Naked Prey (Lucas Davenport #14)

As you may have surmised, not only am I one of countless thousands of fans of Sandford’s Prey series, but I’ve been rereading them all. And since my memory for details isn’t that great, I am enjoying them almost as much as the first time. I think what makes his books so popular and unique is his use of humor, even within the most dire of circumstances. I must admit that Harry Bosch, Michael Connelly’s answer to Lucas Davenport, was once my favorite detective. But as I have been immersed in the Prey books, I realize that Sandford’s use of “comic relief” is pure genius. The repartee between Lucas and Sloan or Dell or Weather has often made me laugh out loud or, at least, chuckle. I believe that along with an exciting plot, great characterization, and that final down to the wire finish, the fact that Sandford can wrap it all up with a lighter touch when needed, is what separates him from the rest. I’m looking forward to seeing Lucas become a grandfather. Wouldn’t that be a hoot! And here’s hoping it will happen in the very near future.

This was my first Lucas Davenport novel, and I think I’ve read it four times now. It didn’t affect my love of the series, despite it coming so late in the list (about halfway, now, I think), and I was taken by the protagonist right away. Easy enough to go back and read the first novels, or even the last few, where Davenport is working as a U.S. Marshal. Understand, Sandford doesn’t write challenging text. But the characters are interesting, the plots intricate, the dialogue believable (and funny at times), and the text is smooth and easy. These books, despite their grim nature–homicide, after all–are joy to read.

Just finished this book & it ended really great!! Other than that, it wasn’t quite as good as some of Mr. Sandfords other stories. The protagonists were good, as usual, however there wasn’t nearly enough people other than Lucas & Del. I like the stories that have a lot of the regular people in Lucas’s bunch. This book isn’t new so maybe the author hasn’t invented many of them yet. I knew the minute I read her name that Letty would be going home with Lucas but I didn’t remember very much of the story. The antagonists were dull & that is unusual & was part of the reason that it was “not quite as good”. The end was not really a surprise due to what had happened just a little bit earlier but it was exceptionally good. I am rereading the Prey books from about midway through the series & they are just as good or better the second time around.

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.

I have really enjoyed the prey series but unfortunately this book was a complete dud. The Lucas Davenport that I came to really like from the earlier books was nowhere to be found in this book. He usually is a man of action who gets things done one way or the other. Meaning he did not just sit back and wait for things to happen he made them happen. But not in this book. Basically in this book all he really does is a lot of driving and talking doesn’t even really figure things out it just haphazardly falls into his lap. I hope this is a one-time thing and not continual in his other books.

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