One of my absolute favorite protagonists in the realm of crime fiction has to be Virgil Flowers, a creation of John Sandford. I first encountered this character during college, and I've eagerly devoured every new installment in his adventures ever since. While Sandford's pace of releasing new books has somewhat slowed recently, he now teams up this character with his other immensely popular creation, Lucas Davenport. Their latest collaboration, Judgment Prey, marks the third book where both characters appear together. I've been fortunate enough to receive copies of Sandford's latest works directly from his publisher, and this newest one was no exception. Staying true to his distinctive style, Judgment Prey is a riveting murder mystery enriched by the witty banter and dynamic between Flowers and Davenport.

The book begins with a harrowing scene: the ruthless execution of a federal judge and his two young sons. The killer shadowed the family back to their home following a basketball game and in a chilling act, shot them in cold blood. When the judge's wife arrived just moments later, she was met with the devastating sight of her husband and sons lying lifeless on the floor while her infant baby cried in the background. The heinousness of the murder sends shockwaves through the community. Given the high-profile nature of the crime and its victim, authorities are determined to bring the perpetrator to justice.

Here enters Lucas Davenport and Virgil Flowers. Both men are still recovering from the harrowing conclusion of their previous case, an ordeal that almost cost them their lives. Davenport, in particular, is taking an extended break to mend his wounds. Meanwhile, Flowers is engrossed in writing his second novel. The last thing either of them needs is a new case. Fate, however, has other plans. Davenport's proximity to the crime scene leads him to offer his insights, and before long, the irresistible urge to uncover the truth takes hold. He quickly summons his good friend Flowers to join him in the investigation. Together, they will delve into the lives of criminals, the leaders of dubious charities, and even the judge's grieving widow. They will spare no effort in uncovering the perpetrator's identity behind this brutal and heart-wrenching crime.

Returning to Sandford's characters is always a delightful experience. The dynamic duo of Virgil Flowers and Lucas Davenport consistently delivers a thrilling and unexpectedly comedic reading adventure. Some of the witty exchanges between these two had me in stitches. "Judgment Prey," as the 33rd installment in the long-standing Prey series, successfully hits all the essential marks. Sandford's writing exudes a sense of pure enjoyment, resulting in an engaging page-turner.

Could the mystery's plot have been more tightly woven? Undoubtedly. In fact, this particular installment seemed to struggle with occasional plot meandering, as if Sandford himself was uncertain about the story's direction. Nevertheless, the narrative remains firmly anchored by its charismatic protagonists, rendering even the most implausible plot twists relatively inconsequential. This is top-notch popcorn thriller writing at its finest. I'll gladly continue immersing myself in these narratives for as long as Sandford continues to craft them.

Virgil Flowers and Lucas Davernport team up again. Back home recovering from their injuries from there last adventure, Lucas is asked to check out a gruesome triple homicide of a Judge and his two teenage sons. After a short time with no leads, Lucas and Virgil are formally asked to join the investigation. They quickly make headway and begin to uncover more than just the triple homicide.

This was a fantastic novel by Mr. Sandford. It brings us back to St Paul, Minnesota. As a life long Minnesotan I really appreciate that. Do not fear though, you do not have to have ties to the state in order to enjoy this novel. The plot is intricately woven together with many twists and turns along the way. I often found myself reading one more chapter before putting it down. Mrs. Cooper (the judge’s wife) is a deep and complex character that brings a lot to the novel. She constantly seems to be seen in different light and brings in a lot of drama.

Mr. Sanford brings a lot of tension into the novel, but also brings in a good amount of wit. The quality of the writing draws you in and keeps you engaged. The ending is dynamic and does an excellent job of capping of the story. Overall this is an excellent thriller well worth anyone picking up. Thank you to NetGalley, Johnn Sandford, and Penguin Group Putnam for a free advance copy for an honest review.

It’s always a good month when I have a new John Sandford book to read! I absolutely loved this! Lucas and Virgil make a great team and their banter is *chefs kiss*. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
**Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC of this book.**

3.5 stars, rounded up
In Judgement Prey, Davenport and Flowers are brought in to help with the investigation of the murder of a federal judge and his two young sons. As they track down various suspects, things get totally crazy. It’s a case of dominoes falling.
I had to laugh at Virgil working on his novel. He’s now writing his second and Sandford uses this as an opportunity to espouse his views of writing.
You’ve got to appreciate Sandford’s way with words. “He’s not only guilty, he’s crazier than a crack-house cockroach.” Or this “Jones was a sexy chunk of a woman whose brain could slice open a guest like a watermelon if he or she didn’t take care.”
This is enjoyable entertainment, and moves at a quick pace. It’s got a rationale for the murder I would never have guessed. But I struggled with Sandford’s depiction of Cooper’s character. She’s too cool, with no real grief for the loss of her kids. She just never came across as a real mother.
When all was said and done, this wasn’t my favorite of the Prey series. It seemed to be lacking something.
My thanks to Netgalley and Penguin Group for an advance copy of this book.

