Rating: 
Summary: Only works for true fans of the Prey series
Review: Lucas is still tough and smart but he never has a real confrontation in this one. Mostly talking about the weather and Weather, comparing lists and phone records, eating, driving cars, talking to snitches and the press......zzzzzz. He needs a fight or a shootout and some danger to raise the flatline thrill level of the last two entries.
Rating: 
Summary: Another good Sanford book
Review: The Prey series, focusing on Lucas Davenport, has been a generally good series, with only a couple weak books in the bunch. Usually, the better books (the early ones and the more recent ones) are the ones in which Davenport has a bit of an edge and isn't quite the nice guy himself; in this one, Davenport isn't as dark as he sometimes is, and that subtracts from the overall story.That is not to say this isn't a good book, it just isn't one of the best in the series. As usual, there is a good deal of suspense and a sufficiently nasty villain to keep things interesting. There are flaws, however, most notably an ending that can be seen a mile away. I think that Sanford needs to refocus this series a little more on Davenport, who can be a compelling character when he is really focused on. Also, although it's not likely to happen, I wish that the titles in the series were a little more distinctive: without reviewing plot summaries, it's hard to remember which Prey book is which...I think only Eyes of Prey and Rules of Prey stand out because they relate somewhat to the story. These criticisms should not take away from the fact that this is a generally good book. It is a must for Sanford fans and will not be wasted time for mystery fans in general (although since this is part of a series, when read as a standalone book, there will be certain references that the new reader will not fully understand).
Rating:
Summary: Charcter led detective fiction
Review: I suspect that I am in the minority when it comes to my thoughts on the strength of the Prey series - its not the plots, or the twists which make them stand out head and shoulders above most of the genre. Its the leading characters - their humour and flaws - above all their humanity. They feel like real people, and not cardboard cut-outs given quirks to make them interesting.
I agree with some of the more negatively slanted reviews that in terms of plot, this is not one of the best in the series. But as for feeling let down by Lucs Davenport finding happiness and domesticity - sheesh.....! The guy is now about 50 years old, and while I'm not about to get ageist here, (lots of good looking guys are players at 50 I'm sure...), a lot of guys by that sort of age ARE settling down and having families. To my mind, it would be much more unsatisfactory NOT to at least introduce these elements to the plot. If he is to keep on being a greying jock superstud into his dotage, (as some heros in rival series do), then he not only starts to lose some of his essential likability, but for me, he loses his credibility too. And thats, for me anyway, what has always set these books apart from the more mundane of their type.
If you are new to the Prey series, I agree, don't start here - there are more accessible examples earlier in the series. But if like me, you know and love the earlier books, then I suspect there is more than enough here to make you itchy for the next one.
Rating:
Summary: HAVE READ BETTER "PREY" BOOKS!!!!!!
Review: Have now read the twelve books in the series. Chosen Prey is about James Qatar and his killing several women. He is a teacher and is rather hard to pinpoint. Lucus is back along with his crew, Del, Rose Marie, Sloan, and Marcy. They are looking for the killer but he continues to not be found. In this one I even figured out the ending before we got there. That is unusual for me to be able to do that. Think Sandford may be trying to wind up this series. The book list possibilities of Lucus moving on. I got a little tired of Lucus, Weather and the sex between them. I think the earlier Prey books were better. I still think my favorite is Winter Prey. If you have not read a Lucus Davenport book before please don't judge them all by this one.
