Status
Available
Genres
Collection
Publication
Berkley (1990), 368 pages
Description
Fiction. Mystery. Suspense. Thriller. HTML:#1 New York Times bestselling author John Sandford's �haunting, unforgettable, ice-blooded thriller�* that introduced Lucas Davenport... The killer was mad but brilliant. He left notes with every woman he killed. Rules of murder: Never have a motive. Never follow a discernible pattern. Never carry a weapon after it has been used...So many rules to his sick, violent games of death. But Lucas Davenport, the cop who�s out to get him, isn�t playing by the rules. �Terrifying...Sandford has crafted the kind of trimmed-to-the-bone thriller that is hard to put down�scary...intriguing...unpredictable.��Chicago Tribune �Rules of Prey is so chilling that you�re almost afraid to turn the pages. So mesmerizing you cannot stop...A crackle of surprises.��*Carl Hiaasen �Sleek and nasty...A big scary, suspenseful read, and I loved every minute of it.��Stephen King �A cop and a killer you will remember for a long, long time.��Robert B. Parker.… (more)
User reviews
LibraryThing member Mendoza
The book that kicked off the Lucas Davenport series. The author couldn't have wrote a more readable thriller as a first book if he had tried.
Davenport is a genuine and complex character. He's kind and sensitive when he can be, crude and tough when he needs to be. For such a tough guy, you'll be
This debut novel is full of suspense and realism. The main character is full of flaws and his own quirks and it makes the novel all the more readable.
One thing I am not thrilled with - and I think he gets better with later books inthe series - is that he totally approaches Davenports 'breakups' from a man's point of view in that he attributes a man's emotional detachment to the women. Not very realistic. They're all just too casual about break-ups and infidelities. But still, never a dull moment in this first of many "Prey Series" books.
Davenport is a genuine and complex character. He's kind and sensitive when he can be, crude and tough when he needs to be. For such a tough guy, you'll be
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surprised to know he's afraid of flying. He loves women. Alot of women. The media loves him, one anchorwoman in particular. But often, they use each other to their own professional advantage.This debut novel is full of suspense and realism. The main character is full of flaws and his own quirks and it makes the novel all the more readable.
One thing I am not thrilled with - and I think he gets better with later books inthe series - is that he totally approaches Davenports 'breakups' from a man's point of view in that he attributes a man's emotional detachment to the women. Not very realistic. They're all just too casual about break-ups and infidelities. But still, never a dull moment in this first of many "Prey Series" books.
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LibraryThing member jepeters333
Lucas Davenport chases the "maddog" killer who devises elaborate obstacles to keep the police confused.
LibraryThing member amf0001
This is a keeper. The start of an excellent series (17 books and counting, at least I'm counting on more coming!) Lucas Davenport, maverick policeman, gamer, sex god (well, he gets a different amazing woman for quite a few books and then struggles to settle down) and highest shooting rate for any
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cop in the twin cities (5 at the start of the series, I think.) Beautifully written, good plots, great characterizations. You're in the hands of a professional and can procede with confidence. Show Less
LibraryThing member Teravius
John Sanford's Rules of Prey occupied some time in a couple of hours-long car rides. Definitely an enjoyable book, and highly recommended to fans of the mystery/suspense genres. There wasn't anything hugely literarily significant about it. But like a good episode of CSI, the plot is so cleverly
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wrought, and the characters are at least interesting enough to string it along, that it's enjoyable the whole way through. Sanford is far from the first author to write about quirky detective-types, and he'll by no means be the last. That said, few if any authors writing today do it better, and I'll make an effort to read more of these books when college affords me the chance. Show Less
LibraryThing member miyurose
This is another series where I've read a lot of the later books, but not the early ones. I enjoyed this, but I think Lucas has calmed down a bit in the later books, which I suppose is good because it shows some character development :-) You know who the killer is in this book pretty early, but it's
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fun to anticipate how Lucas is going to figure it out. Show Less
LibraryThing member thejazzmonger
First of the great Lucas Davenport novels by John Sanford. Lucas, an especially brilliant and intuitive detective gets control of the hunt for the brutal "Maddog" serial killer. This book introduces not only Lucas Davenport but a whole inverse of fascinating characters in the Minneapolis police
Sanford always gives a great read.
