Ocean Prey (A Prey Novel)

Excellent read, fast paced, thrilling twist and turns.

Another excellent addition to the series. I've been hooked since book #1 and have yet to be disappointed. The cast of characters is large enough to support a variety of story lines, which keeps the story interesting.

It’s always a treat to get a new detective thriller by John Sandford, and particularly if Lucas Davenport is the lead detective in the story. It’s a double treat in this case because Davenport, now a US marshal, in reunited in it with his old buddy from the Minnesota Department of Public Safety, Virgil Flowers. Except when it comes to pursuing criminals, they’re night and day, Davenport a snappy, almost buttoned down dresser and Flowers hippy dippy in looks and demeanor, and when it comes to taking down the bad guys, Davenport willing to kill his prey if he suspects the felon might avoid sentencing where Flowers seldom even carries a weapon.Sandford, whose real name is John Roswell Camp, is a prolific writer. This is the thirty-first book to star Lucas Davenport. All have the word “Prey” in the title, from Rules of Prey in 1989 to this book, Ocean Prey. There are in addition twelve books in a standalone series featuring Flowers, another four featuring a crook/computer freak named Kidd, three YA thrillers co-authored with Michele Cook, and three other fiction books and three non-fiction books.This latest installment starts when an off-duty Coast Guardsman, fishing off the coast of Florida with his family, sees a boat stop, pick up a diver in the middle of the ocean, and then speed off. The Guardsman alerts the Coast Guard. A Coast Guard vessel is dispatched to stop and inspect the boat. The three Guardsmen aboard the vessel are promptly shot and killed, and the other boat speeds off and disappears. With three federal officers murdered, the FBI is involved. When its investigation stalls, Davenport gets a call. From that point on it’s Hellzapoppin’. Davenport and another marshal, one he considers his friend, are ambushed. Davenport lives, his friend doesn’t. Davenport needs to take another tack. That’s when Virgil enters the scene.Virgil is perfect for undercover worker because he’s the least cop looking cop in the world. A costume change and a few props –lots of marijuana, for one, the smoke carefully blown into his hair for authenticity—and Virgil is just the guy the bad guys, who head a drug syndicate, are looking for. From this point on, to say anything about the plot would be a spoiler. Suffice it to say, Virgil and an undercover chick named Rae, who is a real killer, work their way deeper into the bad guys’ confidences while Lucas dogs the case from the outside. The ending isn’t the most explosive one in this series but it’s solid and fun, and the details leading up to it are fascinating.(They always are. Sandford always does his homework before putting pen to paper –well, digit to keyboard.) En route, Virgil builds his legend but I can’t tell you how because it would reveal too much.This is neither the best nor the worst of a series which has always been good. Sandford is one of a handful of crime writers whose books I now always preorder and when they arrive, I read them the very same night. I’ve never been disappointed.

Loved this story, good to get in touch with my inner Virgil. Intricate plotting made for interesting read. Recommend read.

So first of all I like John Ssndford books a lot. As in, it would take a real dud for me to get negative. But I wouldn’t give it a thought or waste time on a review. I’d just move on to the next book. This was a solid Lucas/Virgil/Rae story and I liked the character interplay throughout the story. Lots of fun, which is why I read. Keep them coming!

This is Sandford at his best, with characters Davenport and Flowers at their bests. None of them seem 18 any longer, and the plot is a winner: Coast Guard interrupts a huge heroin shipment, and all three die for their efforts. That is a federal crime so the heat on them ratchets up through the FBI and DEA to Davenport's Marshall's Service, high ranking FBI officers and a U.S. Senator, and all come out smelling like roses, except for one very likable LEO who comes out smelling like a funeral home. This is outside Sandford's usual stomping grounds of Northern plains into marino smells of salt water and seaweed, drug running, and sundry felonies. This edition of Davenport/Flowers adventures is Sandford at his most engaging, and dare I say, most positive.

John Sandford is a must buy, must read author. This stand-alone is easy to follow and difficult to put down. No editing errors, gratuitous violence or drag-you-down drama.Intriguing storyline with descriptive and informative writing that draws the reader into each scene. Realistic procedures, actions and reactions. Believable characters with distinct personalities and great banter. Thought-provoking and occasionally snarky dialogue.‘When it comes to a culture, it means that people who let their light shine will eventually get dragged down, and a lot of people will enjoy seeing that happen. If you’re in a tall poppy culture, it’s all right to be smart, but you can’t act smart. You can’t show it.”“No, you’re too obscure to ruin. Get a few more years under your belt and a little more status, get closer to a pension, then you’ll be worth ruining. Ruining you now would be like shooting a squirrel and mounting its head. Nobody would be impressed.”I will re-read this book and always look forward to, pre-order when possible, new works by this author.

It was good. I really enjoyed it. This seemed more focused on Virgil than Lucas. And I hope to read more about Rae!

I’ve never read a bad John Sandford book. He’s an excellent writer, his stories are a mixture of humour, drama and sometimes sadness but always superb. Can’t get enough of him.Keep them coming Mr Sandford.

I'm happy to report that the quality of the book is up to par and one does not have to read it just for old times sake but can actually enjoy the tale. There's just one flaw in the logic and it's forgivable as it makes for a better ending. Otherwise the pieces all fit together, the story is interesting and complex enough to entertain. The language is still that great combination of precise and bold with little easter eggs thrown in from time to time to make the reader smile. So I'm more than OK with this issue and looking forward to the next one.

The characters have style, can't deny that. But it's predictable, and only gets exciting when you near the ending.This is just what I think, considering that I am not much used to this genre.

Davenport AND Flowers, together!! Had to happen, didn't it?! :-) Great story, well written and bowls along at a great pace: what's not to like?!I would like to know just how Mr Sandford has kept the quality of his writing so high over such a long time, and over so many novels?! Just astonishing...

Lucas Davenport and Virgil Flowers in the same book makes for a great read. Only bad part is now I have to wait for the next Sandford.