Rating: 
Summary: Certain Prey
Review: Sandford's writing style is gripping, virtually pushing you through his book. As a woman, myself, I thought Clara and Carmel were a shocking duo. Sandford does an excellent job of making the incredible credible with these two villainesses.
Rating:
Summary: Blond Ambition
Review: Certain Prey's plot is gripping and suspenseful, although a bit far fetched. The two villianesses are the most interesting characters, especially mafia hit-woman Clara Rinker. Clara is achingly intelligent and I found myself rooting for her throughout the book, even when she was killing people. Her partner in crime, lawyer Carmel Loan, is a little over the top in that she commits such horribly despicable acts. For all of Clara's endearing qualities, Carmel matches them with negative ones. She is truly a hateful character. This novel is almost completely unrealistic, but nevertheless, the storyline and interesting characters keep the pages turning until the end.
Rating: 
Summary: Terrific Thriller
Review: I read Certain Prey when it first came out; in fact I wrote a review here which got lost in the vastness of virtual space somehow. Usually I don't re-read thrillers; most of the joy is in the plot for works like these and they aren't really studies in characterization. But I recently found myself looking for a quick read and unwittingly grabbed it again; within two sentences I remembered the plot but was intrigued enough to go through the whole thing again, and honestly enjoyed it more the second time around. Sandford's dialogue is snappy, at least as good as Robert Parker's is. His protagonist, Lucas Davenport, feels like a real character once you get past the millionaire cop thing. Thriller readers will undoubtedly have noticed a similarity between Davenport and James Patterson's Alex Cross; but Cross is a family man who becomes more perfect with every novel. Davenport lives alone (by this novel); he's grumpy at times and not above planting evidence if it will get him his killer.And the killers--I do find the plethora of killer pairs in modern fiction getting to be tedious, and I think that is one of the major weaknesses of this novel. Not only are there paired killers, but they are women--quite a stretch in the believability department. Sandford does his best and is moderately successful at making their motives, personalities, and subsequent bonding seem possible. Loneliness is a powerful force, and he evokes it successfully. When I first read Certain Prey I thought that one of these characters, the Mafia hitwoman Clara Rinker, almost seemed to be written to be played by Jodie Foster; a kind of evil version of Clarice Starling from Thomas Harris's Silence of the Lambs and Hannibal. That probably won't happen given her reticence to appear in Hannibal; but why the Prey series hasn't been filmed I really don't understand. Hopefully Hollywood will come around soon.
Rating:
Summary: Sandford is always a good read.
Review: Excellent Prey book. You will actually like the bad guy and hope for a return appearance. Charged with contemptuous women who will do just about anything to get their way. Very clever. You'll love the car scene.
Rating: 
Summary: not as good as the first Prey books
Review: This book as a good read, and if it hadn't been by Sandford I would have given it another star. But I didn't think it was as good as the first Prey books. I always look forward to another Lucas Davenport adventure. But somehow I have the feeling he is getting a little wimpy. Summing up: Sandford is one of my favorites, and I look forward to his next book! I just didn't think Certain Prey was one of his best.
Rating:
Summary: Certain Prey
Review: Billy Bippus
October 3, 2001
Certain Prey
Certain Prey, a novel written by John Sandford, keeps you flipping page after page where you never want to put it down. Lucas Davenport, John Sandford's main character throughout all of his Prey books, has his hands full in Certain Prey. Lucas gets the call to cover a case that would go deeper than he would have ever expected. Clara Rinker and Carmel Loan would give Lucas the ride of his life.
Clara and Carmel team up and go on a series of killing sprees. Lucas figures out a pattern, but that is about all he can get. As the book continues certain people get slaughtered and Lucas has a hunch that it is Carmel. One thing leads to the other, and Lucas is in her apartment trying to get her to confess that she killed all of those people. All of a sudden she walks out and comes back while Lucas is standing in the hallway, and starts shooting at him. He gets hit a few times, but not by the major blast. However, she does not stop there, and comes into her room and fires at him there too. In the mean time he did get off one shot that hit her right in ribs, but she escapes and gets to her car. It ends up that she runs her car into a concrete building and kills herself. Time passes and Lucas still can not find Rinker. However, as the book is coming to a close Rinker calls Lucas and tells him where she is and where she is going. He knows she will never come back, and that she will never be caught, but they do part on good terms when she says "I'm faster then you", then he says "No way, sweetheart."
