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
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:
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-- 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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