Extreme Prey: Book Review by Dinh
Here is a video book review that I made. You can either read the written review or watch the video.
Summary:
Marlys Purdy is a crazy woman who has endured the political system long enough. She blames the political system for the loss of the farm she had with her dead husband and the continued financial system that perpetuates the same cycle.
She is ready to take action and stop Michaela Bowden, a potential Democratic presidential candidate from going any further in the campaign in Iowa.
Marlys has a plan. Together with her derange son who has had some military service in Iraq, they put their plan into action.
Lucas Davenport is no longer a cop and had quit the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension (BCA) and was working on his cabin when he gets a call from the governor of Minnesota, Elmer Henderson.
The governor was campaigning for the Democratic vice presidential nomination and had some crazy chubby, middle age, white haired lady warn him to be ready in case Bowden doesn’t make it.
This incident was again repeated by a grey eyed younger farm guy who looked similar to the crazy white haired lady.
Henderson wants Davenport to investigate these crazy people to see if they are a potential threat.
Review:
Extreme Prey is John Sandford’s 26th Prey series book. I have been looking forward to reading the novel and having read it was glad to see that he was up to his same old tricks.
The hardcover of Extreme Prey is 406 pages long and I read it quickly. The speed to which I read is usually a sign for me that I liked the novel.
Having said that, this is not one of Sandford’s best Prey book but rather one of the mediocrity.
Here’s why.
The story was okay. In this book we get into the minds of a political assassin.
Whilst this in itself is not a criticism, I did find that the mind of the crazy woman Marlys not to be realistic. I couldn’t really understand her motive.
That’s not all.
I was disappointed that the old familiar characters in the Prey series were not in it as much.
We get just cameo appearances. Computer hacker/artist Kidd and his wife was briefly mentioned in one chapter at the beginning when Davenport needed to find the source of the threatening emails.
Weather, Davenport’s wife was mentioned a few times. There was no mention of Letty his adopted daughter so we don’t know what she’s up to.
Sandford’s previous Prey books had more of Davenport’s personal life in it so it made it more appealing and enjoyable to connect with him.
What did I like?
John Sandford’s Prey series usually have a good pace and this book was no exception. The novel was entertaining , had a nice pace through out, and ended with a BAM!
We go straight into the story line without any stopping and before you know it Davenport has saved the day, albeit late.
The best part?
The ending was great!
Hey, if you haven’t read it I won’t spoil it for you by describing what happened suffice to say he gets the bad guys as usual.
Final thoughts?
I enjoyed reading this crime/thriller/mystery book but could have passed on it if it hadn’t been written by Sandford.
This was an entertaining book and was easy to pick up after you put it down. It was a mediocre book for Sandford.
You can get Extreme Prey here or listen to it for free with an Audible trial.
Check out our book reviews or Mystery/Thriller/Crime reviews!
You can also check out Sandford’s 25th Prey book: Gathering Prey.
Are you a fan of John Sandford? What did you think of Extreme Prey?
Great review! I’m not much of a book reader as I used to be but I can easily see myself get drawn into the scene you described. It’s great that John Sandford creates a world with his series and brings in and out characters from previous novels. It makes us wonder what is happening to some of them but then he may be doing it on purpose so that he can describe in more detail what’s been going on in a new upcoming novel that might reveal something interesting.
Thanks for the review!
Hi Andy!
Thanks for sharing your thoughts.
I think you are right that Sandford probably leaves some mention of certain characters out so that we look for them.
I like that a book brings me into a world where I get to know the characters and look forward to finding out what will happen with them.
For sure, I am looking forward to finding out what his adopted daughter Letty does after she graduates.
Thanks for stopping by at Arlene’s Book Club!
Never heard of Sandford before is his books usually good? I think this was a great review but I think I’ll pass on this one. It seems like a pretty long book and I don’t like starting a book and never finishing it. I prefer to start books with an author I know or a book that I know will be good based on reviews, genre, and popularity.
Hi Matt!
Thanks for your comments.
I never heard of John Sandford until Arlene recommended me his books. Sandford is a prolific writer and is well known in this murder/mystery/thriller genre.
