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Lucas Davenport #12
Chosen Prey
12 hours, 13 minutes
Lucas Davenport returns in the most harrowing and unexpected Prey novel yet - the story of a congenial man and his most uncongenial obsession....
Art history professor James Qatar’s hobby was taking secret photographs of women. At night when he was all alone, he’d dream about them and indulge his fantasies. Then one day, his fantasy went too far. Now it’s Qatar’s turn to become an obsession - of Davenport’s. And for both men, there’s no turning back.
Lucas Davenport returns in the most harrowing and unexpected Prey novel yet - the story of a congenial man and his most uncongenial obsession....
Art history professor James Qatar’s hobby was taking secret photographs of women. At night when he was all alone, he’d dream about them and indulge his fantasies. Then one day, his fantasy went too far. Now it’s Qatar’s turn to become an obsession - of Davenport’s. And for both men, there’s no turning back.
357 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 2001
1860 people are currently reading
5494 people want to read
About the author
John Sandford
234 books9,631 followersJohn Sandford is the pen name of John Roswell Camp, a Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist and bestselling author known for his gripping thrillers and popular crime series. After earning degrees in history, literature, and journalism from the University of Iowa, Camp began his writing career as a reporter, first at The Miami Herald and later at The Saint Paul Pioneer Press, where he earned critical acclaim for in-depth series on Native American communities and American farm life. His work won him the Pulitzer Prize for Feature Writing in 1986.
In 1989, Camp transitioned into fiction, publishing two novels: The Fool's Run under his real name and Rules of Prey under the pseudonym John Sandford. The latter launched the long-running “Prey” series, starring Lucas Davenport, a sharp, fearless investigator navigating politically sensitive crimes across Minnesota and beyond. The series grew to include spin-offs and crossovers, notably featuring characters like Virgil Flowers, a laid-back BCA agent with a sharp wit, and Letty Davenport, Lucas's equally determined daughter, who stars in her own series starting in 2022.
Sandford’s books have consistently appeared on the New York Times bestseller list, with over two dozen debuting at number one. Known for his dynamic storytelling, fast pacing, and keen attention to detail, Sandford combines his journalistic roots with a gift for character-driven narratives. He remains an avid reader and outdoorsman, and continues to write compelling fiction that resonates with readers who enjoy intelligent thrillers grounded in realism and driven by memorable protagonists.
In 1989, Camp transitioned into fiction, publishing two novels: The Fool's Run under his real name and Rules of Prey under the pseudonym John Sandford. The latter launched the long-running “Prey” series, starring Lucas Davenport, a sharp, fearless investigator navigating politically sensitive crimes across Minnesota and beyond. The series grew to include spin-offs and crossovers, notably featuring characters like Virgil Flowers, a laid-back BCA agent with a sharp wit, and Letty Davenport, Lucas's equally determined daughter, who stars in her own series starting in 2022.
Sandford’s books have consistently appeared on the New York Times bestseller list, with over two dozen debuting at number one. Known for his dynamic storytelling, fast pacing, and keen attention to detail, Sandford combines his journalistic roots with a gift for character-driven narratives. He remains an avid reader and outdoorsman, and continues to write compelling fiction that resonates with readers who enjoy intelligent thrillers grounded in realism and driven by memorable protagonists.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 655 reviews
February 3, 2021
Lucas Lucas Lucas, you my friend are a very interesting character. I have come to love you in a special way. You might be a sociopath too but at least you're on the right side of the law.
It's a pleasure going back to this world in between my other reads. Lucas and his team make me laugh over and over. I've spoken about their camaraderie in a few of my reviews but I have to say it again. I'm entertained by them. I know them all now.
Now, the crazy one this time is James Qatar. He is crazy. He enjoys killing blondes by strangulating them with a rope. Crazy bastard. Unluckily for him, Lucas is on the case. The Grave Digger's days are numbered.
In regards to Lucas's personal life, color me surprised, he doesn't sleep around and Weather is back on. Furthermore, she wants a baby with Lucas, and Lucas is not running for the hills.
Chosen Prey was quite an interesting addition to this great series. On to the next one...
Cliffhanger: No
4/5 Fangs
MrsLeif's Two Fangs About It | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram
It's a pleasure going back to this world in between my other reads. Lucas and his team make me laugh over and over. I've spoken about their camaraderie in a few of my reviews but I have to say it again. I'm entertained by them. I know them all now.
Now, the crazy one this time is James Qatar. He is crazy. He enjoys killing blondes by strangulating them with a rope. Crazy bastard. Unluckily for him, Lucas is on the case. The Grave Digger's days are numbered.
In regards to Lucas's personal life, color me surprised, he doesn't sleep around and Weather is back on. Furthermore, she wants a baby with Lucas, and Lucas is not running for the hills.
Chosen Prey was quite an interesting addition to this great series. On to the next one...
Cliffhanger: No
4/5 Fangs
MrsLeif's Two Fangs About It | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram
January 12, 2019
It is always fun to read a Prey Novel!
For those mystery lovers who are yet to get acquainted with Lucas Davenport – the protagonist of the Prey series, he is a maverick investigator for the Minnesota Department of Public Safety. Davenport had made a lot of money by writing computer games and drives a Porsche. He is a contrast to the depressed, alcoholic cops we often come across in cop thrillers.
This time Davenport is up against a sexual pervert-cum-serial killer, who unfortunately happens to be an art history professor. The identity of the perp had been revealed in the blurb itself. The story revolves around Davenport and his team’s efforts to identify the killer.
In addition to solving the case, Davenport also has to deal with an impending political storm which might make him jobless. Oh! He is also trying to father a child with his girlfriend Weather.
I usually prefer whodunits but I enjoyed the thrill of following the investigation. Each time the cops got closer to discovering the killer’s identity, they would receive a setback. Identifying the perp is simply not enough; cops also need solid evidence to make the charges stick.
One thing I have noticed in John Sandford’s book – the author usually does a good job of fleshing out the characters.
I have to mention one thing – the story has references to the movie The Day of the Jackal, one of my favourite novels and a very cool movie; and to Miss Marple. I love it when books have references to other books, literary characters or movies.
Anyway, it is a decent thriller. The ending was a bit predictable. Nevertheless a good novel to while away the time.
I am giving the book a rating of 3.5!
For those mystery lovers who are yet to get acquainted with Lucas Davenport – the protagonist of the Prey series, he is a maverick investigator for the Minnesota Department of Public Safety. Davenport had made a lot of money by writing computer games and drives a Porsche. He is a contrast to the depressed, alcoholic cops we often come across in cop thrillers.
