Rules of Prey (Lucas Davenport, No. 1)
by John Sandford
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Book Reviews of Rules of Prey (Lucas Davenport, No. 1)
Book Review: Good plot, but what's up with Lucas's personal life?
Summary: 3 Stars
I was looking for a good suspense, stumbled on the Prey series and decided to start from the book 1. I like the part that deals with the murder, serial killer and police investigation. I like Lucas - even with all his flaws. He can be brutal, he reads poetry, he creates computer games, likes to dance when alone, has a problem problem keeping his pants zipped, he gambles. Why three stars? I could not stand Lucas's girfriend Jennifer and Lucas's inability to deal with her. Jennifer is selfish, rude and narrow minded. She decides that she wants a baby so she gets pregnant and just informs Lucas about the fact - what Lucas does? Does not complain about being set up and not even being asks if he wants kids with her but promptly proposes marriage. Jennifer does not want to get married, but has no problem with insisting that Lucas should be faithful to her. Because she is a reporter she has no problem with listening to his private conversations and makes them public so she can produce "news" even though it can endanger live of the victim. When Lucas gets angry she just ignores it, rolls over it like it is not a big deal and he lets her!!!! She is pregnant but has no problem drinking beer or wine. Lucas on the other hand can not make his mind with which woman he wants to be but does not really complain when that decision is made for him. I've got so annoyed that I looked up the rest of the prey series and decided that if he and Jennifer ever get married I will not touch another book. Thankfully it looks like that will not happen so I can give another book a try.Book Review: A good solid police thriller that doesn't disappoint
Summary: 4 Stars
While not offering anything particularly ground breaking, "Rules of Prey" does a good job delivering all the things thriller readers want to see in a serial killer novel: a scary murderer, an interesting central cop character chasing the killer, lots of colorful supporting characters, a good sub-plot or two, and a fast pace. While I wasn't crazy about the "gotta take the law into your own hands to get any justice" aspect of Lucas Davenport's character, I otherwise found him interesting and likable enough. I also liked how Sandford didn't shy away from making his central character a little messy: Lucas Davenport isn't above using his murder investigation as a means to score women, even though he and his current girlfriend are expecting a baby.
This new paperback edition also includes a brief but illuminating new introduction by the author, which discusses the origins of the Lucas Davenport series. In the end, I definitely enjoyed "Rules of Prey". Despite the fact that it originally appeared over fifteen years ago and undoubtedly hundreds of other serial killer thrillers have appeared since then, the book feels fresh and alive and keeps you turning the pages.
I look forward to picking up the second book in the series (also out in a new paperback edition), "Shadow Prey".
Book Review: Wonderful beginning to one of my favorite series!
Summary: 5 Stars
Lucas Davenport comes crashing onto the scene in this explosive debut novel of the Prey series. It is here that we are introduced to the character that will lead us through many dark and nasty cases in Minneapolis. This story has Davenport chasing "maddog," a serial killer that is terrorizing the women of Minneapolis. With each killing, he leaves a note on the victim with a rule that he has developed, i.e. "Never kill anyone you know." Davenport establishes his pattern of not quite ethical behavior in dealing with his informants that will persist throughout the Prey series. The reader is also introduced to Elle, his childhood friend that is now a nun, his hobby of inventing games and his love of women.
In "Rules of Prey," Lucas is with Jennifer Carey, a regular bedmate from TV3, who wants him to father a child. The only irritating thing about this story is Carey herself, domineering and manipulative, willing to emotionally exploit her relationship with Lucas to further her career, but becoming annoyed when he does the same. And Lucas just goes along with it!
The story is fast-paced with crackling dialogue between the characters and almost impossible to put down.
Book Review: Back when the series was good.
Summary: 4 Stars
Rules of Prey start off a great series that features Lucas Davenport, and hard cop that pretty much goes by his own rules. I know it sounds cliched, but thats' the only way to describe him. He's a maverick, at times does questionable things, but the bottom line is that he gets the job done.
In Rules of Prey, Lucas is up against a cunning killer that has certain rules he goes by in order not to get caught. Some of the rules are "Never kill anyone you know', "Never follow a Pattern" and "Don't take the weapon with you." Those are just some of the rules the killer goes by. Each time the killer kills, he leaves a rule for the police and Davenport. With each Rule, Davenport falls further behind.
For me, the downside is when we learn that Davenport also writes computer games. I found those parts brought the book to a halt and I just skimmed over that part. Don't let that discourage you from picking up this book or starting the series.
This book has a lot of great plot twists and turns that will keep the reader glued to the page. As a I said, this is back when the series was top notch. I highly suggest Rules of Prey.
Book Review: Highly Disappointing
Summary: 2 Stars
I purchased the Kindle version of this book based on the fact it had earned high marks for average reader reviews. I also wanted to like Sandford because his books are set in my hometown of Minneapolis. Upon reading the book, however, I'm not at all sure I understand where the accolades come from. This is moderately adequate writing, but with characters that are extremely one dimensional. It was something of a struggle to finish the book, in fact, because it quickly stopped surprising me, and the tiresome habit of the protagonist, Lucas Davenport, bedding down every woman in the book has the feel of some kind of adolescent fantasy, not a real character. We're supposed to empathize with a detective who blithely seduces a crime victim, at the same time he is sleeping with every female news anchor in town? Perhaps this appeals to 14-year olds, but certainly not to adults.
Certainly nothing here to make me want to read the rest of the prey series. If you're looking for good writing, with nuanced, real characters, read James Lee Burke. By comparison, this first book in Sanford's series is little more than a well-crafted cartoon.