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A review of Rules of Prey

by John Sandford

The first book in Sandford's "Prey" series has Lucas Davenport investigating a serial-killing lawyer

Reviewed by: Michael J. Griffin
About Michael J. Griffin

Rules of Prey A friend of mine who was a co-worker at Barnes and Noble introduced me to John Sandford's writing. She said that he was one of the best authors she had read in a long time. I shrugged, said that I'd give it a try, and bought this book, the first in the "Prey" series, which now has reached the thirteenth book in the series this past year, with the fourteenth, "Naked Prey" coming out in May of next year.

After reading this book, I went on to buy the rest of his books in paperback within the span of a month. I was that hooked.

Sandford, which is the pen name of Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist John Camp, introduced one of the most complex detective protagonists in a long time in Lucas Davenport. First of all, Davenport is physically flawed, having a long scar on his face. That doesn't stop him from landing ladies left and right, as he has a relationship with both a TV anchorwoman and several other women. His womanizing is offset by a unique sense of dignity that he maintains.

Davenport is investigating a series of murders that are being committed by a self-loathing lawyer. This lawyer is smart, and likes to taunt Davenport, leaving papers with "Rules of Murder" made from cut-out letters from magazines pasted on them to form sentences. Naming the killer isn't spoiling anything, as readers know who the killer is from the first page. Sandford also creates believable people and even keeps the killer from becoming a cardboard cutout that just goes around killing people remorselessly.

I found Davenport to be a wonderful creation. He's edgy, even to his own fellow officers, but that is mostly a product of his single-minded determination to find the killer.

Police work isn't all that is in Davenport's life. He also has a hobby of creating computer games simulations, and has been well compensated for it. This allows him to live a little cushier life than most police detectives. He drives a Porsche, for example.

The story is told from the thoughts of both the killer and Davenport and they intertwine into a great climax.

Since reading this book, I've managed to convert my father into a Sandford follower. He has it a little easier than me though. He just got to borrow my books.

Click here to buy this book, or read more about it at Amazon.com: Rules of Prey

Copyright © by Michael J. Griffin, 2002

Reviewed by Michael J. Griffin:
-- A Prayer For Owen Meany - by John Irving
-- The Secret History - by Donna Tartt
-- Tuesdays with Morrie - by Mitch Albom
-- The Lovely Bones - by Alice Sebold
-- She's Come Undone - by Wally Lamb
-- Rules of Prey - by John Sandford
-- Once More Around The Park - by Roger Angell
-- On Writing - by Stephen King
-- Dave Barry's Greatest Hits - by Dave Barry
-- The Christmas Train - by David Baldacci
-- Artemis Fowl - by Eoin Colfer
-- Prey - by Michael Crichton
-- Shrink Rap - by Robert B. Parker
-- Tricky Business - by Dave Barry
-- Hit Man - by Lawrence Block
-- Without Fail - by Lee Child
-- A Drink Before the War - by Dennis Lehane
-- The Day After Tomorrow - by Allan Folsom
-- I.Asimov - by Isaac Asimov
-- The Blue Nowhere - by Jeffery Deaver
-- Cryptonomicon - by Neal Stephenson
-- The Millionaires - by Brad Meltzer









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