Lucas and Virgil? Yes!

A judge and his 2 young sons are gunned down, Lucas and Virgil are on the case. Judge Alex Sand was on the board of a charity that needs his money. All eyes go to the head of the charity who is now working Sands widow to come through. Or was the culprit someone that the Judge sentenced in his courtroom? As things progress, the number of suspects keeps rising.

What I really liked was the follow through from the previous book with Lucas recovering from his wounds. The relationship he has with Weather and Virgil are so strong and add much to the story.

Good read.

3.5 Stars 🌟

Well, I guess after 33 books, not every single one is going to be fantastic. For the most part though, this has been a series that I've really enjoyed over the years. I went back and forth between a 3 and a 4 star rating, and decided to split the difference. Mr. Sandford has definitely built up a large amount of hard earned credit with me in establishing a group of characters that over the course of the years we have come to know and like, to root for, to grieve with. You get the idea....

About this book in particular. Without going into spoilers, it just wasn't what I've come to expect from the series.

Things I liked:
*Having Lucas and Virgil work together on the case. I love both of their characters and it was great to have the two of them team up again.
*The funny and sometimes extremely dry sarcastic banter between the two. It seemed to me that we reached a new level of snark and sarcasm between the two. They definitely know how to push each other's buttons, but it was never done in a way that wasn't good natured.
*Getting a couple of snippets from other characters - Letty, Weather, and Virgil's baby momma (having a brain freeze trying to remember her name at the moment). Unfortunately, these snippets were TOO brief. It would have been nice to see a little more of some of the secondary characters.

Things that weren't so great:
*The case itself just wasn't good. There was absolutely NO depth to it. We never knew "why" the killer did what he did. I mean, yes, there were broad strokes of a reason, but not really. It was weak, very, very weak.
*The addition of the "other" case felt kind of just thrown in there. It felt forced and not something that was actually organically happening during the same timeframe (in other words, the 2 circumstances were not connected to each other, yet it felt like they were thrown in to add to the plot). It just felt off.
*Don't get me started on the main bad guy in that case - seriously? Not only was it a completely unbelievable set of circumstances, but the whole situation felt like a kind of Keystone Cop skit. Definitely not what we've come to expect from Lucas' and Virgil's past experience with their respective agencies.
*The behavior of the female MC. That whole scenario just never really worked. Yes, I guess you could KIND OF understand where she was coming from in the beginning, but then the character kept devolving and devolving and the circumstances surrounding her just kept getting weirder and weirder until at the end, it just made me think, "Huh?"
*That ending. Really? I honestly thought my ARC was missing the last few pages. Talk about falling off a cliff (I mean that metaphorically - it is not a spoiler) It just ended......suddenly and without much explanation.

So, after putting all this down in words, now I'm thinking it was really more like a 2 star read (which is so unusual, it still makes me shake my head), but I'll stick with my initial rating because this series gave us the fantastic character of Lucas Davenport and the other zany character of his sometimes sidekick, Virgil "fu***ng" Flowers - and that definitely counts for something.

Will I continue to read the next book in the series when it comes out? Yep, you better believe it. I'm choosing to believe this book was just a blip in the road.

Thank you to NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review this ARC. The opinions above are mine and mine alone.

I have said it before, and I will say it again.....John Sandford is a national treasure! How does he keep turning out spectacular mystery novels, again and again? This time he goes my favorite route, combining his two main characters, Lucas Davenport and Virgil Flowers. Together they make an unstoppable team of detectives. A shocking crime in the Twin Cities, as a federal judge and his two sons are gunned down in their home. The plot is exciting, but the interaction between Lucas and Virgil is what really sets this book apart from other mystery novels. Easily readable, and I could not put it down! And the ending....I'm often surprised at the ending of Sandford novels, but this one completely surprised me and blew me away! Bravo, bravo, bravo Mr. Sandford! Please keep your books coming!

