Mortal Prey
by John SandfordThriller/Mystery
#13 in Prey series
2002 G. P. Putnam's Sons
Finished on 4/4/09
Rating: 2.5/5 (Fair)
Product Description
Years ago, Davenport almost died at the hands of Clara Rinker, a pleasant, soft-spoken, low-key southerner, and the best hit woman in the business. Now retired and living in Mexico, she herself nearly dies when a sniper kills her boyfriend, the son of a local druglord, and while the boy's father vows vengeance, Rinker knows something he doesn't: The boy wasn't the target—she was—and now she is going to have to disappear to find the killer herself.
The FBI drafts Davenport to help track Rinker down, and his fiancée, deep in wedding preparations, is really just as happy to get him out of her hair—but he has no idea what he's getting into. For Rinker is as unpredictable as ever, and between her, her old bosses in the St. Louis mob, the Mexican druglord, and the combined, sometimes warring, forces of U.S. law enforcement, this is one case that will get more dangerous as it goes along. And when the crossfire comes, anyone caught in the middle won't stand a chance...
Meh. Definitely not one of Sandford's best. As with most of the books in this series, the killer is revealed at the beginning of the novel. I enjoy a good thriller, but prefer to work the clues of an intricate mystery, eager to figure out the identity of the killer before it's revealed by the author. Maybe I've grown tired of Lucas Davenport. But knowing me, I'll continue with the series. #19 (Wicked Prey
) is due out on May 12th.
Well, that's a bummer. I've only read #1 and look forward to #2. I just don't know when that's going to happen.
ReplyDeleteI see you are reading The Hunger Games! It is outside of my preferred genre, but I thoroughly enjoyed it. Can't wait for #2! Actually, I need to reevaluate what my "preferred genre" really is, because I don't think I have a preferred genre anymore. :)
Joy - I went back and looked at all my reviews for Sandford's books (re-labeling them with "Prey Series) and they're all over the place. Some are in the A- (8/10 range) and others in the B or C range. Pretty hot & cold. Wonder how much of that is the book and how much is me.
ReplyDeleteI just finished The Hunger Games. LOVED it!! I can't wait for the sequel either. I'll jump on that one the day it's released. Can't wait to hear what my book club thinks of the story. Have you read Ender's Game by Orson Scott Card? I think you'd enjoy it if you liked The Hunger Games.
I loved the Prey series until the last few...What is up with Sandford? if this next one isn't good I'm going to go ahead and give him up!!
ReplyDeleteYou are one of many that have encouraged me to read Ender's Game (to no avail), but nobody has connected it to The Hunger Games. Now it seems a bit more enticing. :)
ReplyDeleteI haven't read any of this series. With 19 books, I may skip the whole thing.
ReplyDeleteHow did you like Little Bee? My mother read it and recommended it. I have Hunger Games on the shelf and have only heard good things about it.
Staci - Hmmm, I wonder if I should continue. Did you read my reply to Joy's comment? Sandford is pretty much a hit-or-miss author for me.
ReplyDeleteJoy - Oooh, I hope I've helped convince you to read Ender's Game. Go for it!!
Booklogged - I hate to say it, but I don't think you'd be missing much if you skipped it. There are other mystery series that are so much better. Dennis Lehane's and Harlan Coben's, for instance.
I really liked Little Bee! I'm hoping to get to my review tomorrow. I also need to write up my review for The Hunger Games. Maybe it's a good thing I've found myself in a reading slump since finishing that one. Might give me time to catch up on the reviews. :)
Lesley, I have an award for you. It's way below the read-a-thon posts, I'm afraid. Sorry!
ReplyDeleteAs for the Prey series - I have the first book on Mt. TBR. Can't wait to read it!
Kathrin - Thanks for the award! I have a few to acknowledge and hope to get a post up in the coming days.
ReplyDeleteEnjoy the Sandford books. There are a few gems in the collection.