Here, Sandford (who last year under his real name of John Camp also published the fine seriocomic thriller The Fool's Run) pits Davenport against a murderous Indian cabal. Perhaps it is best to start at the begining with Rules of Prey and omit this one.A crackling sequel to Sandford's ingenious Rules of Prey (1989), in which Minneapolis homicide cop Lucas Davenport made his memorable debut tracking a serial killer. There's not enough room or time here to do them justice. The best in the series in my opinion are two of the best books I have ever heard, the two Rinker books, Certain and Mortal Prey. Please don't judge the Prey series by this one.

All the things that John Sandford's Prey books are not, usually. Perhaps because is was no good? It is drawn out with a weak storyline, a tedious sexual affair and unfocused baddies. So, what is wrong with this one? It is the second Prey book and was the only one not recorded at the time. It is like turning the TV on to watch Inspector Morse and finding that he's played by an unknown actor. It ruins continuity, and the rhythm and pace of the entire book. Changing the reader of a series is unbelievably stupid. When you have such a rich collection of characters as this you obviously form ideas and images about them. The audiobooks are just as they should be - unabridged and most importantly, read by the same excellent reader. The descriptive writing is beautiful and thoughtful too, never jumping to simplistic assumptions about the forces that drive human beings. Intelligent friends and fellow cops add more humour and insight into the dark situations the barking mad criminals create. He is a dodgy, reckless, self made rich guy with some unpleasant traits but he sure is fun. Davenport is a complex character in the best of ways. The Prey series is a truly wonderful collection of books. Sandford's Prey series is superb except this one LUCAS is establishing why he is such a bada$* & has the reputation he does. But all his books are great & the development of Lucas & his family all take place throughout the series but this book is still in the stages before he had to worry about another woman, kids, politics, & future responsibilities I ended up reading at almost the same time because I was reading Silken Prey shorty after. It was worth it almost to the point I wish I read it earlier. For some reason I read so many of the other Prey novels before I came back & read this one which is technically the 2nd in the series. All the Davenport Novels are worth a read, this particular book is great because it revolves around a younger, crazier, slutty, always manipulative Lucas, a group of fugitives that are both interesting & dangerous, & many of Davenports close friends in the future are cementing they're loyalties from these earlier novels.

Shadow Prey by John Sandford