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department.Sanford always gives a great read.
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LibraryThing member Reacherfan
Rules of Prey start off a great series that features Lucas Davenport, and hard cop that pretty much goes by his own rules. I know it sounds cliched, but thats' the only way to describe him. He's a maverick, at times does questionable things, but the bottom line is that he gets the job done.
In
For me, the downside is when we learn that Davenport also writes computer games. I found those parts brought the book to a halt and I just skimmed over that part. Don't let that discourage you from picking up this book or starting the series.
This book has a lot of great plot twists and turns that will keep the reader glued to the page. As a I said, this is back when the series was top notch. I highly suggest Rules of Prey.
In
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Rules of Prey, Lucas is up against a cunning killer that has certain rules he goes by in order not to get caught. Some of the rules are "Never kill anyone you know', "Never follow a Pattern" and "Don't take the weapon with you." Those are just some of the rules the killer goes by. Each time the killer kills, he leaves a rule for the police and Davenport. With each Rule, Davenport falls further behind. For me, the downside is when we learn that Davenport also writes computer games. I found those parts brought the book to a halt and I just skimmed over that part. Don't let that discourage you from picking up this book or starting the series.
This book has a lot of great plot twists and turns that will keep the reader glued to the page. As a I said, this is back when the series was top notch. I highly suggest Rules of Prey.
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LibraryThing member crazybatcow
I picked this up because it was suggested as a book that had a protagonist who would be a reasonable replacement for Jack Reacher (Lee Child's kicking-butt protagonist). And I think it was as close as I can expect to find.
The crime investigation was quite involved, and believable, and the pacing
The protagonist is a good cop who bends the rules and is a bit of a ladies' man and who believes that sometimes justice is just outside the law.
All in all, a very reasonable read. And, even though it was written in the late 80s, the dated-ness is only in technology, not in attitude.
The crime investigation was quite involved, and believable, and the pacing
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was fast and will keep you reading to see what will happen.The protagonist is a good cop who bends the rules and is a bit of a ladies' man and who believes that sometimes justice is just outside the law.
All in all, a very reasonable read. And, even though it was written in the late 80s, the dated-ness is only in technology, not in attitude.
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LibraryThing member bookswoman
A friend recommended I try John Sandford so being the OCD person that I am I got the first in the series to try.
I enjoyed the book and the story, loved Lucas Davenport (well, maybe except all the bed-hopping) but wished the book hadn't been about a serial killer. Knowing that it was written in 1989
Davenport is a cop who operates slightly outside the law on occasion but knows he needs to get someone legally in the end. "The maddog" killer stretches Davenports abilities and resources when he starts killing a female on a schedule of approximately every two weeks.
I liked the book well enough that I will try more, and no, I don't know why it took me so long to get around to reading this series. For some reason I always thought it was more "thriller" and less procedural and so I avoided it.
Live and learn.
I enjoyed the book and the story, loved Lucas Davenport (well, maybe except all the bed-hopping) but wished the book hadn't been about a serial killer. Knowing that it was written in 1989
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helps, that was the height of serial killer mania. I'm pretty much avoiding most things with them now but this one was very well done.Davenport is a cop who operates slightly outside the law on occasion but knows he needs to get someone legally in the end. "The maddog" killer stretches Davenports abilities and resources when he starts killing a female on a schedule of approximately every two weeks.
I liked the book well enough that I will try more, and no, I don't know why it took me so long to get around to reading this series. For some reason I always thought it was more "thriller" and less procedural and so I avoided it.
Live and learn.