This time Davenport is up against a sexual pervert-cum-serial killer, who unfortunately happens to be an art history professor. The identity of the perp had been revealed in the blurb itself. The story revolves around Davenport and his team’s efforts to identify the killer.
In addition to solving the case, Davenport also has to deal with an impending political storm which might make him jobless. Oh! He is also trying to father a child with his girlfriend Weather.
I usually prefer whodunits but I enjoyed the thrill of following the investigation. Each time the cops got closer to discovering the killer’s identity, they would receive a setback. Identifying the perp is simply not enough; cops also need solid evidence to make the charges stick.
One thing I have noticed in John Sandford’s book – the author usually does a good job of fleshing out the characters.
I have to mention one thing – the story has references to the movie The Day of the Jackal, one of my favourite novels and a very cool movie; and to Miss Marple. I love it when books have references to other books, literary characters or movies.
Anyway, it is a decent thriller. The ending was a bit predictable. Nevertheless a good novel to while away the time.
I am giving the book a rating of 3.5!
April 4, 2017
A long Minnesota winter has left Lucas Davenport in one of his funks, but fortunately there’s a hunt for a new serial killer to put a spring in his step and a song in his heart.
James Qatar is an art history professor who likes luring lonely women into romances and then strangling them. His other hobby is doing explicit pornographic drawings of females he’s angry with and sending them the pictures anonymously or posting them in a public place. So Qatar is a real peach of a guy.
A recently discovered body is linked to complaints about the drawings, and a Wisconsin deputy who has been investigating the disappearance of his niece shows up with a pattern of missing women that fits the victim’s profile. Lucas smells a freak and launches a hunt. There’s the usual Sandford cat-and-mouse game with the reader getting Qatar’s psychotic point of view as he engages in increasingly violent efforts to keep from being caught.
It’s a good news/bad news scenario for Lucas on the personal side of things in this one. The good news is that he has reconciled with a former girlfriend and things are going so well that they’re considering having a baby. The bad news is that politics are going to force the current police chief out in a few months and Lucas along with her.
While the personal angles signal that change is on the horizon for Lucas the rest of this book seems a little formulaic and repetitive. Qatar is a decent enough villain, but Sandford had leaned a bit too heavily on the crazy serial killer targeting women already so despite some effort to differentiate him from the others, it still seems overly familiar. Plus, there are other elements that reminded me a lot of Night Prey like Lucas working with a cop who has a personal obsession with finding the killer and a woman being used as bait at one point.
There’s an interesting sub-plot about Lucas having to deal with an old foe to get critical information, and also a nice curve ball thrown in at the end. Still, while it’s another entertaining thriller from Sandford, it’s not one of the most memorable books in the Prey series.
Next: Lucas hunts an old enemy and tries to plan a wedding in Mortal Prey.
James Qatar is an art history professor who likes luring lonely women into romances and then strangling them. His other hobby is doing explicit pornographic drawings of females he’s angry with and sending them the pictures anonymously or posting them in a public place. So Qatar is a real peach of a guy.
A recently discovered body is linked to complaints about the drawings, and a Wisconsin deputy who has been investigating the disappearance of his niece shows up with a pattern of missing women that fits the victim’s profile. Lucas smells a freak and launches a hunt. There’s the usual Sandford cat-and-mouse game with the reader getting Qatar’s psychotic point of view as he engages in increasingly violent efforts to keep from being caught.
It’s a good news/bad news scenario for Lucas on the personal side of things in this one. The good news is that he has reconciled with a former girlfriend and things are going so well that they’re considering having a baby. The bad news is that politics are going to force the current police chief out in a few months and Lucas along with her.
While the personal angles signal that change is on the horizon for Lucas the rest of this book seems a little formulaic and repetitive. Qatar is a decent enough villain, but Sandford had leaned a bit too heavily on the crazy serial killer targeting women already so despite some effort to differentiate him from the others, it still seems overly familiar. Plus, there are other elements that reminded me a lot of Night Prey like Lucas working with a cop who has a personal obsession with finding the killer and a woman being used as bait at one point.
There’s an interesting sub-plot about Lucas having to deal with an old foe to get critical information, and also a nice curve ball thrown in at the end. Still, while it’s another entertaining thriller from Sandford, it’s not one of the most memorable books in the Prey series.
Next: Lucas hunts an old enemy and tries to plan a wedding in Mortal Prey.
December 25, 2017
There is one drawback to being a master of your craft, of having the ability to create fascinating characters and situations, and build suspense, and make the routine seem interesting. What happens when you don’t carry it all the way through to the conclusion of the book? What happens when the last fifty pages read as if they’d been plotted by someone else? Those superior skills turn against you. Disappointment is magnified because enhanced expectations are not met.
There are two major problems with the ending to Chosen Prey. The more important one involves the woman intended to be his final victim, whom we meet at the same time as the killer. Very early in the novel James Qatar has already decided to kill Ellen Barstad when a chance remark by her intrigues him enough to spare her. She continues to play a significant role throughout the story--in fact is, in part, directly responsible with how events wind down--and yet when Qatar slips his surveillance with the intention of killing her, their confrontation happens “off-screen.” . Nothing is gained in terms of suspense or drama by withholding this scene. A lot is lost in terms of satisfaction.
The second problem is lessened because it is preceded by the breach of faith recounted above. It still stands out. Essentially, the surprise twist is not much of a surprise. That Sanford can draw a character so deftly is, I repeat, a considerable skill.
Skill is a double-edged sword in Chosen Prey. I enjoyed most of the trip, I always enjoy the company, but disappointment remains. Rare disappointment; say one--maybe two--out of the twelve Davenport novels I’ve read to date. Not disappointment enough to keep me from recommending the novel based on its other strengths. But bear in mind that I’m a big fan and I fully expect a return to form next time out.
There are two major problems with the ending to Chosen Prey. The more important one involves the woman intended to be his final victim, whom we meet at the same time as the killer. Very early in the novel James Qatar has already decided to kill Ellen Barstad when a chance remark by her intrigues him enough to spare her. She continues to play a significant role throughout the story--in fact is, in part, directly responsible with how events wind down--and yet when Qatar slips his surveillance with the intention of killing her, their confrontation happens “off-screen.” . Nothing is gained in terms of suspense or drama by withholding this scene. A lot is lost in terms of satisfaction.
The second problem is lessened because it is preceded by the breach of faith recounted above. It still stands out. Essentially, the surprise twist is not much of a surprise. That Sanford can draw a character so deftly is, I repeat, a considerable skill.
