Rating: 
Summary: Very excellent reading
Review: His characters seemto come to life with every page. I really like the way Mr. Sandford brings the emotional part of his books to the forefront. I really think his Prey books are equalivant to Sir Arthur Conan Doyle charater "Sherlock Holmes" with Lucas Davenport. I hope he continues to write more Prey books, because this is the best mystery fiction in the world.
Rating: 
Summary: The domestication of Davenport?
Review: Let me preface my review with the statement that I have copies of all the previous Prey novels and have been known to re-read them. That's how much I enjoyed them. This one runs true to form--sadistic killer on the loose, one we get to meet and attempt to understand, with Davenport one step behind. Along with the hunt we get the usual snappy dialogue among Lucas's colleagues. The appearance of Joe Kidd added a little extra as did Lucas's reaction to his interest in Marcie. Sanford has a gift for characterization that makes them come alive; this book is no exception. As usual the writing is superb, the plot as intricate as the previous Prey novels. Although a good read, I found the sub-plot between Lucas and Weather distracting and of little or no interest. Babymaking!! Puhlease! It may be that I prefer Lucas as a free spirit and am not quite ready for him to grow up. Enough already, bring back the hardcore police work colored by the distractions previously experienced by Davenport.
Rating:
Summary: Chosen doesn't live up to Sandford's titanic abilities.
Review: If your'e a crime fiction afficionado, John Sandford's been a name to conjure with since his debut, "Rules of Prey." Now, with his most recent novel, Sandford demonstrates that his ear for dialogue and narrative voice are as strong as ever; it's his plotting that needs work. Much of Chosen Prey seems appropriated from other, earlier (and mostly better) Prey Novels: The arts setting, sexually motivated killer and third-act sequence of the killer eluding surveilance are straight from Rules of Prey; The haunted cop desperate to catch a killer by any means possible is from Night Prey, while the "I want a baby" sublot has been previously utilized in Shadow Prey (albeit with disastrous, sad results).
Still, Sandford's still impossibly good at many things -- the ice-cold, keeningly insane interior monologues of his killers, his eye for details like Boat Pull cords, foot perspective, and why you wear golf shoes at an exhumation is unparalelled. Is Chosen Prey superior crime fiction? Absolutley. Is it up to snuff with Sandford's best books, like Rules of Prey, Certain Prey or the impossibly well-done Sudden Prey? No. (And, while we're at it, Sandford should abandon his naming convention for the series swiftly -- it's become ungainly.) One can still hope for Sandford to return to greatness (hopefully his next novel, which ideally -- considering the intimation of a mayorial race in the future this book makes -- will take as its setting the complex, fractious local politics Sandford's constantly hinting at in his novels). However, the recyclings of Chosen and the killer-out-of-nowhere machinations of Easy suggest that as of late, suggest that Sandford, like his readers, is more interested in the well-written, likable and believable characters surrounding the crimes in his books than he is in the crimes themselves. It's unlikely Sandford will give up the Prey series, but if he can't return to the rigorous, inventive plotting of his earlier work, he may find readers abandoning him.
Rating: 
Summary: Say it again.
Review: The plot of Chosen Prey worked. The characters were well-developed. But....The dialogue didn't. A dumb joke about a monkey in a bar was bad, a female cop with a nickname of "Titsy" was worse, but the worst was repeating the line "I'm peeing in a cup!" to end the book.
Rating: 
Summary: "Prey" Series Back to Top Form!
Review: The consensus with the last book in the series, "Easy Prey" was that Sandford had burned out with the "Prey" series. "Easy Prey" fell well short of the quality of book readers have come to expect from the "Prey" Series. But Sandford proved us wrong. "Chosen Prey" is equal to, if not better than, the original books in the series. The intensity level and the suspense were excellent -- even though you knew the murderer from Page One -- or perhaps BECAUSE you knew. And Davenport was back to being the Lucas Davenport readers have come to expect and love. For all the fans who have loved the "Prey" series from the start and wished they had waited for the paperback to come out with "Easy Prey," you DON"T want to wait with "Chosen Prey." You'll want to buy it today. And probably read it in one sitting!
Rating:
Summary: Losing the edge?
Review: I've read all or nearly all of the Prey novels & found this one to be weak. The villian wasn't very compelling or evil. Lucas has gone soft. Sure Qatar was a killer, but he wasn't particularly riveting. I got no sense of why he was the way he was. It's implied that the killings happened suddenly but with 8 or 9 graves, it's clear it has been going on for some time. I hardly felt anything when he did in his own mother - it just fell flat. It's like he doesn't realize what he's doing - oops, killed another one. And the whole 'porn/art' angle was intensly focused on then hastily dropped - SCREAMED plot device. Very heavy handed, even for Sandford. And what is all this about a baby!? Way to dull your edge Davenport. And the political jockeying for position he's doing with Rose Marie...Puh-leeze. A few novels ago, Lucas would sooner have his eyes put out with a pick axe than pander to the policial element. What was good? The dialogue. The pace. But that's about it.
Rating:
Summary: Wonderful, says the Author of $oft Money
Review: This is a "Whodunit" whose identity we know from the start. What is so wonderful about this book is that Snadford has not let that interupt the taut suspense and mystery of the story. Davenports pursuit of Qatar and the dynamic of his personal life lend a certain credibility to the story. Qatar is a demon, and a villian reminiscent of the likes of Dr. Lector in his level of intelligence and Ted Bundy in his blood thirsty need to savage women. This installment of the popular Prey series is sure to be a great seller and a big hit. I really enjoyed this book.
Rating:
Summary: Out did yourself, John
Review: Probably the best yet! I enjoyed every page. Couldn't put it down. I have read all of the prey series and this without a doubt it the best. Keeps you on your toes. The ending has quite a twist. Please write more. Thanks, Bwasden
Rating:
Summary: Shallow and predictable
Review: Book reads like simple genre formula. Plot and characters are generic and predictable. Even the editing was shoddy (to the point of misspelled words, such as 'gantlet' for gauntlet). With this lack of creativity it's no surprise the author can crank out one a year.
Rating:
Summary: You will race through this book....
Review: because you won't be able to put it down! Mystery and crime masters are those who can continue to expand and entertain with the same characters over a long period of time and a lot of novels. Eventually, like great television shows, there are no plots left to explore. Sandford should be nearing this point, but you will be just as enthusiastic with his twelfth novel as you were with his first! Choosing to reveal his villain early on in the novel, Sandford spends enormous time developing him in three dimensions. You are caught up in how close the police come to him and how you can spot clues before they know they are clues. His normal group of characters is back, and as strong as ever, and the Davenport "womanizing" angle is given a new twist with his "taming" and rekindling of his relationship with Weather. I read this novel in 6 hours and wished I could read while driving the car, so I didn't have to interrupt it. A great tale by one of the most engaging mystery/crime writers today! Enjoy...
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