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LibraryThing member readafew
Detective Lucas Davenport make his debut in Rules of Prey. A psycho serial killer is on the loose and his one calling card is a note stateing the 'Rules' a serial killer has to live by to keep from getting caught. It's Lucas's job to catch him when he does.
LibraryThing member LisaMaria_C
The summary in the back of the book builds this as a kind of duel between cop and serial killer, and so whether you are held by this book depends upon your reaction to those two characters. In the introduction, Sandford himself says of his police detective protagonist that "cops don't act like
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Lucas Davenport--they'd be fired or even imprisoned if they did," and he calls the character a "cross between a cop and a movie star." Indeed, that's how Davenport comes across--as a Hollywood version of a cop, a jerk and Marty Stu with women falling all over him, and that's not the kind of character that appeals to me. As for his adversary, the serial killer in the book, he seems cliched and creepy, but not in the good, chills down the spine way, but more in the Too Much Information squicky kind of way. He styles himself "maddog" sees his killings as "the ultimate game" and leaves notes on the bodies with his "rules" such as "never kill anyone you know." In other words, this book reads like a television movie of the week, and not one strong enough it would be my choice to buy from the airport gift shop to take me through a long flight. Show Less
LibraryThing member CynDaVaz
But I had a problem that was big enough to remove on star from my rating: the protagonist (and the love interest he impregnated). The main character is a pig. Pure and simple - he's all over the place with women (and apparently this behavior isn't confined to just the first book). I don't
I may continue on with the series, but if these characters continue to behave like idiots, I doubt I'll be able to for much longer. I'd eventually grow to despise them and that never bodes well for me when it comes to books. :-p
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particularly find that to be an appealing character trait, so it's hard to like the lead in a series when that's the way he behaves. The woman he's going to have a baby with is a back-stabbing twit whom I also dislike, even thought I don't appreciate that he was hopping in bed with a criminal witness on the side, behind her back. I may continue on with the series, but if these characters continue to behave like idiots, I doubt I'll be able to for much longer. I'd eventually grow to despise them and that never bodes well for me when it comes to books. :-p
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LibraryThing member christinelstanley
Very dated, but a good thriller without political correctness. I will look out for next in series, who doesn't love a badass cop!
LibraryThing member silversurfer
This haunting, unforgettable, ice-blooded thriller that introduced Lucas Davenport is so chilling that you're almost afraid to turn the pages and so mesmerizing you cannot stop.
A creepy serial killer "MadDog" plays cat & mouse withLucas.
He kills women after women, leaving notes explaining his
This is a fast paced thriller, some of the kills are very graphic and disturbing, not for the faint of heart.
The climax leaves you breathless.
Sandford paints Lucas as NOT a very likeable character. He is a womanizer of the first order, plays and sets his own rules. But, he is fascinating, something about him worms it's way into your heart. A man of many faults, but a true Hero at heart.
Even though I have seen this series around for many years, I really wasn't interested. A friend sent me this as a gift to my Kindle and I felt compelled to read it.
I am so glad I did. However, now I have more than 20 Lucas Davenport novels to catch up on!
A creepy serial killer "MadDog" plays cat & mouse withLucas.
He kills women after women, leaving notes explaining his
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"Rules".This is a fast paced thriller, some of the kills are very graphic and disturbing, not for the faint of heart.
The climax leaves you breathless.
Sandford paints Lucas as NOT a very likeable character. He is a womanizer of the first order, plays and sets his own rules. But, he is fascinating, something about him worms it's way into your heart. A man of many faults, but a true Hero at heart.
Even though I have seen this series around for many years, I really wasn't interested. A friend sent me this as a gift to my Kindle and I felt compelled to read it.
I am so glad I did. However, now I have more than 20 Lucas Davenport novels to catch up on!
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LibraryThing member ccayne
First in the series. The crimes were way too twisted for me and I had to turn that part down. I like Davenport's complexity and I enjoyed the cat and mouse game between Mad Dog and Davenport.