Skill is a double-edged sword in Chosen Prey. I enjoyed most of the trip, I always enjoy the company, but disappointment remains. Rare disappointment; say one--maybe two--out of the twelve Davenport novels I’ve read to date. Not disappointment enough to keep me from recommending the novel based on its other strengths. But bear in mind that I’m a big fan and I fully expect a return to form next time out.
August 26, 2013
The twelfth entry in John Sandford's acclaimed Prey series finds the world of the protagonist, Lucas Davenport, undergoing some major changes. His boss, Police Chief Rose Marie Roux, is about to lose her job since the mayor who appointed her is leaving office. This means, in turn, that Davenport will almost certainly lose his job as Assistant Chief as well.
At the same time, Lucas's girlfriend, Weather Karkinnen, has decided that it's time for them to make a baby. Weather has been alienated from Lucas for a long while because of an incident that occurred at the end of a previous book, but now she's back. This does not mean that Weather has decided that she would like to be engaged to Davenport again, but her biological clock is ticking and she does need someone to father the child...
In the midst of all this, a young woman's decomposing body is discovered partially buried on a rural hillside. She's been missing for about a year, and there is virtually no evidence suggesting who her killer might have been. As Davenport attempts to untangle the mystery, a rural Wisconsin marshal appears with a file he's been keeping on missing young women who have disappeared much like Davenport's victim. One of the missing women is the marshal's niece and Lucas suddenly realizes that he may have a serial killer on his hands.
He does, of course, and Lucas rallies his usual team and sends them into action. The killer is a professor of art history named James Qatar. (This gives nothing away; as is almost always in the case in these books, the reader meets the killer before Davenport even appears on the scene.) Qatar has some particularly sick fantasies that he is acting out and is capable of some pretty unsettling violence. But he's also unusually clever and lucky, and Davenport will have to draw upon all of his legendary skills if he's going to run Qatar to ground.
I enjoyed this book a lot. As always, the banter is great; it's fun to watch Weather mess with Lucas, both mentally and physically; the pace is good, and the payoff at the end is rewarding. If I have any complaint about the book (and it's a small one), it's that I didn't think that James Qatar was in the same league as many of the other antagonists in this series.
The quality of these books almost always depends on the quality of the villain as well as that of the hero, Davenport. Sandford is capable of creating some truly nasty and memorable adversaries for Lucas, and to my mind, Qatar is not among the better of them. But then, Sandford did give us a fantastic character in Clara Rinker, who appears in two of the Prey books, and so I'm perfectly happy to forgive him if he can't measure up to that level of perfection every time out of the gate. An easy four stars for this one.
At the same time, Lucas's girlfriend, Weather Karkinnen, has decided that it's time for them to make a baby. Weather has been alienated from Lucas for a long while because of an incident that occurred at the end of a previous book, but now she's back. This does not mean that Weather has decided that she would like to be engaged to Davenport again, but her biological clock is ticking and she does need someone to father the child...
In the midst of all this, a young woman's decomposing body is discovered partially buried on a rural hillside. She's been missing for about a year, and there is virtually no evidence suggesting who her killer might have been. As Davenport attempts to untangle the mystery, a rural Wisconsin marshal appears with a file he's been keeping on missing young women who have disappeared much like Davenport's victim. One of the missing women is the marshal's niece and Lucas suddenly realizes that he may have a serial killer on his hands.
He does, of course, and Lucas rallies his usual team and sends them into action. The killer is a professor of art history named James Qatar. (This gives nothing away; as is almost always in the case in these books, the reader meets the killer before Davenport even appears on the scene.) Qatar has some particularly sick fantasies that he is acting out and is capable of some pretty unsettling violence. But he's also unusually clever and lucky, and Davenport will have to draw upon all of his legendary skills if he's going to run Qatar to ground.
I enjoyed this book a lot. As always, the banter is great; it's fun to watch Weather mess with Lucas, both mentally and physically; the pace is good, and the payoff at the end is rewarding. If I have any complaint about the book (and it's a small one), it's that I didn't think that James Qatar was in the same league as many of the other antagonists in this series.
The quality of these books almost always depends on the quality of the villain as well as that of the hero, Davenport. Sandford is capable of creating some truly nasty and memorable adversaries for Lucas, and to my mind, Qatar is not among the better of them. But then, Sandford did give us a fantastic character in Clara Rinker, who appears in two of the Prey books, and so I'm perfectly happy to forgive him if he can't measure up to that level of perfection every time out of the gate. An easy four stars for this one.
April 13, 2017
I'm reading through the whole, "Prey," series. Chosen Prey, is not Sandford at his best. There is an excellent interview with the author on the audio version worth a listen. 6 of 10 stars
December 9, 2022
4 Stars. Not my #1 favourite Lucas Davenport but it's up there. Aren't they all? You can depend on this series for a great read. This one's the essence of a chase. We know the killer of several women of a certain type - relatively young, blond and small of frame. Indeed, Sandford gives up his name in the first two words! 'James Qatar.' But, unless the Deputy Chief is not only starring in the thriller but reading it as well and that would be weird, he's got to slog it out. He has to do the heavy lifting. It's not until well into the novel that Davenport even hears Qatar's last name. He had asked Detective Marcy Sherrill, his former girlfriend, to develop a list of acquaintances of the victims, and Helen Qatar's name appeared on 4 separate lists. She is James' mother and head of the museum at St. Patrick's University where her son also works as an art professor. Elderly and physically frail, but alert, Helen couldn't be the killer - but there had to be some reason why she headed the lists. Davenport is off and running. You'll enjoy the circuitous route he takes to resolution. You'll also enjoy Lucas and Weather as they try their best in the baby-making business. (September 2022)
August 17, 2025
2nd read - Lucas is pulled into a strange case involving a decomposing body on a hillside. As the bodies pile up, it appears we have a serial killer. A crusty lawman joins Lucas's posse, looking for his lost niece and a few other young, blond ladies who've disappeared.
I really enjoyed the police procedure, as our heroes try to tie the ends together. Some readers think this antagonist is one of Sandford's weakest, but in hindsight, he makes few mistakes, leaving Davenport frustrated.
I had to re-read the last 20 pages to look at the clues I'd missed. There is a huge twist, and a heart-breaking finale.
1st reading - The 12th Lucas Davenport story, with a history art professor who has a devious compulsion. Pretty good action, with Lucas and Weather back as an item, and Marcy and Kidd in a romance.
I really enjoyed the police procedure, as our heroes try to tie the ends together. Some readers think this antagonist is one of Sandford's weakest, but in hindsight, he makes few mistakes, leaving Davenport frustrated.
