While I read the Lucas and Letty Davenport novels, the Prey novels featuring Davenport and Virgil Flowers are my favorites. Lethal Prey has a smart killer, and all the witticisms you expect from the two protagonists. And, it’s a cold case, which I love.
In 2003, an accounting clerk was stabbed to death in the women’s restroom of an accounting firm. But, no one realized the restroom was the crime scene when the victim’s body was found in a park. The killer is followed from the company to the park, a jealous killer who was determined that the dead woman, Doris Grandfelt, would not interfere with her plans to marry a man who was having sex with the victim.
Twenty years later, Davenport and Flowers are recruited for a cold case. Doris Grandfelt’s killer was never found. Now, Doris’ twin sister, Lara, has cancer, and she’s willing to put up a five million dollar reward for information leading to the identification of the killer. And, Lara has clout. She’s able to call on a senator, lawyers, and a PR firm to run her campaign to find her sister’s murderer. And, Davenport and Flowers are put in charge of the case.
It’s the reward money and PR campaign, though, that brings true crime fanatics out of the woodwork. That was Grandfelt’s plan. She wanted the story all over the Internet. And, Davenport and Flowers quickly realize they can use the true crime bloggers to do research and assist in the case. But, the unexpected death of one of the true crime investigators, a man who found the murder weapon and broadcast his theory about the killer, makes everyone pause.
Although I usually don’t care to read the thoughts of a serial killer, the murderer in Lethal Prey is a cold-blooded psychopath who leaves nothing to chance. Step-by-step, Flowers, Davenport, and the true crime bloggers close in, although Flowers’ family even becomes a target. But, no killer should mess with Virgil Flowers.
As I said, I’m a fan of Flowers and Davenport books. Add in a cold case, and a cold killer, and Lethal Prey may be one of my favorites in the series.
John Sandford’s website is https://www.johnsandford.org/
Lethal Prey by John Sandford. G.P. Putnam’s Sons, 2025. ISBN 9780593718407 (hardcover), 400p
FTC Full Disclosure – I received a galley from the publisher through NetGalley, with no promise of a review.
Enjoyed this one a lot.
Good one, wasn’t it, Kevin?
I’ve never read anything by Sanford, unbelievable as that may sound. Is this one to start with?
Kim, No, I don’t think so. I’d start with Dark of the Moon, the first one starring Virgil Flowers. He appears in some of the Lucas Davenport books, but this is Virgil. He’s my favorite.
Lesa,
This is Judy Herrmann from EVPL Central. I think our copies of Lethal Prey are missing the last 4-5 pages. Could you possible send me the last line of the copy you read? Ours say ‘ 60-40 you little fu**ers’.
Hi Judy, I’ll have to see if I still have a copy of Lethal Prey. I read it on my Kindle, and I may have deleted it afterwards. I’ll check!
Nope, Judy. I saw the book at my brother-in-law’s tonight, and that’s how the book ends. He was mad and said it was a lousy ending.
I loved how the story unfolded, both prosecution and killer. Why leave the ending open?
Yours isn’t the only complaint, Jerry.
I have read every book written by John Stanford.
Lethal Prey is the worst, maybe he has lost it..
We’ll see, Edward, and just hope the next one is better.