Apt Title. I received this book free from the publisher through NetGalley in exchange for a fair and honest review. Written by John Sandford and published by G.P. Putnam's Sons, New York in 2018, this novel is the latest in the Lucas Davenport “Prey” series. We have known Lucas as a police detective in Minnesota, but now he is a U.S. Marshall investigating the attempted murder of a U.S. Senator in the Washington, D.C. area, and the murder of his aide. Porter Smalls is the Republican junior senator from Minnesota who was defeated in a reelection bid two and a half years earlier by Taryn Grant. She did it by having child pornography planted on his computer. Smalls was able to clear himself, but not before Grant won the election. Two years later, Smalls ran for the other senate seat from Minnesota and won. His colleagues in the Senate awarded him his seniority and committee chairmanships back, so he was now nearly as powerful as when he had served before being defeated. He knew that the vehicle crash that took the life of his aide was not an accident. When West Virginia police thought otherwise, Smalls used his influence to get Lucas Davenport and the U.S. Marshall’s Service to investigate.

Senator Taryn Grant wants to be President, and she will stop at nothing to achieve her goal. We know from the beginning of the story that she is responsible for the murder and the attempted murder, but what we do not know is whether Lucas will be able to prove it. Grant has a cadre of mercenaries on her payroll who are all former U.S. military special operators—men who had served in the Navy Seals and Delta Force. They are ruthless professionals, and Lucas might just have met his match.

Even though we already know who the players are, and which of them is guilty, the author saves a couple of plot twists for the end of the story. He ties up all of the loose ends and doesn’t reveal how the story will end until it does. The action is non-stop, the dialogue is believable, and the plot is only mildly less-than-credible. This is an easy, entertaining read. It is not Sandford’s best work, but pretty good, anyway. I liked this book, and I think you might like it, too. I award four stars and recommend the book.

Lots of political intrigue. Very good storyline. I love all the Lucas Davenport series. I had to laugh when lucas met up with John Sandford's other character Virgil "F***ing Flowers. Too funny. A good read as always. Definitely recommend.

John Sandford delivers another riveting mystery with Twisted Prey! Taryn Grant is a formidable foe to Lucas Davenport as a US senator in this hard to put down addition to the long running series.

the new Prey book by Sanford is Twisted Prey, second book where he is a US Marshal now and i think im going to really like this role. gives him some freedom, and has introduced a few new characters. the only thing is, the old dependable characters we were used to, we dont see alot of. had a few small apperances of the old characters, but just not enough.
but a very good book though, easy four stars.

I love this series! I love Lucas Davenport. Best character ever. I was sure we would need to revisit Taryn the psycho! I love the fast pace and interesting storylines of all the Prey books and this does not fall short. The characters are great and would love to see more of Letty! Great character. I highly recommend this book.

I enjoyed this book a bit more than the last couple in the series. I feel like I've been reading Lucas forever. I enjoy the character and the writing.

Lucas comes up against an old nemesis in Taryn Grant. Someone tries to kill a senator from Minnesota. Could it be the other senator from that great state who believes he is standing in her way to becoming president? The characters, especially Taryn are a bit over the top but there probably are people this vile in our world.

Lucas gets together with his fellow US marshalls to solve the case. It takes you back and forth between Minnesota and DC. A fun read.

Another John Sandford winner., Great read! Well written and very easy to read, just the kind of book I like.. Lucas Davenport is his usual methodical, logical self trying to figure out who caused a senator to wreck and his female companion to be killed. Another senator who Davenport has dealt with before. Many turns later it all comes together.in typical Lucas Davenport fashion..

I like Davenport as a US Marshall - It isolates him a bit from day to day department politics and gives him a broader range of cases.

4 stars

Little does Lucas know at the beginning of this story that he has an appointment with an old nemesis of his. Psychopath Taryn Grant is back. She is now a United States Senator and very powerful, as well as being very rich. She can buy just about anything – or anybody – she wishes.

When US Senator Porter Smalls and his sometimes lover and his wife’s best friend Cecily “CeCe” Whitehead are having a planning session at his out-of-the-way cabin in the woods outside of Washington, DC. While on their way home, they are sideswiped by a pickup and driven off the road and down an embankment. CeCe is killed.

Porter contacts Lucas and tells him the story, He is certain that it is Taryn Grant who is trying to kill him as revenge for some earlier perceived hurts on her part. Lucas takes the case and begins his investigation. He is going to have to be careful, for Grant is relentless is pursuing her targets.

While Lucas is conducting his investigation, with a little help from his friends, including Virgil Flowers, tempers flare and the going gets hot – very hot.

I must admit, like another reviewer, that while I very much like all of John Sanford’s novels, I particularly like the Virgil Flowers series. He has definitely stolen my heart. This book is well written and plotted as are all of Mr. Sanford’s novels. But, I didn’t care for this one quite as much as some of the previous stories. Politics…meh. The tension in the book began immediately with the wild car chase and tumble down the hill. It continued throughout the book as the reader got drawn into the chase and machinations of the “bad girl.” I liked the book, and will continue to read John Sanford’s novels as long as he continues to write them.

