Silken Prey

Lucas Davenport, Book 23

By: John Sandford

Narrated by: Richard Ferrone

Length: 12 hrs and 17 mins

Publisher's summary

Murder. Scandal. Politics. And one billionaire heiress so dangerous in so many ways. An explosive Lucas Davenport thriller from number one New York Times best-selling author John Sandford.

All hell has broken loose in the capital. An influential state senator has been caught with something very, very nasty on his office computer. The governor can’t believe it - the senator’s way too smart for that, even if he is from the other party. Something’s not right. As Davenport investigates, the trail leads to a political fixer who has disappeared, then - troublingly - to the Minneapolis police department itself, and most unsettling of all, to a woman who could give Machiavelli lessons in manipulation. She has very definite ideas about the way the world should work - along with the money, ruthlessness, and cold-blooded will to make it happen.

©2013 John Sandford (P)2013 Penguin Audio

Critic reviews

"If you haven’t read Sandford yet, you have been missing one of the great summer-read novelists of all time." (Stephen King, Entertainment Weekly)

The gang's all together again!

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

Yes. If you like the Prey series, this is one of the best.

What did you like best about this story?

The incorporation of all of Sandford's characters...from Davenport and the BCS gang to Kidd, who we haven't heard from in a while.

Which character – as performed by Richard Ferrone – was your favorite?

Richard Ferrone is Lucas Davenport...I couldn't imagine any other voice as Lucas.

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

When Lucas figured out that Kidd and Lauren were involved and let them know that he knew.

Any additional comments?

Great writing and performance by Richard Ferrone. Could be my favorite Prey book.

Politics really makes for strange bedfellows

Whether in audio or written form, John Sandford's novels are among my favorites and Silken Prey is one of his better works. Richard Ferrone does another excellent job in reading Silken Prey and listeners will not have a hard time distinguishing characters. The combination, story and reader, make another excellent entry into this series.

The plot focuses on a US Senate election and on the criminal activity that one side chooses to engage in order to win the election. Davenport is brought in by the Governor to sort through the accusations of child pornography that have been levied against the incumbent Senator without upsetting the political balance. Recognizing that this is the kind of case that could result in people losing jobs, Davenport looks outside his usual supporting cast (early in the book; favorites like Del, Shrake, and Jenkins are back later) which leads to a great fan service for long time Sandford fans. Kidd and LuEllen have fairly significant supporting roles in Silken Prey.

As with most Prey books, Early chapters switch between what the criminals are doing and what Davenport is doing. This helps provide tension as we see both sides making moves, one to protect their secrets and Davenport attempting to expose them.

If you've read/listened to other Prey novels and have not enjoyed them, there is little here to change your mind but for fans this is a great entry in the series.

Outstanding

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

Great read, one of his best highly recommend it.

Who was your favorite character and why?

Lucas of course

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

One of his better ones

Riveting, if a bit implausible

I could not stop listening to this book. I have read or listened to all of the Prey series, and it's amazing that Lucas remains a fascinating character. My only criticism is that Sandford introduces a ridiculous sub-plot that is a mere distraction until it intersects with the main plot and leads directly to the denouement. The book is still a terrific listen, but the plot really jumps the shark, and it's too bad. I guess he couldn't think of another way for Lucas to crack the case. He should have thought a little longer. But no one writes better dialogue than Sandford, and I have grown to love comfortable, longtime characters like Del and the two thuggish detectives they call out for the rough stuff, Shrake and what's-his-name. Even Virgil Flowers makes an amusing cameo. So don't let my plot criticism put you off — this is one of those books you hate to turn off when you pull into the garage.

Another grand slam for Sandford

John Sandford just keeps batting them out of the park with his character-driven detective stories. This one revolves around a particularly dirty political trick and the people who perpetrated it. The characters are utterly believable, the dialogue is crisp, the descriptions are priceless, and the narration, by Richard Ferrone, is as usual, impeccable. If you haven't listened to any of Sandford's "Prey" series, this is as good a place as any to start. If you have, you probably don't need my encouragement to buy it.

Anther

Great Prey book. Sandford does a great job of creating new and original villains and this could be his best

Excellent

Excellent as always. I live the way Davenport pulls upu in and keeps you guessing until you figure it out.

Best book of the “Prey” series.

Sandford, always great, is getting better. This is a great story and is in wonderful hands with Richard Ferrone.

slow start..big finish

slow at first but GRRAT narrator and sticking with it the story evolved to authors superior quality! Love Lucas Davenport series!!

That #$(^*%$ Davenport

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

It's John Sandford, Lucas Davenport, and Richard Ferrone. This combination has NEVER missed - IMO. I love this series.

Who was your favorite character and why?

Lucas Davenport - sexy, street smart, and has no qualms about getting a little dirty in the name of justice.

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

Richard Ferrone is an EXCELLENT narrator. The quality of his narration remains consistent, so I'd have to say this ranks up there with the rest.

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

YES