On a positive note, I love Lucas and Virgil. I like them together and separate. This was another great book with them.

I did find that it had a slightly different feel to this one, almost as if it was co-authored.
The beginning was a bit down. I get that that's who Lucas is, but it was hard not to have it bring me down, too.

Spoiler alerts:
The negatives for me: Lucas driving a Hybrid and Lucas & Virgil being on TV. Way different than any of the other books.

Judgement Prey is the latest Lucas and Virgil book from John Sanford. A judge's family gets murdered in their own home and the surviving mother and widow works in tandem with Lucas and Virgil to try and solve the crime.

Overall I liked the story and book. The way that this one was setup felt different than rest of the rest of the Prey series as it brought in another point of view that felt different than the other books. The additional view did make it feel messy and confusing at times.

Sanford continues to come back to the same well for storylines and crimes so can feel a bit repetitive at times but overall still enjoyed the read and will continue to read Sanford's books.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for an eARC in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you to Netgalley and the Publisher for allowing me to read an ARC of Judgment Prey.
I have read 90% of the Prey books and was finding some of the recent ones not so interesting. Then Sanford introduced us to Virgil Flowers and his life. He is a hoot. I did not read the book just before this one in which I believe they got shot up like swiss cheese. So this book opens with Davenport still recovering and Virgil doing much better. They are asked to intervene, oversee, work 0n a case that already has the FBI and local police involved. They spend a lot of time talking to each other which is one of the best, if not the best part of the book. Sanford's books in the past have been thrillers with a lot of violence, death, and darkness. Now he has moved to repartee that is funny, witty and makes reading these books more than worth it.
Something else new (for me) that Davenport has added is that we know who done what about halfway through the books. So the fun is whether Davenport and Flowers will figure it out and how. There are a number of crimes in this book. It opens with a father and two children being brutally murdered. The wife was teaching at the university. It's not clear in the beginning if the wife was supposed to be home and therefore killed also. It is only hinted at why these murders took place (besides all the killers being wacko). One of the suspects is a man/friend of the murdered husband who was just about to be given half a million or a million dollars to his non-profit cause. This person has a whole backstory of their own which is quite believable in this day and age. And then there is the wife. Did she have reason to kill her husband? She is plotting revenge as only a grief-stricken, over the edge, person can do.
I loved this book. I love all the Virgil Flowers books. Since this is a Prey book, I think it goes under the Davenport series. I hope they stick together for awhile. They are fun and give so much comic relief to the horrors of what they have to investigate.

"Judgment Prey" by John Sandford is a gripping installment in the Lucas Davenport series. When a wealthy socialite is found murdered in her mansion, Davenport, a skilled investigator, is called to unravel the complex web of motives and suspects. As he digs deeper, he uncovers a trail of deceit and vengeance that keeps the pages turning. Sandford's masterful storytelling and intricate plot make "Judgment Prey" a compelling thriller that keeps fans of the series eagerly hooked.

John Sandford’s latest novel, Judgement Prey, features both Lucas Davenport and Virgil Flowers; in this police procedural/murder mystery at its best. The plot is intricate, the characters are well-developed, and the pacing is spot-on. I love the banter between
Lucas and Virgil.
A wealthy federal judge and his two young sons are murdered in their own home. Davenport/Flower's investigation turns up other crimes and secrets that add to the suspense.
I received an ARC of Judgment Prey in exchange for my honest review. Thanks to NetGalley, Penguin Group/G.P. Putnam & Sons, and the author. I totally recommend the "Prey" series!

This is book 33 of the Prey series by John Sanford. This book is due out October 3 of 2023. It was given to me by the publisher penguin group and I just finished this book and I thoroughly enjoyed it as usual. I’ve read a lot of the Prey series over the years and I always have so much fun trying to figure out what’s going on. Lucas and Virgil and their individual lives are also very fun and you know they are no nonsense investigators but they’re unique in their approach, and they have great family lives, and I really enjoy reading about them. The story is a murder mystery. It’s about a judge who has two sons about the ages of 10 and 12 a wife and a baby daughter. one day someone comes into their home and murders the judge and the two sons. The baby is upstairs asleep, and the wife is not at home, so Virgil and Lucas are trying to figure out who the murderer is. The wife is grieving, and she is struggling to move forward, and the story is how she wants to figure out who the murderer is, and dole her own retribution. So it’s a story of Lucas and Virgil and her trying to figure out who the murderer is and the complications that occurred till the end. this is a great one to pick up. John Sanford writes wonderful stories you can’t go wrong with a new Prey who done it.

