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Lucas Davenport #33
Judgment Prey
Lucas Davenport and Virgil Flowers team up to crack an unsolvable case in this thrilling new novel by John Sandford.
Alex Sand was spending the evening at home playing basketball with his two young sons when all three were shot in cold blood. A wealthy federal judge, there’s no short list of people who could have a vendetta against Sands, but the gruesome murders, especially that of his children, turn their St. Paul community on its head. Sand was on the verge of a major donation to a local housing charity, Heart/Twin Cities, and with the money in limbo, eyes suddenly turn to his grieving widow, Margaret Cooper, to see what she might do with the money. Margaret, distraught over the death of her family, struggles to move forward, and can’t imagine how or why anyone would target her husband.
With public pressure mounting and both the local police force and FBI hitting dead end after dead end, Lucas Davenport and Virgil Flowers are called in to do what others could not: find answers. With each potential lead flawed, Davenport and Flowers are determined to chase every theory until they figure out who killed the Sands. But when they find themselves being stonewalled by the most unlikely of forces, the two wonder if perhaps each misdirection could lead them closer to the truth.
Alex Sand was spending the evening at home playing basketball with his two young sons when all three were shot in cold blood. A wealthy federal judge, there’s no short list of people who could have a vendetta against Sands, but the gruesome murders, especially that of his children, turn their St. Paul community on its head. Sand was on the verge of a major donation to a local housing charity, Heart/Twin Cities, and with the money in limbo, eyes suddenly turn to his grieving widow, Margaret Cooper, to see what she might do with the money. Margaret, distraught over the death of her family, struggles to move forward, and can’t imagine how or why anyone would target her husband.
With public pressure mounting and both the local police force and FBI hitting dead end after dead end, Lucas Davenport and Virgil Flowers are called in to do what others could not: find answers. With each potential lead flawed, Davenport and Flowers are determined to chase every theory until they figure out who killed the Sands. But when they find themselves being stonewalled by the most unlikely of forces, the two wonder if perhaps each misdirection could lead them closer to the truth.
496 pages, Paperback
First published October 3, 2023
3353 people are currently reading
3403 people want to read
About the author
John Sandford
237 books9,660 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 1,381 reviews
October 3, 2023
I love reading the Lucas series and I'm always giddy when Virgil makes a surprise appearance. Now that I know I can expect to see Virgil, part of that excitement is missing but hey I'm not gonna complain, I love when they team up. Lucas and Virgil are my favorite "cop" characters and I can count on them cracking jokes and playing off one another while they investigate the murders.
After being shot multiple times in the previous novel, US Marshal Lucas is still recovering when his boss calls late at night about the murder of a respectable federal judge and his two teenage boys at their home.
St. Paul PD, FBI, and BCA are on this high-priority case, but inevitably Lucas and Virgil join the hunt for the killer. I enjoyed this plotline a bit more than the other related mystery with the charity projects.
Although, pretty unrealistic, Cooper and her pal are bonkers and their own investigation is very entertaining to witness. Imagine combing through their search history of "how-to", huh?
Still, the very best part is Lucas and Virgil's sarcastic banter in Lucas' hybrid Cayenne while on the road from one suspect to the next. Great and fluid dialogs. And Virgil the novelist or is it Sandford's in the book? 🤩 I'm glad the author left politics out for the most part. What I'm uncertain about is the MOTIVE. It was never really explained, I can only assume... 4.5⭐
Really miss Richard Farrone, RIP.💔
Thank you G.P. Putnam's Sons for the DRC
Published Oct 3, 2023!
After being shot multiple times in the previous novel, US Marshal Lucas is still recovering when his boss calls late at night about the murder of a respectable federal judge and his two teenage boys at their home.
St. Paul PD, FBI, and BCA are on this high-priority case, but inevitably Lucas and Virgil join the hunt for the killer. I enjoyed this plotline a bit more than the other related mystery with the charity projects.
Although, pretty unrealistic, Cooper and her pal are bonkers and their own investigation is very entertaining to witness. Imagine combing through their search history of "how-to", huh?
Still, the very best part is Lucas and Virgil's sarcastic banter in Lucas' hybrid Cayenne while on the road from one suspect to the next. Great and fluid dialogs. And Virgil the novelist or is it Sandford's in the book? 🤩 I'm glad the author left politics out for the most part. What I'm uncertain about is the MOTIVE. It was never really explained, I can only assume... 4.5⭐
Really miss Richard Farrone, RIP.💔
Thank you G.P. Putnam's Sons for the DRC
Published Oct 3, 2023!
October 22, 2023
For me John Sanford books are always five stars. He is one my favorite authors, if not the favorite. I’ve read his Prey series three times, though the earlier Prey books have a bit more depth. Judgement Prey is back to form. This is not an action—running gun battle-kinda story. This is a whodunit with an emphasis on uncovering the “who” and the “why,” with Virgil and Davenport in pursuit of clues. Non-stop conflict on every page.
In this story, the plot splinter’s off and creates a second heinous bad guy that causes confusion. Virgil and Davenport inadvertently forces this outlier into action, causes him to act. I haven’t seen this type of plot before, so it kept the story fresh. This secondary off-shoot is juggled and carried along without a loss of tension and forward motion on the main plot. Excellent.
Another favored aspect of the Sanford books was (in earlier books at least) how he’d sneak in a particularly crass but funny joke. He’d keep the Davenport character clean by having a throw-away character do the honors. In one instance, the two meet on the steps of the police station and the throw-away character tells Davenport the joke. Those kinds of jokes are a little too dangerous to in today’s publishing world.
So, instead in this book he did something different a little different. He winks at the reader without breaking the fourth wall of writing. Difficult to do.
To set this up and blend it into the plot Virgil is a recently published novelist and writing a second one. This is truly hilarious.
Lucas asks Virgil. “Where are you at in your new novel?”
Virgil: “Halfway or a little more. Fifty-two thousand words.” Virgil says, “I went to a book signing once, and this famous author said books have three parts: The setup and the climax, and then, in the middle, the swamp. He said he wanders around in the swamp like a lost soul. I know where he’s coming from.”
Davenport says, regarding their case: “If you are writing the Sand case where are we? In the swamp?”
Virgil: “Yeah, we’re in the swamp, but we’re edging into the big build-up to the climax.”
This happens in Judgement Prey at or about 52k words—in the actual swamp of this Prey book. And then, to double-down on the joke, the story goes into what I call, “Churning,” he did it on purpose to mimic being in the swamp. He describes something quickly and economically that has nothing to do with the story. The same as if Sanford at this point in his own novel is mired in the swamp wandering around like a lost soul.
I liked his last three, but I enjoyed this one so much more.
David Putnam author of the Bruno Johnson series.
In this story, the plot splinter’s off and creates a second heinous bad guy that causes confusion. Virgil and Davenport inadvertently forces this outlier into action, causes him to act. I haven’t seen this type of plot before, so it kept the story fresh. This secondary off-shoot is juggled and carried along without a loss of tension and forward motion on the main plot. Excellent.
Another favored aspect of the Sanford books was (in earlier books at least) how he’d sneak in a particularly crass but funny joke. He’d keep the Davenport character clean by having a throw-away character do the honors. In one instance, the two meet on the steps of the police station and the throw-away character tells Davenport the joke. Those kinds of jokes are a little too dangerous to in today’s publishing world.
So, instead in this book he did something different a little different. He winks at the reader without breaking the fourth wall of writing. Difficult to do.
To set this up and blend it into the plot Virgil is a recently published novelist and writing a second one. This is truly hilarious.