There was a time when I had read all the Lucas Davenport books, then just kind of lost interest. After several years of skipping them thought I would try another one. Just doesn't work for me. Drag out way too long. Can't see my self going back into this series.
Thanks NetGalley for advance copy

I LOVED this book! To be fair, I love this series, and other series’ by the Author.
Something that slowly dawned on me is that we do not get all of the answers
tied neatly in a ribbon, leaving me with some pondering to go with me to my
gardening.
When Federal Judge Sand and his two young sons were murdered in their home
(their infant sister was asleep upstairs in her crib; she plays a minor role)
the first thought on the minds of many is what would become of the large
donation the Judge was planning to give to the Charity that he supported- would
his grieving widow follow through with the large amount of money her husband
had planned to give.
There are literally a bus load of suspects. Judges send people to prison, and they
occasionally retaliate, either personally or by proxy. Boards of Directors often bicker…
The investigation continues to go nowhere, to the distress of the entire community.
It’s time for the best experts: Old pals, Lucas Davenport and Virgil Flowers are
brought in to reignite this investigation but this may be the one that even they cannot
crack …maybe it will be time for actual retirement!
This is an excellent book, and as always, I’m already eagerly awaiting the next adventure.
These two super crime fighting heroes just make me smile. And the subtle, nuanced humor
is simply the best.
My thanks to Penguin Publishing Group via NetGalley for the download copy of the
book for review purposes.

Davenport and Flowers get roped into investigating the murder of a federal judge after the local police make no progress. Their out of the box thinking leads to uncovering a whole can of scandal when a charity tangentially related to the case sets off a serial killer and enables a revenge killing. Eventually they do uncover the judge's murder and everything is brought to a close. Well, except for the twist at the end. Another fun ride along with Flowers and Davenport.

Thanks Netgalley for the opportunity to read this title.

If you are a fan of John Stanford’s Prey series, you are in for a treat. .This story brings Virgil Flowers and Lucas Davenport working together to solve a murder of a federal judge and his sons. They were asked to help work in the background to help solve this case and through the information they have uncovered, you are kept guessing. I have been a follower of this series from the beginning and the characters stayed true too their how they were written. But I must admit that I missed each character’s family interactions.

Somewhat better than the previous novel Righteous Prey; but Sandford’s politics still bleed through far too much, spoiling an otherwise engaging read. When a Federal judge and his two sons are shot in their home, Davenport and Flowers are brought in to informally investigate despite the fact that the St. Paul cops, BCA and FBI are already working on the case. In typical fashion, Davenport and Flowers drive around the cities and countryside trying to figure out who killed the judge and his kids by talking to people. In the meantime the judge's wife, Maggie Copper figures out who killed her family and sets out to get her own revenge.

Still like Virgil better than Lucas.

Judgement Prey
By John Sanford
Pub Date Oct. 3, 2023
G.P. Putnam
Thanks to the author, publisher and Net Galley for the ARC of this book in exchange for my honest opinion.
#33 Lucas Davenport Series
I was thrilled to read this book. Great story as always! Characters are well developed. The mystery is suspenseful. I highly recommend this book. If you have not read the rest of the series you can easily read this as a stand alone. Great ending or should I say endings.,, a fabulous Fall read. This is a good one!,
5 stars

I have been reading John Sandford's "Prey" novels (and others) since the beginning. They continue to grab me and I can't put them down. This one was no exception.

A Federal judge and his two young sons are murdered, each shot several times. The police are on it, the FBI is on it and nothing seems to be happening so Lucas and Virgil are brought in to see what they can see. Lucas is still recovering from his gunshot wounds, but being involved in this case is exactly what he needs.

The story takes off, an offshoot of the investigation takes place, more people murdered and the wife of the judge is determined that when anyone finds who killed her family, she will be the one to kill them.

Things are not always as they seem and this book does not end how you think it would end. Loved it!!

Thank you NetGalley and G.P. Putnam for the early read.

This is the 33rd book in the Lucas Davenport series, and Federal Marshal Davenport is joined by Minnesota lawman Vigil Flowers as they investigate the murder of a federal judge and his sons. Plenty of suspects and an equal number of curveballs as the duo in their inimitable style unravel the seemingly complex mystery. Not a bad book in this series, and this one is no exception with witty dialogue, an intelligent and interesting plot and enough action to satisfy new readers and longtime fans. I received an ARC of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you to Net Galley and the publisher for this arc. I really enjoy this series and the camaraderie between Virgil and Lucas is awesome. Some of their conversation is hilarious. This story has a good pace and it keeps you guessing. The ending was fantastic.