LibraryThing member TheJeanette
Another Lucas Davenport weekend. After reading #21 in the series I had a hankerin' to go back to some of the early ones. Sandford has certainly improved his delivery over the years. This first one is heavy on the nonessential narrative summaries, especially in the first 100 pages or so.
Rules of
The serial killer theme is soooo '80s! This was published in 1989, so it was right for the times, but felt a little tired to me lo these 20+ years later. I didn't read the series in order my first time through. I started with #10, which I ran across by chance at the library. I didn't know it was part of a series when I grabbed it, but Clara Rinker got me hooked! Had I started with this first one I don't know if I'd have continued with the series. I read them all out of order until I caught up.
I give this 3.5 stars.
Rules of
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Prey introduces Lucas Davenport, the badass Minneapolis cop who plays by his own rules but gets the job done when no one else can. He goes head to head with a smart lawyer who is also a serial killer. The serial killer theme is soooo '80s! This was published in 1989, so it was right for the times, but felt a little tired to me lo these 20+ years later. I didn't read the series in order my first time through. I started with #10, which I ran across by chance at the library. I didn't know it was part of a series when I grabbed it, but Clara Rinker got me hooked! Had I started with this first one I don't know if I'd have continued with the series. I read them all out of order until I caught up.
I give this 3.5 stars.
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LibraryThing member SunnySD
With a new foreword explaining how Lucas Davenport got his start...
Game on. A serial killer is stalking the women of the Twin Cities. Lucas Davenport is a player (in more ways than one). This time he's playing against an obsessive, meticulous killer for life or death stakes. Davenport's not the guy
Creepy and suspenseful.
Game on. A serial killer is stalking the women of the Twin Cities. Lucas Davenport is a player (in more ways than one). This time he's playing against an obsessive, meticulous killer for life or death stakes. Davenport's not the guy
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you'd want to bet on for a long term relationship, but for catching a maddog? He's your man.Creepy and suspenseful.
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LibraryThing member BruderBane
“Rules of Prey” by John Sanford was highly recommended by a close friend and is my first foray into the world of Lucas Davenport. While Mr. Sanford’s protagonist is similar to other slick detectives from a multitude of TV-shows, he differs with his geeky hobbies and barely concealed callous
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tendencies. And though I found this first outing a tad formulaic, Mr. Sanford’s follow though and character development were to my liking with the characters unveiled here I can see room for growth and development. On my next trip to the book store I will look forward to perusing for other Lucas Davenport novels. Show Less
LibraryThing member dickmanikowski
I've long been a fan of John Sandford's Lucas Davenport mysteries and of the Virgil Flowers series which spun off of them.
Somehow, I missed this Davenport novel. And I believe it was probably the first of the series. While he lacks his usual sidekicks and Rose Marie, his character is already
But moral ambiguities abound in even this early work.
Somehow, I missed this Davenport novel. And I believe it was probably the first of the series. While he lacks his usual sidekicks and Rose Marie, his character is already
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pretty well developed. Rather than being marries to the magnificent Weather, he's an avid cocksman.But moral ambiguities abound in even this early work.
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LibraryThing member TVNerd95
This is one of those books that entraps you -- it has a great lead character, a great adversary for the lead, action, humor and keeps you engaged throughout the book.
Lucas Davenport is a good guy not a great guy but his flaws are endearing in a way which I think is a credit to Sandford's writing of
The adversary Lucas is put up against is just smart enough and evil enough that you think "oh my God" he might actually get away with it. He is also evil enough that you are rooting for the good guys entire time.
I just love this book and its a wonderful first book in a series.
Lucas Davenport is a good guy not a great guy but his flaws are endearing in a way which I think is a credit to Sandford's writing of
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this character. The character can be simple and complex at the same time and his value of other lives is fantastic -- he has enough experience to know the world isn't a peach but he isn't too jaded yet.The adversary Lucas is put up against is just smart enough and evil enough that you think "oh my God" he might actually get away with it. He is also evil enough that you are rooting for the good guys entire time.