Lucas asks Virgil. “Where are you at in your new novel?”
Virgil: “Halfway or a little more. Fifty-two thousand words.” Virgil says, “I went to a book signing once, and this famous author said books have three parts: The setup and the climax, and then, in the middle, the swamp. He said he wanders around in the swamp like a lost soul. I know where he’s coming from.”
Davenport says, regarding their case: “If you are writing the Sand case where are we? In the swamp?”
Virgil: “Yeah, we’re in the swamp, but we’re edging into the big build-up to the climax.”
This happens in Judgement Prey at or about 52k words—in the actual swamp of this Prey book. And then, to double-down on the joke, the story goes into what I call, “Churning,” he did it on purpose to mimic being in the swamp. He describes something quickly and economically that has nothing to do with the story. The same as if Sanford at this point in his own novel is mired in the swamp wandering around like a lost soul.
I liked his last three, but I enjoyed this one so much more.
David Putnam author of the Bruno Johnson series.
September 24, 2023
3.5 stars, rounded up
In Judgement Prey, Davenport and Flowers are brought in to help with the investigation of the murder of a federal judge and his two young sons. As they track down various suspects, things get totally crazy. It’s a case of dominoes falling.
I had to laugh at Virgil working on his novel. He’s now writing his second and Sandford uses this as an opportunity to espouse his views of writing.
You’ve got to appreciate Sandford’s way with words. “He’s not only guilty, he’s crazier than a crack-house cockroach.” Or this “Jones was a sexy chunk of a woman whose brain could slice open a guest like a watermelon if he or she didn’t take care.”
This is enjoyable entertainment, and moves at a quick pace. It’s got a rationale for the murder I would never have guessed. But I struggled with Sandford’s depiction of Cooper’s character. She’s too cool, with no real grief for the loss of her kids. She just never came across as a real mother.
When all was said and done, this wasn’t my favorite of the Prey series. It seemed to be lacking something.
My thanks to Netgalley and Penguin Group for an advance copy of this book.
In Judgement Prey, Davenport and Flowers are brought in to help with the investigation of the murder of a federal judge and his two young sons. As they track down various suspects, things get totally crazy. It’s a case of dominoes falling.
I had to laugh at Virgil working on his novel. He’s now writing his second and Sandford uses this as an opportunity to espouse his views of writing.
You’ve got to appreciate Sandford’s way with words. “He’s not only guilty, he’s crazier than a crack-house cockroach.” Or this “Jones was a sexy chunk of a woman whose brain could slice open a guest like a watermelon if he or she didn’t take care.”
This is enjoyable entertainment, and moves at a quick pace. It’s got a rationale for the murder I would never have guessed. But I struggled with Sandford’s depiction of Cooper’s character. She’s too cool, with no real grief for the loss of her kids. She just never came across as a real mother.
When all was said and done, this wasn’t my favorite of the Prey series. It seemed to be lacking something.
My thanks to Netgalley and Penguin Group for an advance copy of this book.
October 14, 2023
My thanks to Penguin Group, John Sandford and Netgalley.
I've been reading Sandford books since the 1990's. I actually discovered him the same day I found John Connolly. So, of course Davenport and Charlie Parker are somehow entwined. For me at least.
Another thing. I've read many, many series of books from famous authors and eventually tired of them. You know how it is. Some people who find a good character eventually gets complacent. They don't change much and run that character into the ground.
Who am I speaking of? Well, Jonathan Kellerman, Janet Evanovich, Stuart Woods and Jeffrey Deaver are the first that come to mind.
Sandford has managed to keep me reading for 30+ years. How? Sheesh! Please, fuck if I know! Then he added Virgil Flowers. Love! But I also enjoyed his Kidd books. So, it's safe to say that I, of course was over the moon to read a new Davenport and Flowers!
This is everything I want from them. I tend to think of Lucas and Virgil as two men that I'd have no problem being stark staring naked with!
Make me a meatball, between ....oops
Oh! Forgot this was a book review there, for a moment!
It's Virgil and Lucas. It's always going to be a great time.
I've been reading Sandford books since the 1990's. I actually discovered him the same day I found John Connolly. So, of course Davenport and Charlie Parker are somehow entwined. For me at least.
Another thing. I've read many, many series of books from famous authors and eventually tired of them. You know how it is. Some people who find a good character eventually gets complacent. They don't change much and run that character into the ground.
Who am I speaking of? Well, Jonathan Kellerman, Janet Evanovich, Stuart Woods and Jeffrey Deaver are the first that come to mind.
Sandford has managed to keep me reading for 30+ years. How? Sheesh! Please, fuck if I know! Then he added Virgil Flowers. Love! But I also enjoyed his Kidd books. So, it's safe to say that I, of course was over the moon to read a new Davenport and Flowers!
This is everything I want from them. I tend to think of Lucas and Virgil as two men that I'd have no problem being stark staring naked with!
Make me a meatball, between ....oops
Oh! Forgot this was a book review there, for a moment!
It's Virgil and Lucas. It's always going to be a great time.
May 3, 2024
It doesn't get better than when Davenport and Flowers team up. This edition was much more than serious and had less of the back and forth quipping that I always look forward to when they get together. That being said, the storyline more than made up for the lack of humor and kept me rewinding so I could revel in it for as long as possible.
Narrator Robert Petkoff is doing a fantastic job as the new voice of the series. I do miss Richard Ferrone terribly and must admit it has been difficult getting used to the change in the characters voices after listening to Mr. Ferrone for 30+ books. However, Mr. Petkoff has done a fabulous job taking the baton and continuing this next leg of the series in top form. Thank you.
Narrator Robert Petkoff is doing a fantastic job as the new voice of the series. I do miss Richard Ferrone terribly and must admit it has been difficult getting used to the change in the characters voices after listening to Mr. Ferrone for 30+ books. However, Mr. Petkoff has done a fabulous job taking the baton and continuing this next leg of the series in top form. Thank you.
October 18, 2023
I stretched this out as long as I could until my friend Julie busted me and I had to finish this story by my favorite author. 9 of 10 stars
April 16, 2024
I believe that John Sandford and Michael Connelly are the best storytellers in modern crime fiction. Lawrence Block is in the picture, too. You don’t get lost in their stories. The telling is ‘clean’, the actions believable. Sandford often tells the story from the point of view of the chased as well as the chaser(s) too, which is interesting and different. This time around, he mixes it up a bit more, but still gets it just right.
A federal judge is ruthlessly gunned down in his own home, and to make matters worse, his two children are executed too. It’s a very grim picture that faces his wife, Margaret Cooper, when she returns to the house. When initial investigations fail to secure any meaningful leads, Lucas Davenport and Virgil Flowers are called in to deploy their proven investigatory skills. Long-term readers of Sandford’s books will be familiar with this pair, and though they now work for different branches of law enforcement it’s good that the author still teams them up from time to time. The verbal interplay between them is always a highlight of these novels for me.
Cooper is understandably shocked and distressed by her discovery and the loss it represents, but it seems that it might have sent her slightly deranged, too. Davenport and Flowers can’t quite figure her out. Throw into the mix a female friend of Cooper’s who seems to be constantly in her company, a dodgy charity worker who was hoping for a big donation from the now deceased judge and Sandford has served up a rich soup of a cast. Of course, it’s quite possible that none of these have anything to do with the murder. Time will tell.
It’s a compelling tale, told with confidence and authority by a writer at the peak of his powers. I loved it, and I’m already eager to get my hands on the next episode due to land in the spring.
