Chosen Prey (A Prey Novel)

The twelfth book in the excellent Prey series is a welcome change, since the last entry was a disappointment. Sandford has returned to his particular plot device of focusing on the villain, so although there is no mystery about whodunnit, the excitement comes from tracking Lucas Davenport and his team of Minneapolis cops as they stumble their way to the truth. A solid secondary character emerges, a deputy from a rural county with a strong stake in finding the serial killer. Davenport's personal life has improved a lot; he's back with Weather Karkinnen and they're now trying to get pregnant and working toward marriage, plans that had stalled several books ago. There's also a neat cameo by Kidd, the protagonist of a short series of crime novels by Sandford. Unlike the previous novel, the victims in this story are very likeable, which adds a lot of emotional depth. There is the usual cop humor, lots of dialogue, lots of driving around in the Porsche or the Tahoe...it's mostly background noise to the story, but pleasant. There is a bit more development of the crew, which I appreciate, since I read this series primarily to enjoy the growth of Davenport. A dozen novels ago, he was an over-the-top, Dirty Harry type, a womanizer who had killed five men in the line of duty and was considered a wild card. He's a lot more thoughtful by now and starting to consider things like enlarging his house for his future family. Marcy Sherrill, his former girlfriend who barely survived a shooting, has a new boyfriend; Del Capslock, the grungy undercover cop, is battling high cholesterol. It's really nice to see all the characters rounded out, sometimes in unexpected ways. The villain is a creepy psychopath, the kind that makes you think you know someone very much like him. Unlike several of the other books in the series, I wouldn't regard this as a stand-alone story. There's too much history in it; you would be best off by reading the series in order to get to this point. Enjoy!

Qatar is one messed up dude. Sandford hit a home run in this book. I've studied serial killers for years, and Qatar covers his tracks nicely; different cities, no fingerprints, carefully groomed man that is a Professor. I'm always fascinated by the modus operandi of a serial killer, and the only thing that confused me was that Qatar, besides the same old baloney that he killed animals as a small child, and heard his mother having sex, just doesn't fit with a good profile. It's straight out of a textbook. I'm not one to say that brain chemistry doesn't have something to with serial kilers and sociopaths in general; my daughter wrote her HS IB thesis on how one becomes a sociopath, pinioning documented evidence from The Stanford Experiment (move is excellent, book is good too), with other detailed information from the FBI and other sources.

It's so easy to fall back on killing animals as a child, but Qatar's penchant for kinky sex turns into a realization that it is actually the murdering of the female sexual partner that turns him on. I would have liked more substance to Qatar's personality, including his penchant for expensive things; but again that could be straight out of the DSM IV regarding Narcissistic Behaviour or other myriad psychological DSM IV profiles. The book does keep the reader riveted. I like the Police guy from River Falls, WI. He's a credible character for someone just introduced.

This is a must read!

I have read this series in order, and am still reading it. Haven't lost my interest yet, as I really like the main characters and their development throughout the series. This book tended to catch us up on the personal lives of those characters, as well as stabilizing Lucas' life with Weather.
On the other side of the coin, is a very disturbed serial killer, which we get to know very well, and when correct police procedure falls short in the judicial system, alternate decisions are made. The whole story is very interesting, but my main complaint ( and why it earns 3 stars from me) is that it's so very very predictable. Too many hints are given throughout, so that you know what will happen next, you just wait till you read it. The last fourth of the book, should have been very suspenseful, but I could have quit reading and still have known the ending.
I won't give up on the series though, as I do enjoy reading them. There's always the next installment, and hopefully a few surprises.

Chosen Prey was another fun Lucas Davenport novel. All the elements were there including the humor, the cast of characters and the fun plot twists and turns. I can’t say enough how much I enjoy these detective/cop stories. Even reading them out of order, I have no issue with things.

Once again, I was able to close the last page with a smile on my face. Highly recommended.

This is my first book in the "Prey" series and John Sandford had me hooked in the first chapter. James Qatar is killer, a man who likes to seduce women then strangle them. Qatar has other perversions, such as photographing women from afar and turning those photos into pornographic drawings and mailing them to the women anonomously.

Qatar's latest potential victim is Ellen Barstad. Qatar seduces her and lays the groundwork for another killing when Barstad surprises him by being a willing sexual partner. Thus their relationship continues.

Lucas Davenport and his band of police officer friends enter the scene later, investigating a cold case where the body was finally found. Finding the body causes the police to look closer at the case. Several clues allow Davenport to proceed in the case. The dead woman found had a pornographic drawing of herself in her apartment. Then several other women come forward who have drawings but have no idea where they came from. Then a police chief from Wisconsin comes forward and reveals they may be dealing with a serial killer because his neice may have met the same fate.

Chosen Prey's strength is the police investigation. They work hard for their info and at times seem to be getting nowhere. Still they slowly make progress and get closer and closer to Qatar. Sandford doesn't make it seem easy like some other authors tend to do.

One complaint I have is, after all of the thorough police investigations, the way in which Qatar's identity is found has nothing to do with police work. Qatar is a quality villian who seems to have covered all his tracks, yet through some convenient finds and plausible twists, justice is done.

This series is one I plan to continue to read because besides telling a great story, Sandford doesn't let the personal lives of the characters interfere with the book. Its easy to pick up and follow the lives of Lucas and his fiance Weather.

I keep thinking that the next Sandford novel will be a clinker. WOW, AM I EVER WRONG! Each book keeps me on th edge of my seat. What I really like about his books is that he explores the 'Bad Guys" life too. Most authors just let the back guy do bad stuff and we never find out any background on why these people do what they do. My husband thinks I'm funny as I keep a list of Sandford books in my purse so I am sure that when I go to the library I am not repeating myself. I love Lucas Davenport! A man shopper, who can talk about loafers for 15 minutes, who would have thought that could be a hero of a mystery writer? The violence sometimes seems overdone, but overall, a great read with characters that I can get to know. I wish that Sandford would tell Del's story in one of his future books.
Overall, if the night is cold, and there is time to get involved with a good read, choose Chosen Prey. You won't be disappointed, but you will become addicted to John Sandford's book and his great cast of characters! I only wish John Sandford could write faster as I have almost read the entire series in less than a month.