Lucas Davenport would be considered a flat character, but a guy who is generally well liked. To me he would even be a realistic and plausible type person. I could definitely see I guy like him walking down the road. Certain Prey really did not have any meaning to us in today's society it was more of escape fiction, just for fun reading. In my opinion there was not much that John Sandford could have said or written to make this book any better. I would highly recommend this novel to anyone.
Rating:
Summary: Faced Paced, Gripping Til The End...
Review: I've been reading the 'Prey' novels out of sequence and have found them most enjoyable. The 2nd Michael Bekker was a favorite, as was this last one I read "Certain Prey". I found it a quick and interesting read that really got your mind turning about how one would cover up their tracks if they were in a bit of trouble. I found reading how a professional killer might live and think interesting (as I'm a novice in that field) and was glad one of them (not telling who) got away in the end: you almost feel you were rooting for her. Great read; ready to read more Sanford!!
Rating:
Summary: Lucas Davenport is my dream man!
Review: I have read EVERYONE of the "Prey" novels. I tell my husband it is a good thing Lucas is in a book because he would have troubles :-)...I can not imagine living without reading the "Prey" novels. I have probably read 2000 books in my adult life and John Sandford's books are on the top of my list. Start from the beginning "rules of prey" and fall in love with Lucas too!! OK even men love these books!!
Rating:
Summary: 10th in Prey Series
Review: Lucas Davenport tracks a hit-woman in 'Certain Prey', the 10th book in the Prey series. He also takes on one of the most prominent defense attorneys in Minnesota. These two women make quite the team, as Lucas finds out. In this installment of the Prey series, Davenport's relationship with his ex-fiancé has faded, and he once again free to play the field. And if you have read any of the Prey series, you know Lucas is quite the player. If you have not read any of the Lucas Davenport books before, start with 'Rules of Prey', if you are familiar with this series, keep reading.
Rating:
Summary: Two very bad ladies who you really want to win...........
Review: I loved this book, the first of the John Sandford's "Prey" series I have read. The main character, although you wouldn't know it from reading the cover notes, is Carmel Loan. "Carmel was long. sleek, and expensive, like a new Jaguar. She had a small head, with a tidy nose, thin pale lips, a square chin and small pointed tongue, She was a Swede way back, and blonde - one of the whippet Swedes with small breasts, narrow hips, and a long waist in between. Carmel was one of the top two or three defense attorneys in Minneapolis. Most years she made comfortably more than a million dollars." Carmel is one cool lady. She loves life, the good life that is, loves men, loves cars and loves winning her cases in court which she usually does. She is very smart and cunning, works hard, works late and is very very good at her job. When she wants something, or someone, she'll get it and woe betide anyone who stands in her way. Sandford writes cleverly, painting a warm and comfortable picture about his leading lady. You can't help but sympathise with this heroine who is soon seen to be a single minded, evil piece of work. The other main character in the book, Clara, is almost as evil as Carmel, but some might say with justifiable cause. Gee, you would really like them both to get away with it (read the book to find out what "it" is). There is every chance that they will, with their cunning. Their crimes are cleverly executed with fastidious detail being made to leave no trace at all of their brief presence at the crime scene. If they can establish their apparent presence at another place at the same time that's even better. In between the violence there are passages of fairly gratuituous sexual encounters. It is clever writing and gives the story a balance of light heartedness and relief. Lucas Davenport, Deputy Chief of Police, has the job of solving a series of murders but with very little evidence apart from the bodies, until one day a witness appears. Davenport gleans just the tiniest bit of a lead from the witness, and then the chase is on. The story unfolds with Davenport not knowing if he is even on a trail and the two ladies not sure if anyone is after them or, if so, how close they might be. This is a thrilling story with the characters of Carmel and Clare especially well developed. The tension builds as the chapters unwind and this book will demand your attention right through to the climactic finale.
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