A federal judge is ruthlessly gunned down in his own home, and to make matters worse, his two children are executed too. It’s a very grim picture that faces his wife, Margaret Cooper, when she returns to the house. When initial investigations fail to secure any meaningful leads, Lucas Davenport and Virgil Flowers are called in to deploy their proven investigatory skills. Long-term readers of Sandford’s books will be familiar with this pair, and though they now work for different branches of law enforcement it’s good that the author still teams them up from time to time. The verbal interplay between them is always a highlight of these novels for me.
Cooper is understandably shocked and distressed by her discovery and the loss it represents, but it seems that it might have sent her slightly deranged, too. Davenport and Flowers can’t quite figure her out. Throw into the mix a female friend of Cooper’s who seems to be constantly in her company, a dodgy charity worker who was hoping for a big donation from the now deceased judge and Sandford has served up a rich soup of a cast. Of course, it’s quite possible that none of these have anything to do with the murder. Time will tell.
It’s a compelling tale, told with confidence and authority by a writer at the peak of his powers. I loved it, and I’m already eager to get my hands on the next episode due to land in the spring.
January 23, 2024
Sandford’s Davenport and Flowers are at it again, solving curious crimes when the path to finding the killer is not curvy and crazy.
The cold-blooded murder of a judge and his two kids is just heartbreaking as it is unthinkable. Getting Davenport back into the crime-solving saddle from his long recuperation from numerous bullet holes from his last engagement is a must.
Has the wife committed this unbelievable murder, or is it the leader of a questionable non-profit? Or someone else?
What I do love about Davenport and Flowers (and can be found in many other thrillers) is the sense of humor of these characters. They are always giving each other a hard time. What is otherwise horrific is blended with humor that makes each of these crime-fighters very human; the kind of human you wouldn’t mind hanging out with.
This is a great read and if this is your first Sandford book, it will not likely be your last, as there are a least a dozen Prey books. -Tom L.
The cold-blooded murder of a judge and his two kids is just heartbreaking as it is unthinkable. Getting Davenport back into the crime-solving saddle from his long recuperation from numerous bullet holes from his last engagement is a must.
Has the wife committed this unbelievable murder, or is it the leader of a questionable non-profit? Or someone else?
What I do love about Davenport and Flowers (and can be found in many other thrillers) is the sense of humor of these characters. They are always giving each other a hard time. What is otherwise horrific is blended with humor that makes each of these crime-fighters very human; the kind of human you wouldn’t mind hanging out with.
This is a great read and if this is your first Sandford book, it will not likely be your last, as there are a least a dozen Prey books. -Tom L.
March 2, 2025
One of my favorites in the series!
A federal judge and his two sons have been murdered in their home. Plenty of people might have had a motive to kill the judge, but why were the kids targeted? This is the mystery Lucas Davenport and Virgil Flowers must unravel.
This dynamic duo is fantastic! I love each of them in their own series, but together, they’re the best A-team. Their humor, contrasting personalities, and relentless focus on catching the culprit(s) make them standout characters I want to revisit every time John Sandford releases a new book featuring them.
As a devoted fan of Lucas and Virgil, I find this installment remarkable.
Cliffhanger: No
4/5 Fangs
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November 9, 2023
Enjoyed this better than the last few in the series. First the book was set in Minnesota. Second a few of the old characters were brought back. Sandy from the BCA and Elly Krueger, the childhood friend of Lucas got a brief mention. Would like to see the future books in the series continue to be set in Minnesota and more of the old characters brought back. Four Stars.
January 28, 2024
This is another exciting, easy-to-read Prey book. Here Lucas and Virgil solve two crimes which initially appear to be related. In an unusual twist Lucas does not murder the suspect. Although as Virgil tells one of the victims:
I have been reading Prey books for over 30 years. In most of the Prey books the story occurs in the Twin Cities of Minnesota where I am a lifelong resident. His local flavor adds interest to these books. Similar to product placement in movies, Sanford frequently mentions local restaurants and shops in his books. I am familiar with many of these locations.
In addition, these stories are well-written with complicated plots. I enjoy reading about how Lucas proceeds to solve these crimes. He is not afraid of bending the legality of his investigation. The addition of Virgil Flowers to these stories has added wit to the dialogue.
I am up-to-date on the books by Sanford and am eagerly awaiting the next story.
“You know, Lucas might have killed Hess if it had been him by himself. He knows that I wouldn’t go along with it. He’s a hard case. He’s like you.”
(Page 385)
I have been reading Prey books for over 30 years. In most of the Prey books the story occurs in the Twin Cities of Minnesota where I am a lifelong resident. His local flavor adds interest to these books. Similar to product placement in movies, Sanford frequently mentions local restaurants and shops in his books. I am familiar with many of these locations.
In addition, these stories are well-written with complicated plots. I enjoy reading about how Lucas proceeds to solve these crimes. He is not afraid of bending the legality of his investigation. The addition of Virgil Flowers to these stories has added wit to the dialogue.
I am up-to-date on the books by Sanford and am eagerly awaiting the next story.
August 13, 2023
There's one thing I hate about every novel in John Sandford's Prey series: they end and I'm left waiting longingly for the next one. This book is no different. I just finished it and feel bereft knowing it will be at least a year before Lucas and Virgil are back.
When federal judge Alex Sand and his two sons are brutally murdered in a seemingly evidence-free killing, Lucas Davenport and Virgil Flowers are called in as a last resort to help try and solve the case. After interviewing the widow, Maggie Cooper, they come away feeling she has her own agenda and knows too much about the details of the case, which she could only get from an inside source. But just what is the grieving widow up to and how is the charity Heart/Twin Cities connected to the case? To find answers to these questions, Lucas and Virgil do what they do best:: play off of each other to develop theories and scenarios about the case.
Once again, Sandford demonstrates why this series is such a long-running best-seller. The plot is intricate, the characters are well-developed, and the pacing is spot-on. Don't get me started on the snappy, often witty dialogue, especially between Lucas and Virgil. Both are characters I've loved, even when Virgil had his own series, but together, they are magic. Now if only Sandford could produce another book in this series in the next six months, I'd be a happy camper.
When federal judge Alex Sand and his two sons are brutally murdered in a seemingly evidence-free killing, Lucas Davenport and Virgil Flowers are called in as a last resort to help try and solve the case. After interviewing the widow, Maggie Cooper, they come away feeling she has her own agenda and knows too much about the details of the case, which she could only get from an inside source. But just what is the grieving widow up to and how is the charity Heart/Twin Cities connected to the case? To find answers to these questions, Lucas and Virgil do what they do best:: play off of each other to develop theories and scenarios about the case.
Once again, Sandford demonstrates why this series is such a long-running best-seller. The plot is intricate, the characters are well-developed, and the pacing is spot-on. Don't get me started on the snappy, often witty dialogue, especially between Lucas and Virgil. Both are characters I've loved, even when Virgil had his own series, but together, they are magic. Now if only Sandford could produce another book in this series in the next six months, I'd be a happy camper.
December 18, 2023
Another also-ran. I started JUDGMENT PREY with fairly low expectations. About three novels ago, I felt the author had teetered from producing reliable fun-to-read books to boring, plodding ones. But it was a library book that I could dnf at any time, and some Goodreads reviewers had judged it as being back on track in terms of combining humour with action; so I decided to take a chance. And I didn’t dnf; in fact, almost until the ending was planning to give it a four-star rating. What happened?
