Broken Prey

By: John Sandford

Narrated by: Eric Conger

The "Big Three" are a trio of inmates locked up in the Minnesota Security Hospital over the years, each a particularly vicious serial killer, each with his own distinct style and propensities. Everybody feels much safer knowing that they're behind bars. Except...there's a new killer on the loose. And his handiwork bears a disturbing resemblance to some of the finer points practiced by the Big Three, details that never even made the papers.

Lucas Davenport and his team quickly hone in on a possible suspect, a man named Charlie Pope, who was released from the same hospital prison a few weeks earlier, and who now seems to have cut himself free from his court-imposed ankle bracelet and disappeared. But is he really the one? And why do the Big Three look so agitated?

Brilliantly suspenseful, consistently surprising, once again, Sandford has outdone himself.

Please note: This is the abridged edition. An unabridged version is also available.

©2005 John Sandford (P)2005 Penguin Audio

Critic reviews

“Nonstop tension.” (Publishers Weekly [starred review])

"A real whodunit...it contains supersized servings of all the elements readers have come to treasure in the series: Davenport’s quirky, self-deprecating, and ironic worldview; plenty of graveyard humor; and a dynamic sense of place, from the Minnesota countryside to the foreboding gothic architecture of the asylum." (Booklist [starred review])

“A tale so fast-moving you won’t even notice the unobtrusively expert detective work till the second time around.” (Kirkus Reviews)

An average thriller

This was the first John Sandford book I'd listened to, so it's possible that this is the norm for him, but I found this book a little boring and meandering. By the time the book is over, it felt like I'd been introduced to several dozen characters, only some of whom were important to the plot of the book. Rather than obscuring the solution of the mystery, all the useless characters and details made me lose interest- in fact, I didn't bother with the last 30 minutes of the book.

Another hit for Sandford

Great story, character development, and plot, as I have come to expect from Sandford. And some fine action too. Highly recommended.

JohnSandford is an author I include as a favorite

I've never read a John Sandford book before; but, after listening to this my first, he's definitely included as one of my favorite suspenseful authors. It's filled with characters that you easily rmember, because the book is well-written, with a great plot. He gives you multiple suspects, and just as you think you know who the killer is... wham! Wrong! You easily follow the story-line, and the artist makes the listening easy on the ears and non-invasive.

Broken Prey

Probably the best Sanford book in the Lucas Davenport (Prey) series yet. Great storyline that sucks you right into the to the book as though you are a part of it. You will definately enjoy this one.