Hidden Prey

Prey

By: John Sandford

Narrated by: Richard Ferrone

Length: 12 hrs and 27 mins

Publisher's Summary

Six months ago, Lucas Davenport tackled his first case as a statewide troubleshooter, and he thought that one was plenty strange enough. But that was before the Russian got killed. On the shore of Lake Superior, a man named Vladimir Oleshev is found shot dead, three holes in his head and heart, and though nobody knows why he was killed, everybody - the local cops, the FBI, and the Russians themselves - has a theory. And when it turns out he had very high government connections, that's when it hits the fan. A Russian cop flies in from Moscow, Davenport flies in from Minneapolis, law enforcement and press types swarm the crime scene - and, in the middle of it all, there is another murder. Is there a relationship between the two? What is the Russian cop hiding from Davenport? Is she - yes, it's a woman - a cop at all? Why was the man shot with ... fifty-year-old bullets? Before he can find the answers, Davenport will have to follow a trail back to another place, another time, and battle the shadows he discovers there - shadows that turn out to be both very real and very deadly.

©2004 John Sandford (P)2012 Penguin Audiobooks

Critic Reviews

“Eerily suspenseful.” (Entertainment Weekly)   

“Vintage Sandford - a tough, intriguing story wrapped around an equally tough and intriguing cop.” (Chicago Tribune)    

“Skillfully blends dark humor and the macabre in scenes worthy of a Coen brothers’ movie...pure delight.” (Orlando Sentinel) 

Davenport is all business in this one

Having read many of the installments in the Davenport series, I was a little surprised that the usual cast of family and law enforcement characters were minimized in this novel. It was all about Lucas and the characters created for this particular story. And it worked. Carl wasn't very believable but this was tempered somewhat by grandpa who was a great character and who allowed us to believe that maybe Carl could be someone in the real world. I liked Nadia and wouldn't mind seeing her in other Davenport installments (although I'm not sure exactly where this book falls chronologically in the series). As always, narrator Richard Ferrone was superb. His delivery is impeccable, especially when portraying low-life characters. This was not the best Davenport novel I've listened to but it was well worth my time.

Well written and read but not a great plot.

Book #15 in the series of 22 featuring Lucas Davenport, this was my first exposure to Lucas Davenport, having picked up the book on sale. He sounds like an interesting character, but the mystery doesn't really hold together well. A 50-year-old communist cell in northern Minnesota consisting of members of several clans but previously undiscovered in a region where historically Socialism had taken root? Unknown to the FBI? A grandson brainwashed by his kooky grandfather, apparently willing to do whatever it takes to further the cause? Structurally, you need to accept that an important character in the beginning and end but apparently incidental to the plot withheld the key to the case only to reveal crucial elements when Lucas was stuck. Nevertheless, I liked the internally incompletely resolved conclusion. Will the case reach full closure in connection with a later book in the series? The writing is good; I'd be willing to give another Sandford book a try if the story had an average rating of 4+ by others.

I'm glad that a previous reviewer (Adry) mentioned a background noise that sounds like another story or radio--too faint to be understood but loud enough to be distracting, especially during pauses in the reading. This is the first Audible book that I found to be technically flawed in this way.

crazy grampa ....lol

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

The title was vague...but the story was awesome. I had a little problem with the second part, it had a back noise like radio or something but AUDIBLE courteously give me $10 credit for it...Im very grateful... Thank you

What about Richard Ferrone’s performance did you like?

I just love it

A Comfortable Davenport

Hmmmm.... Are the Russians meddling with Lucas Davenport's cases? After all everyone else today seems to claim they're responsible for mega-mischief, so why not Minneapolis? Well, they're one piece in this tasty stew. Sandford's a master at this stuff, and Richard Ferrone IS Lucas Davenport. And Both of them come together again here to do what they do cooly.

I like this series, and this as good as the best of them.

Hear a second voice in background

good story. Background voice annoying. Listened to other John Sanford audiobooks. Never had this problems before. Very distracting. Never had this problem with an audible.com book.

Amother great Lucas Davenport mystery

What made the experience of listening to Hidden Prey the most enjoyable?

I like listening to these mystery books as you get a better feel for each different character by the voice and infliction of speech.

Who was your favorite character and why?

The Russian "cop". She was intense but very funny at the same time

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

NO, Listened to this book on my commute to and from work and while working out.

Any additional comments?

Yet another good Lucas Davenport read! This time Lucas is dealing with Russian spies in Minnesota. A story with a good plot and a very psychotic bad guy that is a grandpa. You don't usually find the old grandpa being such a bad guy! There was even some great humor. I was listening to this while working out at the gym one day and I know people had to be looking at me like I was crazy when I am laughing at a few scenes while lifting weights. I enjoy Sandford's intense plot lines and his sense of humor which make for a great book

Great story

I could hear other people talking in the background throughout the book. Other than that excellent book overall

BEST

Lucas davenport. Also the 25 th one I've read. It's devastating not to have another one to listen to. I've listened to one everyday for 25 days.

Far and away Sanford's very best.

Would you listen to Hidden Prey again? Why?

I plan to make it a bi-annual read because it is Sanford's best novel. There is much going on with the plot, it weaves around so easily bringing all the characters together in an intricately written plot.

What did you like best about this story?

The great characters from Davenport himself, to Grandpa, and the Russian female cop. I mean it was absolutely dazzling. I have now read all of Sanford's books due to the un-abridging bonanza. I would go so far as to say that this book equals or bests
any cop/thriller book on the market.

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

The usual perfection.

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

Definitely written with great humor, as are all Lucas' novels.

Any additional comments?

I promise if you like Davenport's other books it's a no-brainer, if you are new to Davenport this book should give you reason to read more by Sanford.

Excellent addition to the series

John Sanford has managed to create a book with a sufficiently intricate plot to keep the reader interested, along with a variety of characters that he skillfully interweaves among the activities. It surprises me that a series as established as this one can present a book with such a fresh face.