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    Silken Prey
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    Silken Prey
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    Silken Prey
    Audiobook12 hours

    Silken Prey

    Written by John Sandford

    Narrated by Richard Ferrone

    4/5

    ()

    Unavailable in your country

    Unavailable in your country

    About this audiobook

    Murder, scandal, political espionage and an extremely dangerous woman. Lucas Davenport's going to be lucky to get out of this one alive…

    Lucas Davenport is investigating a vicious smear on a US senator when the trail leads to a political fixer's disappearance. Then, very troublingly, it leads to the Minneapolis police department, then, most troublingly of all, to a woman who could give Machiavelli lessons. She has very definite ideas about the way the world should work, and the money, ruthlessness and sheer will to make it happen. No matter who gets in the way…
    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherW. F. Howes Ltd
    Release dateSep 1, 2013
    ISBN9781471242816
    Unavailable
    Silken Prey
    Author

    John Sandford

    John Sandford is the pseudonym for the Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist John Camp. He is the author of thirty-three Prey novels, two Letty Davenport novels, four Kidd novels, twelve Virgil Flowers novels, three YA novels co-authored with his wife, Michele Cook, and five stand-alone books.

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    Reviews for Silken Prey

    4/5

    328 ratings44 reviews

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    • 3/5
      Enjoyable as all of John Sandford's books are. No mysteries really, but a fun ride to get to the end. The Prey books are beginning to get a bit tired. The Virgil Flowers series however grabs me like the Prey books used to. Hopefully, he continues that series and maybe find a replacement for this one.But it was a good read and a lot of fun and I will still buy them as long as he writes them.
    • 5/5
      WoW! Thank goodness for friends that share books with one another!! I noticed in the latest "bag of books" shared by a girlfriend that there was a "new" author name to me - John Sandford. This is the 23rd title in the Lucas Davenport series and my first novel to read by John Sandford. Where have I been?I'm always a little skeptical about review blurbs on the front cover of a novel as I like to read the book, compose my own review, and then return to the book to read the book review excerpts on the back cover, or provided in the beginning of the book or at the end. The edition that I read has the following blurb on the book cover by Entertainment Weekly - "Few writers can match Sandford's smart, edgy, breakneck-speed thrillers." All I can say this time is, "True!"There are more twists and turns than any roller coaster, and if the author shares an insight about a particular character, the reader must "Pay attention!" The detail that might seem tiny and insignificant will be the exact detail that creates an amazing moment of the story in a later chapter.The other item that I must highlight is that some authors include a large cast of characters and no matter how attentive the reader is it becomes very difficult to keep the cast of characters "in mind" and also to keep an awareness of all of the associations between the characters. I had absolutely no trouble keeping the large cast of characters in mind and the associations accurate as I read the novel and that can only be attributed to a highly skilled writer particularly in this page-turning novel and as one reviewer called it "relentlessly swift". But just one word of caution readers, if you begin reading this book late in the evening as I did, the next morning comes really early! It's sooooooooooooo hard to put it down! Isn't that the best compliment a reader can give?
    • 4/5
      Loved it!!! Sandford does it again!!! Hope he never stops writing these despite what he says!!!
    • 4/5
      Silken prey seems to have predicted our current political situation several years before it happened. We got stuck with a narcissistic sociopath being elected to office. One being willing to do anything. Big difference is this one is actually smart. I think she is designed to be a future foil for Davenport, something new to keep the story going. I enjoyed this book, and I am looking forward to when the guilty party finally makes a mistake and gets caught...
    • 4/5
