Phantom Prey (Lucas Davenport #18)

This novel begins with Alyssen Austin entering her house. She felt that something was wrong, a cold whisper of evil. The house was dark, except for lights which were triggered by photocells at dusk. The hairs on her forearms and the back of her neck stood upright.

She looked to her right. The arming panel on the security system was steady, so the security panel had been disarmed. The house was empty, and the security should be armed.

She went out to her car and lifted out her ladysmith .38 and went through the house with her gun held in front of her. She thought that maybe her daughter, Frances might be in the house, and called her name. No response.

The hair on her arms was up again. Halfway through the house she knew she was alone, yet continued her search. She soon noticed dark streaks on the wallpaper at the edge of a hallway. She stepped over and touched them, and felt tackiness under her finger, pulled her hand back and found a spot of crimson.

She backed into the kitchen, picked up the phone, and dialed 911. The operator told her the police were on the way.

The police entered with guns drawn, looked at the blood and called for a crime scene crew. Blood tests determined that the blood was France’s blood.

A weird start to a John Sandford Prey novel. But things will get weirder. And they do.

What’s weirdest of all, though, are the two typo’s in the first 6% of the novel, and then missing and added words throughout. In “Secret Prey”, Mr. Sandford announced, and then apologized to readers before the beginning, of a typo he had found that the editor had refused to edit out.

In this novel, not a word from Mr. Sandford. Weird indeed.

“Phantom Prey” could have been an interesting novel, and in a few cases, still is. There are intrigues, ghosts, murders and attempted murders, insanity and suicide.

Unfortunately, there are far too many detrimental factors, in addition to the typo’s etc. Previously mentioned.

The worst of these is a completely unrelated story that involves the search for, and apprehension of a drug dealer by Lucas Davenport and his team that goes on, and on, and is inserted into the main story at times, many, many times that completely disrupt the main story and distract the reader (another weird factor about this novel).

Other detrimental factors include very many extended descriptions of mundane activities and events that require very much skimming before content is again found.

Without these detrimental factors, “Phantom Prey” would have been an interesting novel to read. With them, it is barely readable.

I have read most of the “Prey Series” and love them. Sandford is a master with this type of fiction. This book actually has two story lines going on and lots of twists and turns. Many times it is not only just possible to determine “who did it”,but obvious. However Sandford keeps you guessing til the end.

It begins with Lucas Davenport’ s wife asking him to speak to a friend whose daughter has disappeared, presumably was murdered. He does so and is drawn into the Goth world concerning not only the daughter’s disappearance but also the grisly murders of several of her friends.
At the same time he is also involved in a surveillance case that turns complex and confusing and deadly.

Well written, with story line and characters well developed, I believe this is one of the author’s best. If you have read and enjoyed the Prey Series, then you will absolutely love this one. If you have not read them, you will absolutely become a great fan.

I am an ardent John Sandford fan. I recently purchased and read the complete Prey series and then the complete Flowers series in order, and I’m only sorry I’ll have to wait for the next book in both series. Sandford is a novelist with the rare ability to carry over characters and plot elements with complete believabiity while allowing both to develop in interesting, unexpected but natural ways – the only other “serial” novelist who does this nearly as well is Anthony Trollope, and he avoids murders. I re-read these books with pleasure as great or greater than the first reading because the fast-paced narrative and unexpected plot developments pulls you to read fast the first time; the second or third you can pay attention to atmosphere (he’s great on significant landscape detail), character growth, and situation development. Sandford writes like a real novelist, not like someone trying to impress academia with his literary exclusivity.

This is another one of my favorite Lucas Davenport novels. It’s very creepy and has a bit of a “Gothic” feel to it, and nooo… that’s not a pun about the eerie plot of the tale!
There’s a sub plot with really mean, ruthless drug dealers that involves Lucas, Del, Jenkins, Shrake and other assorted characters… very entertaining read!!!

I have all of John Sanfords books and have enjoyed each and every one, although I have to admit I have come to love the Virgil Flowers books the most. This book has a complicated plot and many twists and turns. I now have another great tale for the collection.

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