- Paperback: 438 pages
- Publisher: Pocket Books; New edition edition (21 Feb 2004)
- Language English
- ISBN-10: 0743484193
- ISBN-13: 978-0743484190
- Product Dimensions: 17.3 x 11.2 x 3.3 cm
- Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars See all reviews (9 customer reviews)
- Amazon Bestsellers Rank: 260,660 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
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Product Description
Amazon.co.uk Review
In the 10th instalment of his popular Prey series, John Sandford (a.k.a. John Camp) pits his popular antihero, Lucas Davenport, against a pair of cunning killers unlike any he has encountered before.
Attorney Carmel Loan is preternaturally beautiful, intelligent and ambitious. When she becomes infatuated with fellow barrister Hale Allen, she isn't going to let a little thing like his being married get in her way. A quick meeting with an ex-client sets up the hit on Hale's wife, Barbara. The professional killer, Clara Rinker, is one of the best in the business. Smart, attractive, with a gentle Southern drawl, no one would suspect her of being a top Mafia hit man ... er, hit person. When she takes the Allen assignment, she figures it will be easy money for a day's work. But things go wrong from the beginning. Loan's ex-client made a tape of the meeting, and is shaking her down for money. Worse, the shooting of a witness--a cop--brings deputy inspector Lucas Davenport into the case. Somehow Davenport has not only linked Loan to the killing, but seems to have a lead on Rinker as well. Carmel and Clara team up to clean up the loose ends, which includes getting Davenport off their backs by whatever means necessary.
Like all of Sandford's books, Certain Prey is a fast and furious ride. Fans of previous Prey books will find Davenport a little older, a little more wary, but no less sharp-witted and determined. Though parts of the plot may stretch the limits of credulity and the dialogue falls a little flat in places, this is still a wonderfully crafted thriller, possibly one of the best of 1999. Certain Prey cements Sandford's standing among such luminaries as James Lee Burke, Lawrence Block and Thomas Harris. --Perry Atterberry --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
Review
"Pulse-pounding, page-turning excitement."--Minneapolis Star Tribune
"One of his best."--Orlando Sentinel --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
"One of his best."--Orlando Sentinel --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
6 of 6 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
With Certain Prey, John Sandford continues the series of 'Lucas Davenport' stories managing to both maintain the high standards of the previous 'Prey' books and continue to develop the reader's understanding of his principal character, Lucas Davenport. In this installment Davenport is confronted by the twin challenges of a clinically professional hit-woman and also the developing realisation of his own mortality (as he begins to accept his movement into 'middle-age', albeit one more challenging than that faced by your average bloke). The device of intertwining Davenport's personal life with the case he is investgating has always formed a fundamental part of the 'Prey' series and lends greatly to its appeal, but in this story the link seems to be far more significant than in previous novels and so gives a deeper insight into the character that Sandford has created. The plot, as always, is tightly written and well executed; as Davenport negociates the 'grey areas' of law enforcement - battling not only against the criminals but also the increasing interference of a 'PC' administration that seems intent on frustrating his efforts to bring law-breakers to book. A fine continuation of the 'Prey' story-line, this book should appeal to both fans of the Sandford's previous books and also readers new to the series - though obviously, references to past events crop up in the course of many of the stories, so new readers may wish to start off in 'chronological' order, with the excellent 'Rules of Prey'.
N.C.
3 of 3 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
Probably the perfect example of John Sandfords "Prey" series, I have to confess to buying this in desperation to kill time on a long-haul flight, and getting suckered in to buying pretty much everything else hes ever written.
Its not so much that there is anything here that hasn't been done before - more that just about every aspect is polished, credible and attractive. The plot, centring on an apparently simple professional hit slowly starting to unravel, is taught and well laid out, whilst the dialogue has Sandford's familiar wisecracks, which, unlike some other authors, don't sound too forced or scripted.
Perhaps the best thing though is our central characters. Lucas Davenport, Deputy Chief of Police, is well known to us as someone brutal, unforgiving, and seriously sexist - yet somehow you can't help admiring the guy, and secretly hoping you'd have the courage to act the same way in his shoes. Of his quarry, an attractive young hit-woman working for the St. Louis mafia manages to be both clinically efficient and symapathetic, while her employer, a high powered Twin Cities lawyer, has us admiring her smarts and daring, even as we acknowledge her total lack or moral restraint.
If you haven't discovered the "Prey" novels, this one is a wonderful place to start. If you have and have yet to reach "Certain Prey", then I think you will find this the best of an exceptional bunch.
Its not so much that there is anything here that hasn't been done before - more that just about every aspect is polished, credible and attractive. The plot, centring on an apparently simple professional hit slowly starting to unravel, is taught and well laid out, whilst the dialogue has Sandford's familiar wisecracks, which, unlike some other authors, don't sound too forced or scripted.
Perhaps the best thing though is our central characters. Lucas Davenport, Deputy Chief of Police, is well known to us as someone brutal, unforgiving, and seriously sexist - yet somehow you can't help admiring the guy, and secretly hoping you'd have the courage to act the same way in his shoes. Of his quarry, an attractive young hit-woman working for the St. Louis mafia manages to be both clinically efficient and symapathetic, while her employer, a high powered Twin Cities lawyer, has us admiring her smarts and daring, even as we acknowledge her total lack or moral restraint.
If you haven't discovered the "Prey" novels, this one is a wonderful place to start. If you have and have yet to reach "Certain Prey", then I think you will find this the best of an exceptional bunch.
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
This book was my intro to crime fiction.
The use of a female hitman may be unusual, but Clara Rinker is the bees knees. Clinical but interesting in her executions, she keeps you turning the pages. The hero of the 'Prey' series of books is the detective 'Davenport', but in this book, to me at least, Clara leaves him in the shadows.
Even if you're not sure, this is a great book.
Buy it, buy it now, before it's too late. Although I warn you, you'll be buying the rest of the series soon after.
The use of a female hitman may be unusual, but Clara Rinker is the bees knees. Clinical but interesting in her executions, she keeps you turning the pages. The hero of the 'Prey' series of books is the detective 'Davenport', but in this book, to me at least, Clara leaves him in the shadows.
Even if you're not sure, this is a great book.
Buy it, buy it now, before it's too late. Although I warn you, you'll be buying the rest of the series soon after.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
John Sandford
You can't go wrong i believe with a John Sandford novel. Keeps you wanting to turn to the next page.
Published 9 months ago by Mr. Keith Sapsford
Certain Read
I have read nearly all the Lucas Davenport based Prey novels and I think with `Certain Prey' I have finally figured out why I like the character so much - he is the anti Columbo. Read more
Published 21 months ago by Sam
brilliant but sympathy for the villains
This is a really brilliant page turner. The only criticism I have is the villains are a bit too likeable and I actually ended up wanting them to get away with it! Read more
Published on 24 Feb 2010 by dixie dean
Rinker Rules!
This is the 9th (I think?!) Prey book in the series and one of the most unputdownable. The characters in this book are just so cool. Read more
Published on 8 Sep 2003 by "roonetta"
Sandford strikes again!
Clara Rinkler is one of the best hitwoman in the business. Just doing what she was told to do, and then leaves with her money. But after a killing in Minnesota, a witness survies. Read more
Published on 6 Mar 2003 by Lisabeth Vefall
A very clever, fast paced novel, certainly one of his best!
Certain Prey is the latest in the series of Lucas Davenport novels. This time Lucas has come across probably his most challenging adversary yet. Read more
Published on 22 Sep 1999
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