It's always a treat when two of my favorite detectives, Lucas Davenport and Virgil Flowers, show up in the same book. For the uninitiated, the characters are from two different John Sndford series. Virgil Flowers was a spinoff of the Lucas Davenport series and starred in 12 books from 2007 to 2019. Since then they have continued to cross paths the Lucas Davenport series. Judgement Prey is the 33rd book in the Lucas Davenport series and I'm pleased to say that Virgil Flowers plays a significant costarring role in the book. This is police procedural at its best with plenty of rule bending, witty banter and intense action. This can easily be read as a stand alone but I strongly recommend starting with the first book, "Rules of Prey" and reading them all. Highly recommended

John Sandford’s latest novel in his “Prey” series, Judgement Prey, features both Lucas Davenport and Virgil Flowers. The Davenport/Flowers team always produces a winning novel. This time around, Lucas and Virgil team up to solve the triple murder of a Federal judge, Alex Sand, and his two young sons. As the investigation gets under way, the body counts as well as the list of suspects continues to grow.

This fast paced thriller will have you hooked till the very last page. Even though you can see what is coming at points, you can’t put it down until you find out the “how”. I have read all the Prey books and this is one of the best. I am always eagerly awaiting the next book in this series. They never disappoint. Fans of Sandford or thrillers in general will not want to miss this one. Happy reading.

There's one thing I hate about every novel in John Sandford's Prey series: they end and I'm left waiting longingly for the next one. This book is no different. I just finished it and feel bereft knowing it will be at least a year before Lucas and Virgil are back.

When federal judge Alex Sand and his two sons are brutally murdered in a seemingly evidence-free killing, Lucas Davenport and Virgil Flowers are called in as a last resort to help try and solve the case. After interviewing the widow, Maggie Cooper, they come away feeling she has her own agenda and knows too much about the details of the case, which she could only get from an inside source. But just what is the grieving widow up to and how is the charity Heart/Twin Cities connected to the case? To find answers to these questions, Lucas and Virgil do what they do best:: play off of each other to develop theories and scenarios about the case.

Once again, Sandford demonstrates why this series is such a long-running best-seller. The plot is intricate, the characters are well-developed, and the pacing is spot-on. Don't get me started on the snappy, often witty dialogue, especially between Lucas and Virgil. Both are characters I've loved, even when Virgil had his own series, but together, they are magic. Now if only Sandford could produce another book in this series in the next six months, I'd be a happy camper.

Disclosure: Received an uncorrected ebook file of this book from NetGalley and GP Putnam's Sons/Penguin Random House LLC (Thank you!) in exchange for an honest review.

Hooray!! Lucas Davenport and Virgil Flowers team up once again after their last caper left them both recovering from gunshot wounds. No spoilers here but what I can share is Lucas and Virgil (both protagonists from their own awesome serial novels) join forces to solve the murder of a judge and his sons.

As always, I loved the camaraderie between Lucas and Virgil and the ways in which they work together to solve a murder. What I didn't love as much with this novel was the abrupt ending and how much time the book spent on the Cooper, the wife of the murdered judge.

She is broken after losing her family but the path her storyline took made her increasingly unlikable and unrelatable as the story progressed. If the evolution of her character was intended to elicit any feelings of compassion, then this was an epic fail. Cooper's plot line also weakened the overall believability of the story, in my opinion.

Despite the Cooper issues, this was still a book I greatly enjoyed reading. You needn't have read the prior books to enjoy this one, the author provides any backstory necessary to move this plot forward (and if you like this book, you will have a plethora of Davenport/Flowers novels to dive into). So if you are a fan of well written murder mysteries, this is one worth your time (once it's available).

A federal judge and his sons are cut down in cold blood, and the case is getting even colder. Lucas Davenport and Virgil Flowers are called in to do what others could not: find answers.

With Sandford's impeccable plotting and trademark cop humor, Judgment Prey is a welcome addition to any thriller lover's bookshelf. Highly recommended. #Judgment Prey #NetGalley #SaltMarshAuthorSeries

Sandford is still able to excite and surprise with this series, even after 33 titles! Lucas and Virgil are both recovering from a shootout (book 32) and Lucas Davenport is actually using a cane part of the time. He has more gray and more morning aches, but when it comes time to chase and catch the bad guy, he drops the cane and grabs his gun. A wealthy federal judge and his two young sons are murdered in their own home. Davenport's investigation turns up other crimes and secrets that add suspense, but are dead ends. He doesn't give up and you know he finds the killer in the end.

I enjoy John Sandford’s Prey novels so much more when Virgil Flowers is an essential character. Judgment Prey is called “A Lucas Davenport and Virgil Flowers Novel”. I hope Flowers’ fans are as happy as I am with this book.