Rating:
Summary: But a Weak 4 Stars - More Like 3-1/2
Review: I have probably read all of John Sandford's novels. In comparison to the others, I would give "Chosen Prey", the latest in the Lucas Davenport/"Prey" series, a low B. On the other hand, Sandford's B work is probably better than the best novels of a lot of other authors. We learn from the very beginning of the book that James Qatar is a serial killer. He is a crazed sadist and would be artist. With little talent of his own, Qatar's "art" is sketching pictures projected on paper. His sketches are all pretty much the same, the head of some blonde woman who has angered him in some way so obscure that she's not aware of it merged with a body he has found at some ... site on the Internet. Sometimes Qatar mails the picture to the woman, and sometimes he has formed a relationship with his victim before killing her. He probably would have continued with his avocation if one of the bodies buried in his woodland "graveyard" hadn't been discovered leading to an investigation headed by Davenport. To the uninitiated, Davenport is a Minneapolis super cop who specializes in high profile cases. His usual team of helpers is along for the ride, and they are as likeable as always. Davenport, as usual, eventually deduces or guesses the killer's identity at some point with the rest of the book being devoted to building a case against him. In this regard "Chosen Prey" is no different then the rest. However, Sandford has become a bit predictable. I saw Qatar's eventual fate coming about halfway into the novel. The murders of three supporting characters were also no surprise. Of course Qatar was going to kill them for the reasons that he did. There is a cameo appearance by a character referred to as Kidd. Kidd was the main character in a couple of Sandford's earlier, non-"Prey" novels. It appeared to me that Sandford may be planning to take a break from or discontinue writing the "Prey" novels. The series' police chief will be leaving her position soon, and once she's gone, Deputy Chief Davenport will almost certainly lose his highly political position. There is some talk of the chief moving to the Minnesota State Police and taking Davenport with her, but that seems to be more of a lifeline in case Sandford decides to resurrect the series at some future time. Also, in this novel Lucas is back with his old girlfriend Weather with the two of them planning marriage and parenthood, although not necessarily in that order. Finally, there is the presence of Kidd who serves little purpose to the story. It struck me that Sandford was pushing Kidd at his readers as a preview of who his next novel will be about. If this is the end of Lucas Davenport, then I, for one, will miss him. However, I'd rather see him sent to literary purgatory then have him hang around in a series of increasingly bad novels.
Rating: 
Summary: Ending too predictable, characters becoming too coarse...
Review: ...Lucas Davenport and his gang are becoming too coarse. It wasn't the "four letter word" thing for me, but the har-har male banter that was both boring and unnecessary. Jokes and smart...
commentary were simply not very funny. In the earlier books, Lucas had a sort of elegance about
him. This writing seems more hackneyed, stereotyped - all in all a more tired effort. Yeah, I agree, it seems the author
is tired of Lucas, or has lost that elegant way of presenting him. The ending was predictable, and the book slowed down as it neared the ending when you were no longer taken into the mind of the killer. I wanted to experience more of him as he got closer to being uncovered, but you actually got further away. And when they caught him, cowering in his office, well, that was kind of a quickie-let-down, then you had him escaping and chased by Marshall and blah-blah-blah. Not ingenious enough. I kind of didn't care by then. And yes, the Weather-love thing is tired, too. None of it was very witty or amusing...but the Quatar character and his mother held out hope...it just never really
was fulfilled, in my opinion.
Rating:
Summary: Was this "prey" book about Lucas or the killer? (2/28/02)
Review: I realize that the main character, Lucas Davenport, of the "Prey" series has Unipolar Depression, but come on Mr. Sandford. It's time he marries Weather so that you can get back to writing about great killers and knock off the soap opera with Lucas' love life and head problems!
I think after 12 former Davenport novels, we pretty much have a handle of who Lucas is and how his head works. I don't need to spend my day reading about his problems when I have my own.
Take us readers back on a trip like you did in "Eyes of Prey". Now that's writing!
Rating: 
Summary: Best Sanford in a long time (even though all are really good
Review: This is probably my favorite of the Prey series. I love them all,as I said above, but this one is my favorite. I just enjoyed every page and wished it didn't have to end. Every character, side story, scenic description, etc. is so well written and entertaining.
I do have to comment that the hardback edition contained many typos and I can't believe Putnam publishing can't do a better job of editing than they did.
Rating:
Summary: Good
Review: Good book. Very interesting. If your into mysterys this is a good book.
Rating:
Summary: WINDING DOWN
Review: I have read all of the Sanford PREY series, and am a big fan of his work. I was very disappointed with Easy Prey, and slightly disappointed with Chosen Prey. It is not a bad book, but I do expect better from Sanford. To all those PREY fans out there, I say buy Chosen Prey, but don't expect it to live up to the earlier books. I can't help but have the feeling that Sanford is either growing tired of Lucas Davenport, or has run out of ideas.
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