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Lucas Davenport #9
Secret Prey
When a CEO dies in a hunting "accident" during an expedition with four executives, each with his or her own agenda, Lucas Davenport investigates and finds himself caught in a web of indefinable evil whose threads lead to a harrowing conspiracy. BOMC Main.
392 pages, Hardcover
First published May 11, 1998
1,288 people are currently reading
5,138 people want to read
About the author
John Sandford
202Ìýbooks9,324ÌýfollowersJohn Sandford was born John Roswell Camp on February 23, 1944, in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. He attended the public schools in Cedar Rapids, graduating from Washington High School in 1962. He then spent four years at the University of Iowa, graduating with a bachelor's degree in American Studies in 1966. In 1966, he married Susan Lee Jones of Cedar Rapids, a fellow student at the University of Iowa. He was in the U.S. Army from 1966-68, worked as a reporter for the Cape Girardeau Southeast Missourian from 1968-1970, and went back to the University of Iowa from 1970-1971, where he received a master's degree in journalism. He was a reporter for The Miami Herald from 1971-78, and then a reporter for the St. Paul Pioneer-Press from 1978-1990; in 1980, he was a finalist for a Pulitzer Prize, and he won the Pulitzer in 1986 for a series of stories about a midwestern farm crisis. From 1990 to the present he has written thriller novels. He's also the author of two non-fiction books, one on plastic surgery and one on art. He is the principal financial backer of a major archeological project in the Jordan Valley of Israel, with a website at In addition to archaeology, he is deeply interested in art (painting) and photography. He both hunts and fishes. He has two children, Roswell and Emily, and one grandson, Benjamin. His wife, Susan, died of metastasized breast cancer in May, 2007, and is greatly missed.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 683 reviews
April 2, 2023
Book 9! I'm playing catch-up and have five more to go. Secret Prey starts with a banker shot dead, a hunting accident? What follows is more murder, too many to keep track of. Marcy Sherrill and Lucas are humorous while on the job catching the villain. 3.5â�
October 18, 2020
A nice addition to this series.
It’s always great to see someone challenging Lucas’s brain.
The book begins with the death of a man during a hunting trip. The question is Was this an accident or was the man the target?
The answer is simple. Four individuals benefit from the man’s death. The dead man was the bank chairman and any of them could take his place at the table if they had enough votes going for them. It will be up to Lucas to find out what really happened and who is behind the murder.
Lucas welcomes the distraction. Anything to make him forget his own personal issues. His girlfriend Weather doesn’t want to be with him anymore. She is still traumatized after what happened in the last book and being in the same room with Lucas makes her ill.
For his part, Lucas doesn’t want to go into another depression. He’s been there and done that. He knows work can keep his mind going without spiraling down.
I enjoyed Secret Prey. It’s quite weird but I have learned to like Lucas and I enjoy his humor and sarcasm. His closest friends humanize him, making the stories believable and entertaining.
Cliffhanger: No
4/5 Fangs
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May 31, 2019
A quick start, followed by a bit of a lull, concludes with typically strong Sandford action, with even some humor! 8 of 10 stars!
April 3, 2013
This is one of the best books in John Sandford's Prey series, featuring Minneapolis police detective Lucas Davenport, with a complex, intelligent plot and a clever, unique villain who pushes Davenport to the limit.
As the book opens, a wealthy banker, who is about to become even wealthier due to the bank merger he has engineered, is shot out of a deer stand in the Minnesota woods. There are any number of people who might have wanted him dead, including the three colleagues who are hunting with him, all of whom had the means, motive and opportunity to commit the crime. But there's precious little evidence to point the finger at anyone.
Davenport begins the investigation in the midst of a personal crisis. His love life is in a shambles and he's slipping back into the depression that had nearly crippled him some time earlier. Even the thrill of a particularly interesting and dangerous chase is not enough to pull him out of it his dark mood.
The investigation focuses initially on the merger that the banker was bringing to fruition. The merger will affect a lot of other lives, perhaps derailing the careers of some while offering opportunities for a handful of others. The jockeying begins even before the body is cold and Lucas and his team must sort through a veritable chess match of moves and counter moves by those left in the wake of the banker's demise, all of whom are maneuvering for position.
Inevitably, the infighting will get serious--and deadly. Another victim will fall, and again there's very little evidence pointing to the killer. But as Lucas pushes the investigation forward, things suddenly get very personal. As other villains have learned, it's generally a very bad idea to piss off Lucas Davenport, but in this case, a diabolical killer might just get away with it.
There are a number of intriguing characters in this book on both sides of the law. The dialog is especially witty and there's a lot of great action. Any fan of the Prey series who has not yet gotten to this book will want to do so ASAP--but only after reading all of the books leading up to it.
As the book opens, a wealthy banker, who is about to become even wealthier due to the bank merger he has engineered, is shot out of a deer stand in the Minnesota woods. There are any number of people who might have wanted him dead, including the three colleagues who are hunting with him, all of whom had the means, motive and opportunity to commit the crime. But there's precious little evidence to point the finger at anyone.
Davenport begins the investigation in the midst of a personal crisis. His love life is in a shambles and he's slipping back into the depression that had nearly crippled him some time earlier. Even the thrill of a particularly interesting and dangerous chase is not enough to pull him out of it his dark mood.
The investigation focuses initially on the merger that the banker was bringing to fruition. The merger will affect a lot of other lives, perhaps derailing the careers of some while offering opportunities for a handful of others. The jockeying begins even before the body is cold and Lucas and his team must sort through a veritable chess match of moves and counter moves by those left in the wake of the banker's demise, all of whom are maneuvering for position.
