Phantom Prey (Lucas Davenport Mysteries)

Features

• Cover Type: Hard Cover with 384 pages
• Published by: Putnam Adult May 6, 2008
• Written in: English
• ISBN 10 Number: 0399155007
• ISBN 13 Number: 978-0399155000
• Book Dimensions: 9.2 x 6.1 x 1.4 inches
• Weighs: 1.2 pounds

Product Review
“You know life is good when you have a new Lucas Davenport thriller to escape into.”
—Chicago Tribune

Product Description
Lucas Davenport has had disturbing cases before— but never one quite like this, in the shocking new Prey novel from the #1 New York Times–bestselling author.

John Sandford’s most recent Davenport novel, Invisible Prey, was hailed as “one of his best books in recent memory” (The Washington Post); “as fresh and entertaining as ever” (Chicago Sun-Times); and “rivetingly readable” (Richmond Times-Dispatch). But this time, he’s got something quite special in store.

A widow comes home to her large house in a wealthy, exclusive suburb to find blood everywhere, no body—and her collegeaged daughter missing. She’s always known that her daughter ran with a terrible bunch. What did she call them—Goths? Freaks is more like it, running around with all that makeup and black clothing, listening to that awful music, so attracted to death. And now this.

But the police can’t find the girl, alive or dead, and when a second Goth is found slashed to death in Minneapolis, the widow truly panics. There’s someone she knows, a surgeon named Weather Davenport, whose husband is a big deal with the police, and she implores Weather to get him directly involved. Lucas begins to investigate only reluctantly—but then when a third Goth is slashed in what is now looking like a Jackthe- Ripper series of killings, he starts working it hard. The clues don’t seem to add up, though. And then there’s the young Goth who keeps appearing and disappearing: Who is she? Where does she come from and, more important, where does she vanish to? And why does Lucas keep getting the sneaking suspicion that there is something else going on here . . . something very, very terrible indeed?

Filled with his brilliant trademark suspense and some of the most interesting characters in thriller fiction, Phantom Prey is further proof that “Sandford is in a class of his own” (The Orlando Sentinel).

Reader Reviews
John Sandford returns with another entertaining installment in the Lucas Davenport series. In PHANTOM PREY, Alyssa Austin returns home to her gigantic mansion. Something doesn't seem right. She fears there may be an intruder. In a few moments, she discovers some blood on the wall. She fears the worst, and it is confirmed that the blood belonged to her daughter, Frances. The great Lucas Davenport is spending his days on a stakeout of the beautiful and pregnant Heather Toms. With binoculars, Lucas and friends get to watch her every move. They are watching her in hopes of her fugitive boyfriend showing up. Lucas gets called off the stakeout to do a favor for the governor, who is friends with Alyssa Austin. Mrs. Austin would like Lucas to look into her daughter's disappearance (no body had been found) because the police investigation is at a standstill. So, Lucas begins investigating Frances Austin. Frances dabbled some in Goth circles, and Lucas pursues many clues in that area. More murders occur and a "fairy" is the likely suspect. The fairy is a waif like figure dressed in black with black hair and black make-up. Lucas can't figure out how the fairy ties in with Frances Austin or the other murders that start piling up. Prey novels have always been known for their spectacularly evil villians and the ingenuity of Lucas and his pals in finding out who the killers are. To me, what sets Sandford apart from other authors is his ability to get into the minds of the killers and write the story from their point of view as well. He's created some truly evil villians. In Phantom Prey, the villian is a weak point. The reader doesn't get much of look the villians but Sandford makes up for it. While waiting for the plot to thicken and the evil of te villians to take over, the reader gets to follow Lucas as he investigates the crime and just lives his life, and that is a lot of fun. Sandford also throws out a lot for fans to enjoy, such as references to Kidd and his marriage, Virgil Flowers, and Davenport's contempt for fools her are new age and use Tarot cards. Bottom line, Sandford fans will enjoy this book. If you're new to Sanford, start at the beginning. The first books in the Prey series are just as good as the last. Comment | | (Report this)