Short Synopsis:
Federal judge Alex Sand and his two sons are murdered by an unknown assailant in St. Paul. The bodies are found by his distraught wife, Margaret Cooper. The murderer could have been someone connected to one of the judge’s current or former cases, his wife (now living with her on-and-off Lesbian lover), or a random acquaintance. After three weeks, the investigation is stymied. Virgil Flowers, the regional agent for the Bureau of Criminal Investigation, is asked to review the case, and he asks Lucas Davenport to accompany him. Much of the humour arises from the banter between the two men as they pursue leads.
Often in John Sandford’s novels, the reader knows who did it and why; the thrill is in the chase. Not in this one. We are introduced to several unsavoury characters, villains in terms of other deeds, but not the judge’s killer. (The reader is immediately aware of their innocence in terms of the initial murders, although Virgil and Lucas are not, and they have to investigate various leads to rule out the possibilities.) I found this investigative process engaging—four-stars overall.
The Ending
The ending—the last few chapters—was a downer. After the killer is revealed, I did not gain a clear understanding of their motivation. Major details are missing that would have provided me with a good understanding of what this killer did, initially, to warrant such a terrible killing spree.
Furthermore, the book ends without a clear answer about the fates of several other characters who are guilty of nefarious deeds even though they are not the killer who set off the initial investigation.
Concluding Thoughts
The ending is poor, the rest of the book held my interest. So 3.0 stars overall.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
My reviews for others in this series:
Masked Prey (Lucas Davenport, #30)
Ocean Prey (Lucas Davenport, #31)
Righteous Prey (Lucas Davenport, #32)
Eyes of Prey (Lucas Davenport, #3)
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Short Synopsis:
Federal judge Alex Sand and his two sons are murdered by an unknown assailant in St. Paul. The bodies are found by his distraught wife, Margaret Cooper. The murderer could have been someone connected to one of the judge’s current or former cases, his wife (now living with her on-and-off Lesbian lover), or a random acquaintance. After three weeks, the investigation is stymied. Virgil Flowers, the regional agent for the Bureau of Criminal Investigation, is asked to review the case, and he asks Lucas Davenport to accompany him. Much of the humour arises from the banter between the two men as they pursue leads.
Often in John Sandford’s novels, the reader knows who did it and why; the thrill is in the chase. Not in this one. We are introduced to several unsavoury characters, villains in terms of other deeds, but not the judge’s killer. (The reader is immediately aware of their innocence in terms of the initial murders, although Virgil and Lucas are not, and they have to investigate various leads to rule out the possibilities.) I found this investigative process engaging—four-stars overall.
The Ending
The ending—the last few chapters—was a downer. After the killer is revealed, I did not gain a clear understanding of their motivation. Major details are missing that would have provided me with a good understanding of what this killer did, initially, to warrant such a terrible killing spree.
Furthermore, the book ends without a clear answer about the fates of several other characters who are guilty of nefarious deeds even though they are not the killer who set off the initial investigation.
Concluding Thoughts
The ending is poor, the rest of the book held my interest. So 3.0 stars overall.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
My reviews for others in this series:
Masked Prey (Lucas Davenport, #30)
Ocean Prey (Lucas Davenport, #31)
Righteous Prey (Lucas Davenport, #32)
Eyes of Prey (Lucas Davenport, #3)
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
October 13, 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, especially a fan of his Lucas Davenport “Prey” series. A pretty big fan to be honest, even though honesty requires me to admit the books have been spotty over the last several years. It seems like every other book is a really good one and the other less than stellar. It may be that Sanford is losing some steam when it comes to creating complex and interesting bad guys. Several of his more recent books have really been long-winded chase scenes that lasted for hundreds of pages.
In the 33rd “Prey” novel, a Federal Judge living in St. Paul, Alex Sand, is shot and killed in cold blood in his home. And Sand is not the only victim. Both of his young sons are also murdered with him in an unspeakable criminal action.
The question is who would have a reason to kill a federal judge like Sands? And his children with him? Besides the list of those that he sent away from prison, Sand is an actively involved part of his community, and preparing to make a large donation to a local charitable organization to create more affordable housing.
His new widow, Maggie Cooper, is left distraught and struggling with losing her family. In addition, she is starting to think about finding the killer herself and seeking some personal revenge for her loss. Especially when the local police and FBI investigation is not getting anywhere and public sentiment is building to find the killer, Maggie’s motivation to seek justice grows and she puts her own plan into action.
This forces the state and federal authorities to call in Lucas Davenport and Virgil Flowers to see if they can work their magic one more time. Lucas has been spending the last several months trying to physically recover from his gunshot wounds from their last case in the prior series book, and he’s ready for anything to get him off of his couch, even if he’s still in pain. Before they know it, our two heroes find themselves mixed in several potential plots of criminal behavior that may or may not get them close to finding a killer before he/she strikes again….
As I forewarned, this is not really one of the stronger books in the “Prey” series. I would call it a causal and somewhat entertaining escapist read. Not that it’s bad. The interconnecting branches surrounding the murder mystery were interesting and enjoyable in a mind-candy sort of experience. Most of the characters were flawed, full of weaknesses that made it obvious that they were either going to have a serious meltdown or get caught. Or both. It was just a matter of time like having a car wreck happen right in front of you.
What carried the reader through is the pure awesomeness of Lucas Davenport and Virgil Flowers, two of the most unique fictional detective characters ever written. They are almost perfect opposites, providing a great compare and contrast personalities, as well as approaches to investigative work.
For me, the magic in this one their great interactions together throughout the entire book. From beginning to end they constant banter made me laugh out loud in fun and easy enjoyment. It didn’t matter whether it was amongst themselves or while interacting with other characters throughout the book, their thoughts and comments were worth the price of admission. I also enjoyed the continuing storyline of Virgil working on becoming a successful novelist, writing mysteries that could hopefully land him on the bestseller list. It’s nice to see Sanford let us behind the curtain a bit.
On the other hand, although the overall storylines were interesting, they were not very compelling, nor provided much tension or suspense. It was a little bit better than a middle-of-the-road “Prey” book. There was another dip in the quality of the plotting again. There was also no real development of any of the primary characters other than Davenport’s physical recovery from his injuries previously sustained and Virgil’s continued development as a writer. Letty made a brief cameo in a phone call. Davenport’s wife, Weather, was there to provide medical support, and Virgil’s wife, Frankie, and the twins make no appearance. Neither do Davenport’s work partners.
Although Sandford’s writing is fast-paced, fluid, and full of the sharp sarcastic style he’s known for, his villains are not as captivating and dangerous as they used to be. They drove the story and the action. As usual, Davenport and Flowers were following from behind most of the way. I will add that I found the ending (last chapter) to be an interesting twist (but no spoilers here), but truth be told, I saw it coming. And I am pretty sure most of you will too.
Overall, for me the good things about Davenport and Flowers made the book worth reading, but they didn’t fully outweigh the crazy and rather less-worthy adversaries opposing them. As I have mentioned in my review of other recent “Prey” novels, my guess is that most Sanford fans will find this an easy and fun read, and I wouldn’t necessarily disagree with that. But for me, this will not be one of the more memorable ones. It was casual mind-candy that provided two fun nights of reading. I will settle for that and move on…
In the 33rd “Prey” novel, a Federal Judge living in St. Paul, Alex Sand, is shot and killed in cold blood in his home. And Sand is not the only victim. Both of his young sons are also murdered with him in an unspeakable criminal action.
The question is who would have a reason to kill a federal judge like Sands? And his children with him? Besides the list of those that he sent away from prison, Sand is an actively involved part of his community, and preparing to make a large donation to a local charitable organization to create more affordable housing.