Inevitably, the infighting will get serious--and deadly. Another victim will fall, and again there's very little evidence pointing to the killer. But as Lucas pushes the investigation forward, things suddenly get very personal. As other villains have learned, it's generally a very bad idea to piss off Lucas Davenport, but in this case, a diabolical killer might just get away with it.
There are a number of intriguing characters in this book on both sides of the law. The dialog is especially witty and there's a lot of great action. Any fan of the Prey series who has not yet gotten to this book will want to do so ASAP--but only after reading all of the books leading up to it.
April 14, 2015
If a CEO gets killed in the forest and no one is around to hear him fall, does he make a sound?
Five top executives from a bank have gone into the woods on a deer hunting trip, but only four come out alive after someone tried to make a murder look like an accidental shooting. The dead man was the president who was in the middle of putting together a merger that would have made him and the bank’s board members rich while pretty much screwing over everyone else so any one of the four are likely suspects to have killed him.
Lucas Davenport is having a bad time since his fiancé broke off their engagement. As someone who suffers from bouts of depression, Lucas can feel his mind falling into bad habits. Fortunately, an interesting murder case is just the thing to perk him right back up and while he initially thought the bank president’s death would be easily figured out, it turns into tangled mess that gets him fully engaged.
This one was a departure from the typical Prey formula in a couple of ways. Usually we get the villain’s point of view, even if Sandford sometimes hid their identity, but the first half of this one is complete whodunit with the reader having no more clue than Lucas as to who pulled the trigger. A significant part of the book is about the remaining bank execs scheming and maneuvering to try and get the top job, and it’s surprising how interesting that portion is even aside from how it plays into the murder investigation. It also shows that Sandford was a little ahead of the curve when outlining outlandish executive salaries and perks several years before it really became fashionable to bash them.
The killer is eventually revealed, and then the second half of the book seems more like a traditional Sandford novel with Lucas engaged in a battle of wits in which he’s trying to piece together a case that has far more victims than just one bank president. Still, there was definitely a different vibe to this one and showed that Sandford wasn’t interested in just repeating what had worked in the previous books, and that breaking up of the formula along with an intriguing villain makes this one of the better books in the series.
Next: Lucas has got women trouble in Certain Prey.
Five top executives from a bank have gone into the woods on a deer hunting trip, but only four come out alive after someone tried to make a murder look like an accidental shooting. The dead man was the president who was in the middle of putting together a merger that would have made him and the bank’s board members rich while pretty much screwing over everyone else so any one of the four are likely suspects to have killed him.
Lucas Davenport is having a bad time since his fiancé broke off their engagement. As someone who suffers from bouts of depression, Lucas can feel his mind falling into bad habits. Fortunately, an interesting murder case is just the thing to perk him right back up and while he initially thought the bank president’s death would be easily figured out, it turns into tangled mess that gets him fully engaged.
This one was a departure from the typical Prey formula in a couple of ways. Usually we get the villain’s point of view, even if Sandford sometimes hid their identity, but the first half of this one is complete whodunit with the reader having no more clue than Lucas as to who pulled the trigger. A significant part of the book is about the remaining bank execs scheming and maneuvering to try and get the top job, and it’s surprising how interesting that portion is even aside from how it plays into the murder investigation. It also shows that Sandford was a little ahead of the curve when outlining outlandish executive salaries and perks several years before it really became fashionable to bash them.
The killer is eventually revealed, and then the second half of the book seems more like a traditional Sandford novel with Lucas engaged in a battle of wits in which he’s trying to piece together a case that has far more victims than just one bank president. Still, there was definitely a different vibe to this one and showed that Sandford wasn’t interested in just repeating what had worked in the previous books, and that breaking up of the formula along with an intriguing villain makes this one of the better books in the series.
Next: Lucas has got women trouble in Certain Prey.
September 16, 2024
The world of finance is the unlikely catalyst for multiple murders in the 9th book featuring Minneapolis police detective Lucas Davenport. This is another dark thriller that features a cunning killer with endless resources and who is prepared to take on the police personally.
When a bank’s chairman is shot while on a hunting trip it looks at first glance like just another unfortunate hunting accident. But it doesn’t take particularly long to figure out this was no accident. The immediate suspects for the man’s death are his fellow hunters who also happen to be some of his colleagues from work. The fact that the company is in the process of a highly contentious merger simply adds to the intrigue of the situation.
Although any of his colleagues could have been responsible with both the motives and means to do the job, there’s the problem of evidence or, rather, the lack of it, standing in the way.
After the traumatic events of the previous book (Sudden Prey), his girlfriend Weather doesn’t want to see him again and Davenport’s personal life is now in turmoil. He’s in danger of succumbing to the depression that has occasionally plagued him in the past. His answer is to throw himself into this case.
It appears the crucial motivation behind the murder is the prospect of the bank’s upcoming merger. What’s a little less clear is whether the murderer was in favour of the merger or against it. But it’s got to be someone who has an interest in the future of the bank. To build up the intrigue we’re treated to an extended exhibition of top executive scheming and backbiting as the maneuvering for the vacant chairman seat starts in earnest.
The interesting part of this thriller is that we, the readers, find out the true killer reasonably early on. Certainly, a lot earlier than Davenport and his colleagues. The story morphs quickly from a murder mystery into a suspense story with Lucas Davenport cast as the stalked prey. Even more disturbing, the targeted victims used to get back at him are two of his closest friends, more than enough motivation to make this personal.
