John Sandford’s Prey series is a police procedural set in Minneapolis, featuring Lucas Davenport as the protagonist. Davenport is a tough, charismatic, and determined investigator with a maverick streak and a propensity for violence. Throughout the series, he holds various positions in law enforcement, including patrolman, detective, and agent for the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension, frequently clashing with the bureaucracy.

Fans love the complexity of the characters and how Lucas Davenport evolves as the series progresses; his character arc is one of the best in crime fiction. Watching Davenport and the supporting characters grow older and wiser through their experiences adds suspense and presents fresh challenges for the characters and fresh excitement for readers. The books have a hard-boiled detective edge, with gritty crimes and formidable villains pursued by Davenport. However, there is humour to provide relief from the intense storylines.

John Sandford does a good job catching readers up from book to book in the Prey series. However, readers recommend reading the books in order to fully appreciate how the characters change throughout the series.