Like so many others, I can't get enough of Lucas Davenport and Virgil Flowers. Righteous Prey by John Sanford is an outstanding thriller with some unexpected outcomes.

Very slow plot, boring interpersonal interactions. Familiar characters together in this book a plus but plot seems to inch along.

In Righteous Prey, we find a group of 6 people (who call themselves the 5) who each have decided to kill a different person that represents what they dislike about the world. All 5 have made a lot of money with Bitcoin and that is how they originally met. The 5 aren't even supposed to know who each other are, so it was interesting to get a glimpse into each of them When one of the victims is killed in Minnesota, Virgil and Lucas are both pulled into the case.
As is their usual MO, Lucas and Virgil shake some clues loose and go where the leads take them. They had their usual banter with each other, which always make the book entertaining. They each look out for each other and really do put themselves in harms way to take down their suspects.
The plot was interesting and kept me turning the pages. I always like how John Sandford makes you feel like you are part of the action. It was fast-paced and a very good addition to this series.
If you liked the other Prey books, you will like this one.
I received an ARC from NetGalley for my honest opinion, which I have given above.

Virgil and Lucas play well together in this latest novel which spirits them from the Midwest to California and New York in search of a group of 6 Bitcoin billionaire assassins. This is a relaxed easy chair ride in pursuit a killers with political motives killing both for sport and necessity and going on the run. The book celebrates the ease between its protagonists and is the best example I’ve read about interagency cooperation. Sandford takes pleasure in spoofing police procedurals talking about writing hackneyed thrillers, then puncturing the rules himself. A delight!

I thoroughly enjoyed this new Lucas Davenport and Virgil flowers novel. The plot was very exciting as Lucas and Virgil track a group of rich serial killers from Minnesota to California. I loved the witty banter between Lucas and Virgil. It was very humorous and showed Sandford at his best. My customers will love this new edition to a series that shows no signs of slowing down!

This book opens with a group of rich billionaires who are randomly killing people they deem jerks across the country and offering up bitcoin to charities as compensation. When a murder is committed in Minnesota, Lucas Davernport teams up with Virgil Flowers to try to takedown the group before more peopled are murdered. The trail leads them all over the country trying to thwart the killers.

Lucas Davernport is one of my favorite literary characters and Virgil Flowers is a very intriguing and interesting character. Lucas has nerves of steel and is willing to due what is necessary to take down the bad guys, legal or not. Virgil is a smart investigator who has a number of personal quirks. Putting them together is bound to lead to a fun fast paced thriller. Mr. Sandford does an excellent job writing the back and forth between Virgil and Lucas. They have great conversations that run the gamut from how they are going to take down the killers to how Virgil should deal with his agent who is trying to sell his unpublished novel.

As with any novel from Mr. Sandford there is never a shortage of action. You also get to see both sides thought process and movements. This really helps you get into the novel as you see everything that is going on which in this case is important with the number of killers involved.

Overall this is a stellar novel. While selfishly I wish it all took place in Minnesota as that is my home state, the multiple locals adds to the depth of the story. If you like a good cop thriller with book will hit all the sweet spots for you. Thank you to @J_Sandford @penguinrandom and @netgalley for a free arc for an honest review.

“The world has only so much room for people like her, and occasionally, one of them has to go.” An analysis offered to U.S. Marshall Lucas Davenport by an unsympathetic neighbor of Hillary Sikes, after her housekeeper discovered her dead body inside her garage. After someone murdered Sikes in the Twin Cities, Davenport and his frequent sidekick, Minnesota BCA agent Virgil Flowers, get involved in the investigation, along with the FBI. The FBI gets involved because it turned out Sikes was the third victim killed by a group of vigilantes billing themselves as The Five, who according to the bizarre press releases they send after every murder, are on a mission to “help rid America of its assholes.” And the murders occurred in three different states. Most people who knew Sikes agreed she deserved the epithet, as did the other two victims. Davenport observes, “Nobody cares that assholes are being killed.” But he recognizes The Five “are psychos” that must be stopped. He isn’t wrong, since the killings continue.