Another outstanding plot helped along by the tight, assured dialogue laced with plenty of humour - some good and some *ugh not so good. The series benefits from a strong ensemble of characters, many of whom have now become reliable regulars to provide Davenport with critical help through the investigation. And, as one love interest departs, another steps into the breach.
There are some unexpected twists thrown in to keep things fresh, a necessity when the killer is unveiled early. This means that although most of the secrets are known, there are still some surprises to be had as we race to the finale. Although Sanford has changed things up a little by unveiling the killer’s identity early, Secret Prey delivers a tense and exciting thriller.
When a bank’s chairman is shot while on a hunting trip it looks at first glance like just another unfortunate hunting accident. But it doesn’t take particularly long to figure out this was no accident. The immediate suspects for the man’s death are his fellow hunters who also happen to be some of his colleagues from work. The fact that the company is in the process of a highly contentious merger simply adds to the intrigue of the situation.
Although any of his colleagues could have been responsible with both the motives and means to do the job, there’s the problem of evidence or, rather, the lack of it, standing in the way.
After the traumatic events of the previous book (Sudden Prey), his girlfriend Weather doesn’t want to see him again and Davenport’s personal life is now in turmoil. He’s in danger of succumbing to the depression that has occasionally plagued him in the past. His answer is to throw himself into this case.
It appears the crucial motivation behind the murder is the prospect of the bank’s upcoming merger. What’s a little less clear is whether the murderer was in favour of the merger or against it. But it’s got to be someone who has an interest in the future of the bank. To build up the intrigue we’re treated to an extended exhibition of top executive scheming and backbiting as the maneuvering for the vacant chairman seat starts in earnest.
The interesting part of this thriller is that we, the readers, find out the true killer reasonably early on. Certainly, a lot earlier than Davenport and his colleagues. The story morphs quickly from a murder mystery into a suspense story with Lucas Davenport cast as the stalked prey. Even more disturbing, the targeted victims used to get back at him are two of his closest friends, more than enough motivation to make this personal.
Another outstanding plot helped along by the tight, assured dialogue laced with plenty of humour - some good and some *ugh not so good. The series benefits from a strong ensemble of characters, many of whom have now become reliable regulars to provide Davenport with critical help through the investigation. And, as one love interest departs, another steps into the breach.
There are some unexpected twists thrown in to keep things fresh, a necessity when the killer is unveiled early. This means that although most of the secrets are known, there are still some surprises to be had as we race to the finale. Although Sanford has changed things up a little by unveiling the killer’s identity early, Secret Prey delivers a tense and exciting thriller.
November 17, 2021
A couple pitted against the world, both of them alcoholic, always evokes sympathy. There is something about a couple in trouble, no matter how evil they are, that pulls on your heartstrings. Ted Bundy and his girlfriend who reported him to the police. Bonnie and Clyde. The Mcdonalds in Secret Prey are nowhere as "sexy" as the couples mentioned. The old rich trophy husband regularly beats up his downtrodden redneck wife. But she stands by her man, manipulating and machinating to get him to be CEO of the company. On a hunting trip, Kresge, the main contender for CEO of a newly merged company is shot dead. The others on the hunting trip are all in line to be CEO if something happens to Kresge. Lucas Davenport investigates them and Wilson Mcdonald the wife beater is the main suspect. Things get complicated when Lucas' girlfriend and best friend are also targeted.
There is no arty farty bullshit in Secret Prey. The plot moves forward almost entirely on dialogs and short inner monologues of characters. You want a straightforward murder mystery and police procedural that is not overtly descriptive but keeps you guessing with many twists? Well, here it is.
This was my first novel by Sandford. His writing is very clear and uncomplicated. Yet, he does conjure up a great plot with some interesting characters and keep you guessing. Lucas Davenport is not your average alcoholic brooding cop. Sure, he has issues. But they are not dwelled upon for too long. He is this alpha male character who believes that some good sex and a win in a street fight would clear up the glaciers in your mind. I will be reading more books in the Prey series.
There is no arty farty bullshit in Secret Prey. The plot moves forward almost entirely on dialogs and short inner monologues of characters. You want a straightforward murder mystery and police procedural that is not overtly descriptive but keeps you guessing with many twists? Well, here it is.
This was my first novel by Sandford. His writing is very clear and uncomplicated. Yet, he does conjure up a great plot with some interesting characters and keep you guessing. Lucas Davenport is not your average alcoholic brooding cop. Sure, he has issues. But they are not dwelled upon for too long. He is this alpha male character who believes that some good sex and a win in a street fight would clear up the glaciers in your mind. I will be reading more books in the Prey series.
March 4, 2019
John Sandford does Agatha Christie, and pretty damn well.
I feel the need to pass on a life tip (now sadly useless) to the murder victim of this book. If you are masterminding a bank merger that will make you a multimillionaire while worsening the lives and careers of almost everyone else around you, one thing you may not want to do is invite some of those people to go out into the woods with you with loaded weapons and lots of privacy. Just saying.
It turns out a good old-fashioned country house-style murder is just what Lucas needs right now: Weather has left him, his depression is circling around him and looking to close in, and his friends are worried about him. Immersing himself in a complicated whodunnit at least keeps his mind busy, providing "interference" that closes out the worst and bleakest thoughts. And hey, if his interest in the case happens to flag, the killer is happy to provide new distractions in the form of strategic attacks on his loved ones. (The attack on Elle--and an intervening student--is absolutely brutal, one of the most wrenching bits of violence in the series so far, especially since it's so comparatively mundane.) Someone can't afford to have Lucas looking too closely at the Kresge murder, at least not while the wheels are still spinning and promotions are still being decided.
