I don't know how Sanford does it but his books continue to interest me and keep me reading into the night. In Lethal Prey, Sanford has Davenport and Flowers working together. They are a fun match. Shit happens. The internet and social media play a huge role and all is solved in the end.
I hope Sandford writes forever.

This is another fast paced book in the Lucas Davenport/Virgil Flowers series. As always, I enjoyed the interaction between the two protagonists. Their personalities complement each other well and the wit balances out the seriousness of the crimes. The book takes on a new twist by crowd sourcing the crime solving with true crime buffs, who are eager to help an claim part of the $5 million dollar reward offered by the victim's sister for solving the 10 year old murder. For Davenport and Flowers controlling the bloggers is as difficult as solving the case. As always, great dialogue and lots of plot twists will keep the reader guessing.

Lethal Prey is the 35th installment in author John Sanford's Prey Series and apparently the 16th installment in the Virgil Flowers series. Lucas Davenport is a true maverick; whether he's working for the law or skirting procedure, he utilizes his exceptional ability to get inside the mind of a killer, along with his select contacts in the government, the media, and the criminal underworld to get the job done. He's worn many hats during his career in Minnesota—police officer, detective, BCA investigator, state troubleshooter—but his newest job as Deputy US Marshal takes him into the biggest arena of all.

Virgil Flowers, now an author of some renown, is working on his fourth book and maybe wrapping up his career as a BCA investigator. He is known for his unusual insights and nonstandard investigation procedures, which sometimes mean getting close to the subject of his investigations. Virgil has been in a solid relationship with Frankie, and now has twins of his own and Frankie's sons to help out on the farm. This book takes place after Lucas and his adopted daughter Letty were involved in a domestic terrorist incident in New Mexico (Toxic Prey).

Lethal Prey revolves around a 20-year-old unsolved murder in St. Paul, Minnesota. Doris Grandfelt, an accounting firm employee, was found stabbed to death and dumped in a park, her case stumping investigators due to a lack of forensic evidence and suspects. Her twin sister, Lara Grandfelt, now grappling with a breast cancer diagnosis, reignites the investigation by leveraging her wealth and desperation. Lara posts the case file online, offers a $5 million reward for information leading to the killer’s conviction, and draws a flood of true crime bloggers, amateur sleuths, and opportunists.

The ensuing chaos prompts Minnesota authorities to enlist U.S. Marshal Lucas Davenport and Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension (BCA) investigator Virgil Flowers to take charge of the reinvestigation. The story's premise taps into the cultural fascination with true crime media and the complications of public involvement in police work. Sandford sets up an intriguing challenge: Lucas and Virgil must navigate a deluge of tips—many dubious—while pursuing new leads and revisiting old ones. The killer, revealed early in Sandford’s signature style, is a calculating psychopath whose motives and methods add a layer of mystery, though their limited presence dampens the suspense.

The interplay between Lucas and Virgil remains a highlight, with their witty banter and complementary skills—Lucas’s hard-edged intensity and Virgil’s intuitive, almost uncanny insight—driving the investigation. The procedural elements are meticulous, showcasing Sandford’s knack for weaving forensic details and investigative strategies into a compelling narrative. The premise of true crime bloggers muddying the waters adds a modern twist, reflecting the influence of social media and public sleuthing in real-world cases. Sandford also gives glimpses into their personal lives, with Lucas’s wife, Weather, and Virgil’s partner, Frankie, adding warmth without overshadowing the case.

Lethal Prey suffers from a sluggish pace, particularly in the first two-thirds. The investigation involves a lot of driving, interviewing, and sifting through leads, which, while realistic, feels repetitive and lacks urgency. Action is minimal, with the most notable sequence—a barn fire—failing to generate real tension since the protagonists are never truly at risk. Sandford’s decision to reveal the killer early is a series hallmark, often used to build dread as the investigators close in. Here, however, the villain, while chilling in their cold-blooded rationality, remains underdeveloped and distant.

Their motives are murky, and their interactions with Lucas and Virgil are limited, reducing the cat-and-mouse dynamic that typically fuels Sandford’s thrillers. This makes the stakes feel lower than in novels where the antagonist poses a direct, personal threat. The most glaring flaw is the novel’s conclusion. Without spoiling, the investigation ends abruptly, with no clear resolution or closure. This open-endedness feels jarring in a series known for tying up loose ends, even if violently. We all know that every book in this series has been an open-and-shut format, so why leave this open-ended?

