Mind Prey
by John Sandford
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Book Reviews of Mind Prey
Book Review: Best Davenport book so far in series (reading in order)
Summary: 5 Stars
Mind Prey is the 7th book in the Lucas Davenport series by Sanford. I have read all seven in order, and really do enjoy the series (I was looking for a series to get into since I have completed Henning Mankell's Wallander series to this point). The Davenport series is really good, but Mind Prey is by far the best book in the series so far.
It has mystery, suspense and a heck of a lot of thrill. There really is never a dull moment. You have the perspective of the hero, Davenport, the victims and the nutball kidnapper. While the entire plot sounds typical, it is far from being just another mystery/suspense novel. Within days, I have begun the next book in the series.
Note -- I am soft when it comes to violence against women. I wouldn't exactly call the graphic nature of the crimes in this book to be too detailed, you are aware they are happening. If you can't stomach that kind of stuff, you are better off skimming lightly over it, though I do not recommend skipping it - it pulls you in closer to the characters and makes you want to see the kidnapper go down even more.
Book Review: Disturbing and gripping - this will stay in your dreams . . . or nightmares
Summary: 5 Stars
John Mail - the antagonist of this novel - is the sort of psychopath of which nightmares are made. Years after being committed by Andi Mannette, he finds himself again obsessing over her; so, he kidnaps her, and both her daughters. Andi is, however, from a wealthy family with many connections, and her estranged husband is also wealthy with connections, so a media storm is immediately created, leaving Lucas Davenport roasting on the spit as he runs to beat the clock and find Andi and her daughters, before it is too late.
There are many scenes that are disturbing and graphic concerning Mail's treatment of Andi; many might find these difficult to get through (I know I did) however, they are not only important to the story but they also get across Mail's attitude toward Andi, which is very ambivalent.
So much happens - this story is so tautly paced - that it seems the events take place over a much longer time frame than just five days, but that is all that goes by. As I noted in the review title - very gripping story. Highly recommended.
Book Review: Never a dull moment
Summary: 5 Stars
This installment of the Lucas Davenport series is top-notch. The main character, Lucas Davenport, a Minneapolis detective is in search of a madman who kidnaps a psychiatrist and her two children. As always, Sandford writes a tight, engrossing tale, with witty dialogue and believable characters.
Davenport himself is the antithesis of your usual hero: hard-nosed, street smart (but not amazingly smart), and somewhat of a boor, but does have his sensitive side. In other words, he is not perfect and seemingly isn't a person you can idolize, but certainly can identify with.
Most thrillers don't even deserve to be called thrillers, but this one is a rollicking ride and the scenes leading to the climax really builds the suspense.
The villain is realistic. And, as with most of the Prey series books, he is introduced right off the bat. The suspense is in how Davenport and his team find out who he is.
Mind Prey is one of the more exciting Prey novels I've read. It's not laborious at all and absolutely worth your while.
Book Review: the best
Summary: 4 Stars
I would rate Mind Prey as on par with Winter Prey as being the best in the series. In this installment, brilliant psychopath John Mail kidnaps his former psychiatrist and her two young daughters as vengeance for her part in having him committed to a mental hospital years before. Lucas Davenport is back and hot on Mail's trail. Mail, a gamer who knows of Lucas' history designing computer games, starts toying with his pursuer by leaving obscure clues as to his location. With the most original plot of all the "Prey" novels (as well as the most frightening and unpredictable villain), if you are new to the Prey series and you don't care about going in order, read this one before you even think about the others.
The only thing I didn't like about this book was that sometimes Sandford would create completely unnecessary characters and make it seem like their purpose in the story was meaningful, but then you'd find out that it wasn't (like Ice, one of the programmers at Davenport Simulations).
Book Review: Another great thriller by John Sandford
Summary: 5 Stars
Author John Sandford scores again with another gripping story of a psychopath on the loose who kidnaps and rapes for the sheer pleasure of living out old fantasies and after a pcychologist and her two daughters are snatched, Lucas Davenport is assigned to the case and begins his search for the kidnapper. Davenport seems to use a connect-the-dots and finely honed instincts learned from his years on the streets but here he gets a little help from the not-to-bright nut case who taunts Davenport by cell phone, daring the detective to find him before it's too late. Sandford's characters all ring true and there are several people in the novel who could potentially benefit from the doctor's kidnapping or death and Davenport has to sift through clues and scenarios and explore every angle of what turns out to be a very complicated case with several troublesome legal issues that threaten to slow down the investigation. Narrator Richard Ferrone does a great job as storyteller in Sandford's excellent thriller.