It’s become something of an annual tradition for me to read the latest novel from John Sandford. I first discovered his writing nearly 20 years ago through the Virgil Flowers series and followed those books faithfully as they were released. When Sandford shifted his focus more heavily to his long-running Prey series, I followed him there as well. No matter the series, he has a knack for crafting quick-paced crime thrillers filled with sharp plotting and witty banter. So naturally, I knew I’d be picking up his latest, Revenge Prey. And lucky for me, his publisher was kind enough to provide a copy.
Lucas Davenport is paired with fellow U.S. Marshal Shelly White to escort a former high-ranking Russian intelligence officer out of a Minneapolis safe house. After providing the U.S. with information about Russian operatives embedded within the government, the man and his family have spent the last three years in witness protection. Now, they’re finally being relocated to a permanent home.
For Davenport, it should be a routine assignment. What he doesn’t know is that a Russian hit team has been tracking the same target. As the family steps outside the safe house, gunfire erupts, leaving one of them dead on the spot. Suddenly, the routine transport turns into a high-stakes manhunt. Now it’s a race against time. Davenport must track down the assassins, protect the remaining family members, and uncover who leaked their location—all before the hit team finishes what they started.
It’s always a joy to jump into a John Sandford novel, and this one is no exception. Revenge Prey marks the 36th outing for Lucas Davenport, and true to form, it delivers the breakneck action and sharp wit longtime fans have come to expect. While Davenport has certainly evolved over the years, it’s still just as thrilling to watch him in pursuit of a dangerous adversary, relying on a mix of deduction, instinct, and the occasional bit of luck.
Sandford alternates between Davenport’s perspective and that of the hit team, giving readers insight into both sides of the chase. That dual viewpoint adds an extra layer of tension, as we’re often a step ahead of Davenport, waiting to see how he’ll catch up. The result is a tightly wound game of cat-and-mouse that builds to a satisfying, action-packed conclusion.
There are moments where the pacing meanders slightly, as if Sandford is letting the story unfold more freely than usual, but it never detracts too much from the overall experience. Even with those minor lulls, it’s an engaging entry in a long-running series—and I’ll be first in line for whatever comes next.
For more information, visit the author's website, Amazon, and Goodreads.
(2026, 29)
