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3.95 AVERAGE
3.95 AVERAGE
Well it was a few short months ago when I almost quit this series. I was tired of the Letty is definitely a psychopath but let's ignore it shall we that was going on in the series. And the total retconning of a character in order to make them die so Lucas could be "torn." Bah. Fridging women characters is BS and I wish authors would stop. "Silken Prey" has Lucas trying to find out if a Senator running for re-election was looking at child pornography as he is being accused of. Instead Lucas finds out that the Senator has been set up, but the who behind it is a surprise. I also liked that for some reason Sandford zeroed in on Kidd and his wife Lauren in this one. I don't know if I buy that hot painter is secretly a hacker story-line, but just let myself go limp and enjoy it. I do think the ending is Sandford trying to set Lucas against another epic nemesis like Clara Rinker. It just doesn't quite work though. I still gave this five stars though.
"Silken Prey" starts off with a murder. We have a man being taken away by two other men and murdered. We then jump to Lucas waking up and being asked by the governor of Minnesota to look into whether a man running for re-election (Porter Smalls) really was looking at child pornography on his campaign computer. Lucas quickly ascertains after some digging via his local hacker called ICE and being pointed to Jason Kidd's direction that someone set up Smalls. Readers quickly find out who is behind this, but Lucas and friends have a ways to catch up. And then the hits keep coming with more threads to pull on this conspiracy.
Lucas seems more mellow this time around. Thank goodness we don't have a lot of Letty. She appears, but seems muted. I wish that she go off to college already, but alas. We get to see Lucas do what he does so well, takes a look at something and starts to tear it apart. He is definitely giving a helping hand via Kidd though.
We also have Lucas realizing that he has to be careful on this one though since it can mean the end of his career and also of people close to him like Del.
We get more insight into Kidd and we find out more about his wife Lauren too. I initially thought the whole story-line didn't work, but in the end as I said just said eh and let it go. Hopefully Sandford revisits it.
Flowers shows up and honestly I am still squicked out about the first book in his series I read so I tended to just ignore him for the most part.
The writing was good and though we know who is behind it, it was exciting to read to see how Lucas gets there too and of course Lucas being Lucas, he can't help but poke the bear.
The ending definitely leaves Lucas with a very powerful enemy and I wonder how that may impact the rest of the series.
"Silken Prey" starts off with a murder. We have a man being taken away by two other men and murdered. We then jump to Lucas waking up and being asked by the governor of Minnesota to look into whether a man running for re-election (Porter Smalls) really was looking at child pornography on his campaign computer. Lucas quickly ascertains after some digging via his local hacker called ICE and being pointed to Jason Kidd's direction that someone set up Smalls. Readers quickly find out who is behind this, but Lucas and friends have a ways to catch up. And then the hits keep coming with more threads to pull on this conspiracy.
Lucas seems more mellow this time around. Thank goodness we don't have a lot of Letty. She appears, but seems muted. I wish that she go off to college already, but alas. We get to see Lucas do what he does so well, takes a look at something and starts to tear it apart. He is definitely giving a helping hand via Kidd though.
We also have Lucas realizing that he has to be careful on this one though since it can mean the end of his career and also of people close to him like Del.
We get more insight into Kidd and we find out more about his wife Lauren too. I initially thought the whole story-line didn't work, but in the end as I said just said eh and let it go. Hopefully Sandford revisits it.
Flowers shows up and honestly I am still squicked out about the first book in his series I read so I tended to just ignore him for the most part.
The writing was good and though we know who is behind it, it was exciting to read to see how Lucas gets there too and of course Lucas being Lucas, he can't help but poke the bear.
The ending definitely leaves Lucas with a very powerful enemy and I wonder how that may impact the rest of the series.
Twenty-three. And counting.
Sandford has created one of the best crime series in this generation with the Prey novels. I know that two of the films have been made into TV movies, but Silken (and many of the recent Preys) feels like a long-running crime drama that has evolved and reinvented itself and is still going strong into its eighth or ninth season, where most shows have long gone stale. The narrative mural of these books is so impressive that it's hard for a fan of the entire series not to feel the entire impressive weight of it while reading.
That's not to say Silken doesn't have its problems. The antagonists here feel less dangerous than many Lucas has encountered before, almost to the point that the story has to convince you they're dangerous at all. Probably the most dangerous baddie of all wasn't even fully explored, although let's just say some doors were left open for later, much in the way Sandford has done before with two other great series villains in Bekker and Clara Rinker.
Fans who are lukewarm (like I am) on another of Sandford's shorter series, the Kidd novels, will find those characters taking more than a cameo role in Silken. I can't say that sub plot was very intriguing, and I often found myself wanting to get back to the main cast quickly in those detours. It's usually enjoyable for me when authors mingle the characters of their impressive back catalogs, and Virgil Flowers (who is great in another of Sandford's series) is also present to better effect.
As usual, Sandford's dialogue is as authentic and engaging as ever. Some of his lines are a masterclass in writing what people really say and how they sound without actually using the boring lines that fill most of our days.