While the murderers seem to well plan and meticulously carry out each murder with an eye for escaping identification, the person who killed Sikes made an uncharacteristic mistake, which through good police work, Davenport and Flowers uncover. That leads to the man’s identity. Eventually, thanks mostly to the efforts of Davenport and Flowers, the FBI accumulates enough evidence to arrest Sike’s killer and hopes they can pressure him into giving up his accomplices. But when he makes bail, someone murders him and he is only the first of The Five who becomes a murder victim in this complex plot. The good guys wonder if someone is cleaning up loose ends. The case takes Davenport and Flowers from coast to coast, along with points in between.

You can always rely on Sandford to serve up an imaginative plot, but with this novel I think he outdid himself. Two other things make Righteous Prey a notable addition to the series. First, it contains a lot of current events like the waning COVID pandemic, the growing prominence of Bitcoin, and current growing division and animosity between conservatives and liberals in the United States. The other is the side story about Virgil Flowers and his budding side gig as a crime fiction author. Both add interest to the story. This is vintage Davenport with a full slate of psychopathic evil doers and Lucas treating every murder investigation as a competition to be won.

Davenport and Flowers fans won’t want to miss this one, and anyone who enjoys an entertaining crime thriller will enjoy Righteous Prey. The ending may not be as satisfying as we often want, as far as every evildoer facing the cold realities of justice, but Sandford never promises us a happy ending every time. The only real criticism I can offer, is like all Prey novels, you reach the last page far sooner than you wanted. That’s especially true for readers like me who inhale more than read John Sandford’s enjoyable and compelling books.

I received an advance copy of the book from the publisher via NetGalley used for this review, which represents my honest opinions.

Righteous Prey
by John Sandford
Pub Date: October 4, 02022
Thanks to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for #32 in this series ARC.
A friend of mine recommended this author to me many years ago and you cannot go wrong with a John Sanford novel. They keep you on the tip of your toes. I have already preordered this for my library.
Lucas Davenport and Virgil Flowers, two of the best investigators in Minnesota (and sometimes Wisconsin) team up again to bring a dangerous, exceedingly well-funded group of self-styled vigilantes to justice. As with all Sandford novels, I was quickly swept up by the story and was gripped from start to finish.
5 stars

This is an excellent addition to Sanford's Prey series. Davenport again partners up with Flowers. They are assisting the FBI and other law enforcement agencies. The perpetrators are a group of five bitcoin millionaires who have turned to vigilante killings for "excitement". The plot is well woven and it is good to spend time with Virgil and Lucas.

I confess, I've been a John Sandford fan.for years. I've enjoyed all his books, especially the Prey and Virgil Flowers series. Again in this book, Sandford wove Virgil into a Prey story with excellent results.

Vivian Zhao has an idea. She knows five like-minded bored Bitcoin billionaires who need excitement in their lives; something like, say, killing a person who they feel needs to be murdered. Communicating with each other on the dark net and known to each other only by their airport identifiers, each identifies a person they deem fit for death. As they begin their killing spree, Zhao puts out press releases celebrating The Five and their deeds, not only killing unsavory people, but also donating untraceable Bitcoin donations to various charities.

The victims mount and when a woman is killed in Minnesota, political strings are pulled and Lucas Davenport and Virgil Flowers are called in to help the investigation. The killings are well executed and leave few clues which cause consternation among those trying to link the victims and their killers. With their quirky methods, Davenport and Flowers begin making slow progress in uncovering the people behind the killings and the mastermind behind them, Vivian Zhao.

The action never stops. Sandford is so skilled at writing thrillers that one tends to overlook his ability to create great dialogue. It is both snappy and humorous. This is another great book in this long running series but enough character background is given that it can be read as a standalone. I highly recommend this book.

