Member Review

The thirty-sixth installment in the Prey series brings U.S. Marshal Lucas Davenport back to familiar territory,, the Twin Cities, for a high-stakes mission. This time, Davenport teams up with a CIA officer and the FBI to hunt down a Russian hit squad determined to assassinate a high-value defector. After an initial attempt goes tragically wrong, leaving the defector’s wife dead, the killers receive orders to try again. What follows is a tense race against the clock as Davenport and his allies scramble to stop the team before they complete their deadly assignment.

Having Lucas back in Minnesota for the second consecutive novel feels like a return to form. While the books that took him outside the state were entertaining, they lacked the unique atmosphere and rhythm that Minnesota brings to the series. This setting just feels right for Davenport.

One of the standout elements in this entry is the introduction of CIA agent John Sherwood. His personality mirrors Lucas’s in many ways, creating sharp chemistry and plenty of witty, back-and-forth banter. Their dynamic adds an extra layer of fun to the story, and if I had to guess, Sherwood isn’t going anywhere. He seems destined to reappear, either alongside Lucas or possibly in a future Letty Davenport novel.

The plot delivers exactly what fans expect: a solid mix of suspense, action, and a few well-placed twists to keep you guessing. It’s fast-paced without feeling rushed, and the character interplay shines throughout. Overall, this is a thoroughly enjoyable read that I’d recommend to any thriller fan, even if you haven’t worked your way through the rest of the series yet.