Phantom Prey by John Sandford Summary and Reviews
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Book Reviews of Phantom Prey
Book Review: It took a lot of work to finish reading this book
Summary: 2 Stars
This book is not up to the usual level of the author. Along with Harlan Coben, the author's attempt to be up-to-date with goth culture is forced and really silly, like seeing a 60 year old white guy trying to rap. Parts of the plot were just too predictable, without a lot of character development. The character of Alyssa was as thin as cardboard. At least there was less of Weather and Letty, they do not endear themselves to me. This is not a book I will keep to reread. It was a chore to finish (not as bad as cleaning the bathroom). Reading should be a pleasure. This book was not.Book Review: Lucus Lives
Summary: 4 Stars
How can a writer create 18 novels about the same character and continue to produce inovative and exciting fiction that leaves the reader excited to read the next story in the series? Lucus Davenport continues to be one of, if not the best "cops" in literary fiction today. Phantom Prey plays out cooly and fresh from the beginning murder to the end of the story following the expected twists and turns that John Standford is noted for. The thing that makes this story fun, besides the action itself, is the little snide side comments made by the characters that catch you off guard and bring out an unexpected laugh.
What's next for Lucus? I'll definately be reading the next Prey book to find out.Johnny's Jacket
Book Review: Murder among the Goths
Summary: 4 Stars
The problem with a long-time series character is keeping him (or her) fresh. Certainly, over the course of eighteen or so Prey novels, the character of Lucas Davenport has had his bouts of staleness. As originally introduced in Rules of Prey, Davenport had a bit of an edge, with both his constant womanizing and his willingness to break the rules to solve a crime. In later novels, Davenport would become far more domesticated and less interesting; books with a tamer Davenport generally didn't stand out from the crowd of serial killer thrillers.
Happily, John Sandford's Phantom Prey shows elements of the old Davenport, whether he's ogling a woman he has under surveillance, flirting with another witness or looking the other way as a nasty criminal gets a little street justice while "resisting arrest". This darker Davenport is more appealing and redeems a story with a rather pedestrian plot.
In Phantom Prey, Davenport is asked to investigate the case of his wife's friend's daughter, who disappeared under mysterious and violent circumstances: the only trace of her is some blood. As a state cop, he's not really involved in the case, but he offers to at least give it a look. The missing young woman, Frances Austin, was spending time in the Goth community of Minneapolis, which may be linked to the murder. The link seems more obvious when a Goth girl known as Fairy starts killing people she has linked to Frances disappearance.
Other things are going on that are occupying Davenport's attention. A lesser sub-plot involves Davenport planning security for an upcoming Republican convention. More important is Davenport's effort to capture a notorious drug dealer, an effort that will entail keeping the dealer's wife under surveillance.
Many readers will have little trouble figuring out who Fairy is, and the key to her identity uses one of the more tired cliches of suspense fiction. It is to Sandford's credit that he seems to realize how contrived it is and reveals Fairy's identity by mid-book, not saving it for a big twist at the end. Overall, however, this is a decent book, one that should easily satisfy Sandford fans. It's not the best Davenport book, but even an okay one is good enough to be pretty entertaining.
Book Review: Not Up to Series Standards
Summary: 3 Stars
First, I find the main character, Lucas Davenport, one of the most compelling characters of this genre. He is the type of guy I would like to be, or at least know, if I were transported to a fictional universe. He is not quite in the league, interest-wise, as a Harry Bosch, but likable and edgy just the same. I'm somewhat surprised that he hasn't made his way on the big or little screen. This being said, however, this book was a disappointed as it degenerates into a story that might play if Lifetime, Spike and the SciFi channel merge. Sandford has written much better in the past and I'm hoping his story lines have not run dry. It's a decent beach or summer read but take it for what it is. A reasonable entertaining work that will kill a few hours but be forgotten in just about the same amount of time.Book Review: Not the Best of the Davenport Series
Summary: 4 Stars
While Lucas Davenport novels are very entertaining & popular, Mr. Sanford misses the mark with this one.
There's a coke dealer named Siggy and a Goth couple called Fairy and Loren. Add to the mix Fairy has a dual personality and the book derails. The coke dealer and Fairy & Company have no real correlation.
The book seems to stall in some sections of either story. The book isn't Mr. Sandford's best effort in the Davenport series