His new widow, Maggie Cooper, is left distraught and struggling with losing her family. In addition, she is starting to think about finding the killer herself and seeking some personal revenge for her loss. Especially when the local police and FBI investigation is not getting anywhere and public sentiment is building to find the killer, Maggie’s motivation to seek justice grows and she puts her own plan into action.
This forces the state and federal authorities to call in Lucas Davenport and Virgil Flowers to see if they can work their magic one more time. Lucas has been spending the last several months trying to physically recover from his gunshot wounds from their last case in the prior series book, and he’s ready for anything to get him off of his couch, even if he’s still in pain. Before they know it, our two heroes find themselves mixed in several potential plots of criminal behavior that may or may not get them close to finding a killer before he/she strikes again….
As I forewarned, this is not really one of the stronger books in the “Prey” series. I would call it a causal and somewhat entertaining escapist read. Not that it’s bad. The interconnecting branches surrounding the murder mystery were interesting and enjoyable in a mind-candy sort of experience. Most of the characters were flawed, full of weaknesses that made it obvious that they were either going to have a serious meltdown or get caught. Or both. It was just a matter of time like having a car wreck happen right in front of you.
What carried the reader through is the pure awesomeness of Lucas Davenport and Virgil Flowers, two of the most unique fictional detective characters ever written. They are almost perfect opposites, providing a great compare and contrast personalities, as well as approaches to investigative work.
For me, the magic in this one their great interactions together throughout the entire book. From beginning to end they constant banter made me laugh out loud in fun and easy enjoyment. It didn’t matter whether it was amongst themselves or while interacting with other characters throughout the book, their thoughts and comments were worth the price of admission. I also enjoyed the continuing storyline of Virgil working on becoming a successful novelist, writing mysteries that could hopefully land him on the bestseller list. It’s nice to see Sanford let us behind the curtain a bit.
On the other hand, although the overall storylines were interesting, they were not very compelling, nor provided much tension or suspense. It was a little bit better than a middle-of-the-road “Prey” book. There was another dip in the quality of the plotting again. There was also no real development of any of the primary characters other than Davenport’s physical recovery from his injuries previously sustained and Virgil’s continued development as a writer. Letty made a brief cameo in a phone call. Davenport’s wife, Weather, was there to provide medical support, and Virgil’s wife, Frankie, and the twins make no appearance. Neither do Davenport’s work partners.
Although Sandford’s writing is fast-paced, fluid, and full of the sharp sarcastic style he’s known for, his villains are not as captivating and dangerous as they used to be. They drove the story and the action. As usual, Davenport and Flowers were following from behind most of the way. I will add that I found the ending (last chapter) to be an interesting twist (but no spoilers here), but truth be told, I saw it coming. And I am pretty sure most of you will too.
Overall, for me the good things about Davenport and Flowers made the book worth reading, but they didn’t fully outweigh the crazy and rather less-worthy adversaries opposing them. As I have mentioned in my review of other recent “Prey” novels, my guess is that most Sanford fans will find this an easy and fun read, and I wouldn’t necessarily disagree with that. But for me, this will not be one of the more memorable ones. It was casual mind-candy that provided two fun nights of reading. I will settle for that and move on…
October 8, 2023
These “Prey” books are so far removed from the early ones I don’t think Sandford should continue to use “Prey” in the title.
This book is almost the same in nature to the previous book (“Righteous Prey”) in that it deals with so-called ‘righteous’ killings’.
Margaret Cooper’s husband, Judge Alex Sand, and their two sons have been brutally murdered in their home and Margaret is the one that comes home to find them.
I guess it’s understandable for a person to kind of go off the deep end if you come home and find your family murdered, but Margaret’s reaction is too cold for that scenario to be the case.
Turns out Margaret has no faith in the police or the law so she decides to take matters into her own hands along with a girlfriend. She intends to find the killer and kill him herself.
Lucas & Virgin are called in to assist in the investigation and for about ten seconds Margaret is a suspect, but actually Margaret is out to commit a righteous kill to make sure the person who killed her family does not escape justice.
There is also another totally unrelated case in the mix which could have been a different book and this book did not need to be 387 pages.
This book is almost the same in nature to the previous book (“Righteous Prey”) in that it deals with so-called ‘righteous’ killings’.
Margaret Cooper’s husband, Judge Alex Sand, and their two sons have been brutally murdered in their home and Margaret is the one that comes home to find them.
I guess it’s understandable for a person to kind of go off the deep end if you come home and find your family murdered, but Margaret’s reaction is too cold for that scenario to be the case.
Turns out Margaret has no faith in the police or the law so she decides to take matters into her own hands along with a girlfriend. She intends to find the killer and kill him herself.
Lucas & Virgin are called in to assist in the investigation and for about ten seconds Margaret is a suspect, but actually Margaret is out to commit a righteous kill to make sure the person who killed her family does not escape justice.
There is also another totally unrelated case in the mix which could have been a different book and this book did not need to be 387 pages.
October 30, 2023
Sandford has a knack for conversational flow, this book is so easy to read. But as I finished I paused and a giant “huh?” settled in. Did the story really go anywhere? The main plot peters out and goes poof, and after the book’s hard-hitting start it’s quite a fall. The second plot veers into just plain odd and the ending on that one rips open the book’s shallow performance. Lucas and Virgil’s rough edges have been sanded down to bland. It’s as if they now have cue cards to say and do the correct things. All of the action seems to rotate through as if on a treadmill. My final takeaway is a shallow emptiness.
October 28, 2023
READING UPDATE:
It was still a very good audiobook and a solid and highly interesting Lucas and Virgil story. It doesn't get boring, not even after 33 books.
___________________________________
Today is a sad day!!!
Listening to a Prey audiobook is something I look forward to every single time. And I hate it when beloved narrators are being replaced - HATE IT with all my heart!!!
😭 😭 😭 Sadly I just found out that Richard Ferrone has passed away last year. I loved his voice and his way of making Lucas and Virgil come alive. Their humor and the regular BS between the supporting characters was a highlight for me. I'm going to miss him a LOT!!!!
I hope I'll enjoy this one too and will eventually get used to the new voice. 🤞🏼
It was still a very good audiobook and a solid and highly interesting Lucas and Virgil story. It doesn't get boring, not even after 33 books.
___________________________________
Today is a sad day!!!
Listening to a Prey audiobook is something I look forward to every single time. And I hate it when beloved narrators are being replaced - HATE IT with all my heart!!!
😭 😭 😭 Sadly I just found out that Richard Ferrone has passed away last year. I loved his voice and his way of making Lucas and Virgil come alive. Their humor and the regular BS between the supporting characters was a highlight for me. I'm going to miss him a LOT!!!!
I hope I'll enjoy this one too and will eventually get used to the new voice. 🤞🏼
October 3, 2023
3.5 Stars 🌟
Well, I guess after 33 books, not every single one is going to be fantastic. For the most part though, this has been a series that I've really enjoyed over the years. I went back and forth between a 3 and a 4 star rating, and decided to split the difference. Mr. Sandford has definitely built up a large amount of hard earned credit with me in establishing a group of characters that over the course of the years we have come to know and like, to root for, to grieve with. You get the idea....
About this book in particular. Without going into spoilers, it just wasn't what I've come to expect from the series.
Things I liked:
*Having Lucas and Virgil work together on the case. I love both of their characters and it was great to have the two of them team up again.
