Literary Quote of the Month

"A reader lives a thousand lives before he dies," said Jojen. "The man who never reads lives only one." - George R.R. Martin, A Dance With Dragons

Tuesday, May 4, 2010

The Days of PREY Tour! Silent Prey by John Sandford... a Review


John Sandford's Days of PREY Tour

Hop on board! It's The Days of PREY Tour! On May 18th, John Sandford will publish his 20th Prey novel, Storm Prey! Leading up to the release of Storm Prey, TLC Book Tours & Penguin Books, are hosting a fun event, The Days of PREY Tour, in which participating reviewers have each taken one of John Sanford's previous Prey novels, and will review it via a questionnaire, that will establish a time line for the series, and lead up to the latest book! It's a nostalgic trip back to the beginning of Lucas Davenport, and a great way for anyone not familiar with the previous PREY novels to get acquainted. So, you can follow the tour in order of the date the books were published and follow our guy Lucas Davenport as he makes the rounds with the ladies, clothes and murder to see how he's changed...

The book I'm reviewing is the 4th in the Prey series called Silent Prey....

Year Published: 1992

Tell us about Lucas Davenport...

What is Lucas doing when he first appears in the book? Set up the scene.

Lucas is driving like a maniac doing 107 mph in his Porsche on the back roads of Wisconsin, where he has a lake cabin, driving home to Minnesota. We find out that while he was in Wisconsin he drove 80 miles to Duluth to buy books because there are "no real bookstores in his corner of Wisconsin". How can you not like a guy who drives 80 miles to go to a bookstore! I liked him immediately!

  • Give us a sense of time and place...
The story takes place in the present, starting out in Minnesota, but Lucas heads for New York City almost immediately.

  • Lucas's occupation or professional role...
Lucas is an ex-cop. He left the Minnesota Police Department and is now on his own, with his own company Davenport Games and Simulations. His business was primarily computer games but now is now leaning more towards computer simulations of police tactical problems. It's going quite well too, because he thinks he might actually need to rent office space.

  • Lucas's personal status (single, dating, married)
He's single, recently broke off with the mother of his daughter, but he's still got an eye for the women, and it looks like he's got a thing for Lily, a cop who he had worked with in the past that was now on "the case" in New York City.

  • Lucas Davenport is a known clothes-horse; did you notice any special fashion references?
Right from the get-go you find out he wears a gold & steel Rolex, along with a dark blue dress shirt , silk jacket ($500), khakis & loafers ($200), which make him stand out a little with the cops he's working with, and seem to rub the locals at a bar the wrong way one night too! (you'll know what I'm talking about when you read this book!)

  • Avoiding spoilers, what was the crime/case being solved?
Well, this time Lucas is in for solving two crimes. First he's brought into the Bekker case. Lucas previously captured Bekker, who is a serial killer, in a previous novel. But in the opening scene of this book Bekker escapes and he's back to his bloody ways. The Bekker case is really a front for the other investigation he's involved in which is a series of murders, that appear to be professional hits, and the only link that all the hits have is a leak in the police department in NYC. He's suppose to investigate these murders on the sly.

  • Does the title of the book relate to the crime? Yes!
  • Who was your favorite supporting character, good or evil?
I loved Lily. Strong and yet vulnerable (especially when it comes to Lucas!) She's one of the good guys.

  • What was your favorite scene or quote?
One of my favorite quotes was by Lily, who said to Lucas, "I'm such a goddamed slut". Why did I like the quote? Well, Lily's not some shy flirty girl, she goes for what she wants. But you'll laugh when she says it, because she's not a slut at all... there definitely is more to her feelings about Lucas than sex.

  • Finally, how do you envision Lucas Davenport? If he were to be portrayed in a movie, what celebrity would play him?
This is hard... the actors I see playing Lucas are older than the 44 that Lucas is... I think of Harrison Ford for his rugged good looks, or maybe Daniel Craig...

Silent Prey was a fast paced thrill. A police procedural with a softer side at times (I don't want to say romance, but along those lines), and the added excitement of a deranged serial killer. What more could you ask for?! John Sandford can write, and he knows how to capture your attention and hold on to it! Interesting characters, that have great histories, this is a novel you can read without having read a single PREY novel, Sandford gives you just enough background so don't feel left out, or you can enjoy seeing an "old" character pop up again.

40 comments:

Marjorie/cenya2 said...

I would love to win and read either of these books because the
review indicates a fast paced novel.

I follow by google reader.

cenya2 at hotmail dot com

Mason Canyon said...

Loved your review. This sounds like an interesting book. I've seen this series, but haven't read any of them. Now I definitely want to.

Mason
Thoughts in Progress

DarcyO said...

I would love to win because Sandford writes great books and I live in the same area.

dlodden at frontiernet dot net

Julie P said...

I was waiting for this book to be released! I LOVE the Prey Series--so far I have made it all the way through book 18. Storm Prey is definitely on my TBR list! Please enter me in this giveaway! Thank you for the opportunity!

bunnymom1970@aol.com

Sage Ravenwood said...

Why would I want to win? I found it intriguing this author sounds like someone I would have read and I haven't read a single book of his.

Would love to get to know his writing.

Thanks for the opportunity! (Hugs)Indigo

ravensquietscreams@gmail.com

LisaMM said...

Excellent!! Thank you so much for being on the Days of Prey tour, and please include me in the giveaway! I just finished Night Prey and loved it!

Natalie W said...

