A Book A Week

Winter Prey, the fifth installment in John Sandford's Lucas Davenport series, weaves the frosty, unforgiving winter setting into the narrative, almost becoming a character itself. As the story commences, Lucas Davenport, nursing his wounds, seeks refuge in his rural Wisconsin cabin after leaving his detective career behind. Fate swiftly intervenes when a neighboring family falls victim to a savage murder. The local sheriff, unequipped for such a heinous crime, calls upon Lucas for aid. Restless and eager to assist, Lucas assumes the role of deputy and dives headfirst into solving the case.

Dubbed "The Iceman," the murderer is fervently guarding his secrets, resorting to violence to maintain his cover. As the body count escalates, Lucas desperately seeks any evidence to help break into the case. His investigation points him toward a local doctor, Weather Karkinnen, a woman who seems perfectly matched to Davenport's witty intellect. Fans of the Prey series will recognize the burgeoning connection between the two characters, hinting at something deeper to come. As the story progresses, it becomes evident that this small town harbors more secrets than anticipated, placing Lucas in one of the most perilous situations of his career.

Winter Prey, written in 1993, reflects attitudes toward homosexuality that, by today's standards, would be considered homophobic. Comparing it to Sandford's more recent works reveals an evolution in both his writing style and social perspectives. Still, it's essential to acknowledge that the book is a product of its time, with certain aspects better left in the era they were created.

That said, Winter Prey reveals a notable evolution in Sandford's storytelling. Lucas Davenport's character gains depth, and the author embraces the dry humor that's become a signature element of his writing. The mystery is compelling, with the antagonist's identity hidden, allowing readers to uncover the truth alongside Davenport. The introduction of a love interest also adds a layer of depth and connection to Davenport's character, offering promise for further character development in subsequent novels. Ultimately, Winter Prey establishes the framework that has allowed the Prey series to endure and evolve into the present day.

For more information, visit the author's website, Amazon, and Goodreads. 

(2023, 90)

There's a kind of fog that exists in my brain after I finish a really good book. I get to the point where I don't want to read something too similar to the book I just completed, but I also struggle to find anything new that will catch my interest. I've been in that very place again this week. Three new books were started, but none of them were fitting my current mood. It seemed as if I was in a dreaded reading slump. Whenever this happens, there's only one thing I can do to get my reading mojo back in order. I fall back into comfort reading. In this instance, that means I picked up the next book in John Sandford's Prey series. Sandford's penchant for intriguing mysteries, brisk pace, and dry humor were exactly what I needed to propel me through this slump. 

As the previous novel Eyes of Prey closed, Lucas Davenport was at the end of a long rope. His attempt to rekindle any type of personal life ended in tragedy, and he was forced to resign from his position with the police department. The only good thing to come out of that ending was that Davenport was able to put the sadistic serial killer Dr. Mike Bekker behind bars. This novel opens with Davenport trying to put the pieces of his life back together. As he struggles with the hardships of his personal and professional misfortunes, he receives the kind of news that he's dreaded to hear. Mike Bekker has escaped from prison and has his sights set on Davenport. 

Silent Prey, the fourth novel in John Sandford's series, sees the author place his protagonist in a desperate fish-out-of-water situation. Davenport is thrust from his home in Minneapolis to New York. By placing the character in a new city, Sandford forces him to navigate the case without the comforts of familiarity that he had in the previous books. While this was a fun spin on the character, I did find myself missing his supporting cast. Sandford chose to bring back the villain who was quite a force to reckon with in the previous novel. In this second outing, though, I found him to be less threatening. One outing was probably enough. Beyond my minor quips about story choices, I easily devoured this book. Four novels in, I can see why the Prey series has maintained its popularity. This was the exact book I needed to force me out of my reading slump. I'll have the fifth book on standby for whenever the inevitable next slump arises. 

For more information visit the author's website, Amazon, and Goodreads. 

(2023, 25)

Like many readers, I'm faced with the eternal problem of having more books to read than I'll ever have time to finish. There's just not enough time in the day to work through my extensive backlog of titles. Even worse off are the countless series that I've neglected to stay current on. With a few long-running crime series numbering 30+ installments, it seems like an insurmountable task to keep up with them. Determined not to let these series fall by the wayside, I've decided to start working on one at a time. First up is John Sandford's Prey series. I've read and enjoyed the more recent novels, and started the first book several years ago. The second book, read last year, didn't hold up to the standards of what is culturally acceptable today, but I've decided to give book number three a go. 

This go-around sees Lucas Davenport face off against two bad guys. The villainous duo comes to an agreement akin to the classic Strangers on a Train setup, wherein they each commit a murder to benefit the other. As is often the case in a partnership of this kind, one half of the group is much more cunning than the other, and he's the one pulling the strings in a terrifying direction. The other man becomes more of the muscle than the brain, exacting the mastermind's evil agenda with ghastly precision. From the get-go, their carefully laid plan goes slightly awry leaving the duo scrambling to stay ahead of the police who are hot on their trail. Davenport is working through a serious bout of depression. As such, he won't let anything, not even the law, get in his way of catching these killers. 

This is the darkest of the Prey series so far. John Sandford has imagined a killer who is as cunning as he is evil. It's a combination that makes for quick reading and ever-tightening suspense. The reader is privy to the identity of the killers from the very start of the book, making the thrill of reading more about seeing Davenport chase down the clues and come to the conclusion that we already know. Nevertheless, I couldn't put this one down. Beyond having the best villain thus far, Eyes of Prey sees Sandford begin to dig deeper into the emotions of his main character. By focussing on Davenport's debilitating depression and reckless response to it, Sandford allows his character to be more than just an action hero. He's becoming a person whom the reader can actually care about. That makes this my favorite of the first three Prey books. The end leaves plenty of room for the story to continue, so I can't wait to keep reading this series. 

For more information visit the author's website, Amazon, and Goodreads. 

(2023, 11)