Secret Prey's title is apt--for the first time, Sandford spends a while hiding the killer's identity from the reader as well as from Lucas, showing us around the crowded cast of characters, all of whom have reason to want Kresge dead and all of whom seem more or less capable of murder. There's the twitchy, gun-obsessed techie with the suspicious online friend; the soon-to-be ex-wife whose seemingly generous divorce settlement wouldn't have gotten a dollar from the merger; the drunken wife-beater dependent on family ties and local connections, who would mean nothing in another city; the tough James T. Bone, approximately the Lucas Davenport of the banking world, hard-edged and cool-headed... and so on. This is a novel with vivid supporting characters, and I found myself actually caught up in the power brokering over who would become the bank's new president. The mystery is likewise strong, plotted by someone just smart enough to be trouble and just "off" enough to be hard to predict. You can see why the case--and a well-timed fling--is enough to distract Lucas from his coming crash and put him back on his feet again.
Weather's departure is a great, sad carry-over from Sudden Prey. At the end of that novel, there was some hope that she and Lucas would stay together despite her earlier horror at his tactics--she'd started to understand the difference between what the two of them knew and also started to recognize that she herself can't be sure the situation could have been resolved peacefully after all--but here, the separation seems to be crystallizing into something permanent, or at least longstanding. She loves Lucas, but she can't stop associating him with one of the worst memories of her life, and on some level, she can't stop being afraid of him. It's a hefty toll for him to pay, but one that feels organic and gives Secret Prey a good bit of realistic emotional weight as Lucas struggles to stay afloat and maybe even move on.
As always, extremely well-paced and highly involving.
I feel the need to pass on a life tip (now sadly useless) to the murder victim of this book. If you are masterminding a bank merger that will make you a multimillionaire while worsening the lives and careers of almost everyone else around you, one thing you may not want to do is invite some of those people to go out into the woods with you with loaded weapons and lots of privacy. Just saying.
It turns out a good old-fashioned country house-style murder is just what Lucas needs right now: Weather has left him, his depression is circling around him and looking to close in, and his friends are worried about him. Immersing himself in a complicated whodunnit at least keeps his mind busy, providing "interference" that closes out the worst and bleakest thoughts. And hey, if his interest in the case happens to flag, the killer is happy to provide new distractions in the form of strategic attacks on his loved ones. (The attack on Elle--and an intervening student--is absolutely brutal, one of the most wrenching bits of violence in the series so far, especially since it's so comparatively mundane.) Someone can't afford to have Lucas looking too closely at the Kresge murder, at least not while the wheels are still spinning and promotions are still being decided.
Secret Prey's title is apt--for the first time, Sandford spends a while hiding the killer's identity from the reader as well as from Lucas, showing us around the crowded cast of characters, all of whom have reason to want Kresge dead and all of whom seem more or less capable of murder. There's the twitchy, gun-obsessed techie with the suspicious online friend; the soon-to-be ex-wife whose seemingly generous divorce settlement wouldn't have gotten a dollar from the merger; the drunken wife-beater dependent on family ties and local connections, who would mean nothing in another city; the tough James T. Bone, approximately the Lucas Davenport of the banking world, hard-edged and cool-headed... and so on. This is a novel with vivid supporting characters, and I found myself actually caught up in the power brokering over who would become the bank's new president. The mystery is likewise strong, plotted by someone just smart enough to be trouble and just "off" enough to be hard to predict. You can see why the case--and a well-timed fling--is enough to distract Lucas from his coming crash and put him back on his feet again.
Weather's departure is a great, sad carry-over from Sudden Prey. At the end of that novel, there was some hope that she and Lucas would stay together despite her earlier horror at his tactics--she'd started to understand the difference between what the two of them knew and also started to recognize that she herself can't be sure the situation could have been resolved peacefully after all--but here, the separation seems to be crystallizing into something permanent, or at least longstanding. She loves Lucas, but she can't stop associating him with one of the worst memories of her life, and on some level, she can't stop being afraid of him. It's a hefty toll for him to pay, but one that feels organic and gives Secret Prey a good bit of realistic emotional weight as Lucas struggles to stay afloat and maybe even move on.
As always, extremely well-paced and highly involving.
November 21, 2019
Started off well, had a bit of a lull and then finished off strong.
The novel starts off with the murder of a bank executive. There are many people who want him dead and many of those were with him at that time. I found the beginning to be a bit overwhelming just because there was so many characters introduced in a short period of time.
Around the 100 page mark, I was ready to DNF the novel just because I wasn't sure what the rest of the novel was going to talk about for the next 300 pages. Around the half way mark, the novel really picks up. There are more deaths and more planned murders and I wasn't sure how the novel was going to go. I really enjoyed the last 100 pages and how the novel would finish.
I really enjoyed this novel in the Prey series and will continue reading the remaining novels that I own.
The novel starts off with the murder of a bank executive. There are many people who want him dead and many of those were with him at that time. I found the beginning to be a bit overwhelming just because there was so many characters introduced in a short period of time.
Around the 100 page mark, I was ready to DNF the novel just because I wasn't sure what the rest of the novel was going to talk about for the next 300 pages. Around the half way mark, the novel really picks up. There are more deaths and more planned murders and I wasn't sure how the novel was going to go. I really enjoyed the last 100 pages and how the novel would finish.
I really enjoyed this novel in the Prey series and will continue reading the remaining novels that I own.
September 5, 2021
I’d give this 4.5 stars out of 5. Have to dock it half a star for the overwhelming number of characters to keep straight. Lucas is dealing with some issues with depression again, trying to crawl to the surface. But again, as he gets to work on a murder case, his enthusiasm clears his mind and we get our Lucas back in full swing. Very enjoyable mystery in which the reader has the opportunity to try and figure out who the killer is. I am really enjoying these older Davenport books!
