If you’re a John Sandford fan, is there anything better than a novel that unites Lucas Davenport and Virgil Flowers? Righteous Prey has all the witty comments and humor that only comes when two men work as a team. It’s what I loved about Robert B Parker’s books with Spenser and Hawk. When Lucas and Virgil work together, they have that same kind of brotherhood.

Until “The Five” hit the Twin Cities, their two previous murders were just news stories to Davenport and Flowers. The press release in San Francisco claimed they were a group of wealthy killers who were going to murder people who need to be murdered. A predator was killed in San Francisco. Then, a politician was killed in Houston. And, the killers are donating Bitcoin to charities for each victim they kill, victim 1 and victim 2. Their press releases even hint at the next victim, although it never says where the murder will occur.

But, when the third murder occurs in Minnesota, a politician asks Lucas Davenport, a U.S. Marshal, to work with the FBI. And, Virgil Davenport is sent in by the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension. The FBI may be in charge, but Lucas and Virgil always have their own methods of talking with witnesses. Sometimes, they just chat. Other times, they put on a little pressure. But, the pair are able to read each other, play on their strengths, and find clues that the FBI misses with their formal tactics.

This is another one of those books with an interesting ending, not quite what anyone expects. It’s violent and unexpected, and appropriate for this book.

Fans of the ongoing series know what’s going on in family lives of Davenport and Flowers, and that’s part of the appeal of the books. We’ve seen Virgil move from writing magazine articles to attempting a book. Their families are essential in providing support for both men. They have partners who accept their career choices, despite the danger. And, that’s important in Righteous Prey when the group of killers are so dangerous. It’s an unforgettable book by a master who knows how to pull the strings of characters and readers.

John Sandford’s website is http://www.johnsandford.org/

Righteous Prey by John Sandford. G.P. Putnam’s Sons, 2022. ISBN 9780593422472 (hardcover), 405p.

FTC Full Disclosure – I received a copy of the book from the publisher, with no promise of a review.