I always enjoy Lucas Davenport and Virgil Flower’s books and this one was no different! You’d think after 32 books they’d run out of new adventures but this was a creative plot that felt different and was very entertaining. There was some great banter between the two, especially when they were talking about books. You start out knowing the bad guys (a group of rich murderers calling themselves The Five) and it was fun to see things from their perspective. There were some slower paced sections before it ramped back up toward the end of the book, but I did feel like things got super unrealistic toward the end. While this is a part of the series, you can definitely read it as a stand alone. I’d recommend this to crime fiction fans who enjoys a reverse mystery!

Thanks to @PutnamBooks and @Netgalley for the gifted DRC. Righteous Prey will be out on October 4!

32 great Prey books by John Sandford and this one may be the best yet!

Both our action-oriented Prey heroes, Lucas Davenport and Virgil Flowers, star in this fast-paced thriller. Zipping around the U.S., they and the FBI pursue multiple assassins in a variety of situations.. Davenport’s and Flowers’ reputations for solving complex mysteries bring them to the forefront of this latest novel.

I binge-read this book. Couldn’t put it down with the action unfolding page by page all the way to the end.

Lucas and Virgil are laugh-aloud funny and true to character throughout with an extra treat of seeing Virgil’s latest venture unfold.

Thanks to NetGalley and Penguin Group Putnam for the ARC and the opportunity to read this exciting book. .

If I were to leave my husband it would be only for Lucas Davenport-or maybe his sidekick Virgil FLowers. They are together in this great read. They are together, with the FBI and other police forces attempting to capture a group of BitCoin billionaires who are killing people they feel are exploiting society.
Lots of nasty folks,, inventive murders and crisp dialogue. . There is also a hint of a continuation.
Good writing, good fun!

Excellent

I always have high expectations from this author, but I am always a little worried with all of my favorites that the next book will be the one that disappoints me. This one caught me from the start and at times had me smile and had my heart race.

It had both of my favorite characters, Minnesota-based US Marshals Lucas Davenport (my absolute favorite) and Virgil Flowers (who I also like but he tends to work in areas of Minnesota I am not as familiar with). They join the FBI to try to find a group of murders who are killing people they correctly consider a$$holes (not sure if the filters will let me spell that correctly). Their mission starts in Minnesota where a woman is killed, but they cross the country tracking the group members.

Sandford writes very well. He is obviously intelligent and writes succinctly. He obviously choses his words carefully, providing the exact sentence needed. I am a Minnesota native and his description of the winter cold and our reaction to the cold is spot-on.

A side story in this novel is that Virgil has written a book and is waiting to hear if it sells. Discussions between Lucas and Virgil (and a female FBI officer with her own helpful tips) were perfect and eliminated my reticence to continue to pre-order Sanford's books. I don't want to pay hardcover prices just to find that is when Lucas jumped the shark. Part of the discussion concerned not turning the protagonist into a superman and mentioned not having him in "thirty-two gunfights in three days against a hundred terrorists and get a flesh wound in the shoulder". That has happened to several of my favorite characters by other authors (especially Jack Reacher) and has really ruined the series for me. I am very happy to know that Sanford won't be making that mistake.

I recommend this highly. The only people that I don't think will like it are the politically far-right as the awful people on the kill list include a corporate raider, ghost gun manufacture, and far-right radio host. If you watch America News Network or believe in Fox News, you may want to pass.

I’d like to thank NetGalley and Penguin Group/Putnam for the opportunity to read this wonderful book.
You don’t write “ 800 books” 😉and not know you’re one of the best there is. It’s pretty much a given. Was top notch from start to finish
The airplane dialogue between Virgil and Lucas was truly classic.. I laughed for days. Not to mention Venom..
If it’s possible, I think this is the best one yet and I have read em all.
Maybe cause it’s fresh since I believe I said the same thing of Ocean Prey which made me cry.
You are wonderful The book is wonderful and I thank you forever.

Righteous Prey is the latest book in the Prey series by John Sandford. Five Bitcoin billionaires form a small vigilante group after meeting at a Bitcoin convention. They call themselves “The Five” and along with a group leader, they decide to start killing people who they feel society would better off without. After each murder, they send out a press release to take credit for the kill and explain why that person was chosen. Lucas Davenport and Virgil Flowers are called in to do what they can to stop the killings.

