I’ve read every book by Mr. Sandford and enjoy each one, no matter how twisted and gruesome! I love both Lucas Davenport and Virgil Flowers and it was great to have both active in this book. I enjoy the banter between them and the other detectives.

With a reward to help find the killer in a 20-year-old cold-case murder, the true-crime bloggers were a hoot! There was plenty of bickering among the large number, but they were a big help in finding information, murder weapon and more. Virgil stayed busy corralling all of them!

There was tension for Virgil with a crime happening at his home, which makes him furious and anxious to bring the killer to justice quickly.

It was interesting to see the case and detectives (characters throughout the series) from 20 years ago and in present day.

The book ends a bit abruptly without the usual wrap-up, so I was left wondering what happened with the murderer. I don’t recall any of the other books by Mr. Sandford that ended like this and cliffhangers, if that what this was, isn’t my favorite. I was checking to see if I had missing pages since it was so unusual.

I love the Davenport and Flowers characters and always eagerly waiting for the next books. I highly recommend this book and all by Mr. Sandford.

Thanks to the author, publisher and Netgalley for the opportunity to read this new work.

They are back again! My favorite crime fighting duo Lucas and Virgil are back with a new case they need to solve together. I find all the books in both series enjoyable and entertaining and this book is no different. My only concern was how abruptly the book ended, o went back serval times to see if I missed something. Otherwise it was another excellent read!

"Lethal Prey" by John Sandford - Out March 25th 2025 - 5 Stars

John Sandford delivers another gripping crime thriller, bringing together Lucas Davenport and Virgil Flowers to tackle a decades-old cold case. With a hefty reward on the table, their search for answers quickly entangles them with true crime bloggers, a mix of colorful suspects, and an unlikely killer. As expected from Sandford, the investigation is packed with unexpected turns, bursts of violence, and a steady momentum that keeps crime fiction fans hooked.

The novel masterfully blends procedural detective work with sharp dialogue and engaging character dynamics. Sandford’s signature style ensures that every piece of evidence—no matter how old—matters, making the chase for justice both methodical and thrilling.

With its intricate plotting and relentless pacing, this is a must-read for fans of crime fiction, especially those who enjoy a case where nothing is as straightforward as it seems.

I love john sandford and his characters and the banter between them, This one was very absorbing, I really enjoyed it.

Lucas Davenport wants to retire. Virgil Flowers wants to quit his job and write novels. But then the pair get involved in trying to solve a twenty-year-old cold murder that draws the attention of a multitude of on-line influencers who show up to assist. Chaos and humor ensue. Lucas and Virgil are realistic along with being entertaining. The sense of place is vivid. The ending is a little messy and confusing, but Sanford might be leaving the door open for a sequel.

This was a mixed thoughts read for me. I always enjoy the friendship between Lucas and Virgil, though I did miss some of the side characters we used to have in their individual books. He does a great job of mixing in new technology and real world variables, such as the true crime community, while still matching the series overall vibe.

This was focused on a cold case, so there was a lot of backstory which made for a slow build up. There also seemed to be a lot of filler about food, character descriptions (including overly detailed body descriptions for all female characters) and locations. Flowers whines a lot about not want to do his job anymore and talks nonstop about writing his book. In other words it was familiar but watered down compared to earlier books in the series. There were some strange phrases that stood out as well. Everyone rang off or clicked off a phone call instead of hanging up or ending it. Also everyone from the police, to politicians, to the true crime community talked about making movies instead of videos or content creation.

Once things get moving finally in the actual mystery part of the plot, I did enjoy watching it all come together. It’s a fun balance of old characters with new locations, and the true crime community and cold case aspect made for a fun mix. Unfortunately, it had a super abrupt cliffhanger style ending with no real resolution which was very unsatisfying. I’m not sure if this is something he intends to pick up in the next book or if it’s just done as-is, but I was extremely frustrated with the way it ends.

While this wasn’t my fav by the author, I still enjoyed it and finished it quickly. My parents are both also long time readers of the series and they both enjoyed it more than I did but also did not like how it ended. I’d rate this 3.5⭐️ rounded up

Thanks Putnam and NetGalley for the DRC!

If you are a fan of John Sandford, and his Prey Series, you know what you are getting, and you will definitely get it here! Lucas and Virgil are great together, and the book is an enjoyable mystery with a cliffhanger ending. Bring on the next book!

I received an ARC for free and gave my honest opinion voluntarily.

I really enjoyed the lack of politics in tbis book. Very refreshing. It was nice to see irgol a d Lucss back together on an investigation. Love those characters. I hsve read all of the prey books. This was a hood one until the ending. That was disappointing. What the heck? Is the story continuing in the next book? Anyway, i did enjoy reading this one. Great stor
y..5

Immediately in the first chapter is the hook. I love when a book grabs you in the first few pages. It was a slow burn until about halfway through the book but it's about working a cold case. It walks you through the entire case while flipping back to the killers perspective as well. You get to hear how a cold case is worked and solved. Excellent details throughout.

Very well written mystery!

John Sandford is a favorite author of mine, I will always pick up one of his books to read. This one has Virgil and Lucas working together to solve one murder, leading to many more. The writing is excellent, no fear of using what I describe as higher grade level words. The story is complex and the relationship between Virgil and Lucas is great.

The only thing I didn’t love was the ending. I don’t write spoilers so I can’t explain what I mean. I can only assume the next book in the series will start where this book leaves off. Otherwise, great read.

Thanks to the author, publisher and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review this book, but my opinions are my own.