I had to re-read the last 20 pages to look at the clues I'd missed. There is a huge twist, and a heart-breaking finale.
1st reading - The 12th Lucas Davenport story, with a history art professor who has a devious compulsion. Pretty good action, with Lucas and Weather back as an item, and Marcy and Kidd in a romance.
December 18, 2023
Great thtiller
Well written and the storyline is addicting. This is fast paced and far from dragging in any respect. The character descriptions are well done and not drawn out, which I prefer.
Great addition to the Prey series. I recommend this book to all intrigued with serial killers and the police procedure that is involved in prosecution of them.
A thrilling ride!
Well written and the storyline is addicting. This is fast paced and far from dragging in any respect. The character descriptions are well done and not drawn out, which I prefer.
Great addition to the Prey series. I recommend this book to all intrigued with serial killers and the police procedure that is involved in prosecution of them.
A thrilling ride!
August 16, 2019
John Sanford is my go-to author when all other books fail to interest me. I have read the series twice and I'm on my third trip through. Love his structure, characters and stories. I wish I wrote as well.
David Putnam, Author of the Bruno Johnson series.
David Putnam, Author of the Bruno Johnson series.
September 11, 2023
Another exciting Lucas Davenport read, which I'm liking more with every book. I think this is partly because there are the same characters, and I'm getting to know them. Plus, it's somewhat continuous, so reading them in order is a good idea. Not necessary, but I think it's more enjoyable to know what's going on. Kind of makes you feel like an insider.
In this story, we know who the bad guy is early on, but it's still exciting to see how Lucas and his gang zero in on the pieces of the puzzle until it comes to him who it must be. But even then, it's not a done deal, and in fact veers a bit south before it ends.
Something I just learned, which was interesting. John Sandford is actually a pseudonym for John Roswell Camp. Camp won the Pulitzer Prize in journalism in 1986 and was one of four finalists for the prize in 1980. He also was the winner of the Distinguished Writing Award of the American Society of Newspaper Editors for 1985. This and a lot more background is explained on his web site, https://www.johnsandford.org/author.html
In this story, we know who the bad guy is early on, but it's still exciting to see how Lucas and his gang zero in on the pieces of the puzzle until it comes to him who it must be. But even then, it's not a done deal, and in fact veers a bit south before it ends.
Something I just learned, which was interesting. John Sandford is actually a pseudonym for John Roswell Camp. Camp won the Pulitzer Prize in journalism in 1986 and was one of four finalists for the prize in 1980. He also was the winner of the Distinguished Writing Award of the American Society of Newspaper Editors for 1985. This and a lot more background is explained on his web site, https://www.johnsandford.org/author.html
August 15, 2018
I'm reading these books in order and loving every minute of it. To me - this book is a 3 star read- I wish Davenport wasn't with Weather- but I could wish all I want - she is here to stay . Having said that this book was a fast read, ok read- not the best- so why the 4 stars? Well, simply the series is just amazing so because of that , I added the other star. John Sandford does an amazing job with all these stories, and looking forward to getting into book 13 !!
April 30, 2023
I thoroughly enjoyed this 12th book in John Sandford's "Lucas Davenport" series!
August 12, 2021
Solid 4.5 stars and 2 thumbs up!
One of the best series ever!
One of the best series ever!
January 31, 2015
Twelfth in the Lucas Davenport thriller series and revolving around an unorthodox cop in Minneapolis. It's been a year since
Easy Prey
, 11.
My Take
What I like about this series is that it's standard mystery/thriller reading, but Sandford's characters come out so real. That encounter between Lucas and Jeff Baxter was great. They could be talking about golf or tennis, but they're batting around ideas for a deal for a scumbag that Baxter is representing. There are the political issues when Rose Marie warns Lucas they'll probably lose their jobs with the new mayor coming in; she doesn't think any of the potential appointees would keep him. The media issues as we read how the police are manipulating the press. The cops and how they interact, and Lucas and Weather.
Oh, yeah, baby…Lucas and Weather. I gotta say, I can understand Weather having insecurity issues about the women in Lucas' life, but she's the one who left. I dunno, though. I do like Lucas. I like that it's important to him to get the right bad guy. I like that he develops role-playing games. But the boy needs to learn how to make a proposal, lol. This sure ain't what I'd be mooning about or sighing over as I remembered that "magic" moment years later, *more laughter*. It only gets better when you read how Whitcomb decorates his house. Oh. My. God.
Poor Ellen. She's had a very disappointing love life, and meeting James Qatar is simply another disappointment. Until she decides to put herself first. Women do need to be more open to saying what they want in bed, although Ellen takes it too far, to her regret.
Now, James is like too many men. Thinking they're studs and that if they could just meet the right woman, sigh. He will definitely give you a few laughs. I do wish that he could hear the laughter — I'd love to see the look on his face. There's also his obsession with how good he looks, and then Ellen provides her viewpoint on how beauteous James is, lol. Then it gets even better when Kidd does his assessment of the quality of the artist *see me grinning like a mad fool*.
Seriously though, Qatar is a piece of work. I couldn't believe that anyone can be that delusional. Does make me feel better about myself, lol! Some of his self-pitying moments…I wanted to smack him upside the head. With a crowbar. He really believes he's so smart, so talented, so handsome, so put-upon poor baby, then Sandford lets everyone else get their chance to dig away at him and show him up. For all the "whining" he does about his mother's sexual history, there are just a few too many off words that make me doubt most of what he says. Well, and the fact that he is so delusional at the best of times.
LOL, good advice from Del:
More good advice for the budding serial killer. There's also good advice victims never take: call the cops as soon as you suspect something. Never hang on to it to think or thinking you should mention it to the "bad guy" and get his take on it. I mean, duh…haven't they been doing any reading or watching any movies??
And then there are the people who should not be allowed outside the house until they've taken an IQ test, oh brother. And the mothers who should get their kids some HELP!
Wow. Kidd's analysis of the photo-porn was impressive as he pointed out all the obvious (once he made me aware of the) markers that will provide a ton more clues. It's simply a matter of applying that artist's eye as opposed to the pervy one.
I gotta say, I can't believe the cops didn't think about protecting Ellen.
Omigod, I thought as Lucas did, and then Weather finishes out her thought. I'm definitely with her. It's a righteous ending. It's also the saddest ending, and I cried.
Chosen Prey is a rather shocking mix of horrific and hilarious. What Qatar does, how he thinks will make you wonder what's wrong with our world that someone like him can go undetected for so long, and then more real life inserts itself with that snark that helps cops cope with what they see. And yes, I'm prejudiced. I enjoy that snark, lol.