I have read all the Prey books and this just might be my favorite. Two beloved characters, Lucas and Virgil, are reunited in this crime fighting adventure. The witty interaction of the characters, the fast-paced plot, and the idea of a billionaire vigilante group all come together to form this entertaining, exciting next installment of the Prey series. Although this is part of the series, it would work as a stand alone also.

I would recommend this to fans of the Prey series as well as those who have never read a Sandford book before. If you are looking for a good read that will keep you engaged and turning the page until the very end, this book is for you. Sandford has done it again. You won’t want to miss this one.

Sandford does not disappoint!!!!! Another great novel. Lucas Davenport & Virgil Flowers are two of my three favorite series characters. I love it when they are together. But I also look forward to when they each have their own book because that means I get two new novels in that year's release.
If you are a first time Prey reader, these books are action packed, and easy to follow the flow. They leave you wanting more! Wanting to be there! To get to know LD & VF.

Spoiler alert: VF successful release of his novel had me a bit nervous, that maybe JS will be phasing him out. But the "6 more books" comment reassured me that he would be around for a while to come. Then I started thinking.... I wonder if JS will release books under the VF pseudonym??? And I have to say, I'm a little excited to see where this goes..

From the murky waters of the dark net surfaces a group of killers who claim to be cleaning America of the worst of society. They target those that they despise, people who don’t fit into their model of who deserves a place in this country.

First to die is a predatory street crawler who is dispatched mano a mano by one of the gang. A lengthy press release follows advising where the body is to be found and promising more of the same. They’re calling themselves ‘The Five’. And soon a further diatribe is released announcing a second killing. Each time a victim is dispatched the group say they will make a donation to a related charity, these donations being in the form of untraceable Bitcoin. The bodies are turning up at different locations across the country – victim three is found in Minnesota.

Virgil Flowers, an agent for the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension, receives an early morning call summoning him to the scene. On arrival he spots a big lump leaning against an SUV, it’s his ex-boss Lucas Davenport. These days Lucas is a U.S. Marshal with political connections and he’s been directed to add his practical skills and renowned crime solving nous to the mix. But there’s very little to go on, the perpetrators seem to be very adept at leaving nothing behind that will aid those looking to identify them. Where will this group strike next and given how little is known about them how can they possibly be stopped?

In Davenport and Flowers the author has two big, but very different, personalities who bounce off each other brilliantly. Their sharp and witty banter is one of the highlights of this book. As the hunt goes on the pair carry out a dance with the officers of the FBI, letting the special agents deal with the tiresome research while they knock on doors, sweat people and generally follow their noses. At heart they’re mavericks, enjoying the hunt and the adrenaline rush that goes with it. And something the author does very well here – it’s a trick he’s perfected over the years – is to tell the story throughout from the point of view of both the chasers and the chased. The result is that it feels like we, the reader, are often a step ahead of the law enforcement agencies as the action plays out. It’s a careful balance but Sandford pulls it off superbly. He really is master of his craft.

There are some interesting developments here for followers of the long running series of books featuring Davenport and Flowers, such as Virgil starting to develop a new career as a writer of novels – could this bring an end to his life as a lawman? Also there’s a dramatic ending to this story that, too, poses a few questions as to what happens next for this pair. I’m hoping there’s a good deal more to come from both of them, either individually or in tandem. Crime fiction just wouldn’t be the same without them.

A group called The Five has stated they plan to murder people, their targets are rapists, murderers, and thieves, the dregs of society. They donate, thru bitcoin to victims. After there is a victim in the Mpls area Virgil and Lucas open an investigation. They have a hard job ahead of them, The Five are untraceable and they have become heroes to the public. This book is a typical Sandford novel, good plot, great characters and a bit of humor thrown in, this will be hard for the reader to put down. The ending leaves a door open for a possible follow up. Thank you to net galley for an advanced copy.

Davenport and Flowers together and in the thick of it! Clever criminals keep things moving in standard "Prey" fashion, these characters have grown over the years, always a good investigation.