I’ve really enjoyed the whole series. While the story follow a pattern, the cases are unique, the gotchas are new and Lucas Davenport continues to grow as a character.
Reading books from the 90’s or early 2000’s always emphasizes just how much has changed in the world. The attitudes towards addicts and criminals are so different. I’m not sure if we’re more progressive now, or if John Sandford was leaning into certain stereotypes of police and politicians.
Part of what makes this series appealing is that Lucas Davenport does experience character growth. He repeats his mistakes, but Sandford lets Lucas tell the reader that he recognizes the mistakes. The cast is interesting, Jael and Tom add new perspectives.
As someone who lived in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan in the early 2000s and currently lives in middle Canada, a lot of the weather and cultural markers are familiar. There was some discussion of the long vowels in the book and it made me feel pleasantly nostalgic.
Highlights:
– Lucas Davenport continues to be his own worst enemy
– Midwesternisms
– Sandford really does a good job of making the reader feel the urgency and the thrill of the chase
Lowlights:
– It is a little same same but different
– I feel conflicted about the lack of nuanced representation of women, but there’s also not nuanced representation of men, so….
Links
John Sandford Reviews
Lucas Davenport Series
#11 – Easy Prey
#12 – Chosen Prey
#13 – Mortal Prey
#14 – Naked Prey
#15 – Hidden Prey
#16 – Broken Prey
#17 – Invisible Prey
#18 – Phantom Prey
#19 – Wicked Prey
#20 – Storm Prey