Rating: 
Summary: Very satisfying read.
Review: This is really a good read. I really liked the main cop character, Davenport. Not your usual rambo, macho type, but much more complex. The book had me guessing the whole way as to how the bad guy was going to be caught. This is the first book of Sanford's that I've read and i'm definitely going to read more of them.
Rating: 
Summary: A non-stop suspensful read!
Review: The Killer calls himself the Maddog. When the urge siezes him, he goes and "collects" a new victim. With each woman he slays, he leaves a note. These notes are the Maddog's "rules".
Every note says something different, such as: Never kill anybody you know; never have a motive; never carry a weapon after it has been used. After two murders and a third attempt, Detective Lucas Davenport joins the case. Lucas isn't like other detectives. Rather its the dozens of women he attracts, the games he invents, or the Porsche he drives, Lucas is something you've never seen before. Lucas Davenpport is out to get this crazed man who hunts these women. Lucas has a strong sense of justice and is cleaver enough to find him. This killer, however, is unlike any he has ever encountered. Because he's not just a killer, he's a player. Lucas will have to have all his wits about him if he plans on apprehending him, alive or dead.
If your looking for a suspensful, fun book, then I suggest John Sandford's masterpeice, Rules Of Prey.
Rules Of Prey Is the first book in John Sandford's extraordinary Prey series
Rating:
Summary: Terrific 1st entry in 'Prey' series
Review: John Sandford's Lucas Davenport, a Minneapolis cop, is pretty much what we've come to expect in this genre, and it's a comfortable fit (as far as old shoes go). He's a rough renegade with the heart of gold, some nerdy hobbies to balance out the tough parts and a flock of women who want him...and a cool car, to boot.What makes Rules of Prey so different from entries in other detective series is the absolute attention to detail. The process the Minneapolis police use to track the "maddog", a vicious serial killer, is fascinating, as are their fumbles along the way (that have embarrassing results for the department). I can't remember a book that built suspense so successfully, and it's done with an unsensational, subdued style that never cheats the reader or glosses over a scene. When I finished this novel I thought, "Somebody finally got it just right," and I only hope that the rest of the series can live up to this masterpiece. Fans of crime and mystery novels should do some investigating in Lucas Davenport's Twin Cities.
Rating:
Summary: Great detective story!
Review: The "Prey" series is one of my favorite. Sandford creates some really great characters in this series and one great detective in Lucas Davenport. The stories are always gripping and believable. The action is fast paced and nerve racking. Most importantly, unlike so many other detective novel series by other other authors, the ending doesn't cheat the reader. Start with the first book in this series and work your way through - you won't be disappointed.
Rating:
Summary: Love John Sandford
Review: This is the most exciting set of books I have ever read. Lucas Davenport is a great character in all the prey books. If you want to be left on the egde of your seat this is the series to start reading. You will never want to put it down.
Rating:
Summary: Rules of Prey
Review: I have read every Prey Novel that John Sanford has published (12) of them in their sequence. I am absolutely hooked on the character Lucas Davenport and can hardly wait for the next one to come out. This book Rules of Prey introduces you to the world of Lucas Davenport and I could not put the book down. It is both thrilling, suspenseful, mysterious and spine tingling. I have enjoyed the creativity in the minds of both stalker and hunter. I strongly recommend this to anyone who also enjoys books from James Patterson, John Grisham and Robert Tanenbaum. I feel that a person that reads books on the same characters in other novels feels a sense of almost knowing them in a real life. I have bought this book for many friends and family with different likes of reading and have got them hooked and wanting more as well. Take a chance a try this. I promise, you'll enjoy it.