I would definite pick up some of his earlier works as they are very good. No fuss writing and great story lines. I have found his books to be page turners even though not all of them are exceptional.
You know what to expect in Sandford’s books.
Thanks for stopping by at Arlene’s Book Club!
Hi, Dinh,
I do appreciate your feedbacks. I like to read books a lot but after reading your review I’m a bit torn whether to read it or not. I like that you said it was easy to read the book even with 400 pages and I like that the end was good. I love good endings.
Thanks for this review and I will come back to read more from your reviews.
Tove
Hi Tove!
Thanks for your comments.
Not every book I read is going to be five stars and this one was okay. If you read the Prey series then it’s in the similar vein and it becomes the same after awhile. Sometimes it’s nice to take comfort in a book that you know the characters and you know what to expect in terms of the writing.
I must say though that I do love the pace that Sandford writes. It’s never slow and keeps me turning the pages.
Thanks for stopping by and I hope to talk to you again soon!
Hi Dinh,
I’m so impressed that you’ve read all 27 books in the series. I don’t think I’ve been able to read more than 7 in any series. =)
Though it doesn’t have quite the same charm as his previous books, it still sounds like the book is entertaining and fast-paced. Glad you enjoyed it. Should I feel like I’m in the mood for a mystery/thriller, this will make a great selection. Great review!
Hi Lonna!
Thanks for your comments.
Arlene introduced me to John Sandford. I actually read Certain Prey first and really enjoyed it and so I read a few more of Sandford’s books. They have a really good pace and never a dull moment and I found that I just whipped right through them.
I then went back and started the first Prey series book Rules of Prey and read them in order.
I like Lucas Davenport’s character and it was nice to get his history from the beginning. I love how he met his wife Weather and how he adopts Letty as his daughter. He has a nice combination of a complex character.
I will probably read the next Prey book that he pumps out. I can’t believe that I have read 26 of his Prey books! I guess I must like to read 🙂
I would recommend you to start at the beginning of the series if you are to pick up his books.
Thanks for stopping by!
Hey Dinh,
I read some of these Prey books a while ago and honestly it took me a very long time to finish them. I think one of the reasons is that I wasn’t that interested about the characters in the book. Reading older books would have given the reader a better background about the characters. Nonetheless, I really like how John Sandford writes his books that’s why I bought this one too. Great review!
Hi Basem,
thanks for your input!
You’re like me in that we like how Sandford writes. His books are not heavy and the plot and buildup is usually very good.
For me the other characters add to the story and I like series because it connects us to the main character.
Thanks for stopping by!
This one looks like a pretty interesting thriller and that it did manage to be a good read seeing as you raced through it. But when it comes to series you always look forward to being with the characters you love once again so it’s a shame that they didn’t make up as much of the novel as you hoped they would do. I hope the next book will be better for your sake!
Hi Olivia,
Thanks for your comments!
I like the Prey series and had to read Sandford’s latest book. It’s a shame that it did not live up to my expectation but I guess as the series continue it’s not going to be as good as the earlier works.
I probably will read his next book….Umm not sure….I do like the pace of his books and there’s always a good amount of action….
Thanks for popping by at Arlene’s Book Club!
Very nice review. I like the way your site is laid out. Very crisp and clean and readable! Nice job!!
Hi Kathy!
Thanks for stopping by and commenting.
I appreciate your compliment that you liked my review of Extreme Prey. I try to give my personal honest opinion and hope that it will help our readers in their choice of books to read.
I am happy to hear that you like the way the Arlene’s Book Club looks like. We all prefer big font as it’s easy to the eye (showing our age!) and like that fact that it’s clean so not distraction.
Thanks for your positive comments and I hope to talk to you again!
Hi, I like the information you have about these books, very informative! Nice Work!
Hi Elizabeth!
Thanks for stopping by and sharing your thoughts.
I am glad that you liked the book reviews and found Extreme Prey book review informative.
I have read quite a number of John Sandford’s books and as the Prey series continue I think they they will not be as good as his earlier works. This one was just fine.
One thing that John Sandford is good at is the pace of the book. I do like that it keeps moving and it’s not slow or boring.
Please drop by again at Arlene’s Book Club again!