throughout. Many thanks to the publisher, via NetGalley, for allowing me to read and review a pre-release copy. Don't miss this one!
October 20, 2023
Another disappointment. There's a new narrator who does an excellent job & an interesting plot, but it's just ridiculous. Lettie, the youngest & least experienced agent is given control of an operation & far more experienced agents in a ridiculous series of gun fights & detective work that would make even a Hollywood thriller writer groan.
Sandford has had a great run. Over 30 novels in a series that regularly got 3 & 4 stars from me, but he's apparently run the series out & hasn't quit while ahead. That's a shame. I see he has another book in the Prey series out with another planned after that. I'm not sure if I'll bother to read them.
Sandford has had a great run. Over 30 novels in a series that regularly got 3 & 4 stars from me, but he's apparently run the series out & hasn't quit while ahead. That's a shame. I see he has another book in the Prey series out with another planned after that. I'm not sure if I'll bother to read them.
June 20, 2023
At the moment, I am loving Letty with a gun more than Lucas or Virgil with a gun. Highly entertaining!
May 9, 2024
Love John Sanford and this new series starring Letty Davenport is promising with a strong female protagonist. However, while the plot started off with a great premise, it began to drag half way through. Due to dry and boring details - and very little action- the pacing slowed, and so did this reader’s interest. With tighter editing and deleting extraneous details, the momentum could have better propelled the storyline along.
Thanks to NetGalley for a digitalmARC in exchange for an honest and unbiased review.
Thanks to NetGalley for a digitalmARC in exchange for an honest and unbiased review.
November 3, 2023
4.5 Stars
Homeland Security suspects a hacker group - Ordinary People - of planning to go after the natural gas grid in a large city in the Midwest. While Letty and her reluctant partner from the NSA, Rod Baxter, work to make inroads with Ordinary People and uncover their plans, they begin to suspect that there is something DHS isn't telling them. Might it have something to do with a real world, ripped from the headlines, far-reaching conspiracy?
Compared to the first book, I liked this one so much better! This time, Letty wasn't calling all the shots. This time, she was part of a team that was all working together. I loved all the players, but especially Baxter! Where Letty first saw just a heavyset guy who loved to eat, she soon came to appreciate how smart, and funny he was. I would love to see him in the next book!
Letty has joined a club of women shooters, where she meets Barbara Cartwright, who happens to be a CIA officer, and who has a similar personality as Letty. She, too, joins the team. I loved her nearly as much as I loved Baxter, and I would love to see her in future books, as well.
Dark Angel is a fun read, and I highly recommend it!!
Homeland Security suspects a hacker group - Ordinary People - of planning to go after the natural gas grid in a large city in the Midwest. While Letty and her reluctant partner from the NSA, Rod Baxter, work to make inroads with Ordinary People and uncover their plans, they begin to suspect that there is something DHS isn't telling them. Might it have something to do with a real world, ripped from the headlines, far-reaching conspiracy?
Compared to the first book, I liked this one so much better! This time, Letty wasn't calling all the shots. This time, she was part of a team that was all working together. I loved all the players, but especially Baxter! Where Letty first saw just a heavyset guy who loved to eat, she soon came to appreciate how smart, and funny he was. I would love to see him in the next book!
Letty has joined a club of women shooters, where she meets Barbara Cartwright, who happens to be a CIA officer, and who has a similar personality as Letty. She, too, joins the team. I loved her nearly as much as I loved Baxter, and I would love to see her in future books, as well.
Dark Angel is a fun read, and I highly recommend it!!
April 5, 2023
John Sandford has created another thriller series--this time it's a spinoff from his long-running Lucas Davenport thrillers and features Lucas's daughter, Letty. In Dark Angel, book #2 in the series, Letty been working for a Florida senator named Colles but has been drafted for some undercover work by the Department of Homeland Security. She and a computer geek named Rod Baxter from NSA will try to infiltrate a hacker group named Ordinary People who have been rumored to be planning a serious ramsonware attack. Right from the start, Letty and Rob have a feeling they've been lied to...and what they don't know could get them killed.
