Sandford and Ferrone deliver

What I like about the Prey series is John Sandford's ability to continually create some pretty evil guys. He doesn't disappoint in this installment with the really oily dynamic duo of Horn and R-A. Neither of them have anything even resembling a redeeming social value. They are perfect bad guys. Sanford also introduces a new character, who I hope will appear in upcoming installments. Catrin Mattsson had a baptism of fire in this novel and is deserving of a Virgil Flowers kind of spinoff. I hope we at least see her in future Prey offerings. Finally, Richard Ferrone made this story come to life with his dead-on vocal interpretations. A musician could read music and lyrics from a new song and have an idea of what the finished product would sound like. But hearing the instrumentation and vocals would, for most of us, make for a better experience. Same goes with Audible books. Reading them would be fun but listening to them is much better. And with a narrator like Ferrone, the experience is kicked up a notch. A five-star winner. Keep 'em coming.

28 people found this helpful

One of the best author/narrator combos anywhere!

If you could sum up Field of Prey in three words, what would they be?

I stopped listening half-way through another one of my favorite authors so I could start listening to "Field of Prey". I am not disappointed. I'm only part way in to the story and I am loving it already! I will pre-order any of John Sandford's books and hopefully Audible will keep Richard Ferrone as the narrator. There is no finer combination.

15 people found this helpful

It Doesn't Get Better Than This

I have been reading/listening to the Prey novels since their beginning, back in the eighties, and for me, this was the most engrossing, the most maddening of them all. The whole novel felt like that exciting point that all the Lucas Davenport novels move toward, when all the figuring, all the questioning, all the digging suddenly starts to reveal what is what and who is who, and the action becomes a mad dash or avalanche towards the uncertain and usually pretty dicey ending. I guess one thing that made me feel that from the very beginning was the action of a very strong female character, responding to being attacked bound, and driven off into the night. I felt truly exhilarated by this beginning, and I rarely lost that sense of involvement, as the action and characters developed throughout, "Field of Prey."

I have always found that Sandford creates strong and complex women in his Prey books, and they are even stronger in this one. His daughter, Letty, in particular, is so enjoyable in this installment, that I am now hoping she completes her time at Stamford and comes back to the twin cities, to work with Lucas, a lot sooner than four years from now. I admit it, I have to remind myself, now and then, that these people are not real, I have been reading about them for so long. Yes, all the gang are here: Dell, Virgil, Sandy, Lucas's childhood friend, the psychologist nun, and of course, those responsible for something like twenty years worth of the disappearances and murders of young blonde women.The familiar voice of Richard Ferrone , with its tough guy edge, always adds to my enjoyment. Whoever chose him for the Prey series created a perfect marriage.

When I listen to the decisions Lucas makes, unaware of the big picture that Sandford shares with us, I feel like a kid at the matinee, wanting to shout out, "What the hell are you doing? Turn around; do not go home before you question that creep!" I say no more. No spoilers here. Oh yes, I loved this installment of Sandford's Prey series. What a great read!

13 people found this helpful

Great Narrator.. A Good Mystery

Richard Ferrone's voice is an excellent match for this mystery. The grittiness and deep tones of his voice says "get ready, a mystery" is being told here." I enjoyed the novel. My first read of John Sanford and the Prey series. There were a couple of points where I thought the author went off in a weird way, ie, getting his daughter too involved, etc. But overall, the book held my attention until the very end even though we knew who the killer was about mid-way or so into the story. I am not sure if I'll read another of the Prey series (kinda long) but since I tend to like novels in a series, I may read another one because you can get to know the repeat characters better, I just might try one more to see if it is a go with John Sandford's Prey series, especially since Richard Ferrone will be narrating!

12 people found this helpful

Solid! Now if I can make it to Fall & Flowers...

