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    Field of Prey
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    Field of Prey
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    Field of Prey
    Audiobook11 hours

    Field of Prey

    Written by John Sandford

    Narrated by Richard Ferrone

    4.5/5

    ()

    Currently unavailable

    Currently unavailable

    About this audiobook

    The extraordinary new Lucas Davenport thriller from #1 New York Times bestselling author and Pulitzer Prize winner John Sandford.
     
    The night after the fourth of July, Layton Carlson Jr., of Red Wing, Minnesota, finally got lucky. And unlucky.

    He'd picked the perfect spot to lose his virginity to his girlfriend, an abandoned farmyard in the middle of cornfields: nice, private, and quiet. The only problem was . . . something smelled bad-like, really bad. He mentioned it to a county deputy he knew, and when the cop took a look, he found a body stuffed down a cistern. And then another, and another.

    By the time Lucas Davenport was called in, the police were up to 15 bodies and counting. And as if that wasn't bad enough, when Lucas began to investigate, he made some disturbing discoveries of his own. The victims had been killed over a great many years, one every summer, regular as clockwork. How could this have happened without anybody noticing?

    Because one thing was for sure: The killer had to live close by. He was probably even someone they saw every day. . . .
    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherPenguin Random House Audio
    Release dateMay 6, 2014
    ISBN9780698153486
    Unavailable
    Field of Prey
    Author

    John Sandford

    John Sandford is the pseudonym for the Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist John Camp. He is the author of thirty-three Prey novels, two Letty Davenport novels, four Kidd novels, twelve Virgil Flowers novels, three YA novels co-authored with his wife, Michele Cook, and five stand-alone books.

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    Reviews for Field of Prey

    4.5/5

    30 ratings26 reviews

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    • 3/5
      I really enjoyed this novel and the characters, but for me, the ending was predictable and boring.
    • 5/5
      This was the first Sandford book I've ever read.... And I'm asking myself, "How have I missed this guy for so long!?" I'm just now getting into mysteries, and some are clearly better than others. This one was, in my opinion, a book I'd have read as a stand-alone.... regardless of the fact that it was a mystery. I mean, it was written VERY well, it grabbed my attention and kept a tight hold of it, and it was FUNNY! Not all the way through, definitely, but there were some seriously funny parts. I'm so pleased to have found this (as recommended by a co-worker, who heads up a mystery book club I've become part of), and I plan to read the rest of the books in this series!!!
    • 4/5
      Solid but Gruesome Although, with Sandford that's kind of normal.

      So, Davenport's back and he's wrapping up a case that has shades of Bernie Madoff. Meanwhile, two young lovers discover a horrific smell that leads to the discovery of bodies in a cistern.

      Usually with Sandford I get to spend several days in Davenport's crazy world. I ate this one up like Turkish delight. Quick pacing, great plot, and terrific story. A serial killer who's been killing for 20 years isn't going to be a fast catch unless caught red handed. This protagonist made Davenport think.

      I have to warn you, this one felt just a little disturbing at times. This was the book that I decided I had enough of murder, rape, gloom, and serial killers. Totally time for some sunshine and happiness.