The Story
The grave was too shallow and those autumn rains reveal her to a hunter. It's just the start of what they'll find. But not before he kills again.
The Characters
Deputy Chief Lucas Davenport is a cop who gets the job done all while keeping the press happy. He's friends with Julie Aronson's parents, Dolly and her husband. Weather Karkinnen is a surgeon who was once engaged to Lucas until events in Sudden Prey , 8, a couple years ago. Catrin (the "Photo Queen") is an old college girlfriend whose marriage broke up; she and Lucas are friends. Still.
Minneapolis PD
Lucas has formed his Strategic Studies and Planning Group, and it includes Del Capslock, an undercover cop (Cheryl is his wife); Lane; and, Tom Black, Marcy's former partner will join them temporarily. Homicide includes Marcy Sherrill (Weather calls her "Titsy"; Marcy is desperate to get back to work even though she's still recovering from injuries in Easy Prey ). Detective Swanson prefers the nightshift. Other cops helping are McGrady, Gibson, and Barnes. Detective Sloan is one of Lucas' best friends. Harmon Anderson is their computer geek. Greg Webster and Sandy MacMillan are crime-scene specialists. Craig Bowden and Marc White are assigned to follow Qatar. Carolyn Rie is a detective with sex crimes. Deputy Chief of Investigations Frank Lester supervises all investigative units. Rose Marie Roux is the chief of police. Randall Towson is the county attorney; Donald Dunn is his chief deputy; and, Richard Kirk is head of the criminal division. Larsen is an assistant county attorney. Harry Page is at the Ramsey Public Defender's Office. Rob Lansing is the officious little prick more interested in status games. J.B. Glass is another defense attorney.
St. Paul PD
John Davis is a patrol sergeant, and Lieutenant Allport.
Goodhue County PD
Carl Boone is the medical examiner.
South Dakota County PD
Don Hammond is its chief deputy. Rick and Dave are part of his team.
Ramsay County PD
Flanagan is an investigator who dealt with the bridge death.
Dunn County PD in Wisconsin
Sheriff Deputy Terry Marshall is hot on the case of his missing niece, Laura Winton.
FBI
Mallard is an FBI agent Lucas knows who is based in Washington D.C. Baily is the agent-in-charge in Minneapolis.
The Media
Channel 3's Jennifer Carey is the mother of Lucas' only child, Sarah, who lives with Carey and her husband.
St. Patrick's University
James Qatar is an art history professor, writer, and killer with an ego bigger than a Boeing jet. Helen Qatar is his mother and the director for the Wells Museum at the college. For such a smart woman, she's pretty stupid. Denise Thompson is her very observant secretary. Burns Goodwin is the college president. Charlotte Neumann is the art department's chairperson, an ordained Episcopalian priest, and a writer. Elene is the inept department secretary.
Kidd is an artist doing really well who lends a hand (to the cops) and a good bit more (to Marcy). Larry Lake is an engineering consultant with ground-penetrating radar. Megan Earle is a neighbor of Whitcomb's. George is one of the people at Christmas Ink, and he doesn't want to say anything, see anything.
The film warehouse is…
…where videos are shot; Morris likes to photograph little girls having sex. Donald Henrey has a big camera while Anthony Carr maintains his website. Sylvia Berne is some of the talent. Jeff Baxter is a lawyer.
Victims
Ellen Barstad is a fabric artist and a teacher with her own quilting business. Emily Patton recognized one victim. Beverly Wood is one of the women who got a nude drawing of herself. Linda Kyle is an art student who disappeared. Nancy Vanderpost disappeared, a performance artist. Jim Wise is one of the partners in Wise-Hammersmith American Loft furniture who needed some ads. Brenda is from Lino Lakes. Ellice Hampton is from Clear Lake, Iowa, and she did advertising layouts.
Tom Lang is a possible suspect in the serial killings. Harold Brown hired Langhorn to find Lynette Brown's body, although he is a high-priority suspect in her disappearance. Into egg cartons. Randy Whitcomb is a jerk of a pimp we first met in Eyes of Prey , 3, and has been Qatar's fence and drug dealer. Suzanne Brister is his latest. Lo Andrews is the guy he parties with later. Now, DDT, a.k.a., Dangerous Darrel Thomas (should'a been "Terrible Darrell Thompson", those journalists…*eye roll*), is another kinda pimp entirely. And a professional house sitter, lol. Charmin' are Melissa are some of his, um, ladies.
Part of Lucas' network
Susan Kelly is a dancer; Lori is her assistant. Ben Lincoln works at Ben's Darts & Cues. Larry Hammet is at Trax Freight. Lannie Harrison is at Tulip's Hose Couplings and Fittings. Jan Murphy works at a sweatshop. Sandy Hue is at The Diamond Collective. Svege Tanner is at Strength and Beauty and finks on that jerk, Alex Truant. Coin is in the hospital and sober for the first time in decades. Elliot runs a metal-fabrication shop. Half-Moon Towing's owner is declaring bankruptcy. Gerry Haack was a lawn care guy who had some, um, problems. Now he's working at the Cobra Lounge, where it seems he still has some problems. Larry Lapp hangs at the Cobra; his wife, Marcella, would be really ticked off. Bob Brown deals in estate jewelry. Frank Stans is a bartender at the Bolo Lounge.
The Cover and Title
The cover is a blur of browns with an image of a woman's face. She's lying down, and if her face is anything to go by, she's screaming as a man's hands hold her in place. The author's name and the title are an embossed gold.
The title is all about this killer's Chosen Prey.
My Take
What I like about this series is that it's standard mystery/thriller reading, but Sandford's characters come out so real. That encounter between Lucas and Jeff Baxter was great. They could be talking about golf or tennis, but they're batting around ideas for a deal for a scumbag that Baxter is representing. There are the political issues when Rose Marie warns Lucas they'll probably lose their jobs with the new mayor coming in; she doesn't think any of the potential appointees would keep him. The media issues as we read how the police are manipulating the press. The cops and how they interact, and Lucas and Weather.
Oh, yeah, baby…Lucas and Weather. I gotta say, I can understand Weather having insecurity issues about the women in Lucas' life, but she's the one who left. I dunno, though. I do like Lucas. I like that it's important to him to get the right bad guy. I like that he develops role-playing games. But the boy needs to learn how to make a proposal, lol. This sure ain't what I'd be mooning about or sighing over as I remembered that "magic" moment years later, *more laughter*. It only gets better when you read how Whitcomb decorates his house. Oh. My. God.
