Golden Prey Book Review

Golden Prey: Book Review by Dinh.

4 stars

Summary:

Lucas Davenport’s first case as a U.S. Marshal sends him into uncharted territory in the thrilling new novel in the #1 New York Times-bestselling series.

The man was smart and he didn’t mind killing people. Welcome to the big leagues, Davenport.

Thanks to some very influential people whose lives he saved, Lucas is no longer working for the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension, but for the U.S. Marshals Service, and with unusual scope. He gets to pick his own cases, whatever they are, wherever they lead him.

And where they’ve led him this time is into real trouble. A Biloxi, Mississippi, drug-cartel counting house gets robbed, and suitcases full of cash disappear, leaving behind five bodies, including that of a six-year-old girl.

Davenport takes the case, which quickly spirals out of control, as cartel assassins, including a torturer known as the “Queen of home-improvement tools” compete with Davenport to find the Dixie Hicks shooters who knocked over the counting house.

Things get ugly real fast, and neither the cartel killers nor the holdup men give a damn about whose lives Davenport might have saved; to them, he’s just another large target.

Summary from hardcover version, 400 pages, publish April 25th, 2017 by G.P. Putnam’s Sons.

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Golden Prey Book Review
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Review:

I am so happy to read another John Sandford book! As you know I love his Prey series and this one, Golden Prey, the 27th in the series, is just what the doctor ordered! If you are looking for an exciting thriller, look no further!

Let’s look at what I enjoyed.

Plot

I just love the plot. What an explosive action packed plot!

Lucas Davenport is back with his first case as a US Marshal. When 5 people are killed including a little girl in a robbery at the Cartel’s counting house in Biloxi, Davenport’s interest is piqued.

Little does he know how quickly this case will spin out of control.

Davenport has to hunt the killers, and the Cartel, who want their money back will do anything in getting their money and revenge – both race to get the killers.

Great Pace

One of the best thing about John Sandford’s books is that they have great pace. Golden Prey is no exception.

This book was action packed and a page turner that I read this book in a few days. It was delightful to read.

Golden Prey can be read as a standalone book. If you haven’t read any of Sandford’s book, this one is a good one to start with. And if you enjoy this one, you can go back to the beginning and read the first Prey series book, Rules of Prey.

John Sandford Golden Prey

Writing

I love how it’s so easy to read Golden Prey.

Sandford’s depiction of the characters and their conversation is so accurate and faultless. I really enjoyed how precise it was. There was no fluff to wade through.

You would have thought by this 27th Prey series book that it would be too formulaic and lose that edge it had when it started, but not so.

Sandford is the king of suspense.  His style of writing has great flow and he has perfected his Prey series formula.

Golden Prey was better than his last book, Extreme Prey.

Golden Prey Series Number 27

Characters

The book focuses on Davenport, the killers, and the Cartel assassins.

  • Lucas

If you read any of the Prey series, then you will know what Lucas Davenport is like. He’s smart, good-looking and rich and is a good guy with a nice family. He has it all.

Lucas is the same person but older and in unknown waters- being a US Marshal for the first time.

Lucas lives to hunt- he loves to hunt and needs to hunt. So when this high profile case comes along he is ready to hunt the killers.

  • Garvin Poole

Garvin is a complex killer and Sandford explains this criminal really well. You can really see how the character unfolds as the plot thickens.

Garvin’s is more the muscle and his partner in crime is more the brains. This combo and their history together make their story interesting.

Though the book is about the criminals and how they are trying to get away with their crime and not get caught by Davenport, I would have liked to see more of the side characters.

I miss the other characters in Davenport’s life. We don’t get to hear what’s going on with his family much. Letty, his adopted daughter gets a mention and Virgil Flowers does a cameo but it’s all about the case Davenport is working on. (see Virgil Flowers series).

I would have liked to get to know a bit more of Dora Box, Garvin Poole’s girlfriend because she was an interesting side character.

Also, we didn’t get to know the women replacement killers that the cartel sent. I liked that Sandford includes women character that are also tough as nails and mean as the men.

Ending

I loved the ending of the book! Of course there’s a good action packed ending and the set-up for the next book…

Davenport is not going into retirement any time soon.

When you end the book and it makes you satisfied and laugh at the end, you know you will be back for the next installment.

My Final Thoughts:

Golden Prey by John Sandford is well written book with a great plot and great pace. I enjoyed Golden Prey because it was easy to read, action packed and a page turner.

We all love a good thriller, so pick this one up!

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Discover more mystery/thrillers here.

12 thoughts on “Golden Prey Book Review

  1. A fabulous review of this fast-paced thriller, Dinh.

    I love the way you break down a book so methodically. You introduce us to the plot, pace, and characters so smoothly.

    Thanks for this introduction to another fine author.

    Paul

    1. Hi Paul!
      I am glad you like the way the book is broken down. It makes it easier for me to write when I think about the book that way.

      I hope you enjoy!

  2. 27th book in the series? That is quite a long series! But it seems like you’re still loving it, and the action and fast pace combined makes this to be an exciting read. I am happy you seem to love the writing so much, and that there is no formula to bore you after all this time!

    1. Hi Olivia!
      Yes 27th! He must have the longest series I know…and it doesn’t seem to be stopping anytime soon either!
      Sandford’s Prey series are good and most of them are page-turners so before you know it you finished the book. 🙂
      It’s always wrapped up neatly as well.

  3. It would seem that the 27th book is just a fresh and interesting as the first Prey books. I’m always intimidated to start a series that is so far along. But, the fact that it’s had such a good following tells me I should definitely give it a try! Glad this was exactly what the doctor ordered. =)

    1. Hi Lonna!
      You can actually just read Golden Prey as a stand-alone book. If you enjoy it I would try some of the other books especially the earlier works.
      I like Sandford in most part because he does delivers. I love the pace of his books and they are all interesting and sometimes a bit scary.

        1. Hi Lonna!
          I would recommend reading Rule of Prey, the first in the Prey series, as a start. Then book two, Shadow Prey. If you like the first couple I would continue reading them in order.
          I liked reading them in order because you get a time line of Davenport’s life in perspective.

          Happy reading!

    1. Hi Cee!
      In the last Prey series book, Extreme Prey, Davenport saved the presidential candidate and so he gets rewarded for doing a good job. Karma or luck, Davenport has it all.

      Thanks for stopping by! 🙂

    1. Hi Josephine!
      I am glad to have introduced you to John Sandford. I do love his Prey series and would definite recommend to read some of his books if you are looking for a good thriller.

      Thanks for stopping by! 🙂

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