Judgment Prey is a crime fiction thriller novel by John Sandford, published on October 3, 2023, and is the 33rd book in his popular Prey series featuring investigator Lucas Davenport. The st
...
Judgment Prey is a crime fiction thriller novel by John Sandford, published on October 3, 2023, and is the 33rd book in his popular Prey series featuring investigator Lucas Davenport. The story follows Davenport and his partner, Virgil Flowers, as they investigate the brutal murder of a wealthy federal judge and his two young sons in their St. Paul home.
Plot Summary
The novel opens with the shocking, cold-blooded murder of federal judge Alex Sand and his two sons, a crime that rocks their wealthy community and leaves local police and the FBI without solid leads. With public pressure mounting, Lucas Davenport and Virgil Flowers are called in to assist with the investigation.
The case is complex, with no shortage of people who might have had a vendetta against the judge due to his professional life. The investigation uncovers a potential financial motive involving a local housing charity, "Heart/Twin Cities," to which the judge was about to make a large donation that is now in limbo.
Simultaneously, the judge's grieving widow, Margaret Cooper, and her friend Ann Melton launch their own parallel, unofficial investigation driven by a thirst for personal justice and revenge. They manage to uncover crucial evidence linking a local boxing coach, Don Hess, to the murders through his predatory past.
The investigation involves multiple twists, including a separate white-collar fraud scheme within the charity that leads to more murders committed by the charismatic conman running it. The tension builds as the official police investigation and the widow's quest for vengeance converge, culminating in a dangerous confrontation where Hess is captured. The book explores themes of justice, vengeance, and the trauma of loss.
Key Characters
- Lucas Davenport: A seasoned U.S. Marshal and the primary investigator, still recovering from physical and psychological injuries from a previous case.
- Virgil Flowers: Davenport's laid-back partner from the BCA (Bureau of Criminal Apprehension), who balances Davenport's intensity with his sharp wit and empathy.
- Margaret Cooper: The judge's widow, who transforms from a grieving victim into a determined, vengeful survivor seeking closure outside the legal system.
- Don Hess: The predatory, calculating boxing coach revealed to be the killer.
- Noah Heath: A charismatic sociopath who runs a fraudulent charity, adding a secondary layer of crime to the narrative.
[Show More]
Preview 10 out of 324 pages