*The funny and sometimes extremely dry sarcastic banter between the two. It seemed to me that we reached a new level of snark and sarcasm between the two. They definitely know how to push each other's buttons, but it was never done in a way that wasn't good natured.
*Getting a couple of snippets from other characters - Letty, Weather, and Virgil's baby momma (having a brain freeze trying to remember her name at the moment). Unfortunately, these snippets were TOO brief. It would have been nice to see a little more of some of the secondary characters.
Things that weren't so great:
*The case itself just wasn't good. There was absolutely NO depth to it. We never knew "why" the killer did what he did. I mean, yes, there were broad strokes of a reason, but not really. It was weak, very, very weak.
*The addition of the "other" case felt kind of just thrown in there. It felt forced and not something that was actually organically happening during the same timeframe (in other words, the 2 circumstances were not connected to each other, yet it felt like they were thrown in to add to the plot). It just felt off.
*Don't get me started on the main bad guy in that case - seriously? Not only was it a completely unbelievable set of circumstances, but the whole situation felt like a kind of Keystone Cop skit. Definitely not what we've come to expect from Lucas' and Virgil's past experience with their respective agencies.
*The behavior of the female MC. That whole scenario just never really worked. Yes, I guess you could KIND OF understand where she was coming from in the beginning, but then the character kept devolving and devolving and the circumstances surrounding her just kept getting weirder and weirder until at the end, it just made me think, "Huh?"
*That ending. Really? I honestly thought my ARC was missing the last few pages. Talk about falling off a cliff (I mean that metaphorically - it is not a spoiler) It just ended......suddenly and without much explanation.
So, after putting all this down in words, now I'm thinking it was really more like a 2 star read (which is so unusual, it still makes me shake my head), but I'll stick with my initial rating because this series gave us the fantastic character of Lucas Davenport and the other zany character of his sometimes sidekick, Virgil "fu***ng" Flowers - and that definitely counts for something.
Will I continue to read the next book in the series when it comes out? Yep, you better believe it. I'm choosing to believe this book was just a blip in the road.
Thank you to NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review this ARC. The opinions above are mine and mine alone.
Well, I guess after 33 books, not every single one is going to be fantastic. For the most part though, this has been a series that I've really enjoyed over the years. I went back and forth between a 3 and a 4 star rating, and decided to split the difference. Mr. Sandford has definitely built up a large amount of hard earned credit with me in establishing a group of characters that over the course of the years we have come to know and like, to root for, to grieve with. You get the idea....
About this book in particular. Without going into spoilers, it just wasn't what I've come to expect from the series.
Things I liked:
*Having Lucas and Virgil work together on the case. I love both of their characters and it was great to have the two of them team up again.
*The funny and sometimes extremely dry sarcastic banter between the two. It seemed to me that we reached a new level of snark and sarcasm between the two. They definitely know how to push each other's buttons, but it was never done in a way that wasn't good natured.
*Getting a couple of snippets from other characters - Letty, Weather, and Virgil's baby momma (having a brain freeze trying to remember her name at the moment). Unfortunately, these snippets were TOO brief. It would have been nice to see a little more of some of the secondary characters.
Things that weren't so great:
*The case itself just wasn't good. There was absolutely NO depth to it. We never knew "why" the killer did what he did. I mean, yes, there were broad strokes of a reason, but not really. It was weak, very, very weak.
*The addition of the "other" case felt kind of just thrown in there. It felt forced and not something that was actually organically happening during the same timeframe (in other words, the 2 circumstances were not connected to each other, yet it felt like they were thrown in to add to the plot). It just felt off.
*Don't get me started on the main bad guy in that case - seriously? Not only was it a completely unbelievable set of circumstances, but the whole situation felt like a kind of Keystone Cop skit. Definitely not what we've come to expect from Lucas' and Virgil's past experience with their respective agencies.
*The behavior of the female MC. That whole scenario just never really worked. Yes, I guess you could KIND OF understand where she was coming from in the beginning, but then the character kept devolving and devolving and the circumstances surrounding her just kept getting weirder and weirder until at the end, it just made me think, "Huh?"
*That ending. Really? I honestly thought my ARC was missing the last few pages. Talk about falling off a cliff (I mean that metaphorically - it is not a spoiler) It just ended......suddenly and without much explanation.
So, after putting all this down in words, now I'm thinking it was really more like a 2 star read (which is so unusual, it still makes me shake my head), but I'll stick with my initial rating because this series gave us the fantastic character of Lucas Davenport and the other zany character of his sometimes sidekick, Virgil "fu***ng" Flowers - and that definitely counts for something.
Will I continue to read the next book in the series when it comes out? Yep, you better believe it. I'm choosing to believe this book was just a blip in the road.
Thank you to NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review this ARC. The opinions above are mine and mine alone.
April 20, 2024
This went on way too long it just got so convoluted I just didn't care who did what to whom.
Full review: I don't know what is happening with Sandford. The Lucas Davenport and Virgil Flowers match ups usually are much better than this. But this one was just a mess and I didn't care about anyone or anything. The ending was a mess and a half that had me going really a few times. I really wish that Lucas was just not even a part of things in Minnesota anymore. It stretches credibility at this point that he would be. And we don't even see him with the old crew anymore. Without them and other newish characters like Rae not being involved anymore, it's just two men who are beyond tedious at this point.
Also, what the hell was the bad guy even doing? Thinking? I just thought the multiple plots going on just made me lose interest in the whole book. Hopefully the next one is a bounce back.
Full review: I don't know what is happening with Sandford. The Lucas Davenport and Virgil Flowers match ups usually are much better than this. But this one was just a mess and I didn't care about anyone or anything. The ending was a mess and a half that had me going really a few times. I really wish that Lucas was just not even a part of things in Minnesota anymore. It stretches credibility at this point that he would be. And we don't even see him with the old crew anymore. Without them and other newish characters like Rae not being involved anymore, it's just two men who are beyond tedious at this point.
Also, what the hell was the bad guy even doing? Thinking? I just thought the multiple plots going on just made me lose interest in the whole book. Hopefully the next one is a bounce back.
October 23, 2023
Judge, Jury and ...
Review of the Penguin Audio audiobook edition (October 3, 2023) narrated by Robert Petkoff of the simultaneously released G.P. Putnam's Sons hardcover/eBook.
A Federal judge and his two young sons are murdered and U.S. Marshal Lucas Davenport and Minnesota BCA agent Virgil Flowers are put on the case along with other authorities. Davenport is still recovering from the incident at the conclusion of Righteous Prey (Lucas Davenport #32 - 2022) but is eager to get away from his stay-at-home & rehab routines.
The villain makes a fairly early appearance but the motive remains elusive for a long time. The case is complicated by a possible vigilante retribution effort. Lucas and Virgil banter their way through a complex series of interviews, often playing bad cop and good cop roles. The showdown in inevitable but there is also a final surprise twist from an unexpected direction.
Sandford continues in fine form here and this is a guaranteed winner in the police procedural genre. I'm not entirely convinced by Sandford's novels with Lucas's adopted daughter Letty Davenport - the bad-ass Homeland Security Agent, but the Lucas and Virgil partnership in the Prey novels is a welcome annual return.
The audiobook edition is well narrated by the new narrator Robert Petkoff, who takes over duties from the series regular Richard Ferrone (1946-2022). I miss Ferrone's gravelly voice which always added an additional gravitas to Davenport's voice.
Soundtrack
John Sandford himself provides the soundtrack reference for this one:
You can hear Otis Taylor (1948-) interviewed about his life and music career and the making of the "Banjo..." album on YouTube here.
