Lethal Prey

A Prey Novel, Book 35

By: John Sandford

Narrated by: Robert Petkoff

Lucas Davenport and Virgil Flowers join forces to track down a ruthless killer who will do whatever it takes to keep the past buried, in this latest thriller from #1 New York Times bestselling author John Sandford.

Doris Grandfelt, an employee at an accounting firm, was brutally stabbed to death . . . but nobody knew exactly where the crime took place. Her body was found the next night, dumped among a dense thicket of trees along the edge of an urban park, eight miles east of St. Paul, Minnesota. Despite her twin sister Lara Grandfelt’s persistent calls to the Bureau of Criminal Apprehension, the killer was never found.

Twenty years later, Lara has been diagnosed with breast cancer. Confronted with the possibility of her own death, she’s determined to find Doris’s killer once and for all. Finally taking matters into her own hands, she dumps the entire investigative file on every true crime site in the world and offers a $5 million reward for information leading to the killer’s arrest. Dozens of true crime bloggers show up looking for both new evidence and “clicks,” and Lucas Davenport and Virgil Flowers are called in to review anything that might be a new lead.

When one of the bloggers locates the murder weapon, Lucas and Virgil begin to uncover vital details about the killer’s identity. But what they don’t know is the killer lurks in plain sight, and with the true crime bloggers blasting every clue online, the killer can keep one step ahead. As the nation maneuvers the detectives closer to the truth, Lucas and Virgil will find that digging up Doris’s harrowing past might just get them buried instead.

©2025 John Sandford (P)2025 Penguin Audio

Critic reviews

One of New York Post's 30 Must-Read New Thrillers

"A superlative police procedural paired with an outrageous serial-killer saga, enlivened by an array of quirky characters."—Wall Street Journal

Total disappointment

I’ve truly enjoyed the last several releases by Sandford; different combinations of favorite characters coming together - each enhancing the personalities and styles of the other, providing depth and a wonderful complexity that make for great storytelling. Due to Sandford’s talent, as well as the string of really good stories via each series, he provided a platform for the depth of character development which keep readers engaged and looking forward to the next release. While I understand that those same characters must change and grow in the same ways we do in real life, Lucas and Virgil seem to have lost not only their edge, but the passion each of them held which made them both terrific at what they do, but truly entertaining to follow. It’s clear Standford is setting the stage to put them out to pasture, probably providing the opportunity to shift to a focus on Ray and Letti. I get it - to a point. I just wish the author would have given them the send off deserving of two intelligent, edgy, charismatic, talented, and unique characters that brought so much life to the page. Retiring with one last action packed mystery, full of great humor and a few good twists. Instead — this was barely a whimper - and an incomplete one at that. Very disappointing for a release I’ve been anticipating for months, and a sad realization regarding a dim future for two of my favorite heroes.

Still overlong

I am sticking with this 17 hour book, wish Ricard Ferrone narrated. Lots of unnecessary bad language. Despite it all, I like Virgil stories.

was she convicted?

we were left hanging.BAD ENDING. very unlike Sanford to do this. did editor miss your last chapter???

Complex and convoluted plot that is very plausible

I cannot believe you ended the book like you did. They need to be closure.

unfinished

The storyline was good. The end horrible. Lucas wasn't much like Lucas he was to laidback and nonchalant. He wasnt his usual aggressive and deep thinking way.But I'm hoping there is a part 2 to this story. I wanna know what happend! I liked that the killer is female. But Virgil and Lucas smart ways of thinking didn't seem to kick in. They waited to long to get things done.

Another Davenport Adventure

As usual, well written by Sandford. Unfortunately, I missed the amazing Scott Brick's narration. The story came to an early end without closure. But, still a good read and worth the credit.

An enjoyable listen

Not enough separation in voice intonation by narrator. I never got drawn into the story as I listened to it. it is a story that does keep you seeking the next chapter. I wish the ending was different.

Disappointed

I've read all the Prey books, some more than once. I've considered Sandford my favorite author of fiction, eagerly await the next book, and then lose sleep reading through the night. I didn't feel like that about this one. Something is missing. Lucas and Virgil aren't the same. Lucas didn't really DO any detecting. He called people who gathered information. Virgil was preoccupied with his writing and talked repeatedly about quitting the BCA. On top of it all, ending without a resolution, one way or the other, was a total bummer. I think Sandford is tired of Lucas and Virgil and wants to end them. And, please, no more Letty. She is not the answer. I did like the use of the amateur detectives. They were interesting.

New voice talent was disappointing

The storyline for this one is decent, but as a longtime audiobook fan of the character of Virgil flowers, it was a really weird adjustment to these new voice characters. Virgil now plays golf instead of fishing. The story is still OK.

Did Sandford run out of paper?

Great book until where the ending should have been. It's like the deadline was up and he had a vacation planned. If there is a sequel, then something should have stated or alluded to that. If not, I will no longer blindly purchase or read my formerly favorite author. I'll wait for reviews first. Very disappointing and sad that this is his product.