• Rules of Prey

  • A Lucas Davenport Novel
  • By: John Sandford
  • Narrated by: Richard Ferrone
  • Length: 11 hrs and 54 mins
  • 4.3 out of 5 stars (8,380 ratings)

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Rules of Prey

By: John Sandford
Narrated by: Richard Ferrone
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Publisher's summary

The "maddog" murderer who is terrorizing the Twin Cities is two things: insane and extremely intelligent. He kills for the pleasure of it and thoroughly enjoys placing elaborate obstacles to keep police befuddled. Each clever move he makes is another point of pride. But when the brilliant Lieutenant Lucas Davenport, a dedicated cop and a serial killer's worst nightmare, is brought in to take up the investigation, the maddog suddenly has an adversary worthy of his genius.
©1989 John Sandford (P)2005 Recorded Books, LLC

Critic reviews

"A police procedural as effective as it is brutal." (Publishers Weekly)
"Sleek and nasty...a big, scary suspenseful read." (Stephen King)

What listeners say about Rules of Prey

Average customer ratings
Overall
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    4,585
  • 4 Stars
    2,604
  • 3 Stars
    870
  • 2 Stars
    181
  • 1 Stars
    141
Performance
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    4,357
  • 4 Stars
    1,825
  • 3 Stars
    561
  • 2 Stars
    114
  • 1 Stars
    94
Story
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    3,955
  • 4 Stars
    2,035
  • 3 Stars
    682
  • 2 Stars
    145
  • 1 Stars
    116

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars

I love this series

John Sandford Prey series is awesome but If your like me I have read/listened to a few out of order; it's really no big deal but here is the list in order just in case anyone wants to know:
. 1. Rules of Prey (1989)
2. Shadow Prey (1990)
3. Eyes of Prey (1991)
4. Silent Prey (1992)
5. Winter Prey (1993)
6. Night Prey (1994)
7. Mind Prey (1995)
8. Sudden Prey (1996)
9. Secret Prey (1998)
10. Certain Prey (1999)
11. Easy Prey (2000)
12. Chosen Prey (2001)
13. Mortal Prey (2002)
14. Naked Prey (2003)
15. Hidden Prey (2004)
16. Broken Prey (2005)
17. Invisible Prey (2007)
18. Phantom Prey (2008)
19. Wicked Prey (2009)
20. Storm Prey (2010)
21. Buried Prey (forthcoming, early 2011)

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579 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    2 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars

Clipped Recording

I enjoyed the book but, like Ron (Oct 14, 2009), was taken aback when, at the end of each chapter, the last word/words of the chapter were cut short by an over zealous editor, who, instead of completing the current chapter, chose to introduce the next chapter early. This may not be a issue for some, but I savor every word of the books to which I listen.

Good customer service suggests that this book be pulled from circulation, remastered without the clipping at the end of chapters and provided to those who paid their cash or utilized their credits for the faulty recording. After all, we specifically chose an UNABRIDGED recording, not one abridged by an editor's anxious hand. Ron's review is dated 2009. Shame on you, Audible, for not pulling the faulty recording before now, fall 2011. I am not suggesting that we "get something for nothing". I just propose that we "get what we paid for".

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206 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Smart Start to a Series

I'm always looking for a new author of thrillers that I like, and I'm super picky. I need it to be psychologically gripping and this book had me. I liked it that we got in the mind of the killer, and it was a good police procedural. The womanizing was slightly annoying, and I hated the pregnant girlfriend, but I'm hoping she doesn't last through the whole series. But those were such a small part of the book they didn't really make me like the book less, and hey, he offset that with a nun for a friend. Overall very interesting and I'll keep reading this series.

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58 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars

The first and the best

This first novel in his "Prey" series in still the best. You get a look into the life and mind of the serial killer and an introduction to Lucas Davenport. Narration is well done, and the story moves very fast. Sandford's knowledge of police and detective procedures is incredible. And it gives his "Prey" books more plausibility than other books of the genre.

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48 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    3 out of 5 stars

Later Davenport is better

This is definitely not my favorite Lucas Davenport book, but since it is the first, that is to be expected. The plot is a little more straight ahead and simple and Lucas lacks the human complexity which he develops later in the series. Nonetheless, it was good to check in at the beginning of the series to get some context. And the story movss along well enough and has enough of Sandford's trademark gritty texture and local flavor to make it worth the read. He has come a long way since these early days.

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44 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    3 out of 5 stars

A First of Many Prey

These 'Prey' stories are a little addictive. Over the top Lucus starts his jouney here. That is why I downloaded this audiobook.
He does not need the money. He loves dressing well and women. And he is a detective of sorts. Serial killer yarns, with graphic detail, are not light listening. The stories do get better as John Sandford finds his stride in the later stories.
Apart from from following the development of Sandford's writing. there is not a lot to recommend in 'Rules of Prey'.
Some of his stories are better than others. Ferrone reads well. For your credit I suggest starting later in the series of Prey. They are stand alone stories. And Lucus Davenport is a curious character.

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31 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars

Best of the best

John Sandford is just about the best crime/thriller writer I've read. And Richard Ferrone, as a narrator, brings the 'Prey' series of books to life like no other narrator can.

A great audiobook experience. Better than reading the book. Better than watching a movie.

Now lets have more of the series made available on Audible!

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28 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    3 out of 5 stars

Lucas Davenport vs Mad Dog

This is another “try something new” purchase for me. It is a decent listen. However, it is predictable with a formulaic bad guy terrorizing the cities, the need to identify him, and the chase to bring him to justice.

Lucas Davenport is a loner detective that doesn’t follow all the rules, but “catches” the evil doer. His personal life, loves, and interests make him unique character.

I always enjoy Richard Ferrone as a narrator.

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25 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    2 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars

Excellent story, bad execution

Any additional comments?

The end of each chapter is clipped off by the announcement of the next chapter number. Very annoying!

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25 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars

This Works

Lucas Davenport is intelligent, macho, rich, and irresistible to women… a character strength and flaw. In other words, he’s the fantasy cop-character for guys who want to swagger away from a nasty adventure, just skirting the law, with knuckles sore from colliding with bad-guys’ multiply broken bones. If you want all of that manly-stuff in a thriller that usefully fast paced: This book works.

Richard Ferrone's voice is exactly right to capture the grit of Rules of Prey.

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21 people found this helpful