Listen to samples of the tracks on the "Banjo..." album at Octave Records here.
Bonus Tracks: Many will know Otis Taylor's music from his appearances on the soundtracks of various films such as "Public Enemies" (2009) and "Shooter" (2007). Listen to "Ten Million Slaves" from the former here and to "Nasty Letter" from the latter here.
Review of the Penguin Audio audiobook edition (October 3, 2023) narrated by Robert Petkoff of the simultaneously released G.P. Putnam's Sons hardcover/eBook.
A Federal judge and his two young sons are murdered and U.S. Marshal Lucas Davenport and Minnesota BCA agent Virgil Flowers are put on the case along with other authorities. Davenport is still recovering from the incident at the conclusion of Righteous Prey (Lucas Davenport #32 - 2022) but is eager to get away from his stay-at-home & rehab routines.
The villain makes a fairly early appearance but the motive remains elusive for a long time. The case is complicated by a possible vigilante retribution effort. Lucas and Virgil banter their way through a complex series of interviews, often playing bad cop and good cop roles. The showdown in inevitable but there is also a final surprise twist from an unexpected direction.
Sandford continues in fine form here and this is a guaranteed winner in the police procedural genre. I'm not entirely convinced by Sandford's novels with Lucas's adopted daughter Letty Davenport - the bad-ass Homeland Security Agent, but the Lucas and Virgil partnership in the Prey novels is a welcome annual return.
The audiobook edition is well narrated by the new narrator Robert Petkoff, who takes over duties from the series regular Richard Ferrone (1946-2022). I miss Ferrone's gravelly voice which always added an additional gravitas to Davenport's voice.
Soundtrack
John Sandford himself provides the soundtrack reference for this one:
they listened to Otis Taylor’s Banjo album as they made the short trip across town.
You can hear Otis Taylor (1948-) interviewed about his life and music career and the making of the "Banjo..." album on YouTube here.
Listen to samples of the tracks on the "Banjo..." album at Octave Records here.
Bonus Tracks: Many will know Otis Taylor's music from his appearances on the soundtracks of various films such as "Public Enemies" (2009) and "Shooter" (2007). Listen to "Ten Million Slaves" from the former here and to "Nasty Letter" from the latter here.
September 6, 2023
Any book that includes either Lucas Davenport or Virgil Flowers, Minnesota law officers and pretty good buddies, is pretty much guaranteed to be a hit with me. Put the dynamic duo together for an entire book, then, and the ball has a tendency to fly all the way out of the park.
This time out, Lucas is still struggling both physically and mentally with injuries from a previous case (Virgil was injured, too, but he's mostly back to normal (if it's possible to use the word "normal" in any description of the guy). Lucas gets called out to an horrific crime scene in St. Paul; federal judge Alex Sand and his two sons have been fatally shot in their home. The bodies are found by the judge's wife Margaret Cooper, a local college professor and some-time actress, who is so distraught that she can't think straight (although I strongly suspect she was a few bricks shy of a chimney even before the murders).
After three weeks or so, the case remains unsolved; at that point, Virgil - a regional agent for the Bureau of Criminal Investigation - gets called in to review the case and calls Lucas to tag along. As is almost inevitable with murders, the spouse is a suspect; but while they don't trust her as far as they can throw her, neither Lucas nor Virgil think the wife did it this time around. Also inevitably, they look at past rulings by the judge that might have generated plans for payback; also at issue is the judge's planned donation - a whopper - to a local charity that's now in limbo.
Much of the fun, as usual, centers on the banter between Lucas and Virgil, bolstered by looks into their personal lives and characters readers have come to know and love like Weather (Lucas' wife). And as the investigation moves along, readers also become privvy to clues that will take Virgil and Lucas a little longer to figure out (while we cheer them on). The end was a titch disappointing just because a couple of unsavory characters don't quite get the comeuppance I'd have preferred (nope, not gonna, don't ask).
So back to that aforementioned home run: If I'm honest, this one came darned close but didn't quite make it over the fence. A couple of gaps in the story - like what the details of what the killer really did that triggered (so to speak) his need to go on that shooting spree - and some very unlikable characters made this story simmer instead of sizzle and not be my favorite book in the long series (this is the 33rd of the Davenport books). Still, it's enjoyable and held my attention from beginning to end, and in no way dampened my enthusiasm for future books with either or both of the guys who have become all-time favorite characters in them. Many thanks to the publisher, via NetGalley, for allowing me once again to read and review a pre-release copy.
This time out, Lucas is still struggling both physically and mentally with injuries from a previous case (Virgil was injured, too, but he's mostly back to normal (if it's possible to use the word "normal" in any description of the guy). Lucas gets called out to an horrific crime scene in St. Paul; federal judge Alex Sand and his two sons have been fatally shot in their home. The bodies are found by the judge's wife Margaret Cooper, a local college professor and some-time actress, who is so distraught that she can't think straight (although I strongly suspect she was a few bricks shy of a chimney even before the murders).
After three weeks or so, the case remains unsolved; at that point, Virgil - a regional agent for the Bureau of Criminal Investigation - gets called in to review the case and calls Lucas to tag along. As is almost inevitable with murders, the spouse is a suspect; but while they don't trust her as far as they can throw her, neither Lucas nor Virgil think the wife did it this time around. Also inevitably, they look at past rulings by the judge that might have generated plans for payback; also at issue is the judge's planned donation - a whopper - to a local charity that's now in limbo.
Much of the fun, as usual, centers on the banter between Lucas and Virgil, bolstered by looks into their personal lives and characters readers have come to know and love like Weather (Lucas' wife). And as the investigation moves along, readers also become privvy to clues that will take Virgil and Lucas a little longer to figure out (while we cheer them on). The end was a titch disappointing just because a couple of unsavory characters don't quite get the comeuppance I'd have preferred (nope, not gonna, don't ask).
So back to that aforementioned home run: If I'm honest, this one came darned close but didn't quite make it over the fence. A couple of gaps in the story - like what the details of what the killer really did that triggered (so to speak) his need to go on that shooting spree - and some very unlikable characters made this story simmer instead of sizzle and not be my favorite book in the long series (this is the 33rd of the Davenport books). Still, it's enjoyable and held my attention from beginning to end, and in no way dampened my enthusiasm for future books with either or both of the guys who have become all-time favorite characters in them. Many thanks to the publisher, via NetGalley, for allowing me once again to read and review a pre-release copy.
October 10, 2023
Last book by Sandford I'll read. I HATE when authors insert what are obviously their personal political views in the storyline, especially when it adds nothing to the plot. Right off the bat, both Lucas and Virgil suggest that the bad guys are probably "right-wing nutjobs" and "don't like Joe Biden". I take great offense at their condescending attitude, as I am most definitely "right-wing" (though in no way a "nut job") and I'm disgusted by the corrupt Biden Cabal. I am now also disgusted by John Sandford as well. Authors, unless you're writing political non-fiction, keep your personal opinions out of your books, please. Bye, John. Nice knowin' ya!
October 23, 2023
From other reviews, it must just be me, but I thought this was one of the lesser Prey books. It was confusing and just didn't seem like the author put much effort into this one.
October 15, 2023
Whoop Whoop!!!! Lucas and Virgie back in Minnesota where they belong amicably bickering their way through a case with the humor only Sanford can provide. An interesting tale (to me) of what happens when you start digging into peoples lives. Amazing the dirt that sifts to the surface...Enough to make a person(s) crazy.
