Rating: 
Summary: amiable Lucas Davenport
Review: This is almost a "pleasant" read, due to a less demented killer than typical for Sandford. As usual, Sandford shows his murderer early on (and here even identifies him!), but he is such a good writer you'll want to read on anyway to experience the twisted road to him and see how Lucas will finger him. Also in this story I was sure one layer after another would be peeled back, so my surprise was that I was NOT surprised at all by the final two twists. I hope Sandford's clues just happened to click with me this time, rather than that he ineptly telegraphed them. He's one of my favorite authors for his sense of place, plotting, and plausible characters. This just didn't have the tension, the socio-pathological intensity, of most of his other PREY thrillers.
It's fun how people from earlier stories reappear momentarily, like an in-joke for faithful readers--"ah yes, that Marcy!" The new characters are also interesting, especially a fatherless, mouthy, precocious girl--an informant--who attaches herself to Lucas in an enlivening and fetching way. Keep your eye on her.
Rating:
Summary: One great new character and some tired plot devices
Review: This is the third book of the prey books I have read and this is by far the least organized of the books with subject changes happening quickly and sometimes for no apparent reason which I found a little disconcerting.
The shining light in this book is Lettie West a young girl and if Sandford doesn't make her a part of upcoming books he is nuts. She is one of the most appealing characters he has ever created. Street smart, sassy and fresh she was the breath of fresh air these books needed. You will like this girl and want to take her home to live with your family.
The bad news is this great character is stuck in an OK book when she deserved far better. Naked prey is not bad, but is also not a great read. Why?
First: The bad folks were utterly transparent from the first - no need to guess- no suspense.
Second: Some plot twists and turns are simply dropped and abandoned leaving you to wonder why they were included at all.
Third: The country bumpkin local police idea was a lazy verbal move to try and make Lucas look better which I might not have minded except that a lot of time was wasted and it didn't advance the story line.
Fourth: The attempt to plant a perfect suspect for the police to find is far too similar to the same plot device in Choosen Prey
This is not a bad book but it is not a fantastic one either and ourside of Lettie West is does not shine.
Rating: 
Summary: Sandford scores!
Review: This might be the best novel Sanford has written. Naked Prey has an intricately complex yet totally believable plot that will keep you transfixed until the last word of the last page.Lucas Davenport, law enforcer, becomes more appealing with age as his subtlety and humanity evolve. Lucas' stability with his new family life is about to enter another dimension of eye-opening malevolence. Where one explosive crime scene ends, another mystery begins. Letty West is a shrewd, self-sufficient young girl who is the most charming and beguiling character Sanford has yet created. Lucas is sure her discerning recall will help to solve the puzzle. Letty's character would provide added twists to future Sanford novels. A fascinating side story concerning a national problem unfolds through a charitable smuggling ring for legal drugs to be given to the poor who have fatal diseases, and a brief discourse on pages 256-259 and page 357 featuring references to drug prices in the U.S. and Canada. Naked Prey is an absolute read for mystery enthusiasts!
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