John Sandford's Lucas Davenport is back and teaming up with Virgil Flowers again. Doris Grandfelt is viciously murdered and her body dumped in the woods by a park with the case never being solved. Approximately 20 years later, her sister comes forth wanting the investigation reopened and is offering a $5 million reward to help solve the case and bring the murderer to justice. This brings out numerous true crime site creators to the site of where the body was found. Lucas and Virgil approach the case in a different manor than most investigators and rely on a few true crime creators to help with the case with the intent of them getting a part of the reward. As they look into the case they come to learn that they may be dealing with a serial killer that has been around for several years.

John Sandford does what he does best. A great story that flows at a fast pace with witty humor and a great buildup. Highly recommend for fans of John Sandford and similar authors!

Thank you NetGalley and Penguin Group Putnam for this ARC in exchange for my honest review.

#NetGalley #LethalPrey

I received an ARC from NetGalley and this is my honest review. 3.5 stars, rounded up.

This was the first time I read this author. I thought the story took a little too long to develop, and there was a lot of unnecessary detail.

There were also terms I wasn’t familiar with, such as “rang up” instead of “hang up” and “making movies” instead of “taking a video” maybe those are common terms for the region the story is set in, but I don’t think so.

The ending was a little disappointing but overall once the story got moving it was enjoyable to read it all come together but I don’t think I would go out of my way to read this author again..

Lucas Davenport and Virgil Flowers are together again, assigned to a 20-year-old murder cold case. The victim’s twin sister has offered a $5 million dollar reward to entice renewed interest in the case in hopes of finally solving it. A group of true-crime bloggers end up assisting with the case and uncover a lot of clues that would have taken Lucas and Virgil a lot longer to find. The killer is still around and is out to destroy anyone that might get a little too close.

I loved the story, the bantering between Lucas and Virgil, and Virgil’s references to using words or events in his future novels.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Loved it! The ending was abrupt so I hope it continues! So good and love reading about Davenport and Flowers!

This is another great story featuring our two crack detective investigators.
Sturgis and Davenport are on the hunt the entire time and while they
clean up most of the situation, there is no wrap up, leaving us to
wonder if all of their hard work was wasted. Good news:
Virgil and Frankie finally tie the knot, and they survived the
story.! This book reads so quickly that you want to try to
Slow,things down but find out you just cannot do anything
but stay in the race to the complicated conclusion.
My thanks to GP Putnam & Sons via NetGalley for’ the
download copy of this book for review purposes.

I love every book that John Sandford has written. I was happy to have Virgil back in this one. I enjoy Lucas and Virgil together. The true-crime blogger focus is currently relevant. Highly recommend Impatiently waiting for the next novel.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for an advanced copy. All my opinions are my own.

I will always love a book with both Davenport & Flowers. They’re a duo that keeps me reading.

This book focusing on a cold case that becomes relevant again, and our guys are on the case.

My only compliant is the ending. Are we getting another one with this plot? That would be unusual for Sandford. I suppose I will wait & see.

My usual 5-star rating has dropped a notch on this one, almost entirely because of just one thing: the gobsmacking cliffhanger ending. I'll not explain further, of course, but after I kept flipping through the acknowedgements to see if the last few pages of the last chapter somehow got buried there, I got really, really annoyed - leaving readers hanging is one of one of the biggest no-nos an author can do, in my book.

But it is what it is. I guess I'll console myself with the thought that resolution may become the impetus for the next book in the series - this is the 35th - so I'll be watching. Other than that, I always look forward to the adventures of Lucas Davenport and Virgil Flowers - two of my all-time favorite characters. They meet up this time during the reinvestigation of a cold case: the murder of accounting firm employee Doris Grandfelt two decades earlier. It's been reopened because her surviving twin, Lara, is determined to find her sister's killer before she, too, dies - she's been diagnosed with terminal cancer. She's sweetened the pot with a $5 million reward for information that leads to the killer

One of those bloggers, in fact, somehow manages to dig up the murder weapon, which does provide some clues. Lucas gets the call when the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension in St. Paul gets the case. Shortly thereafter, Bureau agent Virgil gets a similar call while he's out playing golf. Despite needing to work on his latest novel (plus spend time with his partner Frankie and their twins), he figures Lucas will be involved and agrees to be part of the investigation.

As Lucas and Virgil hone their investigative skills, they also must run interference to keep at bay the proliferation of true-crime bloggers who didn't exist back then and would kill each other for a scoop - or, failing that, turn their enthusiasm into an asset. Fairly early on, readers learn who the killer is, making it even more fun to watch Lucas and Virgil go from spinning their wheels to closing in. All told, another one well done. Many thanks to the publisher, via NetGalley, for the opportunity to read and review a pre-release copy.

I am always eagerly awaiting the next Prey novel and as usual, I could not put it down.

Dana Granfelt's sister was brutally stabbed to death twenty years prior. Dana has offered up a five million dollar reward to anyone who could find the killer. This offer set off all kinds of true crime bloggers and podcasters and all of this was being followed by the killer.

Lucas and Virgil were brought in to look into the cold case and to be in the background, working with the amateur detectives. Bits and pieces of the crime were being revealed and the killer gets involved to protect themselves and more murders follow.

It was a good romp of the usual Lucas and Virgil investigation and I am thinking a follow up book may be needed to appease the readers curiosity. This did have an abrupt ending.

Thank you G.P. Putnam's Sons and NetGalley for this ARC.

Thank you NetGalley for the eARC of Lethal Prey! After 35 Prey novels I can say that this one did not disappoint me.
The formula with Lucas and Virgil is spot on, love the banter and they way they solve the case. The icing on the cake would be if Lottie was tied into book 36.