Lucas Davenport and Virgil Flowers are back together and assigned a cold case. The case is brought back by the twin sister of the victim offering a large reward to find her sister's killer. The reward green lights the true crime bloggers who immerse themselves in investigating the murder. The momentum and suspense were over the top. I read this book in one day. Having followed the series from the first Lucas Davenport book. I find the quality of writing, character development and story lines to be consistently smart, action-packed and gripping. As usual, there is just enough humor to add to the enjoyment. A big thanks to Netgalley, publishers and Mr. Sandford for the opportunity to read the latest installment of my favorite series, in exchange for my honest review.

Another solid entry in the solid long-running series. Like previous books (but not last year's), we're teamed up with Lucas and Virgil. Virgil was off in 2024, and I missed him so much. I really think his attitude and skills compliment Lucas's, more than Letty's. The Letty books are fine. They have all the hallmarks of a classic Sandford novel, but Virgil is really where it shines. The Minnesota location is a welcome return, now that both Lucas and Letty are all over the country. While, I don't feel this book lives up to the heights that earlier Lucas/Virgil books have (Ocean and Righteous being the standouts), I think it's just as good as the better books. Virgil seems to be winding down a bit in this book, and I can't tell if Sandford plans to retire the character. Sandford is getting up there in age as well. I just hope for a few more outings. Even the year off was sad to see. More please! Until the wheels fall off.

Lara Grandfelt's sister was murdered 20 years ago and the killer was never found. Now that she is herself ill, Lara wants to know the truth and offers a 5 million dollar reward for something leading to a solve.

This brings out the crime podcasters---many podcasters; they are all looking for a scoop, and Lucas and Virgil are harassed by them.

Adventitiously, the murder weapon is found by a podcaster. This gets the case rolling again and now the killer realizes she might have to kill again to keep her secret.

A pretty good Prey novel. The go between with Lucas and Virgil works well.

I am always thinking about the review I would give a book as I am reading it or an audiobook as I am listening to it. As I continued to read Lethal Prey, I knew that I would be pleased to give John Sandford’s 34th book in his The Prey Series an excellent review. This was based upon a novel (no pun intended) aspect of the story, that it was fast paced, intriguing, and suspenseful. I liked that it took place in both rural and big city settings in and around St. Paul, Minnesota. Lucas Davenport and Virgil Flowers, once again a team, are their usual heroic selves, supporting each other as both partners and friends although different in their approach and methodology to the crimes they investigate. They each have loving families and satisfying home lives. Lucas and Virgil stand in stark contrast to the villain of the piece, a psychopathic serial killer who is as twisted as her own story and who definitely does not adhere to the adage that your past doesn’t define you. So I was really enjoying this psychological thriller until the last page. The last page when it suddenly, precipitously ended. I had no reason to believe that it was meant as a cliffhanger. There was no author’s note, no afterword to let me know that there would be a follow-up or sequel with a conclusive ending and resolution. It was just an ending that was not an ending. It was a psychological thriller, all right, with an unexpected turn and complete with ambiguity, anxiety, and uncertainty-all mine. If the prospective reader does not mind an unfinished conclusion or even enjoys it, then you will find this novel to be a worthwhile read for all the reasons cited above, and more. It is an excellent story with the interesting inclusion of social media, websites, bloggers and true-crime podcasters assisting in significant ways to catch the murderer. It is a unique component of the story, written as entirely believable. The villain, the antagonists, and the victims are clearly drawn and defined.
We meet the murderer early on. Doris Grandfelt, employee of an acccounting firm, is viciously stabbed to death. Did the murder take place inside the firm’s office building or where her body was found deep within a city park? No one was ever apprehended. Twenty years later, her twin sister, Lara Grandfelt, diagnosed with terminal breast cancer, is determined to find her sister’s killer and lands the investigative file on true-crime sites. Bloggers and true-crime podcasters begin working on solving the murder in pursuit of the $5 million reward that Lara offers for information that will lead to an arrest. Lucas Davenport and Virgil Flowers join forces when the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension (BCA) in St. Paul gets involved. One of the bloggers uncovers the murder weapon and we soon know who the killer is- Amanda Fisk. Fisk makes the investigation more difficult as she is an assistant county attorney in the criminal division of the Ramsey County Attorney’s office. She has experience with crime, evidence, and alibis. Doris Grandfelt was murder #3 for Fisk and she wasn’t finished there. And then she went and did something that made one of the two protagonists very, very angry.
The continuing saga of Amanda Fisk will be anticipated. Here’s to hoping the psychopath uses her better judgement regarding murder until we meet her again.
I would like to thank NetGalley and G.P. Putnam’s Son for an advanced copy of Lethal Prey. This is my honest review of John Sandford’s book.