June 6, 2022
There's still Davenport, skirting a depression issue after his gal, Weather, has distanced herself from him in the last volume. He is pulled into what starts out as an interesting killing of a bank chairman on a hunting expedition.
Along the way, Lucas is immersed in the cut-throat, back stabbing world of high finance, and the dangerous world of an imminent bank buyout/merger.
As the bodies of financiers keep piling up along with the motives and suspects, Davenport is eyeing the alluring prospect of a work centered romance.
Along the way, Lucas is immersed in the cut-throat, back stabbing world of high finance, and the dangerous world of an imminent bank buyout/merger.
As the bodies of financiers keep piling up along with the motives and suspects, Davenport is eyeing the alluring prospect of a work centered romance.
May 22, 2018
A good entry in the Davenport series. In this one Lucas investigates the killing of a CEO who has taken his top managers on a hunting trip. The ultimate killer is a creepy serial killer who usually manages to escape serious investigation. Recommended.
April 13, 2020
Sandford's villains in the Prey series are so clever, evil, unique and real. And this one is one of the best in the series.
The book starts with a murder in the woods. A wealthy banker is shot out of a deer stand, and Davenport and his colleagues are facing a murder with numerous suspects all with motive and opportunity. Unfortunately, though, the evidence is scant. To make matters worse, Davenport is not doing well. Weather has broken off their engagement and he feels himself slipping into a depression.
The plot is complex and well-paced. And for much of the novel everyone believes that the killer is going to get away with his crimes. This book is high action, fast paced and clever.
My biggest complaint is that the supporting cast have roles that are too small. I want more interactions between Lucas and his team and Lucas and Weather.
The book starts with a murder in the woods. A wealthy banker is shot out of a deer stand, and Davenport and his colleagues are facing a murder with numerous suspects all with motive and opportunity. Unfortunately, though, the evidence is scant. To make matters worse, Davenport is not doing well. Weather has broken off their engagement and he feels himself slipping into a depression.
The plot is complex and well-paced. And for much of the novel everyone believes that the killer is going to get away with his crimes. This book is high action, fast paced and clever.
My biggest complaint is that the supporting cast have roles that are too small. I want more interactions between Lucas and his team and Lucas and Weather.
November 22, 2018
Another great Lucas Davenport book. Interesting characters, plot and a great ending!
September 25, 2010
Possible Spoiler****
#9 of the Prey Series-I reread some of my comments I made on the earlier books of this series. One of the things that stands out is my earlier opinion of the main character, Lucas Davenport. He is definitely a ladies man. But his personality as a cop is what is the most interesting. He has power. He seems to be able to take control of situations, no matter how violent, and do as he wishes, whether it’s legal or not. He seems to get away with it. My thoughts on this character come through another character in this book. Lucas was involved with a woman named Weather. After the last book, they have separated. All of the reasons that set Lucas apart from other cops are what keep Weather away from him now. This book was very suspenseful and very engaging. I enjoyed it. It’s been a while since I’ve read a Prey book and I’m wondering why. I like the mystery but more than anything I like the way this author writes. He has developed Lucas into a very intricate character. He is good at his job, not so good in his personal life. The writing has some humor and gentle banter between the people Lucas works with. I am looking forward to reading Certain Prey which is #10 of this series. This author is similar to a Michael Connelly or a Robert Crais.
#9 of the Prey Series-I reread some of my comments I made on the earlier books of this series. One of the things that stands out is my earlier opinion of the main character, Lucas Davenport. He is definitely a ladies man. But his personality as a cop is what is the most interesting. He has power. He seems to be able to take control of situations, no matter how violent, and do as he wishes, whether it’s legal or not. He seems to get away with it. My thoughts on this character come through another character in this book. Lucas was involved with a woman named Weather. After the last book, they have separated. All of the reasons that set Lucas apart from other cops are what keep Weather away from him now. This book was very suspenseful and very engaging. I enjoyed it. It’s been a while since I’ve read a Prey book and I’m wondering why. I like the mystery but more than anything I like the way this author writes. He has developed Lucas into a very intricate character. He is good at his job, not so good in his personal life. The writing has some humor and gentle banter between the people Lucas works with. I am looking forward to reading Certain Prey which is #10 of this series. This author is similar to a Michael Connelly or a Robert Crais.
January 1, 2017
Sandford’s early Prey novels seemed to be more mystery based. Even when we knew who the killer was, there remained some element that Lucas Davenport had to figure out, which usually came as a surprise to the reader. Though the author tries to create something different about each book, they’ve evolved into “here’s the villain, here’re the good guys, let’s follow both until they converge.� Secret Prey splits the difference. The killer is concealed for the first half of the book, and then it’s a race to the end.
The chairman of the board of a major bank is murdered while deer hunting, and thanks to a forthcoming merger there are plenty of suspects. Actually, the suspect pool is considerably bigger than usual. But if you like Sanford’s work--and I do--you’ll be entertained as Davenport wades through the various possibilities. Maybe not Sandford’s very best but up there.
The chairman of the board of a major bank is murdered while deer hunting, and thanks to a forthcoming merger there are plenty of suspects. Actually, the suspect pool is considerably bigger than usual. But if you like Sanford’s work--and I do--you’ll be entertained as Davenport wades through the various possibilities. Maybe not Sandford’s very best but up there.
October 23, 2016
*sigh* What can you say about one of my (many) boyfriends- Lucas Davenport! A very good story indeed! - of course I would wish that he would stay the macho,hunky, SINGLE ladies man- but I know that isn't going to happen. So series 9 is/was a hit- will read 10 in the near future!