Poor Ellen. She's had a very disappointing love life, and meeting James Qatar is simply another disappointment. Until she decides to put herself first. Women do need to be more open to saying what they want in bed, although Ellen takes it too far, to her regret.
Now, James is like too many men. Thinking they're studs and that if they could just meet the right woman, sigh. He will definitely give you a few laughs. I do wish that he could hear the laughter — I'd love to see the look on his face. There's also his obsession with how good he looks, and then Ellen provides her viewpoint on how beauteous James is, lol. Then it gets even better when Kidd does his assessment of the quality of the artist *see me grinning like a mad fool*.
Seriously though, Qatar is a piece of work. I couldn't believe that anyone can be that delusional. Does make me feel better about myself, lol! Some of his self-pitying moments…I wanted to smack him upside the head. With a crowbar. He really believes he's so smart, so talented, so handsome, so put-upon poor baby, then Sandford lets everyone else get their chance to dig away at him and show him up. For all the "whining" he does about his mother's sexual history, there are just a few too many off words that make me doubt most of what he says. Well, and the fact that he is so delusional at the best of times.
LOL, good advice from Del:
"'It just occurred to me that there've only been two women on the newscast,' Marcy said. "And you've slept with both of them, Lucas. Was Carey better than me, or was I better?'Del looked at Lucas and said, 'Run.'"
More good advice for the budding serial killer. There's also good advice victims never take: call the cops as soon as you suspect something. Never hang on to it to think or thinking you should mention it to the "bad guy" and get his take on it. I mean, duh…haven't they been doing any reading or watching any movies??
And then there are the people who should not be allowed outside the house until they've taken an IQ test, oh brother. And the mothers who should get their kids some HELP!
Wow. Kidd's analysis of the photo-porn was impressive as he pointed out all the obvious (once he made me aware of the) markers that will provide a ton more clues. It's simply a matter of applying that artist's eye as opposed to the pervy one.
I gotta say, I can't believe the cops didn't think about protecting Ellen.
Omigod, I thought as Lucas did, and then Weather finishes out her thought. I'm definitely with her. It's a righteous ending. It's also the saddest ending, and I cried.
Chosen Prey is a rather shocking mix of horrific and hilarious. What Qatar does, how he thinks will make you wonder what's wrong with our world that someone like him can go undetected for so long, and then more real life inserts itself with that snark that helps cops cope with what they see. And yes, I'm prejudiced. I enjoy that snark, lol.
The Story
The grave was too shallow and those autumn rains reveal her to a hunter. It's just the start of what they'll find. But not before he kills again.
The Characters
Deputy Chief Lucas Davenport is a cop who gets the job done all while keeping the press happy. He's friends with Julie Aronson's parents, Dolly and her husband. Weather Karkinnen is a surgeon who was once engaged to Lucas until events in Sudden Prey , 8, a couple years ago. Catrin (the "Photo Queen") is an old college girlfriend whose marriage broke up; she and Lucas are friends. Still.
Minneapolis PD
Lucas has formed his Strategic Studies and Planning Group, and it includes Del Capslock, an undercover cop (Cheryl is his wife); Lane; and, Tom Black, Marcy's former partner will join them temporarily. Homicide includes Marcy Sherrill (Weather calls her "Titsy"; Marcy is desperate to get back to work even though she's still recovering from injuries in Easy Prey ). Detective Swanson prefers the nightshift. Other cops helping are McGrady, Gibson, and Barnes. Detective Sloan is one of Lucas' best friends. Harmon Anderson is their computer geek. Greg Webster and Sandy MacMillan are crime-scene specialists. Craig Bowden and Marc White are assigned to follow Qatar. Carolyn Rie is a detective with sex crimes. Deputy Chief of Investigations Frank Lester supervises all investigative units. Rose Marie Roux is the chief of police. Randall Towson is the county attorney; Donald Dunn is his chief deputy; and, Richard Kirk is head of the criminal division. Larsen is an assistant county attorney. Harry Page is at the Ramsey Public Defender's Office. Rob Lansing is the officious little prick more interested in status games. J.B. Glass is another defense attorney.
St. Paul PD
John Davis is a patrol sergeant, and Lieutenant Allport.
Goodhue County PD
Carl Boone is the medical examiner.
South Dakota County PD
Don Hammond is its chief deputy. Rick and Dave are part of his team.
Ramsay County PD
Flanagan is an investigator who dealt with the bridge death.
Dunn County PD in Wisconsin
Sheriff Deputy Terry Marshall is hot on the case of his missing niece, Laura Winton.
FBI
Mallard is an FBI agent Lucas knows who is based in Washington D.C. Baily is the agent-in-charge in Minneapolis.
The Media
Channel 3's Jennifer Carey is the mother of Lucas' only child, Sarah, who lives with Carey and her husband.
St. Patrick's University
James Qatar is an art history professor, writer, and killer with an ego bigger than a Boeing jet. Helen Qatar is his mother and the director for the Wells Museum at the college. For such a smart woman, she's pretty stupid. Denise Thompson is her very observant secretary. Burns Goodwin is the college president. Charlotte Neumann is the art department's chairperson, an ordained Episcopalian priest, and a writer. Elene is the inept department secretary.
Kidd is an artist doing really well who lends a hand (to the cops) and a good bit more (to Marcy). Larry Lake is an engineering consultant with ground-penetrating radar. Megan Earle is a neighbor of Whitcomb's. George is one of the people at Christmas Ink, and he doesn't want to say anything, see anything.
The film warehouse is…
…where videos are shot; Morris likes to photograph little girls having sex. Donald Henrey has a big camera while Anthony Carr maintains his website. Sylvia Berne is some of the talent. Jeff Baxter is a lawyer.
Victims
Ellen Barstad is a fabric artist and a teacher with her own quilting business. Emily Patton recognized one victim. Beverly Wood is one of the women who got a nude drawing of herself. Linda Kyle is an art student who disappeared. Nancy Vanderpost disappeared, a performance artist. Jim Wise is one of the partners in Wise-Hammersmith American Loft furniture who needed some ads. Brenda is from Lino Lakes. Ellice Hampton is from Clear Lake, Iowa, and she did advertising layouts.