Lucas and Virgil were both shot in the line of duty. Nine months later, Davenport is still on leave, dealing with PTSD, depression and his dreams. But, the U.S. Marshal for the Minnesota District calls him to take a look at a crime scene. Judge Alex Sand and his two sons were shot dead in their house. As a federal judge, a number of his cases could have led to this. But, it’s obvious to Lucas that the killer wasn’t a professional. He assesses the scene, but steps aside. It’s a case for the FBI and St. Paul, Minnesota police.

When the investigators seem to be spinning their wheels, people with clout send in Davenport and Virgil Flowers from the Bureau of Criminal Apprehension. When they talk with Sand’s wife, Elizabeth Cooper, and a friend of hers, Ann Melton, Lucas and Virgil catch on to a relationship between the two women. They also see that Cooper is hiding something from them. It doesn’t take long to realize the women seem to have access to BCA files. They appear to be tracking the case, and the two men suspect Cooper may have an unhealthy fascination with it. Is she a suspect, or is she a woman out for revenge?

Before Judge Sand was murdered, he was planning to invest in a local charity. Now that he’s dead, the head of the charity isn’t sure Cooper’s interests align with her husband’s. Lucas and Virgil add a few people from the charitable organization to their watchlist. But, their leads seem scattered all over the place. It doesn’t help that they know that Cooper is either lying to them, or hiding things.

Judgment Prey is such a satisfying, intricate crime novel. It’s a tangled mess from start to finish. Lucas and Virgil always seem one step behind the killer and various suspects. But, it’s fun to watch the two men work the case together. They share a bizarre sense of humor, a deep friendship, and trust. Those who enjoy a complex case featuring strong characters should find Judgment Prey fits the bill.

Fans of John Sandford’s Lucas Davenport and Virgil Flowers will enjoy seeing their two favorite protagonists team up to solve a triple murder in a new addition to the Prey series, Judgment Prey. In all honesty, I had taken a hiatus from both Virgil "flipping" Flowers and Davenport. When I saw that they were teaming up for this one, however, I decided to test the waters one more time. I was not disappointed.

Lucas is still recovering from gunshot injuries he suffered while on an earlier case with Virgil when he is called upon to assist unofficially with the investigation of the murder a wealthy federal judge and his two young sons. Flowers is also assisting, so the two old pals are teamed up to work on a case that local police are not unearthing.

They begin by looking at Judge Sand’s old cases. Perhaps someone he’s sentenced in the past has a grudge to settle. There’s also the matter of a local charity, which was counting on a significant donation from the judge. Rumors of fraud surround some of the personnel in the group, however, and this raises questions that require answers. Finally, there’s the widow herself, Maggie Cooper. She’s distraught and cannot seem to move on until she knows who the killer is. Besides the initial murders, which occur bang-bang-bang in the first chapter, there are other crimes in this book. Some old, some new, not all by the same perpetrator.

While this book doesn’t have the suspense that the early Prey books have, this is still a well-constructed plot and there is a friendly working camaraderie between Virgil and Lucas. (No F-ing Flowers comments, thank goodness. That was getting tired, honestly.) I wasn’t sure what to expect by the end, but I think I enjoyed Judgment Prey more than I anticipated.

I received a digital copy of Judgment Prey as an ARC in exchange for my honest review. Thanks to NetGalley, Penguin Group/G.P. Putnam & Sons, and the author. My thoughts and opinions are my own.

3-1/2 stars

I believe this is book #33 and I've been reading the Prey books from the start. Once again, John Sandford proves he is a master of thrillers! Lucas Davenport and Virgil Flowers, two of Sandford's lead characters again join forces to crack an unsolvable case that will keep you on the edge of your seat from start to finish. They start investigating the murder of a federal judge after the police don't seem to make progress and need help. Uncovering a scandal when a charity related to the case sets off a serial killer and enables a revenge killing. Yikes! Soon solving the case (of course) as only Lucas and Virgil can. Full of fun banter and twists to keep your interest high and pages flipping! Another fun ride along with Flowers and Davenport.

As always, an John Sandford ARC goes right to the top of my priority reads! And for good reason! He always provides a solid mystery thriller with such great characters!
When a local judge and his two sons are killed, Lucas is pulled out of his recovery leave and teamed up again with Virgil Flowers to add support to the local PD working the case. Just like Righteous Prey, this features both characters equally. I can't help thinking that Sandford is having fun writing the banter between the two. It adds some levity to some horrific criminal activity. In this book, you'll find the two of them skirting the line with some ingenious detective work. What knocked it to a four star for me was that I didn't find Colleen believable. Understandable, yes, and I could imagine the wheels turning in her mind, but to act of some it...not so much. Also, we usually get a better understanding of the thinking of the killer in Sandford's books. Here he remained an enigma, only getting a partial understanding of what led to choosing his victims.
This one ending with Virgil continuing to eye the exit door, and Lucas confirming he loves what he does!