March 22, 2018
Excellent as always. Even though I've read the whole series before, I usually can't remember the plot and whodoneit...this was not exception. Just an excellent series!
November 30, 2008
Audrey MacDonald is the power-hungry wife of a loathsome bank executive who wants to become president and CEO of the Polaris Bank. The current president, who is in the midst of negotiating a merger that would drastically alter the future plans of the other bank executives, is shot while on a hunting trip with many of those same executives. Lucas Davenport is asked to assist with the investigation. Certain peculiarities emerge that point to links between the Kresge killing and the ostensibly accidental deaths of several other bank executives that had occurred years earlier. Audrey’s husband, Wilson, who when drunk regularly beat her, was the only one who profited professionally from each of the deaths. He and Audrey are now trying to capitalize on Kresge’s death by attempting to manipulate the board into appointing him the new CEO. He is opposed by Jim Bone and Susan O’Dell, who also lust after the top job. Sandford’s descriptions of the back-biting and political machinations are brutal and priceless. An amusing side plot concerns a number of very well-connected old ladies who have been growing opium poppies for fun and now insist on being arrested for their flagrant violation of the law. Audrey soon realizes that, despite her best efforts, the investigation is beginning to focus on Wilson and, weak as he is, he will be unable to withstand the strain and will undoubtedly reveal the sordid truth behind the killings. She resolves to kill him, manipulating him into a situation that justifies her homicide. How she does this is truly cold and calculating. The investigation would have ended, had she left well enough alone, and not made the mistake of trying to distract Lucas � it had worked before � by creating several diversions. Specifically she assaults and firebombs two of his friends. Audrey is a librarian and hasn’t forgotten all those handy research skills to help choose her victims. The irrational and unlikely coincidental nature of these attacks leads Lucas’s team of investigators to discover the intricate pattern behind the murders that ultimately benefit only one person. You’ve really got to watch out for these librarians. . . .
August 21, 2018
This one blew me away. It started out very well with a true mystery, but then it becomes a game of pin the blame on the killer & what a killer! In the midst of all this, Lucas is dealing with some personal problems (love life) & solves them with some really great characters & byplay. I was chortling at the end. I'm tempted to give this 5 stars. Really tempted. Best Prey book yet & it's the 9th! Whoever heard of a great 9th book?!!! Sandford is really hitting his stride.
I was out weeding the south road gardens, so started the 10th book. Got rained out before I was finished & soaked by the time I got back to the shop. Didn't mind at all. The next book has me firmly in its grip.
I was out weeding the south road gardens, so started the 10th book. Got rained out before I was finished & soaked by the time I got back to the shop. Didn't mind at all. The next book has me firmly in its grip.
August 2, 2017
I enjoyed this Sanford novel better than the others even though there were plenty more characters. Likeable, diligent cops-for the most part- a budding cop romance- and a clever killer. Davenport is a good character and there is good rapport between the cops and DAs. A Mexican hotel grab book. One day my own firfighter mystery/thrillers will garner as many reviews.
July 24, 2021
4.5 stars - 2 thumbs up!
Lots of different characters, lots of suspects! A very nasty player this time and not revealed until much later in the book! Lucas has his wits put to the test in this book, and maybe basically a chance the nasty player could be back on the scene down the road.
A very good thriller indeed!
Lots of different characters, lots of suspects! A very nasty player this time and not revealed until much later in the book! Lucas has his wits put to the test in this book, and maybe basically a chance the nasty player could be back on the scene down the road.
A very good thriller indeed!
July 29, 2023
I've been reading the series in order, and this one was easily my favorite so far. I could barely stop reading, and since it was an audiobook, I hardly had to. The audiobook was excellent by the way, narrated by Richard Ferrone who narrates most of the series, I believe.
The book had a lot going for it. There was a killing at the beginning, and I had no idea who did it for the first half of the book, and neither did Davenport or his team. It seemed impossible for a while. Even when we finally learn who really did it, it seems hard to solve. Of course, Davenport finally figures it out, as usual, but not before he suffered through attacks on some of his most beloved friends. That was a big mistake on the part of the killer, of course, but only someone like us readers would know that.
The book was great all the way to the very end, even though the very end was more comic relief than part of the main mystery.
The book had a lot going for it. There was a killing at the beginning, and I had no idea who did it for the first half of the book, and neither did Davenport or his team. It seemed impossible for a while. Even when we finally learn who really did it, it seems hard to solve. Of course, Davenport finally figures it out, as usual, but not before he suffered through attacks on some of his most beloved friends. That was a big mistake on the part of the killer, of course, but only someone like us readers would know that.
The book was great all the way to the very end, even though the very end was more comic relief than part of the main mystery.
January 30, 2023
I loved this 9th book in John Sandford's "Lucan Davenport" series!
December 1, 2017
Secret Prey (5 Stars)
It’s the beginning of hunting season. The Chairman of Polaris Bank, Daniel Kresge, goes on a hunting trip with four other executives of the bank. At the break of dawn, he is shot dead out of his perch on a tree. There are no clues and no witnesses. Local police are flummoxed. Davenport is entrusted the responsibility of cracking the case.
As it turns out, Kresge was merging his bank with another behemoth - Midland Holding. Though he would be making a tidy sum on it, the merger threatens mayhem with job cuts all across the board. With the cut-throat manoeuvring that takes place in the aftermath of the killing for the top job and consequently the future of Polaris as an independent or merged entity, there is no shortage of either motives or suspects.