I have probably read all of John Sandford's novels. In comparison to the others, I would give "Chosen Prey", the latest in the Lucas Davenport/"Prey" series, a low B. On the other hand, Sandford's B work is probably better than the best novels of a lot of other authors.
We learn from the very beginning of the book that James Qatar is a serial killer. He is a crazed sadist and would be artist. With little talent of his own, Qatar's "art" is sketching pictures projected on paper. His sketches are all pretty much the same, the head of some blonde woman who has angered him in some way so obscure that she's not aware of it merged with a body he has found at some ... site on the Internet. Sometimes Qatar mails the picture to the woman, and sometimes he has formed a relationship with his victim before killing her. He probably would have continued with his avocation if one of the bodies buried in his woodland "graveyard" hadn't been discovered leading to an investigation headed by Davenport.
To the uninitiated, Davenport is a Minneapolis super cop who specializes in high profile cases. His usual team of helpers is along for the ride, and they are as likeable as always. Davenport, as usual, eventually deduces or guesses the killer's identity at some point with the rest of the book being devoted to building a case against him. In this regard "Chosen Prey" is no different then the rest.
However, Sandford has become a bit predictable. I saw Qatar's eventual fate coming about halfway into the novel. The murders of three supporting characters were also no surprise. Of course Qatar was going to kill them for the reasons that he did.
There is a cameo appearance by a character referred to as Kidd. Kidd was the main character in a couple of Sandford's earlier, non-"Prey" novels. It appeared to me that Sandford may be planning to take a break from or discontinue writing the "Prey" novels. The series' police chief will be leaving her position soon, and once she's gone, Deputy Chief Davenport will almost certainly lose his highly political position. There is some talk of the chief moving to the Minnesota State Police and taking Davenport with her, but that seems to be more of a lifeline in case Sandford decides to resurrect the series at some future time. Also, in this novel Lucas is back with his old girlfriend Weather with the two of them planning marriage and parenthood, although not necessarily in that order. Finally, there is the presence of Kidd who serves little purpose to the story. It struck me that Sandford was pushing Kidd at his readers as a preview of who his next novel will be about.
If this is the end of Lucas Davenport, then I, for one, will miss him. However, I'd rather see him sent to literary purgatory then have him hang around in a series of increasingly bad novels.

James Qatar is a well-respected writer and art history professor at the local university near St. Paul. He is also a womanizer, pervert, thief and serial killer. He targets young, innocent nubile blonds, usually new to the area with few connections to the local community, so that when he kills them, there will be no clues pointing to him. He is more interested in the pursuit than in sex with his victims, and as soon as the seduction is complete, he becomes bored with the women and quickly strangles them with a rope and steals their cash and jewelry. He buries the bodies on a remote hillside. He also uses computer software to scan in faces of victims and potential victims and attaches them to photos of bodies in alluring and pornographic postures that he has downloaded from the internet. Most of the recipients of the photos are too ashamed and embarrassed to turn in the photos to the police.
Lucas Davenport, veteran detective from many other Sandford novels, is assigned to the case when a strangled corpse is unearthed from a shallow grave where she had been dumped about 18 months earlier. When they discover that the hillside is a veritable graveyard of other strangled females corpses, the investigation escalates and federal agencies are brought in to assist. Davenport and his partner know that this will only slow down progress, so they are determined to act promptly on every clue and solve the crimes quickly.

Through some brilliant deduction and computer work, they narrowed the field of acquaintances and suspects considerably and even questioned Qatar's mother, who runs a small local museum. Qatar grows increasingly frantic and sloppy in his attempts to cover his tracks.

From early in the novel, it is obvious that they will eventually capture Qatar, but the process of sifting through all the clues, questioning witnesses, and tightening the net around Qatar is fascinating, well-paced and well-written. The romance between Davenport and his long-term fiancé Weather, offers a soothing, sometimes amusing sub-plot to the violence and intrigue of capturing Qatar.

It all began with a drawing that was turned in to the police; a woman who was walking found a nude drawing with her face on it posted in several locations in and around the University of Minnesota. When the police run a newscast, several more women come forward with similar pictures. Then someone discovers that a missing girl had a picture like this as well. Eventually, a mass graveyard is discovered. Eight bodies are pulled out.

Lucas Davenport is called in and he has help from the uncle of one of the murder victims, who is a cop from Wisconsin (the uncle, not the murder victim) - and who was in a large part responsible for breaking open the case and putting the murders together with the pictures. The trouble is, no one has any idea who could be doing the killings, or the pictures - and it is just a matter of time before he kills again.

A suspense novel, rather than a mystery, the reader is kept more or less aware of the villain's activities throughout the story along with the activities of the police; however, that doesn't stop Sanford from keeping the tension ratcheted up as high as it will go. I somehow managed to get my hands on a UK version of this book (used book store - gotta love 'em), but as far as I can tell, there are no real differences outside of cosmetic. This is also the book where Lucas and Winter finally get back together. A recommend from me!

Before I start, I want to say that Chosen Prey is *much* better than Easy Prey. After reading Easy Prey, I was ready to give up on the series, but I wanted to give Chosen Prey a chance. I'm glad I did.
This was a pretty good read. It just seems to be lacking something that was in the other "Prey" books. There wasn't the cat and mouse game between Davenport and the killer. (A good example of what I'm talking about is Mind Prey and Eyes of Prey) It seems in the last two books, that Sandford is changing his writing style. Mind you, it's not a bad change, but a change none the less. That being said, it was good seeing Davenport in action.
James Qatar (saying his name isn't spoiling anything-you know who the killer is) is an interesting villan. He took pictures of women and put their heads on [adult rated] pictures. This obession went a step further, he then killed the women. Davewnport is soon on the case, and is after Qatar.
The reader will be interested on how Stanford has a knowlegeable understanding of police proceedures, how they act, and all the steps a police man would take in catching a bad guy. He has done some indepth research.
Over all it was a pretty good read. You may want to wait until Chosen Prey comes out in paperback, or get it at a used bookstore. Dont' get me wrong, it's an interesting read, but not as interesting as some of the past Prey books.

This book is a great improvement over the last "Prey" effort. Lucas and company are on the trail of a serial killer with a penchant for young, naive blonds, preferably Catholic. The killer likes to photograph potential victims, or women who have annoyed him. He does this without their knowledge, then creates pornographic artworks from the photos on his computer and sends them to his prey.
He then becomes acquainted with his victims, taking advantage of their naivete to insert himself into their lives and begin intimate relationships with them. Then he murders them and buries their bodies in his hillside dumping ground. When rain washes one of the bodies to the surface, the police discover many more graves, and the chase begins.
Sandford has created a whimsical monster in James Qater. In a funny twist the woman he has chosen to be his next victim, is so sexually curious and inventive that she leaves him too exhausted to kill her.
In a side plot, Lucas is back with his old love, Dr Weather Karkinnen, whose biological clock is clamoring wildly. So Lucas, too, is sexually exhausted. (Please, Sandford, no babies! That would be "Jumping the Shark"!)
Anyway, this was quite a funny book. The cops are worried that a falling murder rate will lead to layoffs, and Rosemary Roux, Lucas's boss, is worried because the mayor is retiring and her job will go to a new appointee.
And Sandford's other character, Kidd, makes a cameo, and catches the romantic eye of Lucas's partner, Marcy.
I am glad to see this series return to its previous level.

