They're an entertaining trio, firing snide wisecracks at each other when they’re not shooting at bad guys. And that humor is vital in a book that is more gruesome than Sandford’s typical offering ... the collaboration that really makes the story work is that of Lucas with Rae and Bob. Let’s hope that Sandford keeps them as an ensemble cast.
Like most Lucas Davenport stories, this one is heavy on the good-natured sarcasm between the protagonists punctuated with cynicism in regard to the antagonists, and an assortment of cold-blooded violence on the part of the bad guys ... another entry in the Lucas Davenport series that keep raising the bar on thrills and excitement, in a fast-paced police procedural. Grab this one and give it an A++ for its well-written and neatly delineated characters.
Whereas other writers take a formulaic approach this deep into their careers, Sandford has shown a willingness to take risks in the name of freshening up his series, and it’s paid off in spades. By now, fans know just what they’re getting when they head out to follow Lucas Davenport around, and John Sandford delivers another intriguing, page-turning plot that’ll hold readers over until next time.
What is Sandford’s secret to writing 40 novels using basically the same characters and maintaining the same level of page-turning excellence? First, the man is a master of brief but arresting character description ... Second, he is a master of pacing. When action isn’t filling the pages, plot twists and original dialogue consistently hold the reader’s attention. Few books have the distinction of being both a compelling read and one that the reader is reluctant to finish ... Sandford is one of the rare authors who uses humor brilliantly not through jokes, but through cutting dialogue. Because we’re dealing here with cops who know each other well, examples of said dialogue must be redacted from this review ... If you’ve never read a book by John Sandford, I would not suggest that you start with Neon Prey. Start at number one, Rules of Prey, and don’t skip any of the Prey novels. I promise you they are all delicious.