I'd love to enter! Sounds like a great murder mystery, my fav!
Nataliew2@gmail.com

Unknown said...

I have been reading the Preys from the beginning. I would love to win these two because it's been awhile and I miss him.

Eileen
wiseowlreviews@aol dot com

Heidi V said...

I read both and wow this series sounds like a thrill ride I love a good thriller both sounds like books I could enjoy!


Thanks for the chance!

heidivargas [at] live dot com

trish said...

So far I think each tour host has said their favorite character is the Davenport's female sidekick. I love that the female characters in these books are strong women.

And yeah, how could you not love someone who speeds to a bookstore? :)

Thanks for being on this tour!

stpand said...

I would like to read Storm Prey since I have enjoyed many of the previous "Prey" books.

http://services.nexodyne.com/email/icon/z0Lhjw8C/1r55zhA%3D/SG90bWFpbA%3D%3D/0/image.png

Cindy W. said...

I would love to win one of John Sandford's books. I've heard great reviews for the Prey books. Please enter me into your giveaway and thank you for the opportunity.

Smiles,
Cindy W.

countrybear52[at]yahoo[dot]com

Unknown said...

I would love to read either book because they sound like edge of you seat type of reads and I love the ones that keep you up all night on the edge of your seat! Lot of action

lead[at]hotsheet[dot]com

Reading said...

I would love to read these books because the characters sound so interesting.

lizzi0915 at aol dot com

Ladytink_534 said...

I'd like to read either book because though it's been a few years since I've read one of the books from this series I still think about the characters occasionally. It's a brilliant series!

Ladytink_534(at)yahoo(dot)com

angie said...

I would love to win this book because I have heard great things about this series and I need a new series of books to read:)
I tweeted http://twitter.com/bangersis/status/13394605903
Thanks for the giveaway!
bangersis at msn dot com

Linda Kish said...

I'd like to read Storm Prey because I have a collection of his Prey books.

GFC follower

lkish77123 at gmail dot com

Paranormal and Romantic Suspense Reviews said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Steve Capell said...

First of thanks for your review ... I like the fact that this is ex-cop and it's a mystery novel. Those two things alone would make for a wonderful plot and one that I would like too read.

steven(dot)capell(at)gmail(dot)com

Susan Helene Gottfried said...

No need to enter me, babe. I'm dropping in to say thanks for the e-mail. I've got this posted at Win a Book for you.

Carol M said...

I would love to have Storm Prey. I'm really enjoying this series.
mittens0831 at aol dot com

Unknown said...

Love John Sandford!So I would love to read his new one, because I'm a fan!

mrsshukra said...

When a hero in a novel is someone who can be portrayed by either Daniel Craig or Harrison Ford, I want to read it!

delilah0180(at)yahoo(dot)com

Dru said...

I've been reading the "Prey" series since the first book and I love catching up with Lucas every year.

I would love to have Storm Prey.

lovdru(at)aol(dot)com

Gaby317 said...

I would love to win Silent Prey because I just finished reading Sudden Prey and loved it! This novel is earlier in the series and it'd be great to see what Lucas was like then.

thanks for the entry.

gaby317nyc at gmail.com

nfmgirl said...

I'd like to read Silent Prey, 'cause I love creepy dangerous guys on the loose after escaping! Well, not really, but you know what I mean.

nfmgirl AT gmail DOT com

Unknown said...

I would love to win the ARC. I had planned to make the trip to Minniapolis to one of the book signings, been waiting for the tour schedule to come out, but now have to have foot surgery next week and will miss it. I'm totally bummed. I've read all of John's books and planned to make the trip to MN twice now and my health has stopped me both times.

How about Russell Crowe as Lucas Davenport? Close to the right age?

Unknown said...

I forgot to post my email - silly me. fictionfan01 AT gmail DOT com

Anita Yancey said...

I would love to read either book because I have enjoyed all of the other books by Sandford that I have read so far. These books just have to be great. Please enter me. Thanks!

ayancey(at)dishmail(dot)net

mindy said...

because they both sounds captivating thanks for the giveaway minsthins at optonline dot net

Cindy W. said...

I forgot to tell you that I am a follower.

Smiles,
Cindy W.

countrybear52[at]yahoo[dot]com

Susan said...

I love fast paced books, and I would love to read either of the books!

scottsgal said...

I'd love to read either of these because I'm a huge Sandford fan!
msboatgal at aol.com

Judylynn said...

I'd like to read either one because I've never read John Sandford and I'd like to try a new author!

Please enter me in this giveaway - Thanks!

seizethebookblog(at)gmail(dot)com

skkorman said...

John Sandford is one of my favorite writers—please enter me to win!!

skkorman AT bellsouth DOT net

kathy55439 said...

I have not read any of his books but would love to sound like great reads....

jemscout425 said...

i would love to read the bool
pksanddancer(at)yahoo(dot)com

CherylS22 said...

I'm a huge fan of John Sandford & I haven't yet read either book. Thanks for the chance!
megalon22 at yahoo dot com

Kimbers867 said...

John Sandford is on my list to read because I have heard he is an awesome writer. This win would make it have start reading his books.

Suzanne Yester said...

CONGRATS TO BETHIE! (lizzi0915) She WON the Days of Prey Tour Giveaway!

THANK YOU TO EVERYONE WHO JOINED IN ON THE FUN BY ENTERING, TWEETING AND BLOGGING ABOUT THE GIVEAWAY!

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