This is John Sandford's twelfth "Prey" novel,and,although good, falls short of his past ones.All the familiar characters,Lucas Davenport,Marcy,Del,Rose Marie and a few others are there,plus the usual introduction of new individuals essential to the plot.Immediately we are introduced to James Qatar, a university professor,who is the serial killer that the story revolves around. His penchant for wooing and killing blonds leads Davenport and crew on a merry chase. Qatar focuses on Ellen Barstard throughout the book,but never seems quite credible as the serial killer who killed and buried all the women whose bodies were unearthed on a hillside. He appears too shallow to be the person we are led to believe he is.His character is without depth. After being introduced to Terry Marshall, a Wisconsin detective whose niece was killed, the chase broadens and we are led hither and yon on the search for this elusive killer who cleverly manages to escape detection because of his blandness until close to the end,in spite of several other unsimilar killings. The ending is predictable almost half-way thru this book.There is also the possibility of Lucus and Rose Marie being replaced in the near future, so who knows where the next"Prey" book will take us.We also could have done without Weather's trying to get pregnant. Lucus as a father does not lend itself to his expected role as the cool detective with a Porsche and witty repartee.Let's hope he remains the same.

Here we go again. This one has my favorite ending yet. The often present suspicion hanging around Lucas at the end of a case, is masterfully handled. While Lucas is assuaging his conscience, his peers hold the hush, information leaks strategically to the press, and politicians praise the department for the way the case was handled although everybody knows something wasn't quite right. Mission accomplished. Justice served.
Once again... beautiful.
Think about it. Sandford doesn't start out with anything new. A serial murder and an investigation. Lots of people write that. Sanford just writes it right. He is a master of leading and feeding the mind of the reader. He leaves no stone unturned, no twist unraveled, and no question unanswered. Timing is flawless. The balance between plots and between characters, perfect.
This time we get the subtle, strong character of out of town Deputy Terry Marshall tagging along, stepping up when the heat is on, and stepping in to flip steaks on the barbee. Marshall is obscurely and perfectly developed for his supporting role here. Lucas and Del never give an opinion of Marshall. They more than tolerate him accompanying them on the case, but Sandford leaves it to the reader to form the opinion. Then we get Weather's opinion at the exact perfect time.
There aren't any words strong enough to describe the quality of John Sandford's writing. If you find a 'weakness', it is there deliberately. If you find a hole... Forget it! You're not gonna find a hole! Sandford could write Lucas Davenport all the way into the nursing home and it will be a blast!

After reading “Easy Prey” last year, I suspected that John Sandford’s interest in his series about Lucas Davenport, the Minneapolis Deputy Chief of Police, was flagging. While by no means a bad novel, “Easy Prey” lacked the excitement and vigor that I was so used to Sandford delivering.
I am pleased to announce that any perceivable waning of Sandford’s interest or writing abilities was purely a temporary aberration. “Chosen Prey” is both a fine police procedural and a great serial killer read. Sandford reveals the killer right at the beginning of the novel, which is not my favorite plot device. But he pulls it off in notable fashion, somehow creating enough space between the killer’s tale and Davenport’s efforts to solve the crime so that both stories unfold without detracting from each other.
Lucas Davenport first becomes involved in the case when a strangling victim is accidentally discovered, and Qatar’s drawings of the victim are connected to several cases where similar drawings have been used as harassment. Smelling trouble, he pursues the lead and discovers that the drawings have turned up elsewhere. He connects with a detective from nearby Dunn County and they discover that the gravesite of the first victim was only one of a field of graves. Davenport marshals his coworkers in a manhunt that always seems to be one step behind the deft moves of the killer. Lucas begins to suspect he has met his match.
The two threads gracefully intertwine. As Qatar vacillates between fulfilling his desires and evading detection, Davenport’s investigation picks up or bogs down in frustrating red herrings. The little art historian is not particularly sympathetic, but he is a fascinating study. The silent cat-and-mouse game between Lucas and Qatar provides endless suspense. The reader is confronted with a case in which both opponents make perfect moves. Will this be a deadly stalemate? Is it possible that James Qatar will walk away? John Sandford plays his hands perfectly, giving no hint of the resolution until it unfolds before the reader. Prepare for a novel full of surprising turns. “Chosen Prey” is one of the best of this genre I’ve read in a long time.

The Prey series, focusing on Lucas Davenport, has been a generally good series, with only a couple weak books in the bunch. Usually, the better books (the early ones and the more recent ones) are the ones in which Davenport has a bit of an edge and isn't quite the nice guy himself; in this one, Davenport isn't as dark as he sometimes is, and that subtracts from the overall story.
That is not to say this isn't a good book, it just isn't one of the best in the series. As usual, there is a good deal of suspense and a sufficiently nasty villain to keep things interesting. There are flaws, however, most notably an ending that can be seen a mile away.
I think that Sanford needs to refocus this series a little more on Davenport, who can be a compelling character when he is really focused on. Also, although it's not likely to happen, I wish that the titles in the series were a little more distinctive: without reviewing plot summaries, it's hard to remember which Prey book is which...I think only Eyes of Prey and Rules of Prey stand out because they relate somewhat to the story.
These criticisms should not take away from the fact that this is a generally good book. It is a must for Sanford fans and will not be wasted time for mystery fans in general (although since this is part of a series, when read as a standalone book, there will be certain references that the new reader will not fully understand).

It is good to see Mr.Sandford and his signature series return in top form. I was displeased with the last Prey novel (Easy Prey), finding it slipshod work that ended more poorly than it begun. Choosen Prey is one of the better Prey novels, it is taut, fast paced, and unsettling. The criminal in this work is a devious art history professor who has a proclivity for blondes and strangulation, in that order. Lucus Davenport, the edgey, slightly neroutic protagonist of the Prey series is once more caught in a personal and professional maelstrom. His once betrohted, Weather, has returned to him, and wants to start a family, which catches Lucus off guard. His job is in peril once more as his chief, who appointed Lucus as head of his task force, is one the way out due to the political merry go-round. Thus his career seems at stake, though before the novels end Mr.Sandford opens a new door for his lead man which seems rife with possibilities. All the familiar supporting members are back, including the recovering Marcy, who may be the next chief of police. As an added kick, she begins seeing Kidd, Sandfords other male protagonist most recently found in the excellent Devils Code. This is an eerie book, but fun and well paced. if you are new to the series it will not lose you, nor mess up the other novels should you decide to back track. If you have been away from the Prey, this is a very good time to return.