The plot of Silken, while doused with a heavy dose of the political, rings mostly true and comes together in a satisfying way. If every Prey novel now isn't a landmark case, Sandford has certainly kept the edge on his dialogue and plotting razor-sharp.
It's harder for me to imagine how Silken would read to someone new to the series, particularly because I haven't missed a word of it. It probably wouldn't carry the pizzazz of some of the earlier Preys on its own, but for fans of the series, it's quite enjoyable to see these characters legitimately age and change, particularly Davenport himself.
Recommended for all Sandford fans, as well as readers who like their suspense served with a side of politics. Sandford is almost always thoroughly compelling to me, and Silken is no exception.
Sandford has created one of the best crime series in this generation with the Prey novels. I know that two of the films have been made into TV movies, but Silken (and many of the recent Preys) feels like a long-running crime drama that has evolved and reinvented itself and is still going strong into its eighth or ninth season, where most shows have long gone stale. The narrative mural of these books is so impressive that it's hard for a fan of the entire series not to feel the entire impressive weight of it while reading.
That's not to say Silken doesn't have its problems. The antagonists here feel less dangerous than many Lucas has encountered before, almost to the point that the story has to convince you they're dangerous at all. Probably the most dangerous baddie of all wasn't even fully explored, although let's just say some doors were left open for later, much in the way Sandford has done before with two other great series villains in Bekker and Clara Rinker.
Fans who are lukewarm (like I am) on another of Sandford's shorter series, the Kidd novels, will find those characters taking more than a cameo role in Silken. I can't say that sub plot was very intriguing, and I often found myself wanting to get back to the main cast quickly in those detours. It's usually enjoyable for me when authors mingle the characters of their impressive back catalogs, and Virgil Flowers (who is great in another of Sandford's series) is also present to better effect.
As usual, Sandford's dialogue is as authentic and engaging as ever. Some of his lines are a masterclass in writing what people really say and how they sound without actually using the boring lines that fill most of our days.
The plot of Silken, while doused with a heavy dose of the political, rings mostly true and comes together in a satisfying way. If every Prey novel now isn't a landmark case, Sandford has certainly kept the edge on his dialogue and plotting razor-sharp.
It's harder for me to imagine how Silken would read to someone new to the series, particularly because I haven't missed a word of it. It probably wouldn't carry the pizzazz of some of the earlier Preys on its own, but for fans of the series, it's quite enjoyable to see these characters legitimately age and change, particularly Davenport himself.
Recommended for all Sandford fans, as well as readers who like their suspense served with a side of politics. Sandford is almost always thoroughly compelling to me, and Silken is no exception.
John Sandford always delivers a good, easy escapist read. And this book was no different. Not the best book I've ever read, but one I enjoyed nonetheless!
This one is a crime and a political minefield. Both the Republican and Democratic candidates for Senate are involved and no matter how it goes, one of them is going to be angry at Lucas, which could end his career. Hired killers, framed candidate, hacking, and a jewel heist. It's got everything we expect from Davenport. Good read.
Kidd and LuEllen are back, Flowers makes a brief cameo. The gang's all here!
This is one of the best in the series thus far. As with most of the Davenport book, the readers know almost everything right from the start and the fun is watching it all play out. There may not be any mystery, but it's a fun thriller. A political thriller this time.
Kidd and Lauren (LuEllen) play a significant role in the investigation. I don't think it's quite enough though for me to go back and read the rest of the series where's he's the protagonist. I only read the first one. It could happen though. Flowers also has a role as well. So, that's three series coming together in one book. It's too bad Letty didn't have more of a role considering her upcoming book next month, then it'd retroactively be four series.
I liked all the characters and their interactions.
The ending, while entirely realistic and completely understandable isn't necessarily what I wanted. I wonder if it's a set up for a later book, a statement on how life is, simply going for more realism, or some combination thereof. Regardless, it's preferable to how many of the antagonists would self-destruct in earlier entries which bothered me.
Kidd and Lauren (LuEllen) play a significant role in the investigation. I don't think it's quite enough though for me to go back and read the rest of the series where's he's the protagonist. I only read the first one. It could happen though. Flowers also has a role as well. So, that's three series coming together in one book. It's too bad Letty didn't have more of a role considering her upcoming book next month, then it'd retroactively be four series.
I liked all the characters and their interactions.
The ending, while entirely realistic and completely understandable isn't necessarily what I wanted. I wonder if it's a set up for a later book, a statement on how life is, simply going for more realism, or some combination thereof. Regardless, it's preferable to how many of the antagonists would self-destruct in earlier entries which bothered me.
Excellent! My favorite Prey novel, I think. Narcissistic psychopathology vs Lucas Davenport. Evil politicians, and slightly less evil politicians, and computer shenanigans, and bad cops. This one has it all.
3.5...Usually I am a Davenport fanatic...this novels main case...Not my cup of tea...Politicians screwing each other over and setting each other up...I read to get away from that nonsense! Kids and his wife were the best part of for me...even if Davenport is on to them! I hope the next book is better...
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No