Secret Prey starts out very well. The first half of the novel is fast paced. There are so many plausible killers and so many motives, that the reader is instantly hooked right from the first chapter. One criticism Sandford’s novels have faced is that the identity of the killer is known beforehand and so there is little suspense. Not so with Secret Prey. This novel is a true mystery and the reader is left guessing as to both the killer and the motive. In , the identity of the ‘Iceman� was a mystery. However, we knew what the ‘Iceman� was doing and thinking. In Secret Prey, the “killer� is referred to in the first chapter and then not referred to again until his/her identity is revealed in the second half of the novel. This distinguishes it from any of the previous novels in the ‘Prey Series�.
After, the identity of the killer is revealed to the reader in the second half, Davenport too soon figures out the same a little too conveniently. As the case against the killer is largely circumstantial, it simply becomes a matter gathering evidence solid enough to get a conviction. Hence, all the suspense that was so carefully built up in the first half dissipates in a flash.
Davenport’s quest for evidence is largely aided by the killer’s compulsion to create a distraction from the main investigation. Not only does such an attempt fail, it also leads to the critical clues that eventually nail the killer. Given the cunning the killer displays throughout the book, it stretches credibility that the killer commits such a rookie mistake.
The earlier novels in the series focused too much on Davenport’s personal life and his gaming hobby/side business. In Secret Prey, his relationship with Weather has come to an end. There is no digression to any games he is creating. The absence of these extraneous insertions considerably speed up the plot.
Characters and events in the previous novels find a place and are referenced here. Andy Manette, the kidnapped psychologist in , is treating Weather for the trauma she suffered at the hands of LaChaise in . One thing Sandford has stressed till now in the ‘Prey Series� is how abuse and pain in the formative years of childhood creates psychopaths out of otherwise healthy children.
In conclusion, despite the underwhelming second half, Secret Prey, on the whole, is enjoyable, entertaining and well-written.
It’s the beginning of hunting season. The Chairman of Polaris Bank, Daniel Kresge, goes on a hunting trip with four other executives of the bank. At the break of dawn, he is shot dead out of his perch on a tree. There are no clues and no witnesses. Local police are flummoxed. Davenport is entrusted the responsibility of cracking the case.
As it turns out, Kresge was merging his bank with another behemoth - Midland Holding. Though he would be making a tidy sum on it, the merger threatens mayhem with job cuts all across the board. With the cut-throat manoeuvring that takes place in the aftermath of the killing for the top job and consequently the future of Polaris as an independent or merged entity, there is no shortage of either motives or suspects.
Secret Prey starts out very well. The first half of the novel is fast paced. There are so many plausible killers and so many motives, that the reader is instantly hooked right from the first chapter. One criticism Sandford’s novels have faced is that the identity of the killer is known beforehand and so there is little suspense. Not so with Secret Prey. This novel is a true mystery and the reader is left guessing as to both the killer and the motive. In , the identity of the ‘Iceman� was a mystery. However, we knew what the ‘Iceman� was doing and thinking. In Secret Prey, the “killer� is referred to in the first chapter and then not referred to again until his/her identity is revealed in the second half of the novel. This distinguishes it from any of the previous novels in the ‘Prey Series�.
After, the identity of the killer is revealed to the reader in the second half, Davenport too soon figures out the same a little too conveniently. As the case against the killer is largely circumstantial, it simply becomes a matter gathering evidence solid enough to get a conviction. Hence, all the suspense that was so carefully built up in the first half dissipates in a flash.
Davenport’s quest for evidence is largely aided by the killer’s compulsion to create a distraction from the main investigation. Not only does such an attempt fail, it also leads to the critical clues that eventually nail the killer. Given the cunning the killer displays throughout the book, it stretches credibility that the killer commits such a rookie mistake.
The earlier novels in the series focused too much on Davenport’s personal life and his gaming hobby/side business. In Secret Prey, his relationship with Weather has come to an end. There is no digression to any games he is creating. The absence of these extraneous insertions considerably speed up the plot.
Characters and events in the previous novels find a place and are referenced here. Andy Manette, the kidnapped psychologist in , is treating Weather for the trauma she suffered at the hands of LaChaise in . One thing Sandford has stressed till now in the ‘Prey Series� is how abuse and pain in the formative years of childhood creates psychopaths out of otherwise healthy children.
In conclusion, despite the underwhelming second half, Secret Prey, on the whole, is enjoyable, entertaining and well-written.
April 29, 2013
"There'd always been something in Lucas that was hard, brutal, and remote. She'd been sure she could reach it, smooth it out. He needed that as much as she did: he didn't know it, but his taste for the street, his taste for violence, was killing him, in ways that weren't obvious to him. But she'd been wrong about reaching him: the violence was essential to him, she now believed."
As the novel opens, Lucas is feeling deeply depressed. Doctor Weather Karkinnen has moved out and left Lucas Davenport permanently. She believed her world of healing could overcome Lucas's dark world of evil. Instead, the horror defeated her positive mental defenses when in one of Lucas's cases, described in the previous book in the series, she had brain matter spattered all over her when a murderer was killed by a sniper. PTSD has become an unwelcome outcome of her relationship with Davenport. Oh well.
Then, a rich executive of a bank is killed during an employee bonding exercise of deer hunting. It seems a merger of financial companies is imminent and very few employees from the bank will keep their jobs. Guess who was making employee evaluations and deciding who would be fired? If you think it was the murdered man, you are right. As the case expands into puzzles of personalities and clues, and Lucas's loved ones are viciously attacked, he finds himself ruminating about himself.
