Crime Thriller
Lucas Davenport (Prey) Books in Order
by John Sandford
Minneapolis detective-turned-U.S. Marshal Lucas Davenport hunts serial killers and organized criminals across one of crime fiction's most durable franchises. One book a year since 1989, no signs of slowing.
About the series
John Sandford's Prey series follows Lucas Davenport, a Minneapolis detective (later a U.S. Marshal) who is as brilliant at hunting killers as he is at making money off the video-game company he runs on the side. Davenport is charming, ruthless when he needs to be, and deeply human — a combination that has kept readers hooked since Rules of Prey launched the series in 1989. The books are atmospheric, fast-paced procedurals set largely in Minnesota, with Sandford's trademark wit keeping even the darkest cases from becoming grim slogs.
Recommended reading order
Start from the beginning with Rules of Prey — Davenport's career arc and personal life evolve meaningfully across the series. The books are mostly self-contained mysteries, so jumping in mid-series won't leave you lost, but the full payoff comes from watching Davenport grow from city cop to marshal over 36+ entries. Sandford has also spun off the Virgil Flowers and Letty Davenport series, which feature recurring characters from the Prey books.
Reading order
36 books · Ongoing