Lethal Prey

A Prey Novel, Book 35

De: John Sandford

Narrado por: Robert Petkoff

Lucas Davenport and Virgil Flowers join forces to track down a ruthless killer who will do whatever it takes to keep the past buried, in this latest thriller from #1 New York Times bestselling author John Sandford.

Doris Grandfelt, an employee at an accounting firm, was brutally stabbed to death . . . but nobody knew exactly where the crime took place. Her body was found the next night, dumped among a dense thicket of trees along the edge of an urban park, eight miles east of St. Paul, Minnesota. Despite her twin sister Lara Grandfelt’s persistent calls to the Bureau of Criminal Apprehension, the killer was never found.

Twenty years later, Lara has been diagnosed with breast cancer. Confronted with the possibility of her own death, she’s determined to find Doris’s killer once and for all. Finally taking matters into her own hands, she dumps the entire investigative file on every true crime site in the world and offers a $5 million reward for information leading to the killer’s arrest. Dozens of true crime bloggers show up looking for both new evidence and “clicks,” and Lucas Davenport and Virgil Flowers are called in to review anything that might be a new lead.

When one of the bloggers locates the murder weapon, Lucas and Virgil begin to uncover vital details about the killer’s identity. But what they don’t know is the killer lurks in plain sight, and with the true crime bloggers blasting every clue online, the killer can keep one step ahead. As the nation maneuvers the detectives closer to the truth, Lucas and Virgil will find that digging up Doris’s harrowing past might just get them buried instead.

©2025 John Sandford (P)2025 Penguin Audio

Reseñas de la Crítica

One of New York Post's 30 Must-Read New Thrillers

"A superlative police procedural paired with an outrageous serial-killer saga, enlivened by an array of quirky characters."—Wall Street Journal

Total disappointment

I’ve truly enjoyed the last several releases by Sandford; different combinations of favorite characters coming together - each enhancing the personalities and styles of the other, providing depth and a wonderful complexity that make for great storytelling. Due to Sandford’s talent, as well as the string of really good stories via each series, he provided a platform for the depth of character development which keep readers engaged and looking forward to the next release. While I understand that those same characters must change and grow in the same ways we do in real life, Lucas and Virgil seem to have lost not only their edge, but the passion each of them held which made them both terrific at what they do, but truly entertaining to follow. It’s clear Standford is setting the stage to put them out to pasture, probably providing the opportunity to shift to a focus on Ray and Letti. I get it - to a point. I just wish the author would have given them the send off deserving of two intelligent, edgy, charismatic, talented, and unique characters that brought so much life to the page. Retiring with one last action packed mystery, full of great humor and a few good twists. Instead — this was barely a whimper - and an incomplete one at that. Very disappointing for a release I’ve been anticipating for months, and a sad realization regarding a dim future for two of my favorite heroes.

Janky ending to the book

I own and have listed to all 35 Davenport books, all the Flowers, books, and all the Letty books. I'm well versed in how these should go, and this ending is a true head scratcher. Either the author intends for there to be a second book (but where would it go?), or the deadline to deliver was imminent and the book got sent out as-is. It literally feels like a chapter is missing.

I'm a fan of Richard Ferrone and how he read Davenport, so it is an adjustment to Robert Petkoff and his interpretation of the characters, and he is reasonable at it. And to be honest, had Petkoff been the voice all along, I wouldn't even mention it as an issue. It is a good job overall.

New voice talent was disappointing

The storyline for this one is decent, but as a longtime audiobook fan of the character of Virgil flowers, it was a really weird adjustment to these new voice characters. Virgil now plays golf instead of fishing. The story is still OK.

Liked the first 90% of the story, author just getting lazy?

There was NO ending to the story. Seriously! Give us and ending. Finish it already.

Where’s the ending

This book was not up to par in my opinion after reading everything Sanford has written that I have been able to find. I’ve never read a book from him that seemed to just foreshadow other possible stories on tangents from his main book. Then to drop the ending completely. My hope is that this is an opening to a “part two” but have to say even though I love his characters and the thought that obviously goes into his storytelling this was a let down. But you know I will be there for the next one on any of his characters!

Still overlong

I am sticking with this 17 hour book, wish Ricard Ferrone narrated. Lots of unnecessary bad language. Despite it all, I like Virgil stories.

was she convicted?

we were left hanging.BAD ENDING. very unlike Sanford to do this. did editor miss your last chapter???

Narrator needs to talk Minnesotan!

I cannot get used to the narrator. I think it’s because he doesn’t have a Minnesotan accent! He’s reading a Minnesota story and the accent and cadence ruined it for me. I hate how he performs Virgil. His style ruins the funny lines.
I loved the story though. I liked the ending, real life isn’t clean cut. I love Sandford’s stories!

The ending is terrible.

The story is entertaining and I still love the characters. That said, ending was terrible and completely unsatisfying.

Still good

Davenport and Flowers never fail to entertain. Excellent story with a remorseless psychopath in their sights.