      If you love Davenport, you're going to love this one!
    • 5/5
      John Sanford never fails to deliver a great story with one of my favorite characters, Lucas Davenport. I listened to this on audio and it was hard to stop and get out of the car! Lucas is sent out to an abandoned farm where a body has been found in a hidden cistern. It quickly gets out of hand when they find the remains of 17 girls in the cistern spanning a period of about 20 years. Lucas thinks it's someone local as the police fan out across the countryside looking for a particularly vicious killer and his odd accomplice. Lots of twists and turns as the killers try to get the police to look in other directions. This is not for the faint of heart, but if you like thrillers, you will love this!
    • 4/5
      A great read, suspenseful, action, but a fairly predictable ending. The exception is the capture of the police officer by the primary criminal.
    • 4/5
      The night after the 4th of July, Layton Burns, Jr. of Red Wing, MN finally got lucky. And unlucky. He'd picked the perfect spot to lose his virginity to his girlfriend - an abandoned farmyard in the middle of cornfields: nice, private and quiet. The only problem was. . . something smelled bad, really bad. He mentioned it to a county deputy he knew, and when the cop took a look, he found a body stuffed down a cistern. And then another, and another. By the time Lucas Davenport was called in, the police were up to fifteen bodies, and counting. And if that weren't bad enough, when Lucas began to investigate, he made some disturbing discoveries of his own. The victims had been killed over a great many years, one every summer regular as clockwork. How could this have happened without anybody noticing? Because one thing was for sure: The killer had to live close by. He was probably even someone they saw every day.
    • 4/5
      Gruesome murders of many women lead Lucas Davenport on a chase across Minnesota to find the man who keeps strangling women and putting them in the "Black Hole".
    • 3/5
      I worry about Sandford's imagination reading this book and some of the other titles where he inserts the actions and thinking of the bad guys. The killer in this one rapes and kills women and the vividness and detail with which Sandford recounts his actions is beyond chilling; it's obscene and pornographic. There's a vast chasm between erotic pornography that's loving and tender and that which is brutal and sadistic. This is the latter and it's not pleasant. One wonders about a mind that can even think up this stuff. I'm not sure I would want Sandford over for dinner.No need to repeat the plot. Lots of those descriptions available. That said, he has created some interesting characters. Davenport and his sidekicks have become more interesting as the series has progressed. And having Flowers make an appearance never hurts, either. Well read (as ever) by Richard Ferrone. 
    • 5/5
      As with almost all of Sandford's books, I couldn't put it down. He never disappoints! I never even start one of his books unless I am able to read it straight through, because I know that is what will happen anyway!
    • 5/5
      Another Lucas Davenport mystery. Well done, as they always are.
    • 5/5
      A serious look at evil, personified, in a small town serial killer that has managed to stay well camouflaged almost anonymous over many years. Serious even frantic police procedures are countered by the rapid and an incredibly violent response by the killer. It did take Lucas a long time to realize that he already knew what the killer looked like. Letty becomes more engaged in the crime resolution process. and the book ends with a satisfying crescendo of violence.
    • 4/5
      The book begins with a prologue guaranteed to grab your attention. Years ago, a couple of seriously twisted men snatched a young waitress after her night shift & took her back to their lair. Despite their well honed plan (she's abductee #5), they failed to take two things into account: she's a fighter & she always carries a Leatherman. For one of the men it will be a life altering mistake.
      In the present, Minnesota is suffering through a heat wave & it's about to get a lot more uncomfortable for the boys of the BCA. Two teens in a rural area south of the city go looking for a secluded place to get naked & end up stumbling over the stuff of nightmares. When all is said & done, forensic teams recover 20 bodies from an old cistern.
      And so it begins for Lucas Davenport & his motley crew. They're already juggling cases concerning ponzi schemes, bank robberies & septuagenarian gun runners. And who knows what that fuckin' Flowers is up to.
      If you've read the others you know what to expect here. This is Prey #24 (they began in 1989....Gawd! I'm getting old) & Sandford has perfected the format. There will be creepy bad guys, violent crimes, shootouts & lots of sophomoric humour. Some of the books have been more successful than others which is to be expected after 25 years. His last novel (featuring Virgil Flowers) felt like it was ghost written by a family member & phoned in from somewhere with spotty reception so I'm happy to report he's returned to form with this book.
      The main story one is tricky enough to hold your attention & there's a nice little twist at the end to guarantee an "ew" moment. We know who the killers are from the beginning which is always a gamble & the story does bog down for about 10 chapters in the middle with little plot advancement as the team races to figure out what the reader already knows. It's also telegraphed early on there will be a showdown between the killers & a local female cop so it's a matter of getting through the lull to reach the final fast paced & tense chapters.
      All the guys are in their 50's now & their personal lives reflect this (except Virgil). A nice surprise was the larger role given to Letty, Lucas' teenage daughter, as she accompanies him on road trips & the whole family adjusts to her leaving for Stanford.
      There are a few scares along the way but the ending is never really in doubt. This will in no way discourage faithful fans who pick these up more for entertainment than to experience a realistic police procedural. So fans, rejoice. Sandford is back.
    • 5/5
      This book is scary. I get nervous thinking about the murders committed in the story and the killers. The killers were cold blooded and planned their crimes thoroughly.I thought that when Lucas Davenport arrived on the scene that the killers would soon be caught but that wasn't the case.Although I've never dealt with murders, this story seemed very real and it was as if the story was taken from the files from the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension.I enjoyed the characters, in particular Lucas, who is cool and his daughter, Letty, a very intelligent person. There is also a local police officer who became subject of one of the killer's schemes and this portion of the story was excellent.The setting is also well described and I thought it was terrific how two lovers stumbled on the area where the killers disposed of their victims.