Sanford wrote professionally before he wrote mysteries, as a journalist, and it's so easy to tell. His stories are always polished and organized and I never feel lost in the story. I don't always like where he takes his stories but he's doing a great job coming up with new storylines.
I used to love the Lucas Davenport character and then I loved Virgil Flowers, but I like it even better when they work together solving mysteries. This is one of my favorite ideas: it's a cold case where a loved one wants to find out what happened to her sister before she dies.
The investigation is logical and Davenport and Flowers were able to look at things differently than the original investigators. Even though the original crime happened so long ago, there was still danger digging up the past. Very satisfying.
Thanks to NetGalley for letting me read this

Lucas Davenport and Virgil Flowers team up to work on a cold case after the decease’s wealthy sister puts pressure on some politicians to reopen a murder case from twenty years ago.. Along with Lucas and Virgil investigating, the wealthy sister puts up a five million dollar reward for information leading to the solving of the case. This brings the true crime crazies out of the woodwork. Lucas and Virgil not only need to handle the investigation, but also keep the true crime crowd at bay and away from ruining their investigation.

First the positives. Lucas and Virgil are back in Minnesota. As a long time reader and native Minnesotan, this is great news. While I have liked the series as a whole, I felt the last few books based in other locals were a step below the Minnesota based books. Lethal Prey also contains humor and lots of bantering back and forth between Lucas and Virgil. The element of using the true crime enthusiast to help crack the case was interesting and new. It is an easy read because Lucas and Virgil are amazing characters that keep you interested.

Now for the negatives. The last ten percent of the book is boring, and the ending is awful. I don’t really know how else to say it other than nothing happens minus paperwork. The ending itself is unsatisfying and leaves you wanting for more. I also feel there was a lot less action in this book compared to the rest of the Prey series and the Virgil Flowers series. It was very procedural with little to any chase scenes or high drama moments.

This book as a whole is a mixed bag. It pains me to say that, but it is. The characters and their interactions are excellent, but the book is missing any urgency. I think a better ending would have given me a much better opinion of this book, but I just couldn’t get over that last ten percent of it. Hopefully this is a missed opportunity, and not a sign of things to come for Mr. Sandford. Thank you to NetGalley, John Sandford, and Penguin Group Putnam for a free advanced reader copy for an honest review.

I've been a devoted fan of John Sandford's crime novels ever since I first discovered his Virgil Flowers series in college. Sandford’s signature blend of sharp humor and breakneck plotting instantly hooked me, making Flowers one of my favorite protagonists in the genre. Back then, he was releasing a Virgil Flowers novel annually, alongside a new installment in his more famous, and arguably more popular, Prey series, featuring Lucas Davenport.

In recent years, as Sandford continues writing into his 80s, he’s shifted to a single yearly release that brings both heroes together in the same book. After taking a break from this approach last year, Lethal Prey marks the return of Davenport and Flowers as a duo, so I was eager to get my hands on it. Fortunately, Sandford’s publisher sent me a copy, meaning I didn’t have to wait long to dive in.

In an age obsessed with internet sleuthing and true crime, Lara Grandfelt is wagering $5 million that someone can finally solve her twin sister Doris’s decades-old murder. Brutally stabbed over 20 years ago, Doris’s body was found in a dense thicket at the edge of an urban park, but her killer was never caught. Now, facing her own mortality after a cancer diagnosis, Lara is determined to uncover the truth, offering a fortune to anyone who can bring the murderer to justice.

Lara knows the flood of online sleuths chasing her $5 million reward will need oversight. Enter Lucas Davenport and Virgil Flowers, reluctantly called in to verify leads as a favor to a politician Lara generously supports. Skeptical of crowdsourced crime-solving, they dismiss the frenzy as internet noise. That is until a blogger uncovers the murder weapon. As real clues emerge, so does a chilling truth: the killer is watching, adapting, and staying one step ahead. With every new revelation broadcast online, Lucas and Virgil must race to solve the case before the killer claims more victims—including themselves.

I've come to take great comfort in the familiarity of John Sandford's writing, and Lethal Prey, the 35th installment in his longest-running series, delivers plenty of what I love. Once again, Sandford pairs his best characters to solve a decades-old case, using his signature approach—giving readers insight into the killer’s perspective while letting his heroes race to uncover the truth. It’s a formula he’s mastered and one I always enjoy.

That said, this installment didn’t hit quite as hard as previous ones. The sharp, witty banter between Davenport and Flowers felt sparser, and the investigation's momentum stalled in places. But what really lessened the impact for me was the abrupt ending. The story simply stopped, leaving a major cliffhanger rather than a satisfying resolution. Even so, I’ll be first in line for the next book. Sandford has a proven track record in crime fiction, and a few missteps won’t keep me from diving into whatever he writes next.

