Mind Prey

A Lucas Davenport Novel

By: John Sandford

Narrated by: Richard Ferrone

Length: 12 hrs and 22 mins

Publisher's Summary

John Sandford's acclaimed Prey novels featuring the brilliant Lucas Davenport have plunged millions of readers into the darkest recesses of the criminal mind. Now Lucas has met his match. His newest nemesis is more intelligent, more deadly, than any he has tracked before: a kidnapper, a violator, and a cruel, wanton killer who knows more about mind games than Lucas himself.

Prey tell: listen to another Lucas Davenport thriller.

©1996 John Sandford (P)2011 Simon & Schuster

Love This Series

This book is brutal, but it is one of the very best in the Lucas Davenport series. Mind Prey is mind blowing. I have never pulled for characters to survive as much as I pulled for the mother and children who were kidnapped. Lucas is having a devil of a time trying to rescue them from the evil cruel kidnapper, and Mom is fighting with all she has to get free. She goes through hell from this cruel man and I hurt for her so much. Lucas and his team are frustrated and desperate to find and free her. It is just an amazing edge of the seat, nail biting experience and I was totally absorbed in the story. Sandford is a master story teller - and that is a rare talent. He is also great at creating characters and dialog. As usual, Richard Ferrone gives an excellent narration. I don't think I could enjoy any other narrator at this point because Ferrone is the voice of the Lucas Davenport series and helps to bring the story and characters to life. This is one of the best series on Audible. Love it!!!

Just as good the second time around

This is the second time I've listened to and reviewed Mind Prey. I'll let my first one (created in December 2006) pretty much stand. Audible removed and then added the title back which is why I mistakenly downloaded it a second time. But it was worth another listen. The only difference I noted was the addition of silent pauses in places that didn't make much sense. Probably added a few minutes to the listen. Here's what I had to say five years ago: This is the fifth "Prey" book I've listened to and, so far, I think it's Sandford's best. The author has the talent for creating some pretty evil characters and John Mail is no exception. If profanity and sexual references bother you, then don't listen to this book. But if you can tolerate them as part of the story-telling process, then you must listen to this book. The narration is superb, the story is gripping and you will not want to turn off your iPod. This is one of two "Prey" suspense thrillers recently added to Audible's inventory. My next download will be the other one. Fans of Lucas Davenport will not want to miss "Mind Prey."

Either bad editing or bad performance

How did the narrator detract from the book?

This was either an unusual bad performance, or truly bad editing. There were MANY pauses that totally detracted from a good book.

Too much rape for me

Everything about the book was good with the exception of the continual rape. If that does not a concern you will enjoy the book.

Some of this is hard to listen to

As much as I love the Prey series, this is not one of my favorites. If I could give it 3 & 1/2 stars I would.

The graphic sexual brutality inflicted on Andy Minette, the adult victim, was very hard for me to listen to. I ended up fast-forwarding through much of it. This is not so much a criticism as a heads-up.

I have read and listened to all the books in the series and am now working my way from beginning to end; so you can see I am a fan.

One of my favorites

This is one of my favorite Prey books. Lucas Davenport is in fine style in this novel, frequently touching the ring he has purchased for Weather and has yet to give her. The villian in this novel, John, is quite believable, as are his fantasies about a former psychiatrist. John gets excited about playing the cat and mouse game with Lucas Davenport, the man who has written many role-playing games. John knows Lucas is a good detective, but since John believes he is invincible, he doesn't see Lucas as a real threat. It's a great story, narrated by one of the best, Richard Ferrone. I used to only have the abridged version of the book, but now I have the unabridged version ... that much the better!

A Gentler Davenport

Davenport and Sloan are on a mission. A young mother and her two daughters are being held by a madman who enjoys playing games with Davenport. The family is wealthy and thus the politics are challenging for the gang at HQ.
This story was well paced and kept my interest throughout.
Personally I did not find the violent acts bothersome, because although the rapes were mentioned, the author avoided description. In fact, it seemed to me that this author was extremely conservative in this regard. He avoided going into any detail with the rapes; so for me, I found that acceptable. Understandably others feel differently.
Overall, I liked this mystery, I would have given it a 3.5 if I could.

One of the best of the series

This book is brutal, but it is one of the very best in the Lucas Davenport series. Mind Prey is mind blowing. I have never pulled for characters to survive as much as I pulled for the mother and children who were kidnapped. Lucas is having a devil of a time trying to rescue them from the evil cruel kidnapper, and Mom is fighting with all she has to get free. She goes through hell from this cruel man and I hurt for her so much. Lucas and his team are frustrated and desperate to find and free her. It is just an amazing edge of the seat, nail biting experience and I was totally absorbed in the story. Sandford is a master story teller - and that is a rare talent. He is also great at creating characters and dialog. As usual, Richard Ferrone gives an excellent narration. I don't think I could enjoy any other narrator at this point because Ferrone is the voice of the Lucas Davenport series and helps to bring the story and characters to life. This is one of the best series on Audible. Love it!!!

More gruesome than any of the stories.

While the writing was great I have a hard time with kidnapping and rape in detail. Too much for me. I gritted my teeth through this book and I don't think this killer got enough of what he deserved in the end.

Possibly the best Davenport ever

A really bad guy. Kidnapped woman and her two children. Davenport and crew race the clock to save them. Edge of your seat. Emotion packed. Will he ask Weather to marry him?