Very exciting action with some of Sandford's trademark humor mixed in. Letty's early life before being adopted by Lucas was seriously crazy but has it prepared her for what she's facing now? If you are looking for an absorbing novel of adventure and escapism, you cannot go wrong with a John Sandford thriller!
I received an arc of his latest thriller from the author and publisher. Many thanks for the opportunity! My review is voluntary and the opinions expressed are my own.
Very exciting action with some of Sandford's trademark humor mixed in. Letty's early life before being adopted by Lucas was seriously crazy but has it prepared her for what she's facing now? If you are looking for an absorbing novel of adventure and escapism, you cannot go wrong with a John Sandford thriller!
I received an arc of his latest thriller from the author and publisher. Many thanks for the opportunity! My review is voluntary and the opinions expressed are my own.
December 8, 2024
4 Stars. Nothing could match the lead-off entry in the Letty Davenport series. And 'Dark Angel' doesn't, but it's up there. It surpasses John Sandford's top-drawer standards. Letty's debut in 'Investigator,' at least her debut in her own series, we first meet her in #14 of Lucas' series, was stupendous. A ride for the ages. This one is complicated in a positive way and keeps you guessing until the last few pages. Sandford seems to be addressing today's issues through Letty - the toxic right in #1 and computer hackers here. My new favourite is working for Homeland Security and her cases necessarily have to have national or international implications. It's au courant in another way. The hackers in question, loosely organized under the name of Ordinary People, are threatening to cripple the water department in a large mid-west city but have recently taken down the Russian rail system during the lead-up to the invasion of Ukraine. Do you see the ambiguity and confusion at the core of the story? Who's on whose side? It's a masterpiece. Again Letty's working for Senator Colles but she's undercover this time with a bulky guy named Rod Baxter. It'll keep you thinking. (Au2024)
May 22, 2023
Plenty of stuff going on for Letty in the hacker community as she goes undercover.....and gets dragged in sideways to some very current events.
The book was well paced and satisfying...and the major discomfort I got was the gun culture shown by the authorities in the beginning of the book especially...
The book was well paced and satisfying...and the major discomfort I got was the gun culture shown by the authorities in the beginning of the book especially...
November 28, 2022
I am on the fence on this series; I love the character of Letty and Sanford is building a great set of supporting characters. In that way, and in the action and investigation aspects, it's very similar to the fun of the Prey series but the canvas is bigger, given Letty's role. I don't think he's doing a great job with the more female aspects of the character, basically I feel a bit like it's writing Lucas as a younger, modern person vs Letty as her own character. Maybe that will change with time.
The story is timely and a very tight clock on the plot, which adds a sense of urgency. As I mentioned, I really like the supporting characters and the world that's being built around Letty. I hope to see many of them again. I liked the story, feel like the plot worked very well all the way through; didn't particularly care for the epilogue, I felt like that particular story existed just to be salacious but maybe the next book will prove me wrong.
I received an advance copy of this book from the publisher and Netgalley.
The story is timely and a very tight clock on the plot, which adds a sense of urgency. As I mentioned, I really like the supporting characters and the world that's being built around Letty. I hope to see many of them again. I liked the story, feel like the plot worked very well all the way through; didn't particularly care for the epilogue, I felt like that particular story existed just to be salacious but maybe the next book will prove me wrong.
I received an advance copy of this book from the publisher and Netgalley.
November 23, 2022
Dark Angel by John Sandford is a departure from his much enjoyed “Prey” novels. This story chronicles the adventures of Letty Davenport on the trail of an organization known as Ordinary People for certain persons in various positions in the U.S. government. There is too much descriptive time devoted to guns and weapons (size, manufacturers, calibration, etc.) and the reader can easily become bored reading about the guns, tattoos, ladies’ gun clubs, Russian infiltration, etc.