A funny thing (funny to me anyway) happened when I started reading John Sandford’s newest novel: Lethal Prey. I had the radio on as background noise and Thin Lizzy’s song The Boys Are Back in Town began to play. Somehow that just felt right, given that this is the 35th book in Sanford’s Prey series and indeed Lucas Davenport and Virgil Flowers were back on the job. This time around the story focuses on a cold case. Twenty years ago Doris Grandfelt was murdered, and now her sister, Lara, who is suffering with cancer wants closure before she dies, and she’s willing to shell out big bucks to have the case finally solved. Needless to say this new found interest in the case doesn’t sit well with the killer. While this wasn’t my favorite in book in the series and Lethal doesn’t deviate much from the series usual formula (and that is by no means a knock against it. Yes, this series like many series does indeed have a formula, which in my opinion is why so many people find them so comforting) it still delivers the goods. Note that while this is indeed a long running series, Lethal Prey can easily be read as a standalone and new readers need not fear that they might be lost or confused. I’d like to thank PENGUIN GROUP Putnam | G.P. Putnam's Sons and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review an eARC of Lethal Prey.

https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/lethal-prey-john-sandford/1145976717?ean=9780593718407&bvnotificationId=c9badd5c-0a0b-11f0-bc65-125a8dff6615&bvmessageType=REVIEW_APPROVED&bvrecipientDomain=gmail.com#review/341279942

https://www.amazon.com/review/RJU33PLC64VHK/ref=pe_123899240_1043597390_SRTC0204BT_cm_rv_eml_rv0_rv

John Sanford is one of my must-read authors. I always enjoy the Lucas Davenport stories, and I love the Virgil Flowers stories. When Sanford has the investigators work together, the book is not only well planned, but the reader gets to enjoy the dialogue between the two. This thriller begins with a vicious murder. Even when the body is discovered, there are no clues to the culprit. Twenty years later, the victim's wealthy twin puts up a sizeable award for information leading to the culprit. Money and politics lead to Davenport and Flowers teaming up to head the investigation. Even though these are long running series, this novel can easily be read as a standalone. I normally give Sanford high praise and five stars. Unfortunately, fans need to be warned that the ending is quite abrupt. I read an advanced review copy from the publisher, and almost wondered if it was missing the ending. Hopefully, the author's next book wraps up this story line in his next book.

Lethal Prey by John Sandford is the ultimate police procedural. Virgil Flowers and Lucas Davenport have been working together for a long time. They are no longer working for the same agency, although they have been brought together for a special investigation. A cold case. Murder. Twenty-five years earlier. The police records show that there had been a decent investigation, which turned up nothing. The woman’s sister had now decided that she needed to know. She had done well for herself so now was the time. To sweeten the pot, she added a five million dollar reward for information leading to identifying the culprit. It started off slowly but gradually clues started to appear. Random at first, but they began to hang together and revealed a serial killer who didn’t consider herself a criminal. She was just ridding herself of people inconvenient to her. Including her husband, although that was tough to prove. Really all of it was circumstantial. She had been careful.

Virgil was also a novelist, working on his latest book. He lived on a farm with the mother of his young twins: Frankie, and her teenage son. She worked with horses. Lucas lived miles away with his wife and kids. They worked together, and sometimes apart as the case unfolded. The interesting thing was how they used true crime bloggers to do research and run errands, and leak information as it was convenient. They were all looking at the money and the number of followers they had. The killer began to get nervous and drove out to the country to set Virgil’s barn on fire, hopong to draw his attention away from the investigation. Now, he was mad. That was it. Frankie and Sam had minor burns, but they’d been attacked. Fabulous characters. A wonderful example of how opposites attract, both at home and at work. The crime was solved slowly, with precise police work. The plot was beyond good, it was exquisite. The pacing was perfect. Another Davenport and Flowers victory for John Sandford.

I was invited to read Lethal Prey by Penguin Group Putnam. All thoughts and opinions are mine. #Netgalley #PenguinGroupPutnam #JohnSandford #LethalPrey

This was a well-written, entertaining book. It was fascinating, action-packed, suspenseful and drew me in immediately. I couldn't put it down. I enjoyed this book and will continue to look for the next book by this authors.