Tom Lang is a possible suspect in the serial killings. Harold Brown hired Langhorn to find Lynette Brown's body, although he is a high-priority suspect in her disappearance. Into egg cartons. Randy Whitcomb is a jerk of a pimp we first met in Eyes of Prey , 3, and has been Qatar's fence and drug dealer. Suzanne Brister is his latest. Lo Andrews is the guy he parties with later. Now, DDT, a.k.a., Dangerous Darrel Thomas (should'a been "Terrible Darrell Thompson", those journalists…*eye roll*), is another kinda pimp entirely. And a professional house sitter, lol. Charmin' are Melissa are some of his, um, ladies.
Part of Lucas' network
Susan Kelly is a dancer; Lori is her assistant. Ben Lincoln works at Ben's Darts & Cues. Larry Hammet is at Trax Freight. Lannie Harrison is at Tulip's Hose Couplings and Fittings. Jan Murphy works at a sweatshop. Sandy Hue is at The Diamond Collective. Svege Tanner is at Strength and Beauty and finks on that jerk, Alex Truant. Coin is in the hospital and sober for the first time in decades. Elliot runs a metal-fabrication shop. Half-Moon Towing's owner is declaring bankruptcy. Gerry Haack was a lawn care guy who had some, um, problems. Now he's working at the Cobra Lounge, where it seems he still has some problems. Larry Lapp hangs at the Cobra; his wife, Marcella, would be really ticked off. Bob Brown deals in estate jewelry. Frank Stans is a bartender at the Bolo Lounge.
The Cover and Title
The cover is a blur of browns with an image of a woman's face. She's lying down, and if her face is anything to go by, she's screaming as a man's hands hold her in place. The author's name and the title are an embossed gold.
The title is all about this killer's Chosen Prey.
June 11, 2019
This was an enjoyable, well-paced entry in the Prey series, but it's also the only one thus far where I remember being impatient with Lucas for having missed something. Sandford is usually a master plot technician, great at constructing believably complicated mysteries and believable human errors, but here I just hit a wall where I can't buy that Lucas would interview Mrs. Qatar, an elderly woman linked to an unusual number of victims, and fail to take note of her mentioning her son who works in the same department with a now-dead woman quickly established to be part of the same case. If you're already looking at this elderly woman as a common vector but she can't be the killer, why not take instantaneous note of a man connected to her who would at least fit the age range? Enough to ask a question about what department he's in? This was incredibly distracting to me.
The novel has a couple little hang-ups like that for me. Qatar is a fairly standard issue serial killer and not a strong enough antagonist. A supporting character, a fabric artist who wants Qatar to introduce her to a world of better sex, is vivid and unusual enough that it feels like a let-down when she Things just never entirely gelled the way I wanted them to.
We do have some good stuff too, of course. Lucas's political appointment may be coming to an end, as an incoming mayor will probably clean house and get rid of Rose Marie and, with her, Lucas. He and Weather are tenuously--and then more firmly--back together (which delighted me) and trying for a baby. Those two factors combine to leave Lucas's future more up-in-the-air than usual, which is interesting background. And there are some fun procedural details, like the way the cops use slightly altered sketches of movie stars to try to root out potential suspects, because all they have to go on is that the guy they're looking for looks like one actor or another. And the subplot involving the cop uncle--and surrogate father--of one of Qatar's previous victims is tragic and well-done, and I liked Lucas's internal uncertainty over what to do about it and, afterwards, what he could have done differently.
Important life lesson gleaned: don't bury all your murder victims in one place, it makes it too easy on the prosecution.
The novel has a couple little hang-ups like that for me. Qatar is a fairly standard issue serial killer and not a strong enough antagonist. A supporting character, a fabric artist who wants Qatar to introduce her to a world of better sex, is vivid and unusual enough that it feels like a let-down when she Things just never entirely gelled the way I wanted them to.
We do have some good stuff too, of course. Lucas's political appointment may be coming to an end, as an incoming mayor will probably clean house and get rid of Rose Marie and, with her, Lucas. He and Weather are tenuously--and then more firmly--back together (which delighted me) and trying for a baby. Those two factors combine to leave Lucas's future more up-in-the-air than usual, which is interesting background. And there are some fun procedural details, like the way the cops use slightly altered sketches of movie stars to try to root out potential suspects, because all they have to go on is that the guy they're looking for looks like one actor or another. And the subplot involving the cop uncle--and surrogate father--of one of Qatar's previous victims is tragic and well-done, and I liked Lucas's internal uncertainty over what to do about it and, afterwards, what he could have done differently.
Important life lesson gleaned: don't bury all your murder victims in one place, it makes it too easy on the prosecution.
August 27, 2018
Another psycho, so not quite as good as the previous or the next books, but still quite good. As usual, the thrill is in the chase. It's not just about catching the guy, but doing so with the available resources & making a strong enough case that a conviction can be made. That can be a tough proposition & it leads to a lot of heartbreak. Very well done in this case with great motives throughout. That's why this gets 4 stars.
On to the next!
On to the next!
September 14, 2022
Another very good Davenport book from earlier in the series. This one brings us an artful serial killer who is strangling young, beautiful blonds. Amazing how Sandford can keep coming up with these sickos. Nice to see things back on track between Lucas and Weather. I’ll be diving right into the next one!
October 2, 2024
Two-haiku review:
Mind of a killer,
Strangling, burying small blondes
Over many years.
Lucas and Weather
Together, thinking babies.
Seems like about time.
Mind of a killer,
Strangling, burying small blondes
Over many years.
Lucas and Weather
Together, thinking babies.
Seems like about time.
January 24, 2019
Excellent stuff. The antagonist probably isn’t gonna make it into the Davenport hall of fame but he was creepy and skilled enough to hang with the big boys/girls and the book as a whole was obsessively readable. The banter in these books only gets better. So many likable characters and hilarious coworker conversations. A most satisfying entry in the series if not a top fiver.
December 19, 2017
James Qatar is one of the creepiest things ever in a book. Right up there with Hannibal Lechter---almost Great ending, too. Totally unexpected.
December 29, 2019
How many serial killers can Mr. Sanford come up with? One in every book. This one killed a lot of women before getting caught. Was about to get away with it until one officer took him in hand. Justice was done. Lucas about to become a dad again.
February 27, 2017
Starts out with real promise but then kind of just putters through. Missing the elements that made earlier books captivating.
May 5, 2013
“All extremes of feeling are allied with madness.”
― Virginia Woolf, Orlando
Obsession.
James Qatar is obsessed with small-town blond young women. But not because how they sparkle with life. Rather, it's how they look while dying being strangled by his favorite rope. As an art history professor and an intellectual, he has always been drawn to the beautiful deaths of asphyxiating women. Many many women.
Blond Ellen Barstad is obsessed with sexual adventure. She thinks she has found the perfect teacher in Qatar. He certainly is interested in teaching her what she wants to know.
