Customer Reviews

Sudden Prey CL (Thorndike Core)

5 star:		(39)
4 star:		(23)
3 star:		(4)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(3)

 

 

In this "Prey" installment by Sandford, Davenport and his team are faced with a cold-blooded killer who has one thing on his mind. Revenge. After his sister and wife are killed in a foiled bank robbery attempt, an extreme right-winged government hating milita member seeks revenge on the policemen who are responsible. After he escapes from prison, he enlists a few members, including a dirty cop, seeking vengeance against those responsible for his sister and wife's deaths.

A very tense thriller with non-stop action and excitement. I had a hard time putting this one down. Sudden Prey could rank as one of Sandford's best novels.

I love great literature, and once-upon-a-time, I tried to focus on the National Book Award winners, Gabriel Garcia Marquez and other international authors who could tell a good story in an interesting way.

For variety, I read the earlier Stephen King books, and some "hard" science fiction, like Bob Forward.

In a funk, and bored with several wonderful books I was plodding through, I heard an advertisement for "Mind Prey" (the previous "Lucas Davenport" novel) by 'John Sandford.' In a moment of -- for me -- consumer frenzy, I saw it at a local drugstore and bought it. Wow!

I researched the author, and began to get his "Prey" books and read them from first (Rules of Prey) to last (Sudden Prey). 'Sandford' really knows how to tell a story; his characters are interesting and believable, and while there's plenty of "blood and guts," its all in the context of solid, you-are-there plotting.

Sudden Prey, as usual, made me stop in the middle of a chapter, and say aloud, "no, no: that can't happen!" Sometimes I was right, sometimes I was wrong, and I give all the credit in the world to 'John Sandford' for getting me involved enough to care about the characters he creates.

And, I still enjoy the National Book Award-type "good" literature I once thought was the only thing "intelligent" people should read. I'll read everything this guy puts out.

If Sudden Prey is your first Sandford book, you'll go back and read the rest -- and I recommend them all.

Jack Flynn

As a typical amazoner looking for good books to read, I rely heavily on the reader reviews. After great enjoyment of my first Sandford "prey" book, I went to the beginning of the series --- used paperbacks cost about $3.00 net with shipping on Amazon -- and have worked my way through.

This is the best so far. A terribly bad "bad guy." Totally realistic (and often incorrect) cop behavior. The hero Lucas makes believable mistakes. He is not a superhero.

Great suspense. Super "cat and mouse" book. Violence abounds, but is credible.

If you like "cop mysteries" you will like this series.

This is one of my favourites in the Prey series. Two females are shot in a bank robery, and the husband of one of them escapes from prison. Now he wants to get his revenge, but not by taking it out directly on the police officers. He wants them to suffer as he is, and wanting nothing by revenge, he's going after their families...
Sandford is a master of writing about different motives for the killings in all his thrillers. Previously I've read about someone killing because (s)he feels (s)he have to do it, another time I read about a much more dangerous motivation, the profit. In this book, Sudden Prey, the main character, Lucas Davenport, is facing the most simple and purest motivation, which is revenge. But can his killer-instinct, fast thinking and intelligence help him to solve this case?
Sandford has the ability of making you so curious about what will happen, that you simply can't put the book away. You have to finish it right away. And if you enjoy the Prey series, this book is a must. Certainly one his best. A great book also recommended to anyone who loves to read, and those who like thillers.

Two bank robbers are taken out in a gunfight by the Minneapolis Police Department. A relative of theirs who is allowed to attend the funeral while on leave from prison escapes. His intention is pure revenge against the police officers responsible for the killings. All of the cops involved and their families seem to be targets. Deputy Chief of the Minneapolis Police Department, Lucas Davenport, leads the investigation. The convict seeking revenge has really done his homework. He knows who was involved in the bank killings and who their family members are. This is no easy case for the Police. An exciting action packed story set in the Twin Cities that really kept me reading to the end. Sandford is a truly talented writer.

I've read them all in order. It's great watching the Lucas Davenport character evolve. Sudden Prey was definitely the best Prey book. Non stop action, you can't put it down. Dick LaChaise is an animal, a great villain. I loved his character.

Read 'em in order to fully appreciate the Prey series. John Sandford delivers as usual with this one!

This is my first Prey novel and after I was done I wanted to give it a 50/50 reply, but on second thought I think it was a fascinating read. The author introduced several characters of dept with ease, kept a quick pace of throughout the book made a book that was very plausible. In many cases, write create situations to make parts of the story feasible, but this was not the case. Sudden Prey is a chain of events that could happen any day to any of use. Collateral damage is easily seen here.

The characters, nearly all, don't have tunnel vision throughout the plot as well. There are family challenges as well as cause and effect thoughts that make what the character says, all the more normal.

I give it a 4 of 5.

Lucas Davenport is the detective in charge of the investigation. Davenport's ability to unfold the plot is extraordinary. This time he finds murder is hitting close to home. The action is non-stop and I could not put it down. Davenport finds the motive for the killings are revenge. I loved reading this book, once you start to read you are hooked!

This book is the best suspense book I have ever read. It had me reading, reading, and not wanting to take a break. The writing is outstanding. I especially liked the way the characters came together in unity even when you least expected it. I mean even the "bad" characters unified as a whole to create a plot filled with "juiciness" that is so rare to read indeed. Read this one, and you won't be disappointed. Add it to your collection today.

I have enjoyed many of Sandford's books. This one failed me completely. Absolutely implausible story. Frustrating to have read it to the end hoping for some twist, some reward, and...nothing. Just an absurd farce featuring apparently psychic criminals, bumbling cops and a high body count. Without a doubt the most disappointing Sandford novel I have read.