He desires women, all women, many different types of women. He studies their beauty. He takes pictures of them to create art masterpieces. He takes the pictures one step further...digitaly enhancing them, and turning them into repulsive works of pornography. His desire for women, and his "art" is taken a little further by murder...
After his first killing he realized he liked it, and wanted more.
When the body of Julie Aronson is found, Lucas Davenport is called to the crime scene. The body has been dead eighteen months, and Davenport does not have a clue, except the photo of the girl when she was alive.
When several other women come forward to explain how they were also photographed by a man, for art purposes, only to find their photos have also been altered into filth, Davenport knows he is on the trail of a psycho.
As each killing becomes more daring, Davenport and his usual gang of coherts go head-to-head with a monster with one thing on his mind...blood.
While 'Chosen Prey' discloses the killer's identity early on, the reader is still plunged head first into a suspenseful ride, with twists and turns to keep the pages turning. As always in a 'Prey' novel, the characterization is rich, and the plot razor sharp.
John Sandford has been writing the 'Prey' series for many years, and some of the entries are good, and some are not so good, 'Chosen Prey' is one of the best; the plot races along combining page-turning action, and the emotional drama surrounding it's main characters guaranteed to keep readers up all night.
Fans of this series will not be disappointed.

James Qater is not your average monster. Well educated, from a loving family and happy in his professional life-what could go wrong?? Apparently, a great deal. James was born bad and develops from an evil little boy into a kinky, self-congratulatory serial killer.
This is Sandford's funniest novel in the darkest sense. Love interest Weather is using our hero Lucas Davenport for her own personal sperm bank. She is brisk, unsentimental and awash with one-liners. Lucas is somewhat baffled, pride a little battered, but still willing.
Discussing the falling crime rate in Minneapolis-St. Paul, Lucas and a fellow detective worry about their job security as homicide rates decline. After some thought, the St. Paul detective notes that "rape is holding up nicely, wouldn't you say?"
This is Sandford's charm, if you enjoy very hard-boiled, deadpan humor. Only Sandford would make a victim-to-be so sexually curious and active that our exhausted serial killer is almost worn out by her never-ending demands and seriously thinks of abandoning her for a more passive type.
This isn't the best of the "Prey" series. There are a few dead spots and some dangling loose ends. But as always, it's quite a ride and well worth the time.

Chosen Prey was the first audio book I listened to by John Sandford. While the overall story was okay, I found the writing to be lazy for lack of a better word. it seemed rush and not well thought out. in addition the sex scenes seemed to be forced and/or simply plopped in to give the book some excitement. The villain in this one was a joke and hardly kept my interest. He was simply not ruthless enough or diabolical or even sexy. James patterson always manages to fit the above elements in his villains take Michael and William for example from Viilets are Blue. That was a shocking book in deed. The bad guy in Chosen Prey at times didn't know if he was coming or going. There was something missing to his development. Lucas Davenport is also pretty unlikable as a hero. He comes across at times like a prig and seems at least in this book one dimensional. Its like outside women and police work there is nothing else to the man. Speaking of which why the need to have him bed every female character he comes in contact with? Is it to validate his manhood or something? This is crime fiction not erotica. As for him settling down with Weather, big deal. Waht a nagging witch not to mention a complete bimbo. In fact I found all the female characters to be anoying; John Sandford takes the femenist thing a bit too far. The reader did an okay job but his range of character voices was limited. he made one female sound very much like an overweight alcoholic man in fact. Not great at all. Certainly nothing compared to the suspense filled reading of a patterson book. maybe I just started out too late in this series but I am reluctant to buy the next one in line when there are so many other titles I want to add to my audio collection. This version contains four audio cassettes. Its narrated by a single reader.

By now, John Sandford (the pen name of John Camp) has these things down pat. His main character, Lucas Davenport, is a three-dimensional policeman, hunting serial killers and dangerous murderers, seducing women, and cracking wise now and again. The secondary characters---other cops, the killer, his girlfriend, victims---are marvelously rendered, and you're actually sad when one meets his/her end.
This time around, the bad guy is an art professor named James Qatar, who kills beautiful women, and has been doing it successfully for years. He's an interesting and very well-drawn character, what with his obsession with clothing, and his meticulousness about the killings that he does. Davenport is looking at a particular murder, and it's discovered that a woman, missing for several years, resembles the killing in a few details. Then clues begin to build up, and the suspense builds as the plot thickens, so to speak.
I would recommend this book, though of course it's not the best (I still think Rules of Prey was in a class by itself; it should be read first) and if you haven't read other books in the series you're going to be a bit at sea about the relationships between the various characters. Still, a good book.

Lucas Davenport returns to take down a serial killer-voyeur on the prowl.

James Qatar is a man with a deadly secret: he is a killer and he loves it. His Chosen Prey are young blonde artsy girls, attracted by his pleasant mien, deceived by his intentions, victims of their own unbridled desires.

The police have just gotten a break. The killer is an artist who has been sending victims drawings of them in the nude. With one error after the other, Lucas and his band of brothers are catching up to James; however they be able to get him before he claims his final trophy?

John Sandford's Prey series has lived a long and eventful life; its age is now showing. Yet if you think this series is out of spunk, Chosen Prey will sure change your mind.

This is a deftly written, morbidly entertaining novel. One wonders how Sandford makes so gruesome a subject so tender to the readers palate. Unlike the previous books, we are shown how the police investigated the killings. Since, there is no suspense given that the killer has been revealed from the beginning, we instead wait anxiously for Lucas's epiphany, made difficult by his personal problems. This interplay--his personal life and work life--is fun to read.

Drop that boring stuff you've been reading, and try this out. It's a nice treat for those who subsist on the thrills of the chase.

The twelfth book in John Sandford's Prey series, and Lucas Davenport is at it again. When some erotic drawings start turning up in unusual places, and when similar drawings are dug out of a long- dormant homicide investigation, Lucas mobilizes his team of misfits and starts looking for the pattern. Twelve books haven't changed his methods much; he's still brash, still headstrong, still prone to leaping before looking. What has changed is his love life, in that it seems to be limited to one woman... maybe on a permantent basis?
But even romance takes a back seat when Davenport is on a case. He finds some unlikely allies from out of state, and finds more than he ever wanted buried in a remote hillside. Who is choking these women to death? Why the obsession with short blonde women? And what's the art connection? Can Davenport find out before another life is lost?
For those who have read the Lucas Davenport / Prey books before, this book has a couple of differences from the previous books. Far less flirting for one. Not nearly as much attention paid to the female form... at least, not by Davenport. Also, there's less action throughout the novel as there have been in previous books in the series. This installment is much more cerebral and thoughtful, which may not be a welcome change of pace to Prey fans.
For those who have't read the series, it isn't really necessary to read the previous books. You'll be missing backstory, but it's not hard to figure it out. These aren't great works of literature, but they're fairly solid supermarket-bookrack mysteries.

Weather is just realizing how bored Lucas gets when he does not have a big case to break. Then a dead woman is found and then a grave yard on side hill in the country is discovered and Lucas is himself again. With the help of Marcy, Del, Weather, and others on his team, Deal goes after a sick serial killer who likes to play with pictures of as well as kill the women.

I was not disappointed in this one even though I have read many "Prey" novels. I never tire of then because they are like a great detective series on TV without the commercials.

