When twelve-year-old muskrat trapper Letty West stumbles on the naked bodies of Jane Warr and Deon Cash, deep in the snowy woods of northern Minnesota, it's more than another bizarre episode in her already unusual life, as Lucas Davenport discovers in this new outing in Sandford's popular series featuring the midwestern lawman who moonlights as a computer game designer. Lucas has a new wife, a new baby, and a new job as a political troubleshooter for his old boss Rose Marie Roux, but the blunt-spoken Davenport's instructions to hush the racially charged implications of what looks suspiciously like a lynching won't deter him from whomever left Warr and Cash twisting in the wind. The well-peopled plot, involving a hot car ring, an ex-nun who smuggles cancer drugs over the Canadian border, and the usual internecine wranglings between the FBI, the local cops, and Davenport, races to a satisfying denouement, but this time it's a little girl with a difficult past and an uncertain future who lingers in the reader's mind. Fortunately, Sandford comes up with an ending that makes it all but certain that his fans will meet her again. Meanwhile, all the author's usual trademarks are on display--excellent writing, an interesting scenario, and terrific pacing. --Jane Adams
I entered into the "Prey(Lucas Davenport)" series with "Chosen Prey" and followed that up with "Mortal Prey." I enjoyed those enough to pick up the next in the series "Naked Prey." All I can ask is "What happened?"
The story starts off brutal but fast when a couple, a black man and white woman, are viciously beaten and hanged. The story then goes into "simultaneous" mode, as the others did, where it moves back and forth between the main lead, Lucas Davenport, attempting to solve the crime while taking you into the world of the seedy characters who may or may not be the culprits. Of course, the fun and suspense is provided by you anxiously awaiting the collision between all the parties.
Unfortunately, this one did not move very well for me. I simply got bored with the bad guys and the fact so many law enforcement or political characters enter into the mix made the story seem like it was all over the place. Instead of suspense, I found myself dropping off to sleep way to easily. I guess it's trouble when the character that involves you the most is an 11 year old girl who be a valuable link to the entire story.
I can't put my finger on it but I just think in the previous books, it was easy to get a grip on the bad guys and I could not wait for the ultimate confrontations. As I ended up discarding this at the halfway point, I guess you could say this one created too few anxious moments. If you are a casual or first time Prey reader, I suggest you pass on this one.
If your looking for a novel which is written in a poetic style this isn't it. It is, however, a well written, fast paced murder mystery which wastes no time. It brings you right into the story from the introduction. There is no wasting of your time by the author using useless descriptions and useless repetition. The book is poignant & very entertaining reading which you'll find difficult to put down. The book grips you right to the final page. Pick it up, you'll like it
John Sandford's Lucas Davenport is a detective's detective. He's smart, handsome, and wealthy. He's got the goods and Sandford's long since had the rythm down for his detective.
Again, we're witness to a murder that ends up turning into more and more murders as the murder(s?) try to cover up their initial crime.
This time, we've got a twelve year old girl in peril as well.
Sanford knows people and that is why his books are so good. He writes about real people, like you and me.
His voice rings clear and the story is absolutely page turning and gripping.