As a Minnesotan how could I not be a fan of John Sandford ? This Prey book was a little different than most starting off with that right away you know who the killer is and why they’re committing the murder. I wasn’t sure how I’d feel about that, I was however pleasantly surprised how caught up I was with seeing what the criminal was going to do next to try and throw the police off their sent. Virgil and Lucas were great as always with their easy banter between each other and whoever they come in contact with. Reading about all the different cities and spots in Minnesota, I could literally see them in my head and knew just where John Sandford was talking about. He nails not only locations but the way we act, talk and the things we deal with here in Minnesota. He even mentioned the construction , which all Minnesotans loathe! I would definitely recommend this if you’re looking for an easy to follow, clever crime mystery!
PS can’t wait to purchase a copy for my shelf tomorrow at the book signing.

In John Sandford's Lethal Prey, two of Sandford's longtime protagonists, Lucas Davenport and Virgil Flowers, once again join forces. Davenport, a U.S. Marshall, and Flowers, an agent with the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension (BCA), team up this time to tackle one of Minnesota's most difficult cold cases.

When Doris Grandfelt was brutally murdered, the BCA investigation quickly reached a dead end. It could not be determined where Grandfelt had been murdered, and the BCA had been unable to locate the murder weapon or much evidence. Twenty years later, her twin sister, Lara Grandfelt, wanted answers. She posted copies of the files from the cold case on true-crime sites and offered the true-crime bloggers a 5 million dollar reward.

Lucas and Virgil began reconsidering the cold case from the small amount of evidence originally collected by the BCA. With help from some of the bloggers, Lucas and Virgil slowly pieced together what had happened to Doris - and a great deal more. The explosion of information that they uncovered also brought an increased threat from a dangerous, cold, and calculating killer.

I am a huge and longtime fan of Sandford's work. And by joining Lucas and Virgil together on this cold case, Sandford does not disappoint. This book seems different from earlier Lucas and Virgil books - there aren't as many bullets flying around, and the ending is "unusual" (for Sandford). Nonetheless, by focusing on a cold case, incorporating true-crime sites and bloggers, and adopting a new, "unusual" ending, it feels like Sandford is growing as a writer. And I, for one, am excited to follow Sandford on this journey.

Lethal Prey is another Sandford blockbuster. Highly Recommended.

Admittedly, when I see that a new John Sandford book is available I jump at the opportunity to enjoy what I know will unfold between the covers. US Marshal, Lucas Davenport, along with Virgil Flowers are always a guaranteed chuckle amidst a complicated but so easy to read and fast moving suspenseful plot.

In Lethal Prey, we are introduced to the brilliant mind of a killer whose carefully planned murder of young and beautiful Doris Grandfelt is revealed at the onset. The crime is so meticulously planned and executed that it has remained a cold case for twenty years. Doris’ very wealthy twin sister is facing a life threatening diagnosis and decides to offer a five million dollar reward for information leading to the identity of Doris’ killer. When a plethora of true crime bloggers take to the case, finding clues but potentially opening a circus of untamed clowns, Davenport and Flowers are called into action. So interesting to be put into the world of crime bloggers which I knew zip zero and nothing about prior to this read.

What ensues is a gripping fast paced psychological drama in a race to capture what starts to appears as a spate of related murders. A wild read for me! No-one can write dialog like Sandford does. Pure magic on the page. Until the at the very end, much to my disappointment, the author drops the story without any prior warning. It might have spoiled the book for some people and I won’t say that I wouldn’t have liked to know at the onset that this is part one of a series. Yet for me I will just look forward to the continuation of this riveting plot in Sandford’s next book- which I hope is available very soon.

Five shimmering stars for an exciting read that had me captured from the start. It becomes available in just a few days, March 25,2025 and is a must read for Sanford fans and perfect for those who haven’t read this series in the past. My thanks to NetGalley and Penguin/ Putnam for an advance reader’s copy in exchange for my own unbiased review.

I almost took away a star for the ending but I didn’t. Why? Because an author’s job is to elicit a heartfelt response to his book and Mr. Sandford did that. Hopefully, he doesn’t mind the names I called him. I’m hoping the next book will give the answers this one didn’t.
This book has more characters than usual but many come and go. Even though they greatly impacted the story, they were on the edges. So there was a lot to keep track of. It was interesting getting the story from the perspective of Flowers, Davenport and the killer. I liked watching Davenport and Flowers put all the pieces together. Those two make an incredible crime fighting team. The book also starts in the past to give background info.
There was even a bit of romance, Flowers style.
I did receive this book as a free ARC and am leaving this review voluntarily.

Probably one of my least favorite of the Prey novels. Nothing bad perse, just nothing to really dig into.

The book was really great, and I've read all the Prey books, and this was an interesting book.....until the end. It didn't end, so one assumes it will be picked up in the next book! a female serial killer, interesting. Not a spoiler as it tells you that right away. otherwise, it was a good book with Lucas and Virgil. Lots of action, kept you reading for sure. Unsatisfying ending.