Colleagues respect St. Patrick University associate professor art historian James Qatar for his collective works. This includes one book and several scholarly articles published in highly regarded journals and magazines. Unbeknownst to his peers is that Professor Qater has a second life in which he hunts blondes, has sex with them, and kills them.

When an early victim is found, the police link her to photographs that are part of Qater's hobby of creating pornographic works with women he knows but who don't really know him. Being a political appointee, Minneapolis Deputy Chief of Police Lucas Davenport expects to lose his job within six months when the mayor retires. Lucas intends to use his time wisely to catch the killer.

John Sandford is one of the top authors of police procedurals due to his three dimensional characters that consistently turn the "Prey" books into great reads. The hero is a flawed individual with a complex and realistic personal life that places demands on him even as he risks everything because he believes in the value of justice for all. CHOSEN PREY is the best of a great series. The audience knows the identity of the killer early on, but watch in fascination as Lucas tries to do likewise while balancing his complex personal life.

Harriet Klausner

The 12th installment in the prey series starts off promisingly, slows down in the middle and again picks off in the end.This book is definitely better than the authors last release Easy Prey but it still falls short of expectations.The novel introduces the killer James Qatar, right in the first page and then develops the character of the killer quite convincingly and that's what makes this book interesting and better than Easy Prey because in this novel the author takes pain to develop each and every character,but the main drawback atleast according to me is the lack of interaction between the killer and the Lucas Davenport,if the author had atleast introduced some cat and mouse game between these two characters then the book would have been more fun.So basically this book runs on two parallel plots, one plot runs on Qatars actions and his character devlopment which according to me has been handled quite convincingly and the other plot runs on Lucas trying to find the killer which is not handled properly at all and even the clues by which Lucas traces the killer are far fetched and has got nothing to do with his intelligence and has got more to do by the mistakes made by the killer.Overall this book is better than EasyPrey because the loose ends are very few,the Qatars character is very well developed and the pace of the novel is very fast.If you are a fan of Lucas Davenport then you won't be disappointed.

By now visiting with Lucas and company is like catching up with old friends. Having read the entire series (if you are just starting, try to read them in order as they refer back alot) and enjoyed it, I found this one fun, if a bit predictable.
The plot was fast moving, the old friends fun to see, the new people interesting. I didn't like the fact that you know who the murderer is from the first page though. I rather liked the guessing involved in previous books like "Winter Prey" when I'm thinking "oh must be him" and then "no maybe it's him". It's not terrible, just not as much fun in my opinion to know "whodunit" from the get-go.
Being a mom of three though, I think the "baby" idea is a bad one. Nothing will make your life more mundane than kids LOL! I can't picture Lucas changing dirty dipes either.
I look forward to the next book in this ever interesting series.

After starting to read this book, I just couldn't put it down. There was always something interesting happening, and you get caught up in this Triller with no way to escape.
James Qatar has a thing for the neck of pretty blondes, and can't keep away from them. After a dead body has been found he no longer feels safe and becomes more and more careless. Even though he knows he cannot keep feeding his desire, it just gets too stong. Capable of anything, he finds himself another pretty blonde...
Lucas Davenport is the brilliant Deputy Chief who, despite the difficulties he sees the future will bring, takes on the mission to stop the killings and find out who is the one behind it all.
Sandford is a brilliant writer and once you start reading it, there's no way out. His way of writing makes you feel that you're in the middle of it all, experiencing and seeing everything through the eyes of the writer.
I highly recommend this book to anyone who loves ficion!!

After starting to read this book, I just couldn't put it down. There was always something interesting happening, and you get caught up in this Triller with no way to escape.
James Qatar has a thing for the neck of pretty blondes, and can't keep away from them. After a dead body has been found he no longer feels safe and becomes more and more careless. Even though he knows he cannot keep feeding his desire, it just gets too stong. Capable of anything, he finds himself another pretty blonde...
Lucas Davenport is the brilliant Deputy Chief who, despite the difficulties he sees the future will bring, takes on the mission to stop the killings and find out who is the one behind it all.
Sandford is a brilliant writer and once you start reading it, there's no way out. His way of writing makes you feel that you're in the middle of it all, experiencing and seeing everything through the eyes of the writer.
I highly recommend this book to anyone who loves ficion!!

Through 15 or so "Prey" novels, John Sandford has buffed, embellished, smoothed and reworked Lucas Davenport, his hard-working, clever Minnesota detective.

In "Chosen Prey," an art historian get his kicks murdering woman of a particular type. I'm giving nothing away here for Sandford identifies the killer early on.

The suspense is in watching Davenport hunt down this very clever murderer.

Davenport is not a super-cop. He works hard, thinks hard, is sometimes luck, sometimes not. He is doggedly persistent. Oh, he's quite the womanizer as well in the earlier "Prey" novels.

All in all, Davenport is a constantly evolving character and, in my opinion, one of the great fictional characters. My hat is off to John Sandford and Lucas Davenport.

Jerry

All of us Sandford fans deeply look forward each year for early May to come around because that mostly means the release of a new Prey novel! In "Chosen Prey," Minneapolis Detective, Lucas Davenport, along with Marcy Sherrill, Sloan, Del, and Weather (Lucas fiance), return in one of John Sandford's most interesting and exciting Prey novels that he has written. The plot: James Qatar is a prestegious history professor at St. Patrick University in Minneapolis. He has a very secretive life on the side. He enjoys playing kinky sex games with women he barely knows and ends up killing them for pleasure. He also enjoys taking pictures of women and distorting their figures to look like they are participating in grotesque sexual activities. His method of murder: a rope. James Qatar is a very sick individual that has killed over eight women in three states. None of the cops have been able to link him to the murder. When a murdered women turns up in the barren woods, close to home to Lucas Davenport, he vows to find this killer who killed this beautiful woman. After investigating for a while, and with the assistance of and out of state officer, he discovers that three other women have mysteriously disappeared in Wisconsin. All these murders/ disappearances are connected. Can Davenport and the gang get James Qatar before he claims his next victim? The twelfth novel in this amazing series is a definite success!

One thing I like about Lucas Davenport novels is that sometimes you know who / dunnit right from the start. Watching the case unfold is the fun. Lucas Davenport puts together a shaky case at best, and at the trial, that's when the twists and turns take place. Can he bring this killer justice? Good book!

Chosen Prey is an intense and explicit novel about a sexual predator/murderer. Lucas Davenport is the investigator called in when a body is discovered buried in a wooded area. Davenport is determined to find the killer, and then what was one murder turns into many more. The pattern is clear, but the connections are hard to define. It seems just as they think they are getting close, someone else dies, and the trail goes dim. Davenport and his "team" work at a feverish pace, knowing that more lives are in the balance. The killer is an art history professor with his own way of appreciating performance art. In the midst of the investigation, Lucas Davenport's private life takes a positive turn and his ability to balance all these things becomes critical. John Sandford has created another frightening Prey book, with his tough investigator and a monstrous unassuming killer.