Rating:
Summary: RULE #1 -- START A SERIES WITH A "GREAT" BOOK
Review: A few years ago, I asked the owner of a bookstore to recommend some books for me. She said that she had been home sick for the past week and spent the time reading all of the "prey" books. At the time, I had no idea what she was talking about and thought they might have something to do with religion as in "pray" books. After some further discussion, I realized I had stumbled upon a great series by John Sandford. I started to buy the books then and it's taken me this long to finally read the first one. Since I read a lot of mysteries, many of which are part of a series, I'm pretty savvy when it comes to the most popular male protagonists out there at the moment. Now that I've been introduced to Lucas Davenport, my only regret is that I waited this long to begin my relationship with a now favorite character. The story is a good one and involves a serial killer whose identity is introduced to the reader at the beginning of the book. I like when an author does this as it enables me to get inside the killer's head and follow him around from place to place -- not only to the scene of his crimes but in his everyday life at work and home as well. I also love it when the moment arrives and I realize what the title of the book means. In Rules of Prey, the killer, referred to as "maddog", has certain rules that he follows so as not to get caught. For example, he never kills anyone he knows, he never uses the same weapon twice and he never has a motive. He always leaves a note at each crime scene communicating one of his rules. Not only does this serve as a challenge to our main character, Lucas Davenport, it is also the killer's "in your face" way of letting Lucas know that he is someone to be reckoned with. As a lead character, Lieutenant Davenport is a dream. He drives around in a Porsche, which was purchased with money he earns not only from gambling but also from a side job he has creating intense, strategic video games. He's smooth, good-looking and a real lady killer (no pun intended). I enjoyed the way he tracked down the clues, which will eventually lead to the killer. He also has no problem working around the "rules" set up by his own police department and I found this flagrant use or "misuse" of his own form of justice a bit ingratiating. But this particular case will prove not to be an easy chase as his sometimes-inept Minneapolis police department is foiled by the "maddog" on more than one occasion. I understand from other readers that these books just get better and better. That's a real incentive for any mystery reader and is an added bonus just knowing that I get to spend some more quality time with Lucas. This is certainly a series for the ladies as well as the guys. "Shadow Prey" here I come.
Rating:
Summary: Another thriling "Prey" book
Review: Lieutenant Lucas Davenport's career is on the line as this book begins. He is under 24 hour surveillance by his own Police department as he is one of a number of murder suspects. When another horrific homicide takes place whilst Davenport is under the eyes of the police he is cleared of any association with the crime. As the best man to head up the investigation he goes from suspect to chief investigator instantly. It is clear that a serial killer is on the loose in the twin cities. Each victim is left with a "Rule of Prey" note such as "Never kill anyone you know" and "Never have a motive". The random killings give no pattern to the police. The only consistencies are the violently sexual assort on each victim and the fact that each victim is an attractive young lady. The killer's first serious mistake is to allow one of his potential victims to escape alive. She befriends Davenport who gains a clearer picture of the killer's seemingly insignificant idiosyncrasies as well as physical clues such as his stature and strength. The friendship develops rapidly as Davenport allows her to use his country holiday home to rest, relax and recuperate from her dance with death. Meanwhile, the media is in a frenzy as the city becomes paranoid waiting for the killer to strike again. Davenport is simultaneously in a relationship with a beautiful TV news journalist. These two women allow Davenport to get inside the head of the killer and, using "leaks" to the media, play him at his own psychological game. It is cat and mouse stuff all the way as the tension builds and the plot thickens. The stakes rise as the book develops with any mistake by the killer surely leading to his downfall, whilst any mistake by Davenport will mean yet another victim. This is an example of graphic writing, combined with terror and suspense. It is not for the faint hearted. Davenport's hectic love life provides light relief from the main theme of the story but is vital to the plot. This is another excellent book in John Sandford's "Prey" series and well worthy of its four stars.
Rating:
Summary: Very compelling.
Review: After being told by several friends to read this series, I finally picked this up recently. And I'm glad I did. Sanford has created the epitome of the tough guy cop in Lucas Davenport. A detective who creates games on the side and drives a Porche, Davenport is pulled in on the case of a serial killer nicknamed "Maddog". He finds his quarry to be incredibly smart and a challenging opponent in a game of life and death. A definite page turner with a gripping and surprising climax. I look forward to reading the rest of the series soon.
Rating:
Summary: Intriguing
Review: This book was an intriguing start to the "Prey" series. This was my first encounter with the "Prey" series and with John Sandford and I was very satisfied. Lucas Davenport is an interesting and mutil-dimensional character. I found myself caring about him and the supporting cast just as much as the plot. The relationship between him and Jennifer Carey was very complex and I hope to see it develop in further novels. The only thing that's holding me back from 5 stars is that the Maddogs' motives were never fully expained. I am almost done with Shadow Prey and plan to read the rest of the books in this series.
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