      John Sandford dips into the world of political intrigue in this outing and I suspect that he was in part inspired by the 2016 presidential race. As far as I know there have not been any murders committed by US Senate contenders but then would we really hear if they successfully won their seat.Lucas Davenport is called in by the Minnesota governor to investigate an allegation that child pornography was found on the office computer of the incumbent Senator (a Republican) who is in a tight race against a woman who is a billionaire running for the Democratic party. The governor (also a Democrat) believes the Senator has been framed and wants Davenport to discover who did it before the election which is only a few days away. A Democratic bagman has also disappeared and it is beginning to look like he has been killed probably to conceal what he knows about the child porn incident. So Davenport is suspicious that the Democratic candidate is somehow involved in this messy business and he starts to look at her and her associates. He clears the Senator before the election using his old friend Kidd to examine computer records and he starts to uncover information about two security guards who are ex-military with violent backgrounds. The reader actually knows more than Davenport does so this is not so much a whodunit as a “will they be caught in time”. This was an audiobook that didn’t quite work for me mostly because the narrator didn’t seem to have many nuances to his voice.
    • 3/5
      This segment of the Davenport series felt like a distinct departure. Instead of a a straight mystery/thriller, this was much more about dirty politics. Davenport's search for a missing lobbyist allows him to call on the assistance of that *^@# Flowers, which is always a plus. In addition, he brings in his old friend and computer hacker Kidd and his wife Taryn. Ultimately their subplot was one of the more interesting aspects of this story. The 22nd book in the series left me hoping for more involvement of his daughter Letty, but he went in a completely different direction. While it still held my attention and was a quick read, I didn't feel this is one of his best. I really hope he hasn't lost the heart for this series. If so, I hope he ends it and takes on other subjects entirely rather than turning out books that disappoint.
    • 4/5
      At 1:15AM a Minnesota political fixer answers his doorbell. The next thing he knows, he's on the floor of a moving car, lying on a plastic sheet, his body wet with blood. Lucas Davenport is investigating another case when the trail leads to the man's disappearance, then, very troublingly, to the Minneapolis police department itself, and then, most troublingly of all, to a woman who could give Machiavelli lessons.
    • 4/5
      Silken Prey was a very entertaining read. Set in Minnesota (the Twin Cities) it is a political thriller with a very fascinating side story involving theft. At its heart though, it is all about dirty politics. Unfortunately, it is a representation that is probably accurate because to some extent, the bad guys get away with some things. The main character is Lucas Davenport. He wasn’t my favorite character because frankly, he was just a little too good to be true. Although he is a state police investigator, he doesn’t do it for the money because he is an independent billionaire married to a plastic surgeon named Weather.Yes, I hear you laughing. He also drives sports cars and has an expensive wardrobe and an extensive list of under the radar contacts. But ignore Lucas Davenport, because the real pleasure of the story is the story itself.Surprisingly, most of the other characters are great. I don’t know why the main character is so crazy. Nevertheless, the series is worth picking up. One thing I love is when someone native to the city or state writes about it. Sandford brings Minneapolis/St. Paul to life and that is a treat in itself. The city comes to life as only an insider can show.Apparently, this author has been recommended by Stephen King. It’s always interesting to read what other authors recommend. This was no exception. I enjoyed the book and would (and have) given it to others to read.
    • 5/5
      The Democratic Governor asks Davenport to discreetly straddle the worlds of police work and politics and investigate whether the child porn that surfaces on the computer of the womanizing Republican candidate for the U.S. Senate was planted by someone working for his Democrat challenger, a brash and ambitious billionaire woman who sees winning the Senate seat as a stepping stone to the Presidency. Ever the politician, the Governor tells Davenport to step lightly but still uncover the truth, though not make a political mess since the Governor sees a way to enhance his own career if the "truth comes out". As it turns out, Davenport finds himself entangled in a bloodbath as multiple murders occur in response to his inquiries.