Reading this book is a very pleasant routine. You meet the old, familiar characters - you even have a certain feeling that you have already read about Lucas Davenport having a similar problem. But, nevertheless, again Sandford has managed to produce a real page-turner. In spite of the dramatic irony used here the novel is full of suspense. And the ending again shows the same pattern: Lucas has to struggle very hard to find the last and convincing piece of evidence. But why is it that you always like those novels by Sandford? Because he is a great writer who can play with a suspenseful plot, and even the déja vu feeling you always have here does not make this a bad book - on the contrary. This is the positive routine of writing - completely enjoyable!
But: statistically the Twin Cities must be the place with the most serial murderers in the world.

This is another successful thriller from the mind and pen of one of the most consistently good writers currently plying his craft.
We, the readers, are introduced to the killer in the first chapter and are able to follow along as he meets his match with a potential victim who piques his curiosity and challenges his resolve to murder. The reader also is able to see how Lucas Davenport solves a case and interacts with law enforcement, family and friends in the midst of a chaotic personal life.
As a graveyard of possible victims is uncovered, the tension and pressure to find the perp mounts and Lucas does what he does best, uncovers clues and interprets evidence to lead him to the inevitable confrontation. However, as usual Sandford is able to add the ingredients of human complexity and fraility to the climax which makes his novels stand above the rest and sends the reader to bed satisfied.
Highly Recommended!

As a mystery writer with my first novel in its initial release, I admire the work of John Sandford. He has been writing thrilling police procedures for an unbelievable length of time. CHOSEN PREY is one of his best. It features wealthy police investigator Lucas Davenport searching for a serial murderer while his significant other decides it is time to start a family. Davenport is also worried about losing his job due to municipal politics, but his hunt for a killer of beautiful blondes is his primary concern. Is the serial killer a priest? Is the serial killer an artist? Is the serial killer a respected professor? The reader knows early and is forced to observe Davenport struggle through the danger of his investigation. Excellent tale in an excellent series.

I'm a fan of Sandford's PREY books. However Chosen Prey was definately one of the weaker novels in the series. On the plus side it's a fast read, the character of Lucas Davenport is enjoyable to spend time with, and the workings of police-vs.-criminal element are quite unique.

Where Chosen Prey falters though is two key elements. First the antagonist James Qatar is one of the weakest killers to step foot in a Prey novel. It's clear from the early chapters that he's not really going to be a force to be reckoned with. Second, and most importantly, the ending of this book is not only telegraphed (I saw it coming well over 100 pages from the climax) but it is darn close to a repeat of the closing of NIGHT PREY (also one of Sandford's weaker Prey books). The setting may change but the characters involved and their motivations rang so solid that I made the comparison in endings before the climax was reached.

If you're a fan of the series read Chosen Prey. If you're new to the series I'd recommend reading them in order (Rules of Prey, Shadow Prey...) or just checking out the best offerings (Mind Prey, Winter Prey).

Have now read the twelve books in the series. Chosen Prey is about James Qatar and his killing several women. He is a teacher and is rather hard to pinpoint. Lucus is back along with his crew, Del, Rose Marie, Sloan, and Marcy. They are looking for the killer but he continues to not be found. In this one I even figured out the ending before we got there. That is unusual for me to be able to do that. Think Sandford may be trying to wind up this series. The book list possibilities of Lucus moving on. I got a little tired of Lucus, Weather and the sex between them. I think the earlier Prey books were better. I still think my favorite is Winter Prey. If you have not read a Lucus Davenport book before please don't judge them all by this one.

Be prepared to rarely get up from your seat once you start Chosen Prey. Sandford's characters are very credible, three dimensional and well-developed, and Lucas Davenport continues to be one of the more interesting "good guys" in crime fiction. The plot is very suspenseful and riveting. In typical Sandord style, there is no surprise as to who the killer is, yet the need for non-stop reading of his books is to see how the killer is caught. If you've read some of the other books in the "Prey" series, you'll know that how the criminal is brought to justice is not always in the way you'd suspect. Chosen Prey is a book I think you'll enjoy very much. As I said, though, be prepared to delay other things you need to do because you won't want to put this book down. It's well worth you're time and money.

This was the first John Sandford book I have read, and I have to totally disagree will all that say this is a stand alone book. It does quick well alone, and now that I know there are others in the series I will go back and read them as well.
Lucas Davenport chases a serial killer through this novel who has more fashion sense then conscience. His only leads in the beginning are some poorly (at least in the eyes of the art community) sketched drawings of the now deceased women, and a huntch or two.
The character of Lucas Davenport feels very human, and his creator leaves you no choice other than to admire him for his skill as a detective, his sense of right and wrong, his ability to do what he thinks is right no matter what the cost, and his pateince with life as it throws one curve after another his way.

This was a hard book for me to rate. I have read the previous books in Sandford's Prey series, eleven in all. As a reader who is familiar with all long running characters and plot threads, reading this book was like running into an old friend you have not seen in years, and talking like you live next door to each other. It was a pleasure to read simply for the continued evolution of the characters I have grown to know and love.
On the other hand, as a passable, stand alone novel, Sandford falls so far short of his past triumphs that I wonder if this does not signal the end for Lucas Davenport and company. Gone is all the tension, suspense, and thrill-of-the-chase that was so prevalent in many of the early Prey books. It has been replaced with a tired reworking of past Prey villains and a soap opera pace. In fact, the hunt for the bad guy plays a secondary role to Lucas' relationship with his ex-fiancée. It is writing like this that leads me to believe that Sandford is trying to stage a stopping point in this series.
If you have not read the previous Prey books, perhaps your money or time would be better spent reading a different book. If you are a Prey veteran, then carry on.

Chosen Prey is one of Sandford's better efforts in this series. The storyline is suspenseful and fast-paced as usual though the villain is a little more down to earth than the usual drug-using freaks Sandford typically supplies us with. In fact, it is this aspect of the story that sets it apart from his previous works in that this was a character that on some levels and in some aspects, most people can relate to as regards his everyday life. Chances are, if you're looking at this book, you've already read at least some of the Prey series and are hooked like the rest of us. This one doesn't disappoint.

I realize that the main character, Lucas Davenport, of the "Prey" series has Unipolar Depression, but come on Mr. Sandford. It's time he marries Weather so that you can get back to writing about great killers and knock off the soap opera with Lucas' love life and head problems!
I think after 12 former Davenport novels, we pretty much have a handle of who Lucas is and how his head works. I don't need to spend my day reading about his problems when I have my own.
Take us readers back on a trip like you did in "Eyes of Prey". Now that's writing!

To: the store.com
Mystery writers apparently can't go wrong if they build their stories around serial killers. They can escalate murder by murder, making each one more disturbing. Sandford escalates well, but stretches the limits when he has the murderer kill his own mother. There is no real mystery here; we know the identity of the murderer in the first chapter. The only question is whether the police will find him before he kills again. The conversations among police officers are moderately amusing, but the good guy's significant other is more a token presence than a relevant character.