Terry Marshall is obsessed with finding the killer of his blond niece. A deputy sheriff, he has compiled a file with facts about his niece's disappearance and included quite a few similar cases. Given the similarities of the disappearances, it looks like they've got a serial killer.
Lucas Delaware has a new case.....
And we have another great read in a series which is certain to obsess you.
April 26, 2012
This is another of the better books in John Sanford's "Prey" series (they're all good, so I suppose my differentiation is mostly because the characters in some grab me more than in others). But I do love it when the bad guy or gal - in this case a serial killer - is revealed to the reader up front. A big part of the thrill of the read, then, is how and when the identity will be known by the "hero" as well - in this case, Minneapolis Deputy Chief Lucas Davenport. Needless to say, there are zigs and zags along the way, interspersed with a look at the always evolving relationship with Davenport's friends and his now-fiance, Weather.
As usual, Davenport figures it all out (albeit with a wicked twist or two), and also as usual, the book ends with a question that virtually guarantees readers will scramble to start the next one.
As usual, Davenport figures it all out (albeit with a wicked twist or two), and also as usual, the book ends with a question that virtually guarantees readers will scramble to start the next one.
January 4, 2009
It has been two years since I read the previous book in the Prey series, but this was like hanging out with an old friend you haven't seen for a while - you fall back into old patterns like it was just yesterday. Another fast-paced search for a killer, another chilling glimpse into the killer's mind. I love the camaraderie between Davenport and his colleagues and chuckled out loud on many occasions.
But the final sentence is a major cliffhanger! I do have the next book in the series on my bookshelf, but as I am a glutton for punishment I shall make myself wait a couple more months (at least!) before I read it, even though I am absolutely dying to know what happens!
But the final sentence is a major cliffhanger! I do have the next book in the series on my bookshelf, but as I am a glutton for punishment I shall make myself wait a couple more months (at least!) before I read it, even though I am absolutely dying to know what happens!
April 15, 2022
Again, they just keep getting better. Lucas Davenport is a great character and from this series we'll get two more. Equally good. They always leave you wanting more.
January 26, 2025
Similar vibes to The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo, except based in Minneapolis (fun) and with a slightly less engaging cast of characters. The main characters fiancé is named Weather, a detail which my nerdy climate science brain loved. Bummer that she was a surgeon and not a meteorologist. Didn’t deduct any stars for that, though.
In other news: I actually think it’s kind of fucked up that I like books like this? I mean, it’s literally called “Chosen Prey” and the cover has a screaming woman on it. I promise I’m a not a psychopath! Due to the name of the book and the cover art, I felt like I couldn’t read this book in public.
In other news: I actually think it’s kind of fucked up that I like books like this? I mean, it’s literally called “Chosen Prey” and the cover has a screaming woman on it. I promise I’m a not a psychopath! Due to the name of the book and the cover art, I felt like I couldn’t read this book in public.
November 17, 2022
A well written mystery novel, but not really my style. Would recommend to anyone interested in mystery or crime novels. The only part I didn't like was the cliche "cop figures out who committed these crimes while in the shower" and not by finding a piece of evidence that could more clearly link him to the crime
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 31, 2020
"Formed his loop; touched her neck again. Held the loop open, smiled, dropped it around her neck, and...
Snap!"
Chosen Prey (2001) is the twelfth installment in the acclaimed "Prey series" by John Sandford (John Camp in real life). A little while ago (for me this means about a quarter of a century), I had read many novels in the series and found them relatively well-written, interesting, only moderately packed with the usual genre clichés, and compulsively readable. Perfect examples of high-end disposable literature. (Supercilious, am I not? By the way, "supercilious" is a snobbish way of saying "snobbish.") So I was curious about my reaction now, when wisdom and experience (euphemisms for "senility") abound.
Not much has changed. A captivating, fast read, a rather believable police procedural, with a smattering of criminal psychology, yet one that does not leave much of a trace in memory, at least mine. I finished reading about 10 days ago, and I have to look in my notes to remember the general outline of the plot.
The story opens a bit untypically when
The brutally graphic scene of strangling approaches but, in my view, does not yet cross the boundary into straight porn of violence. The scenes of excavations are well-written and grimly vivid. I quite like the slim office politics thread: Davenport's boss, Rose Marie Roux, is worried about her future as her boss, the mayor, is not running for re-election. On the other hand, the obligatory personal-life thread of the relationship between Davenport and his girlfriend, Weather, is purely and painfully cliché. It does not make Davenport seem more human. Exactly the opposite. It makes him seem like a character from disposable literature.
To sum up: a great read, yet eventually empty, devoid of any depth.
Three-and-a-quarter stars.
Snap!"
Chosen Prey (2001) is the twelfth installment in the acclaimed "Prey series" by John Sandford (John Camp in real life). A little while ago (for me this means about a quarter of a century), I had read many novels in the series and found them relatively well-written, interesting, only moderately packed with the usual genre clichés, and compulsively readable. Perfect examples of high-end disposable literature. (Supercilious, am I not? By the way, "supercilious" is a snobbish way of saying "snobbish.") So I was curious about my reaction now, when wisdom and experience (euphemisms for "senility") abound.
Not much has changed. A captivating, fast read, a rather believable police procedural, with a smattering of criminal psychology, yet one that does not leave much of a trace in memory, at least mine. I finished reading about 10 days ago, and I have to look in my notes to remember the general outline of the plot.
The story opens a bit untypically when
James Quatar [...] an art history professor and a writer, a womanizer and genial pervert and pipe smoker, a thief and a laughing man and a killer"abandons the plan to strangle his lover. The almost laughingly perfect Lucas Davenport leads an investigation that combines several threads: in one of them, a body of a woman strangled over a year ago has been found; in another, drawings begin to appear in which faces of actual women are superimposed on porn scenes. The meticulous investigation is presented in detail and fans of police procedurals will be satisfied. The author provides some neat plot twists before the denouement.
The brutally graphic scene of strangling approaches but, in my view, does not yet cross the boundary into straight porn of violence. The scenes of excavations are well-written and grimly vivid. I quite like the slim office politics thread: Davenport's boss, Rose Marie Roux, is worried about her future as her boss, the mayor, is not running for re-election. On the other hand, the obligatory personal-life thread of the relationship between Davenport and his girlfriend, Weather, is purely and painfully cliché. It does not make Davenport seem more human. Exactly the opposite. It makes him seem like a character from disposable literature.
To sum up: a great read, yet eventually empty, devoid of any depth.
Three-and-a-quarter stars.
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