    • 4/5
      Great writing; great dialogue, of course. And a great ending and reprise. He still upsets me some with the language, especially by this teen ward, Lettie, the spoiled brat of theirs. Most of it I overlook as it just seems to fit. Sanford, it appears to me, however, is reaching - exploring new areas that border on 'trash' with his violence and gore. But, all in all, a very entertaining story. I still like him.
    • 5/5
      John Sandford knows how to write. He grabs you from the get go and never lets go. This is SUCH a good read. I don't tell you what the book is about in my reviews; you'll have to read it to find out. Suffice it to say - you won't be sorry.
    • 4/5
      Hunt for a serial killer and rapist starts with a teenage couple finding the burial site which ends up having 21 sculls. Lucas Davenport is at it again with lots of suspense and side trails.
    • 4/5
      Holy Cow! For the first time in, maybe 10 years, Sandford has written a book that can stand with the First five books in the Prey series. This one has Lucas tracking a serial killer who targets young blondes. Story is fine, but the glory comes in the fleshing out of the characters. For the first time in years, Lucas feels like Lucas. Letty is becoming increasingly interesting. My only negative note would be, if you're going to include Flowers, include him. These little asides with out purpose are just distracting. Glad to have Lucas back though.
    • 4/5
      Can't believe this is number 24, in the Davenport series. I have been reading Sandford for a long, long time. He is my go to author of crime, the author that for me keeps up the high quality of his fiction, regardless of home many he has written. In this one we know, or do we, the perpetrators of the crime. Multiple bodies of women found in an old cistern, and one way or another Lucas is drawn into the hunt. I usually am not a big fan of stories that start out with a known killer or killers, but in the hands of Sandford , this too is wonderfully done. Many authors struggle with dialogue, but dialogue in these books are used to keep the story rolling and rolling quickly and well. The characters are wonderfully portrayed, a good mix of their personal and professional lives. Humor, yes there can be humor even in the pursuit of a professional deviant. One finds themselves cringing one moment and laughing the next. True talent.Room for thought. "Could Davenport's adopted daughter find herself with a bigger role in coming stories? I hope so, I quote enjoy Letty's view on things.Anyway keep it up Sandford. I am in awe of your amazing talent.
    • 5/5
      John Sandford is his usual, reliable self delivering another taut murder mystery. As always, at least half the delight of the story is the humorous interplay among the standard cast of characters in a Lucas Davenport book (Del Capslock, Weather, Letty, the governor and his "weasel" Neal Mitford).I don't know how Sandford can continually produce the witty, realistic dialogue, novel-after-novel, for so many years, but he never lets you down.
    • 5/5
      Another great Lucas Davenport novel! I could not put this one down. The story knocks you down and holds you there until the last word. A must read.
    • 5/5
      I have read every Sandford novel I could find and this is an exemplary reason as to why... this is the one that blows your socks off.
    • 4/5
      Synopsis: Lucas Davenport is working on trying to track down the perpetrator of a Ponzi scheme, and is having mixed success, when he and several of his team are called in to work a serial killing. Two kids find a dump site for at least 20 bodies of young, blond, women who have been killed at the rate of about 1 per year. Lucas meets Catrin Mattsson, a tough, female cop who is also working on this case. They reach an understanding and Lucas begins to feel that Catrin has the potential to become a BCA agent, if this case doesn’t kill her first.Review: This is a very good book, particularly in that you don’t know until toward the end of the book exactly what is happening with the killer. The satisfying ending makes me hope that Catrin will make an appearance in a subsequent book or two.
    • 4/5
      This latest outing was only surprising in one way; the beginning was unusually dark and vicious even for what are characterized by a lot of people as ‘serial killer novels’. It startled me how dark and twisted Sanford got in introducing his villains. If you’ve read one of these before, you know how it’s going to go and you know that not everyone is safe (I still hate you for Marcy, John). Still, he surprised me with one death and alas, no it wasn’t Weather. Alas.As usual a lot of the book is spent with the killer and he’s right in plain sight. Part of the appeal is to watch Lucas and company ferret him out bit by bit. Sometimes they get so close, but miss at the last minute. It’s maddening, exciting and just plain fun. Even though this is the norm for how Sanford tells his tales, he still can surprise you with certain aspects of his villains and this book has a good one.It seems that Sanford may be angling to develop yet another spin-off series like he did with the Flowers books, but this time make the main character Lettie. Some of her involvement I thought was a bit far-fetched such as her presence at crime scenes when she tags along with Lucas. She gets a lot of screen time in this one and has taken on the mantle of adulthood. I wonder.
    • 4/5
       I keep forgetting how much I end up liking John Sandford's Prey novels. This time a serial killer has been killing young, blonde women annually for 20+ years. When a fellow BCA member gets killed, Davenport realizes that Schaffer figured out who killed the girls and now he needs to make the same leaps of intuition and knowledge to get the killer before he strikes again. Intense and driven.
    • 4/5
      Field of Prey is the 24th book in John Sandford's popular series starring Lucas Davenport, head of Minnesota’s elite Bureau of Criminal Apprehension unit. Lucas has been sent out to investigate a strange case where the dead bodies of at least fifteen women have been discovered in a hidden cistern on a rural farm. The murders seem to date back over twenty years. The particularly vicious killer and his unusual accomplice are introduced early in the book so we already know who Lucas is looking for. There are many unexpected twists and turns; there are few useful leads, making it more challenging for Davenport and his investigative team. As they work to figure out who’s behind the series of murders, the body count increases as more skeletons and bones are discovered.