This is one of those books where you're interest is grabbed immediately. Its also one which lets you down a little after the initial surge.
James Qatar is a pathetic killer who finds his pleasure with his lawn mower cord, using it over and over to kill those he finds sexually attractive. This is established in the first few pages.
After being introduced to this dismal character, the scene shifts to the Lucas Davenport and the many characters he interacts with.
The book goes on, switching between the killer and the police. The ratio of coverage is about 80% police and 20% killer.
If these percentages hovered closer to 50/50, the book would have been more interesting - though more morbid!

Lucas Davenport is back, and better then ever. Weather is also back, and I,m glad, because Weather was one of my favorite people in the Prey series. Although she didn't show up until Winter Prey, I was disapointed when she and Lucas broke up, and she was thinking how she could live without him in Secret Prey. But they are now back together, and Marcy is getting better. John Sandford also makes a little surprise in this. He brings Kidd, (from Sandford's Kidd novels) into this. This book is great, and you have to read it. James Qater is one cold killer, but as usual is no match for Davenport.

This is a "Whodunit" whose identity we know from the start. What is so wonderful about this book is that Snadford has not let that interupt the taut suspense and mystery of the story. Davenports pursuit of Qatar and the dynamic of his personal life lend a certain credibility to the story. Qatar is a demon, and a villian reminiscent of the likes of Dr. Lector in his level of intelligence and Ted Bundy in his blood thirsty need to savage women. This installment of the popular Prey series is sure to be a great seller and a big hit. I really enjoyed this book.

+JMJ+
I thought this book was so slow starting. I almost gave it up in the first 20-30 pages, because I kept thinking "This is awful!" I don't think that conversation is necessarily Sanford's strong suit. After the beginning 3 chapters though, the suspense and intrigue started to get going. I really enjoyed the rest of the book. I would definitely recommend this book, with the caveat that you not get discouraged in the first couple of chapters.

Definitely better than EASY PREY but then not one of the PREY series with Lucas Davenport are bad. John Sandford gives us one of the best police procedurals you can read, simply a great series and it should be read in order. In this one the entire crew is here, Marcy , Sloan, Del and a new improved Weather his trying hard to get pregnant fiancee. Weather is finally starting to grow on me..not Susan Silverman..not yet. Chasing a very crafty serial killer, James Qatar,in this book and its a good story that keeps you guessing. Pick up this series and start, you will be glad you did.

Now this is the Lucas Davenport I've come to enjoy. The last outing just didn't cut it for me and I've read them all. This was a really good police procedural, eventhough I kind of figured some things out before they happened. Still the pace was good and the story was interesting. Lucas and company couldn't have been better. Now I'm anxious to see what comes next, and if in fact Lucas and Weather have a baby on the way. Bring on the next Davenport thriller Mr Sandford. I highly recommend this one.

One thing that holds true about many of the PREY novels is this: if people like the villain truly exist...be afraid. This time Lucas is matched up with a sex-addicted serial killer/artist who literally gets off on the kill. James Qatar is brutal and calculating, and seemingly uncatchable for the longest time.

This is a fast read, both due to the fast pace and the relatively short length. The glaring problem to me is the same problem that has appeared in every PREY novel. Profanity is necessary. I understand that, but the constant use of "GD" is over the top. It's excessive and really takes away from the reading experience after a while.

Otherwise, a great read.

I enjoyed this fast paced story and I am a big fan of Lucas Davenport. I missed this book in the Prey novels, so I'm doing a little catch up. I found I got to visit with the usual characters and a few new characters. I thought that the characters were described extremely well and the plot kept me guessing throughout the book. This book is a real thriller and I always look forward to Mr. Sandford's new books. Highly recommend.

What a book,Its a lot of reading(of course I dont get much time to read).But the book was very suspencefull and lots of mystery.Why didnt I rate it a 5 star Book? I didnt like it when james Quarter went and killed his own mother,I thought that was very morbid and a terrible thing to have done.This Book however saves the who done it to very,very end. So don,t read the last page before reading this Book.Its not a bad book,But certianly not the best book Ive Read....

The writing in Chosen is a lot better than the last couple of Prey books. However, the story is terribly predictable. Some of the dialogue is so bad it's groan inducing. This book does stay on task and briskly take readers through the case, and keeps with the killer's POV, saving it from the terrible departure Easy Prey made.

I enjoyed this fast paced story re: the murders of blonde women by James Qatar. I'm a huge fan of Lucas Davenport, but could do without the baby making part of the story. I liked how we knew who dunnit right from the start and saw how Lucas figured it out. Was happy with the ending even though it was predictable. I always look forward to Sandford's new books and will continue to do so.

I found this book in the discount bin at the library.. and now I'm hooked on John Sandford novels. Chosen Prey was an fast read, and Lucas Davenport's character as a detective is fantastic. The plot chases a small time art professor whose lessons go a bit to far, and its up to Davenport and his crew from Minnesota to find the source of the murders. Beware of this book... Sandford's novels are addicting!

Sandford hits the spot each and every time. This monster did not rate in my opinion as one of the worst but he had his moments. What will come of Weather's hope for Motherhood?, Guess we will have to wait for book thirteen of the series to see. All kidding aside, a very good novel and it seems that is all that Mr. Sandford creates. Will wait for the next one.

Sandford teases his fans with the appearance of his major character from his second series while Davenport and his significant-other attempt to quiet the biological clock. The killer is mildly entertaining but the personal damage done by such an individual is the focus of this entry. Secondary characters are more interesting than this episode's monster.

I had heard such great things about the 'prey' series and thought I'd give it a try, well I'm sorry I did. I got about 100 pages in and still nothing had happened, no action, no nothing. It started out good the first 3 pages or so kinda grabbed me, but after that I felt like I was reading just for the purpose of reading. A boring book and I won't be looking into any of the other 'prey' novels.

Sandford is our generation's master of the crime novel. Read one of the Prey novels, you'll want to read them all. Lucas Davenport is a beautifully flawed good guy with a streak of badness about him. Sandford weaves his stories flawlessly and hauls you along like a fish on a line until the very last page.

-- Mark LaFlamme, author of "The Pink Room."

If I were ever to become a serial killer, I'd want to do it in a town where Lucas Davenport was the head investigator. This guy has got to be the world's biggest bumbler. And the villain wasn't too sharp either, he made constant mistakes and did everything but put a neon sign around his neck saying that he was the one. If a Harry Bosch, Elvis Cole or Alex Cross were investigating, the killer would be locked down by page 100. Instead, Lucas bumbles around, not having a clue what to do with the investigation, driving his Porsche and SUV, talking about sex and what they're going to have for dinner, and endangering anyone connected to the case. When he finally figures out who the killer is, it comes to him in the shower - what an original idea! But even after he knows who the killer is, he still manages to make enough stupid decisions that the case against him would be weak, and of course more bodies pile up.
As bad as this was, it was a quick and compelling read. You could skim through a lot of it because anytime something happened the next scene would be them retelling what had just happened. And I kept reading to see if there would be any surprises - there were'nt.