I want to thank NetGalley and Penguin Group Putnam/G.P. Putnam’s Sons for forwarding to me a copy of this great book to read and enjoy.

john Sanford always writes wonderful page turners. This latest is no exception. Highly recommend.

John Sandford is one author whose books never seem to get tired. He’s been consistently writing quality page turning-sleep-robbing thrillers for decades. Love all his books from his YA series, to Kidd and of course “that fucking Flowers”. Seriously the only downside is I can never remember which Prey book is which.

Lucas Davenport gets his man, or in this case woman, and not the way you would expect. As usual John Sanford has written an unputdownable book.

Another great entry in the Prey series. When Porter Smalls is involved in a car accident that kills his companion, he calls Lucas to investigate. They both are convinced that Taryn Grant has once again set her sights on Smalls, but can Lucas prove it? With some help from Kidd, Flowers, Ray, and Bob, Lucas does what he does best. Great read, highly recommend.

I confess to cheating on Lucas Davenport with Virgil Flowers. For years now I've felt a tad guilty - I had been loyal to Lucas yet slowly but surely, (and in the words of the author himself), "that f***ing Flowers" charmed me and coaxed me away. I never stopped reading Lucas but was always waiting for the next Virgil - he was the one I wanted. Twisted Prey has brought me back. It was like old times with Lucas. I realized I was smiling as I completed the book. I picked up my phone and texted a friend to let her husband know he should not miss the new Sandford. We had recently discussed our mutual nagging preference for Virgil. Tell your husband I wrote, Lucas is back and better than ever. Now I have to worry about hurting Virgil's feelings.

As usual, another fantastic read by John Sanford. This continuation of the Prey series is just as good as the original. Loved seeing the same characters return. No spoilers but the moral of the story is that Karma will get you! Thanks to the publishers for the advance reading copy.

Full review to be published online in late April.

TWISTED PREY is the latest installment in John Sandford’s very long running “Lucas Davenport” series. Although this reader honestly prefers the author’s ‘Virgil Flowers’ books; Lucas is a fascinating and complex character. Lucas has changed over the years, as have we all; but even with the change of job to Federal Marshall he is just not quite as much…fun…as he used to be. I miss the carefree days when Lucas cut a swath through the female populace of Minnesota (and beyond those borders). Now he’s married with children; staid, refined, and rather blah as a character.

Here, Lucas is investigating an incident involving a Senator and his illicit lover. Returning home after a weekend getaway, Minnesota Senator Porter Smalls is forced off the road by a large vehicle. His female companion is driving, and keeps them from plunging over a ravine and into a river. Although the Senator survives, his lady friend is killed in the incident. On investigation into the crash, no evidence of another vehicle being involved can be found. Suspecting an assassination attempt by rival Senator Taryn Grant, Smalls enlists the help of Federal Marshall Lucas Davenport. Even though Davenport is a newly minted US Marshall; he has many years of investigation under his belt; especially the kind of political import that has occurred here.

TWISTED PREY is a very good read, if not quite one of the best books of the series. The plotline is intriguing, and the investigation well played out. The cameo by Virgil Flowers is a welcome addition to the story, especially since the men no longer work together. As always, the book can be read standalone. Although there are recurring characters that a reader may not be familiar with, the cases in the stories are always self-contained. John Standford still has it.

Twisted Prey – John Sandford

Lucas Davenport is back for more in this long running, first rate series!

Preparing to return home after an idyllic weekend at his mountain cabin with his lover, Minnesota Senator Porter Smalls is forced off the road by a large vehicle on his trip back down the mountain. Only the superb driving of his companion, Cecily Whitehead, keeps them from plunging over a ravine and into a river. But Whitehead is killed in the incident. Upon investigation into the crash, reconstruction teams can find no evidence of another vehicle involved. Suspecting an assassination attempt by rival Senator Taryn Grant, Smalls enlists the help of Federal Marshall Lucas Davenport.

Lucas agrees to investigate the incident and heads to Washington DC, where almost right off the bat, he’s attacked by three men in full armor who mean him harm. Although he escapes unscathed, it’s clear that he’s stumbled into more than a mere automobile accident. That’s when he enlists the help of fellow Marshalls, Rae and Bob Matees.

As the case heats up and key players are identified, Lucas begins to link the assassination attempt to a group called Heracles, and some of its key players, one of whom is aide to Senator Grant. With snappy dialogue, colorful characters, and a cameo by Virgil Flowers, the novel races on to an unexpected and very satisfying ending!

I do not think I will ever get enough of John Sandford and Lucas Davenport!!

Lucas Davenport is back and doing what he does best, now as a U.S. Marshall and facing an old enemy that makes the politicians of today seem tame. Join him as he investigates the attempted assassination of a U. S. Senator and opens up a whole can of worms where all kind of malignant things slither out. But you know Lucas...he always gets his man...or woman.

Highly recommended! This book is due to be released in April 2018.