It would be difficult for this reader to recommend this novel or even to refer to it as a thriller. I thank NetGalley and Penguin Random House for the opportunity to read and review this novel prior to publication.
It would be difficult for this reader to recommend this novel or even to refer to it as a thriller. I thank NetGalley and Penguin Random House for the opportunity to read and review this novel prior to publication.
June 13, 2023
Author John Sandford has started a new series with Letty Davenport- Lucas's daughter from the Prey novels, and she is an intriguing young woman who is a chip off the old block. In this novel, she is given a computer programmer partner from NSA and tasked by Homeland Security with infiltrating a hacker group in California. But not all pertinent information is shared by the government agencies, and soon the true motive of Russian/Ukraine espionage (tying into the IRL war between the two) is revealed. This was a procedural-heavy story, as we move through every step of Letty and Baxter's undercover sting.
Sandford is good about weaving established characters in and out of his long-running Prey series, so I was not surprised that Kaiser from the last book is pulled in to help with a shoot-out at the end. A woman friend from an elite gun club, Cartwright, is introduced and it was refreshing to have Letty make a friend, as too many books have their characters as lone wolves with no family or friend connections. Although a male author, Sandford seems to have a good handle on a female character (similar to how Michael Connelly is now writing about Renee Ballard) and I'm willing to keep on reading about her adventures.
Sandford is good about weaving established characters in and out of his long-running Prey series, so I was not surprised that Kaiser from the last book is pulled in to help with a shoot-out at the end. A woman friend from an elite gun club, Cartwright, is introduced and it was refreshing to have Letty make a friend, as too many books have their characters as lone wolves with no family or friend connections. Although a male author, Sandford seems to have a good handle on a female character (similar to how Michael Connelly is now writing about Renee Ballard) and I'm willing to keep on reading about her adventures.
December 8, 2022
Letty Davenport.....the newest member of John Sandford's posse. I like the way he's taking this new series, and am enjoying watching him develop the character of Letty. It's different than he's done with the character of Lucas and with Virgil. I honestly don't know how Sandford does it, his imagination must be limitless!
With this entry, we observe Letty getting her feet under her, discovering more about who she is, and what she is capable of. I can see great things coming for the series. And with the new partners Sandford has assigned Letty, the series is set for takeoff. I hope he continues to use them.
The book is typical Sandford. Fast-paced, full of action, witty, and fun to read. Everything I have come to expect from him, and he doesn't disappoint this time either!
I discovered Sandford many years ago, when he was revealed to be a Garage Logician in Minneapolis. I have been a fan ever since! Thank you, John Sandford!
With this entry, we observe Letty getting her feet under her, discovering more about who she is, and what she is capable of. I can see great things coming for the series. And with the new partners Sandford has assigned Letty, the series is set for takeoff. I hope he continues to use them.
The book is typical Sandford. Fast-paced, full of action, witty, and fun to read. Everything I have come to expect from him, and he doesn't disappoint this time either!
I discovered Sandford many years ago, when he was revealed to be a Garage Logician in Minneapolis. I have been a fan ever since! Thank you, John Sandford!
March 26, 2024
5 Stars. Sanford is just plain great. Never fails. Lucas is Lucas but Letty is definitely becoming a force of her own. This was a true thriller. The story was compelling. Feeling as though it could have been completely real. This crew is developing into one that can give Virgil and Lucas’ group all they can handle. I only wish Sanford started writing Letty stand alone’s sooner. I think the next Lucas book is actually a Lucas and Letty book. Inject it into my veins.
March 31, 2023
If you like a first rate thriller then this is the book for you. Letty Davenport is no normal agent and she is tasked to find and infiltrate a very special group of hackers. Her mission is to aid a country at war. An action packed read which I devoured in one sitting. This book is a MUST READ for all readers of this genre. Loved it!!!!
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the ARC.
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the ARC.
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