      Lucas believes that the main suspect lives in one of the small rural towns but he just can’t come up with the right piece of the puzzle. The serial killer makes devious plans to shift attention elsewhere and puts the small town sheriff in danger. Even Davenport’s adopted daughter, Letty, gets involved in the search, coming up with relevant insights. We don't see many of the other supporting characters and it makes me wonder if Letty may soon be getting a series of her own, much like Virgil Flowers.

      Field of Prey is a gripping, gritty, powerful tale of death and deception and a fast-paced read with an interesting twist on the standard mystery. I never get tired of this series and can't wait for the next one.
    • 5/5
      Field of Prey – Simply Brilliant Field of Prey the twenty-fourth in the Lucas Davenport series, is actually my first foray and one that I enjoyed and wondering why it has only taking me twenty-five years to discover this wonderful crime series. Stephen King is correct when he says John Sandford is a great summer read and a great novelist and the great thing about this book it might be the twenty-fourth but can still be read without having read his previous outings.I was impressed with all the twists and turns in this novel that turns Field of Prey from being just another crime novel in to a must read and value for money crime thriller. Field of Prey has a great plot, there is plenty of suspense, some violence when required, plenty of twists with a race to the end to solve the crime. What makes Lucas Davenport such a brilliant character is that he comes across as more human, who loves life, loves to laugh and not afraid to make mistake, a defective detective he is not.An n eighteen year old school senior is about to get lucky with his girlfriend Ginger, and he does seal the deal as it were, but they both discover a smell that is so disgusting that any hunter knows is a body decomposing. He tells a local deputy and takes him to a derelict farmstead and they make a grim discovery in the old underground cistern, and the law enforcement agencies of the state of Minnesota start an investigation.As the more bodies are found they are all female some of just the skulls and so begins a search of missing blonde young females across a tri-state area. The clues do not seem to be there for Davenport and when one of his colleagues is killed and another taken he knows that he is in a race against time to find the killer and save that colleague.At the same time of the investigation we also are able to examine the human side of Lucas Davenport and the growing relationship he has with his Stanford bound daughter Letty who helps to give him various insights in to the crime. All in which makes him more human to the reader than a lot of fictional characters.I cannot recommend Field of Prey highly enough, if you are a fan you know what you are getting but if you are new to the series pick this one up and you will want to read all the others. It looks like I have a summer challenge ahead of myself. This is a brilliant crime thriller that delivers on all pages and you will not be disappointed.