John Sandford once again proves why he's a master of the crime thriller genre with his electrifying novel, "Judgement Prey." In this gripping tale, Lucas Davenport and Virgil Flowers, two of Sandford's iconic characters, join forces to crack an unsolvable case that will keep readers on the edge of their seats from start to finish.

The story opens with a chilling and heart-wrenching scene—wealthy federal judge Alex Sand and his two young sons are brutally shot in their own home. The audacity and brutality of the crime leave the St. Paul community reeling with shock and grief.

Sandford skillfully weaves a complex web of motives and suspects, ensuring that no shortage of potential culprits emerges. With the local police force and FBI hitting dead ends, the pressure escalates to solve the case. Enter Lucas Davenport and Virgil Flowers, two of Sandford's most beloved and dynamic characters. As they delve deeper into the investigation, the twists and turns keep coming, leaving both the characters and the readers guessing at every turn.

Thank you to NetGalley and Putnam for the advanced reader copy of the book for my review.

Additionally, the author's portrayal of the St. Paul community adds an authentic and vivid backdrop to the story. The atmosphere is so well-crafted that it almost becomes a character in itself, immersing readers in the setting and enhancing the overall reading experience. Being originally from Minnesota I thoroughly enjoy all the locations and mentions from the local landmarks.

I'm a long-time fan of this series so I was very happy to have a chance to read this latest edition. I think it might be one of my favorites. The dialogue between Lucas and Virgil is always a pleasure to read and I feel Sandford really upped his game with this one. You get a great sense of their relationship and their personalities. The plot is also excellent. Regular readers will not be disappointed and new readers will get hooked.

Thank you to NetGalley for an advance copy of this book. A great addition to a great series.

Another thrilling installment in the Prey series by John Sandford. Judgment Prey finds aging US Marshall Lucas Davenport recovering physically and mentally from his last case. Asked to assist on a shooting a judge and his children that follows a winding path. Davenport is joined by longtime sidekick Virgil Flowers. Fans of the series and detective/mystery stories will enjoy this edition of the popular series.

Thank you to NetGalley and G.P. Putnam's Sons for my advanced reader copy of this book. All opinions are my own.

Lucas Davenport and Virgil Flowers barely made it through their last outing. When this, the 33rd Prey novel opens, it's clear Lucas is struggling mentally and physically with how close he came to not surviving. Yet, he bounces back when offered the chance to look into the brutal murders of a federal judge and his 2 young sons.

Love the new style of the Prey series, not solely focused on either Lucas or Virgil but rather having them work together. As always, this book flows well like they all do. John Sandford has such a gift in creating memorable characters, females especially--and here the grieving widow, Margaret Cooper, has steel in her spine. It becomes a race between her and the two detectives in finding the guilty party and administering their own brand of justice. Highly recommend.

Oh my goodness did this book grab me and not let go! Judgment Prey picks up a few months after Lucas and Virgil were both shot in their last outing and they're feeling their mortality along with their healing wounds. The mystery case revolves around the murder of a federal judge and his two sons, the hunt for their killer, a shady charity the judge was donating money to, and the wife that is left behind who has her own idea of what justice would be for everyone involved. I loved the interactions between Lucas and Virgil since they play off each other so well and the core mystery even when sometimes the wife's interference is a little much. I would definitely recommend this book to fans of the series and even to those just starting it. A big thank you to Penguin Group, G.P. Putnam's Sons, and NetGalley for the early read in exchange for my honest opinion. 4.5 stars

When Federal judge Alex Stone and his two young sons are shot to death in their home, Lucas Davenport and Virgil Flowers are called in to do what they do best: find cold blooded murderers.
The story is intriguing from the beginning and pulls you right in with the murder itself and builds from there, as the usual Sanford tales do.
Suspense ratchets accordingly with a slew of extra characters, extra motives and interesting possible extra crimes adding to the general mayhem and intrigue.
Good story but veered off a little too often for me - unlike his previous books.
Recurring characters, Weather and Frankie made their usual appearances and add to the interesting side repertoire that only adds to the story's appeal.
Virgil and Lucas are always better together.

This was a refreshing change back to the Sandford books we grew to love. The non political prey books. I really enjoyed it and it kept me reading to find out what was going to happen next.
Wecome home!

Good plot, and I love Davenport and Flowers, but the main criminal character was wacky with not a lot of explanation for their motive. Still, a good read!