Twisted Prey by John Sandford

Twisted Prey: A Lucas Davenport Novel by John Sandford - 387 pages

 In this 28th Lucas Davenport novel, our hero, now a member of the federal Marshal Service, has developed a reputation in certain circles for discreetly handling politically sensitive cases. So when Minnesota Senator Porter Smalls is convinced that his recent automobile accident was no accident but an attempted assassination that resulted in the death of his good friend Cecily Whitehead, he puts in a call for Davenport.

The problem is there doesn't seem to be any physical evidence to support Smalls' claim that a truck tried to run his vehicle off the road. Smalls is certain that the person who wants him dead is the junior Senator from Minnesota, Taryn Grant, with whom he has a long and sordid political feud. Smalls also knows that Lucas is convinced Taryn has killed at least three times before and gotten away with it (Silken Prey, 2013).

Lucas flies to D.C. to take a a closer look at the evidence. He discovers that the accident was very carefully orchestrated by professionals. Only Cecily’s skillful driving saved Smalls' life, but at the cost of her own. As Lucas delves deeper into the case, he encounters a shadow world of mercenaries and profiteers that spans the globe, and finds tantalizing hints of a connection to Senator Taryn Grant and her Presidential ambitions.

Sandford dives into this murky world, examining the intersections of power and greed.  U.S. Marshals Rae Givens and Bob Matees show up to assist Davenport and provide a little comic relief with their wise-cracking repartee. The sardonic humor - a Sandford trademark - provides a balance for the more violent elements in this deadly game of cat-and-mouse.

Sandford knows how to engage his readers from the first page to the final paragraph. 

Click HERE to read the review from Kirkus Reviews.

Click HERE to read the review from Publishers Weekly.

Click HERE to read the review from the New York Times.

Extreme Prey by John Sandford

Extreme Prey: A Novel by John Sandford --- 406 pages

The 27th book in the Lucas Davenport series; and just when you'd expect Sandford to be winding down the adventure, he ramps it up instead.

Following on the conclusion of Gathering Prey (2015), Davenport has finally had enough of internal politics in the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension, and walked away from his job. Since he's independently wealthy, he can afford to do so, and seems happy enough to spend his time remodeling his getaway cabin on the lake.

When his friend and mentor, Governor Elmer Henderson, calls from the Presidential campaign trail in Iowa to report disquieting encounters with some erstwhile supporters, Lucas agrees to assess the situation. But instead of being able to reassure Henderson, Lucas is soon convinced the amorphous threat is real. When people start dying, it doesn’t take Lucas long to identify possible suspects; but stopping a political conspiracy is a tall order for a man operating sans badge, back up or even a gun. Lucas finally figures out where and when the asasssins will strike ---who has never been in doubt --- but HOW they plan to pull it off in the middle of a massive public venue crawling with security is still a question --- and the clock is ticking.

A long-established series that still delivers is taking a new twist.
Click HERE to read a review from Publishers Weekly.

Click HERE to read a review from Kirkus Reviews.

Click HERE to read a review from the San Diego Examiner.  

Click HERE to read Harry Levins' review from the St. Louis Post Dispatch.