      I love this series and I particularly love the main character because he is smart, sexy, a family guy, a cop who drives a Porsche, and ultimately the coolest guy in law enforcement by a mile. Davenport does what he does because he likes it and he has a clearly defined code and sense of right and wrong-he also sees the shades of gray.
    • 5/5
      Lucas Davenport gets mixed up with politics when he's asked to investigate the accusation of child porn on a wealthy political candidate.

      Even though the governor is on the opposing party, something about the convenience of the discovery of the accusation so soon before the election doesn't seem right.

      The race for the US Senate is a toss up and one of the participants is a wealthy young woman with a campaign staff that doesn't hesitate when asked to perform dirty tricks.. However one of the characters wants more money for his deeds and then goes missing.

      The plot is tight and the story is fresh and since it is election time, the story is very timely.

      Davenport and his team are working hard to identify the person who committed the dirty trick. When murder is added to the mix, the reader is in hope that they can be stopped prior to the responsible winning an election they didn't deserve.

      Davenport is a top notch and with each story we learn more about him and his family. He's a man of integrity but his primary job is to catch those responsible for the dirty tricks and to reveal what happened to the man who has a reputation for being political. He's been a bag man and Lucas believes he's come to a bad end but there's no proof. Then, there is another murder...

      "Silken Prey" is one more story from one of the masters, John Sandford. This story kept my attention and I was sad when I had to put the book down to do something else.
    • 4/5
      Sandford is in top form in this excellent audiobook read by Richard Ferrone. Lucas is asked by the governor to look into allegations that the Republican Senator has been set up. Kiddie porn was found on his campaign computer by a volunteer, and the governor, who has known Porter Smalls all his life, is sure he’s innocent. He’s worried some zealous advocate from his own party might be responsible for having set up Smalls and if that came out, the political backlash could hurt him as well as Smalls. The problem is that an inconclusive investigation isn’t good enough. The mere whisper of suspicion that someone might be involved with kiddie porn is more than enough to sink someone’s life, and not just politically. Taryn Grant, Smalls opponent in the upcoming senatorial election, is smart, beautiful, rich, and amoral, willing to do just about anything to win the seat. She has dogs, both human and canine, willing to help her get there. But how could the kiddie porn have come from the Minneapolis Police’s evidentiary file on to Smalls’ office computer?Lucas calls in favors from a variety of sources and characters from his other series all appear: Flowers, Kidd, and LorenSome reviewers have said Sandford’s political views are too obvious in this book. Well, if Sandford's political views are that he hates politicians then I would agree. It's certainly impossible to discern any other political leaning as each of the main characters: Taryn (the narcissistic and evil Democrat, the governor (the manipulating self-interested politician), and Smalls (the womanizing Republican) are all distinctly unlikeable, and the ending is quite cynical.. I think it's one of Sandford's better books.Not a mystery, though. The bad guys motivations and actions are laid out right from the start, and Lucas, for once, does some hard investigating.23rd in the Davenport series.
    • 5/5
      WoW! Thank goodness for friends that share books with one another!! I noticed in the latest "bag of books" shared by a girlfriend that there was a "new" author name to me - John Sandford. This is the 23rd title in the Lucas Davenport series and my first novel to read by John Sandford. Where have I been?I'm always a little skeptical about review blurbs on the front cover of a novel as I like to read the book, compose my own review, and then return to the book to read the book review excerpts on the back cover, or provided in the beginning of the book or at the end. The edition that I read has the following blurb on the book cover by Entertainment Weekly - "Few writers can match Sandford's smart, edgy, breakneck-speed thrillers." All I can say this time is, "True!"There are more twists and turns than any roller coaster, and if the author shares an insight about a particular character, the reader must "Pay attention!" The detail that might seem tiny and insignificant will be the exact detail that creates an amazing moment of the story in a later chapter.The other item that I must highlight is that some authors include a large cast of characters and no matter how attentive the reader is it becomes very difficult to keep the cast of characters "in mind" and also to keep an awareness of all of the associations between the characters. I had absolutely no trouble keeping the large cast of characters in mind and the associations accurate as I read the novel and that can only be attributed to a highly skilled writer particularly in this page-turning novel and as one reviewer called it "relentlessly swift". But just one word of caution readers, if you begin reading this book late in the evening as I did, the next morning comes really early! It's sooooooooooooo hard to put it down! Isn't that the best compliment a reader can give?
    • 4/5
      What is there to say? I love Lucas Davenport!
    • 4/5
      Another good Lucas Davenport thriller with political bad tricks including murder and attempts to frame the opponent.
    • 5/5
      Excellent book, even by John Sandford's consistently high standards. And one of the most frightening female villains I've run across in a long time.As is typically the case, I put my other in-process books on hold while devouring this one.
    • 4/5
      I am a real fan of Sanford although I must say he has turned into quite a potty mouth. This can be quite distracting from what could have made a more enjoyable read for me. I also felt the book was WAY too long and overly complicated. A strange ending sees a psychopath successfully elected a state senator - well, this may not be too far off - but was certainly an unlikely turn of events. All in all I still enjoy his stuff but felt this was not up to his usual high level of work.
    • 4/5
      This is going to be one of my favorites in the series so far. See my full review at piretextuality.com
    • 5/5
      Always entertaining, Sandford's books are all set in theTwin Cities area
    • 2/5