"Lucas had never thought of himself as a cheerful person, because he wasn't; he wasn't usually morose either. He simply lived in a kind of police-world melange built of cynicism, brutality, and absurdity, leavened by not infrequent acts of selflessness, idealism, and sacrifice. If a cop brought a continuing attitude of good cheer to that world, there was something wrong with him, Lucas thought. His own recent problems he recognized as involving brain chemicals: he could take other chemicals to alter his mental state, but he was afraid to do that. Would the brain-altered Davenport be himself? Or would it be some shrink's idea of what a good Davenport would look like?
All that aside, he was feeling fairly cheerful...."
As the novel opens, Lucas is feeling deeply depressed. Doctor Weather Karkinnen has moved out and left Lucas Davenport permanently. She believed her world of healing could overcome Lucas's dark world of evil. Instead, the horror defeated her positive mental defenses when in one of Lucas's cases, described in the previous book in the series, she had brain matter spattered all over her when a murderer was killed by a sniper. PTSD has become an unwelcome outcome of her relationship with Davenport. Oh well.
Then, a rich executive of a bank is killed during an employee bonding exercise of deer hunting. It seems a merger of financial companies is imminent and very few employees from the bank will keep their jobs. Guess who was making employee evaluations and deciding who would be fired? If you think it was the murdered man, you are right. As the case expands into puzzles of personalities and clues, and Lucas's loved ones are viciously attacked, he finds himself ruminating about himself.
"Lucas had never thought of himself as a cheerful person, because he wasn't; he wasn't usually morose either. He simply lived in a kind of police-world melange built of cynicism, brutality, and absurdity, leavened by not infrequent acts of selflessness, idealism, and sacrifice. If a cop brought a continuing attitude of good cheer to that world, there was something wrong with him, Lucas thought. His own recent problems he recognized as involving brain chemicals: he could take other chemicals to alter his mental state, but he was afraid to do that. Would the brain-altered Davenport be himself? Or would it be some shrink's idea of what a good Davenport would look like?
All that aside, he was feeling fairly cheerful...."
December 27, 2018
I don't want to say too much except that I was shocked at the reveal of who did it in this one. Sandford played a very good game with readers. I honestly didn't get it until we finally see who has been pulling strings all along. I was also sad to see how Lucas is dealing with the fallout to his relationship with Weather ending. Him getting involved with one of his subordinates didn't work for me though. She was a bit too crude (like Lucas) so I don't see them lasting too long.
Lucas is half-hearted in this one. He is dealing with the end of his relationship with Weather after his actions in the last book. He is hitting a depressive episode and all of his friends and colleagues are concerned about him. Lucas wants Weather back, but doesn't know what he can do. When he's asked to keep an eye on an investigation involving a wealthy banker, Lucas feels like it's not going to be a very interesting case. However, the more he probes, the more he realizes that things are not what they same. When Lucas starts probing more, it appears that someone in this banker's circle may have been ensuring that no matter what, someone always came ahead.
The secondary characters in this one like Sloan, Del, Roux, are good. We even get Ellie in this too, though I wanted more. Lucas is at a crossroads in this one with him selling off his business, he just honestly doesn't know if police work is going to fulfill him or not.
The flow was much tighter in this one than in the last book where it was all over the place.
The ending was a surprise, I was shocked at what all goes down.
Lucas is half-hearted in this one. He is dealing with the end of his relationship with Weather after his actions in the last book. He is hitting a depressive episode and all of his friends and colleagues are concerned about him. Lucas wants Weather back, but doesn't know what he can do. When he's asked to keep an eye on an investigation involving a wealthy banker, Lucas feels like it's not going to be a very interesting case. However, the more he probes, the more he realizes that things are not what they same. When Lucas starts probing more, it appears that someone in this banker's circle may have been ensuring that no matter what, someone always came ahead.
The secondary characters in this one like Sloan, Del, Roux, are good. We even get Ellie in this too, though I wanted more. Lucas is at a crossroads in this one with him selling off his business, he just honestly doesn't know if police work is going to fulfill him or not.
The flow was much tighter in this one than in the last book where it was all over the place.
The ending was a surprise, I was shocked at what all goes down.
November 13, 2021
I didn’t find this book as exciting or fulfilling as I do most of the Prey books. I love Lucas Davenport, but he was kind of at a loss in this book. I don’t know what I think of his relationship with Sherrell. I don’t think I liked it. Oh well, maybe they’ll split up in another book. This book was all about the events surrounding a bank merger. All of a sudden people are dying. Then it’s uncovered that people have died in the past. All of the deaths leading to the promotions of one man. But it couldn’t be that simple, could it? Of course not, because it wouldn’t have been a very long book. The bank bigwigs are cutthroat men and women, none of whose characters are really given any definition. Even Lucas is depressed and distant in this novel. Unless you are a real die hard fan of Lucas Davenport, I’d pass on this one. Compared to all of the other Prey books I’ve read, in this one, Lucas, as well as the story, is a wimp.
June 15, 2019
I love these books by John Sandford. I thought I'd quickly lose interest when I first read one of his books last summer, but it was so hard to put down. I plan on reading more of them. This book, like most of his others, Chief Davenport is an interesting character who is always digging to the core of the problems. He never thinks a case should be too easily solved, but seems to hate long cases. I was riveted by all the characters and thought he uses as they were all so well developed. Sandford does a good job of his character development.I love these books by John Sandford.
May 25, 2018
ebook read by ME
Good mystery with plenty of possible tracts
Not a lot of hot thrills except for Marcy Sherril!
Good mystery with plenty of possible tracts
Not a lot of hot thrills except for Marcy Sherril!
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