I agree with the reviewer who thought the character development was a little light, esp. for Investigator Mattsson. I did enjoy Letty going on the road with Lucas (maybe that 50 Shades of Grey spoof on 4/1/13 wasn't so spoofy after all). Plenty of the patented Sandford tricks and twists. Maybe there are just too many characters to visit in a single book anymore.

John (Camp) Sandford is about 70 now - I'm not too far behind. So I especially appreciated the old folks with the RV overflowing with full-auto.

As is the case each May, when the new one reaches The End, I listen to 4-5 oldies, luxuriate in Richard Ferrone's awesome performances, and wait impatiently for October and Virgil coming down my driveway with the boat trailer hitched to the back of the truck.

(PS: Thanks for not killing off you-know-who.)

12 people found this helpful

Violence Porn

Would you say that listening to this book was time well-spent? Why or why not?

Yes, with reservations. I did like the character of Lucas Davenport (although he is neither Jack Reacher nor Dave Robicheau). This is the first time I have read a book by the Sandford. I am looking for a new author to follow because I have read all of Lee Child and James Lee Burke. I will give Sandford another try, and hope the next book won't be as violent as this one was.

What was the most interesting aspect of this story? The least interesting?

The least interesting aspect was the author's tellling the story of Del in Texas. Truthfully, it was like an unformed twin growing on its brother's body. What the heck was the point of that?

Have you listened to any of Richard Ferrone’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

He is a great narrator.

Did Field of Prey inspire you to do anything?

Yes. Watch out for psychos.

Any additional comments?

The descriptions of a certain woman being beaten was really unbearable. I had to fast forward through the gruesome and oft repeated descriptions of this woman being beaten and raped--her teeth, nose, and bones broken--made me sick. I seriously felt nauseated. It was like violence porn. I'll give another of his books a try, but if it details such abuse of women I won't be able to finish it.

8 people found this helpful

Not one of his best...

I preordered this having read all the others in the "Prey" series but was kinda bored.
Missing something, witty banter? character development? Not certain just what is missing. Narration great as always; might be the formula is tired. I did not know enough about the new women cop to generate much interest in the outcome. Davenport's family just one dimensional as were most characters this time.
Disappointed overall.

7 people found this helpful

How could anyone like this?

I'm at a loss. I really can't understand how this writer is so popular. The story was thin, the characters forgetable. I stuck with it til the end, thinking maybe something surprising would happen, but it just plodded along and I was grateful when it was over. I don't have any interest in reading any other Sandford novel.

I did think the narrator was okay. Not great, but okay. If he had been annoying, I couldn't have stuck with the book til the end. So the best I can say for him is, his narration was good enough to allow me to keep listening to an uninteresting story until it was over. I wouldn't mind listening to him read something that had an exciting plot line.

6 people found this helpful

Not Sandford's Best Work

Would you try another book from John Sandford and/or Richard Ferrone?

I will try other books from John Sandford because I do think he's a great author.

What was most disappointing about John Sandford’s story?

I usually love John Sandford--I have most of his books in both hard copy and audible form. But this one just didn't satisfy my. The plot just didn't seem as developed as usual. It felt rushed and very surface in nature. It felt more like a way to set up a spin off for a book about Letty than an in-depth Davenport thriller. I don't want to spoil the plot but felt a lot of the violence was more gratuitous than essential. All in all, a disappointment from one of my favorite authors.

5 people found this helpful

It is sad (Spoilers)

Would you try another book from John Sandford and/or Richard Ferrone?

Of course, I would.

What was most disappointing about John Sandford’s story?

It is sad that after the first half of the book, Lucas and company become stupid. Lucas erases all of the photos from his phone. The sheriff sends all of the deputies out and takes a shower when everyone knows that the bad guy is after her.

Have you listened to any of Richard Ferrone’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

I thought the narration was fine.

Do you think Field of Prey needs a follow-up book? Why or why not?

No, everyone is dead or has had their lives ruined.

Any additional comments?

I hope that Lucas and his fellow detectives regain their intelligence. I miss them.

5 people found this helpful