I just love this book and its a wonderful first book in a series.
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LibraryThing member Bookish59
Too much focus on female sexuality for me but plot, pacing, dialogue were better than anticipated. Lucas Davenport is very likeable and while no saint, is intelligent, has a good, generous heart, cares about people, physically strong, doesn't accept crap from most people, and driven to fully stop
Could have developed more of a profile on 'killer,' i.e. what in his background had caused him to do the unthinkable again and again.
Will try next book in series.
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bad guys. Could have developed more of a profile on 'killer,' i.e. what in his background had caused him to do the unthinkable again and again.
Will try next book in series.
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LibraryThing member bookwyrmm
This is a gritty and action-packed police procedural that really keeps you on the edge of your seat. It is also very dated, but that kinda adds to the fun.
LibraryThing member Randall.Hansen
Trying out a new detective series, by starting with the first book. Very enjoyable, but since it was set in the 1980s, it has funny lingo and no cell phones... but the plot is good and the writing smart. I will definitely read the next in the series and see where the story goes from here.
LibraryThing member Olivermagnus
I've been reading the “Prey” featuring Lucas Davenport since the first book, Rules of Prey, was published in 1989. There are currently twenty six books in the series so I was interested in going back and seeing Lucas back at the beginning of his career as a Minneapolis cop. His new assignment
Davenport is an interesting character himself. He likes his job as a cop, but his real passion is developing role-playing games. That gives him some extra money and he's the only cop in town who drives a Porsche. He doesn't like to be tied down and is quite a ladies man. He's also not above using the women in his life to make his job easier. The killer, who refers to himself as “maddog”, is quite interesting too. We get to know him in alternating chapters and before long we realize he's an ego driven sociopath who needs to feel superior to everyone else around him.
I found the story to be incredibly exciting, fast paced, and very difficult to put down. Even though I read this book years ago I had no idea who the killer really was or if Lucas would catch him in the end. Rules of Prey is an extreme thriller with a killer who commits a lot of horrific crimes. I don't think I'd recommend it a fan of cozy mysteries but I completely enjoyed it. I have way too many unread books to reread this series again, but it was so nice to see how Lucas Davenport has changed and matured over the last twenty six years. I still might pick up a couple of audios every now and then, because this is a series that could be fun to experience that way.
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is to investigate a series of murders where each victim is left with a note outlining some of the rules of the killer. For example, “never kill anyone you know”, never use the same weapon twice”, and “never have a motive”.Davenport is an interesting character himself. He likes his job as a cop, but his real passion is developing role-playing games. That gives him some extra money and he's the only cop in town who drives a Porsche. He doesn't like to be tied down and is quite a ladies man. He's also not above using the women in his life to make his job easier. The killer, who refers to himself as “maddog”, is quite interesting too. We get to know him in alternating chapters and before long we realize he's an ego driven sociopath who needs to feel superior to everyone else around him.
I found the story to be incredibly exciting, fast paced, and very difficult to put down. Even though I read this book years ago I had no idea who the killer really was or if Lucas would catch him in the end. Rules of Prey is an extreme thriller with a killer who commits a lot of horrific crimes. I don't think I'd recommend it a fan of cozy mysteries but I completely enjoyed it. I have way too many unread books to reread this series again, but it was so nice to see how Lucas Davenport has changed and matured over the last twenty six years. I still might pick up a couple of audios every now and then, because this is a series that could be fun to experience that way.
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LibraryThing member Andrew-theQM
A very interesting start to the series. Gritty and quite different to most other books in this genre for some reason, unless it was the style of the narrator, Lucas Davenport is a very interesting character, look forward to reading more about him. And as for Mad Dog!
Subjects
Language
Original language
English
Original publication date
1989-07
ISBN
0425121631 / 9780425121634