November 13, 2023
As a long time, huge fan of Lucas Davenport and Virgil Flowers books, I am. disappointed by the last two books. I am still confused about this because Ocean Prey was, without a doubt, my all time favorite book in either series. And then it gets followed up by
(Self) Righteous prey. As a conservative reader, I am used to liberal, socially progressive views showing up here and there in Sandford’s books. But, this one was obviously worse than most. I could have gotten past that as I have done I the past, but it just was not nearly as entertaining as many of his previous books. And not in the same league with Ocean Prey. Is someone else actually writing the recent books? One thing missing in the last two books is the great side characters that we have come to love in previous books. Like Jenkins and Shrake, and Bob and Ray. They are better with Lucas and Virgil, and than Lucas and Virgil are with each other.
Please give up the politics, and get back to great plots with the awesome side characters that have made these books so good.
(Self) Righteous prey. As a conservative reader, I am used to liberal, socially progressive views showing up here and there in Sandford’s books. But, this one was obviously worse than most. I could have gotten past that as I have done I the past, but it just was not nearly as entertaining as many of his previous books. And not in the same league with Ocean Prey. Is someone else actually writing the recent books? One thing missing in the last two books is the great side characters that we have come to love in previous books. Like Jenkins and Shrake, and Bob and Ray. They are better with Lucas and Virgil, and than Lucas and Virgil are with each other.
Please give up the politics, and get back to great plots with the awesome side characters that have made these books so good.
July 12, 2023
John Sanford is one of my comfort reads – and a Lucas Davenport/Virgil Flowers book even more so.
And this was one excellent read!
While Davenport and Flowers are on point, and our mystery is a seriously suspenseful one, the absolute delight of this book was Maggie. Seriously, she’s iconic and I want to be her lol.
The reason behind everything will leave you heartsick, but you’ll also love how things are…handled.
A fabulous read and I can’t wait for the next book!
• ARV via Publisher
And this was one excellent read!
While Davenport and Flowers are on point, and our mystery is a seriously suspenseful one, the absolute delight of this book was Maggie. Seriously, she’s iconic and I want to be her lol.
The reason behind everything will leave you heartsick, but you’ll also love how things are…handled.
A fabulous read and I can’t wait for the next book!
• ARV via Publisher
November 12, 2023
4 Stars. Typical Sanford. He’s always so very good. Just about any other author would get 5 for this but a Sanford 4 is something of his own. Lucas might have met his long lost baby sister in Cooper. I actually agree with how she felt. In the end, the results she sought were almost there.
Virgil has always been Lucas’ conscience, none really more than here. These two are one of the most fun teams to read. At first I thought losing a Virgil book every year was a problem. Maybe I was wrong. The Partner books are worth it. I can’t wait ‘til next Fall.
Virgil has always been Lucas’ conscience, none really more than here. These two are one of the most fun teams to read. At first I thought losing a Virgil book every year was a problem. Maybe I was wrong. The Partner books are worth it. I can’t wait ‘til next Fall.
October 19, 2023
Sandford is for sure near the top of our author A-list – we’ve been enjoying his tales of crime solving for some four decades, even his now mostly obscure Kidd novels. We particularly enjoy the Lucas Davenport “Prey” series (even though the main character is now semi-retired), some of which also feature another of his interesting characters in Virgil Flowers, the two united herein. Indeed, “Judgment” probably stands as our favorite novel of the year, in that the interesting plot involving a brutal family murder that only spared the wife and a baby, is perplexing on several fronts until the very last page – and even them we have a few doubts about everything! While Lucas and Virgil work the case of the early murder as little better than advisors to both local and FBI authorities, they make a lot of progress through dogged police work coupled with years of intuition. We thoroughly recommend this outstanding addition – literally the 33rd – to the excellent Prey series.
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As an aside, the Virgil Flowers character, having authored three novels, the third of which is about to be published, with him working throughout the tale on his "sophomore" effort, collects witty sayings he hears during the investigation supposedly to work into his stories. We couldn't help but wonder if this was an autobiographical writing tip from Sandford -- here's a sample: "Crazier than a crack-house cockroach!" -- both funny and amazingly alliterative!
Virgil also shared this wisdom: "I went to a book signing once, and this famous author said books have three parts : the set-up and the climax, and then in the middle, the swamp. He said he wanders around in the swamp like a lost soul." We couldn't agree more and vouch for that as a reader. No doubt many projects follow a similar pattern, maybe even life itself!!
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As an aside, the Virgil Flowers character, having authored three novels, the third of which is about to be published, with him working throughout the tale on his "sophomore" effort, collects witty sayings he hears during the investigation supposedly to work into his stories. We couldn't help but wonder if this was an autobiographical writing tip from Sandford -- here's a sample: "Crazier than a crack-house cockroach!" -- both funny and amazingly alliterative!
Virgil also shared this wisdom: "I went to a book signing once, and this famous author said books have three parts : the set-up and the climax, and then in the middle, the swamp. He said he wanders around in the swamp like a lost soul." We couldn't agree more and vouch for that as a reader. No doubt many projects follow a similar pattern, maybe even life itself!!
October 29, 2024
Disclosure: Received an uncorrected ebook file of this book from NetGalley and GP Putnam's Sons/Penguin Random House LLC (Thank you!) in exchange for an honest review.
Hooray!! Lucas Davenport and Virgil Flowers team up once again after their last caper left them both recovering from gunshot wounds. No spoilers here but what I can share is Lucas and Virgil (both protagonists from their own awesome serial novels) join forces to solve the murder of a judge and his sons.
As always, I loved the camaraderie between Lucas and Virgil and the ways in which they work together to solve a murder. What I didn't love as much with this novel was the abrupt ending and how much time the book spent on the Cooper, the wife of the murdered judge.
She is broken after losing her family but the path her storyline took made her increasingly unlikable and unrelatable as the story progressed. If the evolution of her character was intended to elicit any feelings of compassion, then this was an epic fail. Cooper's plot line also weakened the overall believability of the story, in my opinion.
Despite the Cooper issues, this was still a book I greatly enjoyed reading. You needn't have read the prior books to enjoy this one, the author provides any backstory necessary to move this plot forward (and if you like this book, you will have a plethora of Davenport/Flowers novels to dive into). So if you are a fan of well written murder mysteries, this is one worth your time (once it's available).
Hooray!! Lucas Davenport and Virgil Flowers team up once again after their last caper left them both recovering from gunshot wounds. No spoilers here but what I can share is Lucas and Virgil (both protagonists from their own awesome serial novels) join forces to solve the murder of a judge and his sons.
As always, I loved the camaraderie between Lucas and Virgil and the ways in which they work together to solve a murder. What I didn't love as much with this novel was the abrupt ending and how much time the book spent on the Cooper, the wife of the murdered judge.
She is broken after losing her family but the path her storyline took made her increasingly unlikable and unrelatable as the story progressed. If the evolution of her character was intended to elicit any feelings of compassion, then this was an epic fail. Cooper's plot line also weakened the overall believability of the story, in my opinion.
Despite the Cooper issues, this was still a book I greatly enjoyed reading. You needn't have read the prior books to enjoy this one, the author provides any backstory necessary to move this plot forward (and if you like this book, you will have a plethora of Davenport/Flowers novels to dive into). So if you are a fan of well written murder mysteries, this is one worth your time (once it's available).
January 24, 2024
I liked this better than the last team up, but it wasn't as good as most of his earlier ones. He's gone a little too Hollywood for me. At least the plot didn't have the huge plot holes of the last. Lettie makes an annoying cameo appearance which didn't help. Good narrator.
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