Rating: 
Summary: New Reader Disappointed
Review: After a ten-year absense, Kidd is back in a new novel by John Sandford. This time Kidd's old friend John James Morrison gets mixed up with a high-tech government contractor and winds up dead. His sister, Lane Ward comes to Kidd for help in solving the crime, and Kidd soon finds himself caught in the middle of government paranoia and private greed. Kidd's partner-in-crime joins in the search as well, lending her unique combination of sexiness and ruthlessness to the story. Together, the three must stealthily find out why Morrison was killed and shut down the killers before they themselves are deleted.
Actually, this is the first Sandford book I've read. It may be a long time before I read another. Despite his success and critical acclaim with the Prey series, he seems to slip badly in his return to the Kidd novel. The story does move, but seems to wander aimlessly on the whims of the strange characters that Sandford has created. One night they are breaking into an office, and the next night they are cracking a safe, all without a clear reason for doing so. It is almost as if Sandford is simply adding action for action's sake, without concern for why the characters make the decisions that they make and take the risks that they do.
I found the relationship between Kidd and LuEllen to be interesting, but shallowly described. It may have been fleshed out in previous Kidd novels, but in this one it seems contrived. Even the "bad guy" was a disappointment, turning from a cool, competent operator to a silly fool as the story progresses. Not a good recipe for a successful thriller.
The author's note at the end of the novel gives some insight into a possible reason for the discrepancy between previous Sandford works and this one. He seems to have unenthusiastically written this novel in order to appease Kidd fans, especially his son, who blocked out the story and created the paper-thin characters. It is hard to tell how much Sandford wrote himself and how much was engineered by his son, but therein may lie the secret of why this book misses so badly. In any case, unless you are a Sandford fan or a Kidd fan or both, I would give this one a miss.
Rating: 
Summary: A good read with accessible, fun characters!
Review: I knocked this whole book out while stuck in a plane on the tarmac during a flight delay! The plot concerns a mysterious conspiracy involving several twists and, as one protagonist in the book states, an alphabet soup of government agency acronyms. I especially enjoyed the main character, Kidd, and his narrative perspective that described his actions and observations blow-by-blow forsaking flowery prose for to-the-point story line. If you like difficult to guess conspiracies seasoned with wry action and even some medium dark humor, then give this book a try! As for me, I plan to pick up the preceeding "Kidd" books to see how this interesting character came to be.
Rating: 
Summary: Not his best...
Review: From "Rules of Prey" on, I have been a John Sandford fan. Unfortunately, the Kidd novels have never been on the same par as the Davenport books.Part of the problem is that Kidd isn't as well-defined as Davenport, and Luanne is even hazier. Also, Kidd's semi-omniscience (every fact he needs seems to be just a few computer clicks away), master thieving skills and financial security make him just a little too perfect; it is the human characteristics that make a character interesting and drives the story. All this would reduce the story to four stars, but the other problem here is the story itself. While not bad, it is not as interesting as others. The villain, in particular, is a pale shadow of some of the true nasties that have occupied the Prey novels.
Rating: 
Summary: Riveting change of pace
Review: Although the Prey series are popular they have never been my favorites simply because I dislike reading about believable predatory serial killers stalking believable victims. Enter Kidd!
I listened to the unabridged audio first and then bought the print version. Kidd and his cohorts weave a tense and engaging story of computer hacking, burglary, and unconventional justice. The characters are wonderfully three-dimensional and leave the reader wishing for many more Kidd tales. Bobby the somehow disabled infospook/champion of justice, Luellen the knockout blonde burglar who's tough as nails but the best of women to have around and of course Kidd. Kidd is a likable rogue whom you can forgive the occasional decent into industrial espionage. Hints of Kidd adventures to come are liberally sprinkled throughout the story so one can hope! An suspenseful and entrancing story of greed and murder dappled with technology, friendship, revenge and even a little tasteful sex.
I can only hope Mr. Sandford will abandon Prey in favor of the Kidd.
Rating:
Summary: Boring
Review: I don't ususally write reviews of books, but I found this book to be one of the most boring I have read in a long, long time. What happened to the John Sandford of old where you were kept on the edge of your seat to wait and see who the killer was?
Rating:
Summary: Very good read.
Review: This book was a very good read. It was not too technical to lose you but it also does not talk down to you. I thought it was exciting and very well written and I highly recommend this book.
Rating:
Summary: Sanford's Prey Fans...Don't Bother
Review: I've read all of the Prey novels and have thoroughly enjoyed them all.......However, this was my first (and last) Kidd Novel. If you are into high tech mania that doesn't make a whole lot of sense, go for it. This doesn't even come close to the quality and excitement of the Prey novels.
Rating:
Summary: an interesting tale
Review: sometimes, you feel as though you are thrown into the action
and not given time to absorb the characters. we move from new york, to st. paul, to texas to california and back again.
maybe i missed a state in between. this is a rushed book.
i like john sandford, but he could have done better.
Rating:
Summary: "TO MUCH HI-TECH"
Review: I don't know why I keep on reading the books about Kidd and LuEllen. I really like their characters, I guess is why. John Sandford has to be a brilliant writer to write the Prey series and then to wirte books like this. I really, really like Davenport Prey books. I like the Kidd and LuEllen books because of the mystery, action and suspense but I cannot understand the high-tech and computor stuff--way over my head, so I loose a big part of the books. If you like mystery and computor stuff you will like this book. If you like mystery and lots of scary action you will like the Prey series. Sandford can't loose.
Rating:
Summary: Worst book ever!
Review: This was the worst book that I have ever read. The story was boring and hard to follow. The characters were not likable and the book was a chore to complete. Do not waste your time on this one!
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