I always enjoy reading the Prey novels. I haven't been disappointed yet. And this one was just as good as the others. Moved along quickly, kept me guessing and Lucas Davenport is a great character.

the only thing i didn't like about this book is lucas and weather being together ...
chosen prey has the pace,action and interaction of characters of the earlier "prey" novels. it is the interaction of the main - recurring - characters that help shape and define sandford's prey series. it is also this interaction that keeps me anxiously awaiting the next book.
knowing the identity of the killer does not detract from the book -- in fact knowing the killer and reading, watching and experiencing lucas and "the gang" solving the killings is half the fun. the other half is sandford's mastery of fully developed villians ... and he has another great one in chosen prey.
chosen prey is installment #12 ... i know that the original deal was for 13 books in this series... i hope that mr sandford does not stop writing his prey series. i also hope that lucas and weather do not remain together ...

Chosen Prey picks up in progression to the other Prey novels. Bringing back all the usual characters and a few we have not heard from in a while. The characters are depicted well and the plot keeps you guessing throughout the book. A real thriller in the strictest sense. For those following Lucas Davenport,( the central character) this is one of the top 2-3 books in a series full of real good stories.

John Sanford has done it again! I absolutely love all of his "Prey" series. This was a page turner, especially trying to figure out how close they were going to come to the killer. I love the characters (Lucas is so cool) and this book kept my interest the entire time I read it. I wish he could write them faster!!! I cannot wait until the next one.

is the Lucas we all know and love? Qatar was one of the worst villans I ever read in the Prey series. And, although I like "Weather," this bit about him impregnating her was BORING! Hope the next one brings Davenport back WITH his edge!!!!!

Probably the best yet!
I enjoyed every page. Couldn't put it down. I have read all of the prey series and this without a doubt it the best.
Keeps you on your toes. The ending has quite a twist.
Please write more.
Thanks,
Bwasden

John Sandford has a talent to write, definitely. He writes in ways that newcomers do not need to read his previous Davenport novels to understand CHOSEN PREY. This is my first from him, but certainly it will not be my last.

is the Lucas we all know and love? Qatar was one of the worst villans I ever read in the Prey series. And, although I like "Weather," this bit about him impregnating her was BORING! Hope the next one brings Davenport back WITH his edge!!!!!

Probably the best yet!
I enjoyed every page. Couldn't put it down. I have read all of the prey series and this without a doubt it the best.
Keeps you on your toes. The ending has quite a twist.
Please write more.
Thanks,
Bwasden

I realize that the main character, Lucas Davenport, of the "Prey" series has Unipolar Depression, but come on Mr. Sandford. It's time he marries Weather so that you can get back to writing about great killers and knock off the soap opera with Lucas' love life and head problems!
I think after 12 former Davenport novels, we pretty much have a handle of who Lucas is and how his head works. I don't need to spend my day reading about his problems when I have my own.
Take us readers back on a trip like you did in "Eyes of Prey". Now that's writing!

John Sandford has a talent to write, definitely. He writes in ways that newcomers do not need to read his previous Davenport novels to understand CHOSEN PREY. This is my first from him, but certainly it will not be my last.

Wow, what a letdown! After reading 'Certain Prey', my first Sandford novel, I was hopeful that I would be equally impressed with the other books in the Davenport series. Unfortunately, 'Chosen Prey' was nothing like 'Certain Prey'. Gone was the instant deluge into the world of a ruthless killer. Instead, we get a white bread and mayonnaise, ho-hum serial killer, with whom even Davenport even seems bored to death (no pun intended). Talk about your lackluster antagonists! I hope I didn't waste my money on the other Sandford novels I've purchased.

I have read all of the Sanford PREY series, and am a big fan of his work. I was very disappointed with Easy Prey, and slightly disappointed with Chosen Prey. It is not a bad book, but I do expect better from Sanford. To all those PREY fans out there, I say buy Chosen Prey, but don't expect it to live up to the earlier books. I can't help but have the feeling that Sanford is either growing tired of Lucas Davenport, or has run out of ideas.

I really enjoy the Prey series, and Sandford is one of my favorite writers. Having said that, I was terribly disappointed with this book. The premise was ok, but there were far too many 'empty' sections in the book where nothing happened for pages and pages. If anyone else wrote this book I would have given it only 2 stars. It gets 3 because Sandford's writing still draws you in somewhat. I hope the next one is better, but I will borrow it or get it from the library just in case it is not.

Chosen Prey was the the second best in the series next to Winter Prey. I love the relationship that Lucas has with Weather and if he is smart he won't kill what they have. Sandford has a keen sense of letting you know what the killer is thinking and going through and now that he and his friends are going through the aging process it's even better. Despite his rough edges John has a soft side that is very appealing. Keep writing John, I can't wait for the next one.

Sanford, you are amazing, everytime I think I get it figured out, you throw me another curve ball. This was a very good story with a modern theme. Who would have thought to look at a college professor, in a catholic school? He had access to these beautiful women and he took that to the utmost advantage. It made me look closely at my surroundings. Glad this one didn't get away.

His characters seemto come to life with every page. I really like the way Mr. Sandford brings the emotional part of his books to the forefront. I really think his Prey books are equalivant to Sir Arthur Conan Doyle charater "Sherlock Holmes" with Lucas Davenport. I hope he continues to write more Prey books, because this is the best mystery fiction in the world.

I have become a real fan of John Sandford's prose style, his suspenseful tales, and masterful dialogue. This book IS NOT written by Sandford. I suspect it was written by a sophomoric student of his and Sandford's name was appended to promote sales. Shame on Sandford. Shame on the publisher, and shame on the store for presenting it as Sandford's work. Refunds are in order. Do not be disappointed as I was. Do NOT buy into this literary travesty.
RSC

This is probably my favorite of the Prey series. I love them all,as I said above, but this one is my favorite. I just enjoyed every page and wished it didn't have to end. Every character, side story, scenic description, etc. is so well written and entertaining.
I do have to comment that the hardback edition contained many typos and I can't believe Putnam publishing can't do a better job of editing than they did.

John Sanford has created another gritty and extremely well-written story about Lucas and Weather and all their friends. The latest antagonist is more than a "worthy opponent" for Lucas and his team, but, luckily, Lucas is up to the latest challenge.

One of the things that makes these stories so amazing is that being a good person does not keep you safe from harm. It saddens me when a good person dies, but it does make the books more realistic.

Sometimes my friends tease me because I insist on reading a series of novels in order--they say that authors don't write in a way that makes any series a continuum worth following. Well, they are wrong when it comes to John Sandford. Book Twelve and counting!