      Disappointing. Lots of detailed description of conversations, actions, etc. But I HATED the ending. Absolutely flat with no satisfaction. Pretty much a cop-out on Sanford's part. His stuff has been getting weaker in last 3-4 years. This does not restore his appeal.
    • 3/5
      Having been a fan of Lucas Davenport since the first Prey book, I've always looked forward to May and his newest adventure. In the beginning I would tear through these books in 2 days. As the series progressed it started taking me longer. Silken Prey took me six weeks. Truth is, the story is just not that compelling. It's got a sort of kitchen sink feel to it, as every character Sanford has ever written shows up in this book. Here's hoping next May is better.
    • 4/5
      Silken Prey marks the 23rd (!) entry in John Sandford's long running series featuring Lucas Davenport. Lucas is still working for the BCA in Minnesota, but he's the go-to-guy for many politicos. This time, its the governor himself who wants Lucas to do some quiet investigating. The current state senator has been caught with child porn on his computer. Thing is - the governor thinks he's innocent. And as Lucas digs a littler deeper, it looks like he could be right. We know who the culprit is from the beginning. The fun lies in following along with Lucas and his team as they try to figure it out. Shrake, Capslock, Jenkins and......yes that ****ing Flowers are all on the case. (I just wait to see when someone is going to utter that phrase!) One of Sandford's other recurring characters, computer whiz Kidd, also plays a large role in Silken Prey. I enjoyed the political machinations in Silken Prey. The ending has left the door open for a further confrontation with one of the senators. The secondary plotline with Kidd and his wife was excellent. I thought the way the two came together was great fun. I chose to listen to this latest book on the way back and forth to work (a disc each way works out pretty good!) The reader was Richard Ferrone. He's got a wonderfully gravelly, raspy voice that works so well for the image I have of Davenport. He comes up with different and believable voices for the rest of the players as well. I was able to easily know who was 'talking'. By listening to the book, I really 'heard' the snappy dialogue Sandford has written. Some of the best scenes are between Lucas and his team. I have read every last entry in this series, and the others Sandford writes, as well. There have been some I've liked better than others, (I quite liked this one) but even after twenty three entries, I still really enjoy this character. I'll be waiting for number twenty four.
    • 4/5
      It's politics as usual in Minnesota - which is to say that only days before a big election someone's framed the Republican incumbent with kiddie porn and knocked off a political dirty trickster. None of the signs point to the Dems' fair-haired, billionaire candidate, but something about the situation is making Davenport's instincts itch. And of course, the reader's are in on the villains' secrets from page one. The only question is, how soon with Davenport find all the answers.With Kidd and Lauren playing a larger role, and Weather, Letty and Del making only spotty appearances, this is both a weightier than usual, and somewhat less satisfying. Too much politics, maybe?
    • 4/5
      Silken Prey is John Sandford's newest book. It stars Lucas Davenport, star detective of the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension, ("BCA"). Davenport has his work cut out for him this time. Murder, child porn, and politics all mixed up into a first class mess that he has to untangle.(I love palmettos. We don't have too many of them in Oklahoma.)Along the way he has to contend with a female bodyguard who invites him to bed, a couple ex special forces body guards who are not quite that inviting and a Minnesota gubernatorial candidate who will literally do anything to get elected.Check out Sanders web site for a better synopsis of the story. The bottom line is that this is a very good book, very readable, and not quite enthralling cuz at the end things get kind of confused and messy and loses its coherence. It is still a great beach read though. I give it four stars out of five.From the Redneck Riviera, I'm trying to singlehandedly keep all the sunscreen manufacturers prosperous. And failing.
    • 5/5
      John Sandford's novels are always done well, although some are better than others - like this one. Interesting plot, well written, fast paced, easy read. Somehow author manages to deliver after so many books - usually I get fed up after a few books starting the same characters. Author's branching out to other characters (Kidd, Flowers) helps and I like how he keeps all it together, where characters that were focus of the story in other novels are having background role here. But it all comes together nicely.
    • 3/5
      Haven't read a "Prey" book in awhile.?i thought this was a good one.i liked the political plot and plotting. Always good for a fast and fun read.
    • 5/5
      Fun to read. Sanford tells a great story. Good to see Kidd back with his very skilled housebreaker and wife Lauren.
    • 4/5
      Another great novel from John Sandford! This is the 23rd in the "Prey" series featuring Lucas Davenport. THis one takes some wild political twists and turns and the ending is quite a shock. Can't wait to read the next one.
    • 4/5
      John Sandford is a good storyteller; he not only keeps the action moving, he has a sense of humor and has let his characters evolve as he moves through the Lucas Davenport series. In [Silken Prey], he also brings together characters from other series: Virgil Flowers and Kidd.The story begins when the governor asks Lucas to investigate possible political dirty tricks that have smeared the Republican candidate for the US Senate. The politics eventually move to a murder investigation. We learn who the guilty are fairly early on; the suspense comes from the question of whether Lucas will be able to prove the guilt. All good fun.
    • 5/5
      Another great Prey book with Lucas and all the gang including Virgil Flowers. This one was political with a murderous twist and a lot of assumption and it worked. I will say the ending was maybe just a little disappointing and I won't give anything away by saying how, I just wish it had ended different. But anything with Lucas Davenport and Virgil Flowers is going to highly entertaining and difficult to put down. I loved it.
    • 4/5
      One of the best Lucas Davenport novels I've read in a long time. Davenport is investigating a political scandal when Senator Porter Smalls is framed for child pornography. First, Davenport must prove he's been framed and second, he must figure out who is responsible a week before the Senate race. To boot, contender Taryn Grant is a narcissistic, self-absorbed, dangerous woman to be around.