John Sandford Popular Books

John Sandford Biography & Facts

John Sandford, pseudonym of John Roswell Camp (born February 23, 1944), is an American New York Times best-selling author, novelist, former journalist, and recipient of the Pulitzer Prize. Early life Camp was born in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, the son of Anne Agnes (Barron) and Roswell Sandford Camp. His mother's family was German and Lithuanian. He received a bachelor's degree in American history and literature and a master's in journalism, both from the University of Iowa. From 1971 to 1978, Camp wrote for The Miami Herald. In 1978, he moved to Minneapolis and started writing for The Saint Paul Pioneer Press as a features reporter; in 1980 he became a daily columnist. That year, he was a Pulitzer finalist for a series of stories on Native American culture. In 1985, during the Midwest farm crisis, he wrote a series titled "Life on the Land: an American Farm Family," which followed a typical southwest Minnesota farm family through the course of a full year. For that work, he won the annual Pulitzer Prize for Feature Writing and the American Society of Newspaper Editors award for Non-Deadline Feature Writing. He worked part-time at the Pioneer Press in 1989 and left the following year. Camp is an avid fiction reader himself. When asked in 2018, "What's your favorite book of all time?" by the New York Times, he responded, "An impossible question. If you put a gun to my head—say a .40-caliber Walther PPQ, or maybe a .45 ACP Colt Gold Cup—I'd say The Once and Future King by T. H. White." Both weapons he mentioned make appearances in many of his novels. Camp is a personal friend and hunting companion of fellow Minnesota author Chuck Logan. Fiction writer In 1989, Camp wrote two novels that would each spawn a popular series. The Fool's Run (Kidd series) was published under his own name, but the publisher asked him to provide a pseudonym for Rules of Prey ("Prey" series), so it was published under the name John Sandford. After the "Prey" series proved to be more popular, with its charismatic protagonist Lucas Davenport, The Fool's Run and all of its sequels were published under John Sandford. In 2007, Camp started a third series (also under the name John Sandford), featuring Virgil Flowers, who is a supporting character in some of the "Prey" novels, including Invisible Prey and Storm Prey. A fourth series, featuring Letty Davenport, daughter of Lucas Davenport of the "Prey" series, was launched in 2022. Bibliography Prey series Lucas Davenport is the protagonist of the "Prey" series. In the first three novels, he is a maverick detective with the Minneapolis Police Department. At the end of Eyes of Prey, he's forced to resign to avoid excessive force charges, partly due to his knowledge of the connection of a senior police officer to that case. He returns in Night Prey as a deputy chief (a political appointment), running his own intelligence unit. Beginning with Naked Prey, Davenport is an investigator for the Minnesota Department of Public Safety's Bureau of Criminal Apprehension (BCA), acting occasionally as a special troubleshooter for the governor of Minnesota in politically sensitive cases. He serves in that capacity through Gathering Prey, at the end of which he quits working for the BCA, later becoming a United States Marshal. The novel Mind Prey was sold for a TV movie, and Davenport was portrayed by Eriq LaSalle. Another of the novels, Certain Prey, was adapted into a movie in 2011 by USA Network, starring Mark Harmon as Davenport. Rules of Prey (1989) ISBN 0-399-13465-4 Shadow Prey (1990) ISBN 0-399-13543-X Eyes of Prey (1991) ISBN 0-399-13629-0 Silent Prey (1992) ISBN 0-399-13742-4 Winter Prey (1993) ISBN 0-399-13815-3 Night Prey (1994) ISBN 0-399-13914-1 Mind Prey (1995) ISBN 0-399-14009-3 Sudden Prey (1996) ISBN 0-399-14138-3 Secret Prey (1998) ISBN 0-399-14382-3 Certain Prey (1999) ISBN 0-399-14496-X Easy Prey (2000) ISBN 0-399-14613-X Chosen Prey (2001) ISBN 0-399-14728-4 Mortal Prey (2002) ISBN 0-399-14863-9 Naked Prey (2003) ISBN 0-399-15043-9 Hidden Prey (2004) ISBN 0-399-15180-X Broken Prey (2005) ISBN 0-399-15272-5 Invisible Prey (2007) ISBN 978-0-399-15421-8 Phantom Prey (2008) ISBN 978-0-399-15500-0 Wicked Prey (2009) ISBN 0-399-15567-8 Storm Prey (2010) ISBN 0-399-15649-6 Buried Prey (2011) ISBN 0-399-15738-7 Stolen Prey (2012) ISBN 0-399-15768-9 Silken Prey (2013) ISBN 0-399-15931-2 Field of Prey (2014) ISBN 0-399-16238-0 Gathering Prey (2015) ISBN 0-399-16879-6 Extreme Prey (2016) ISBN 978-0-399-17605-0 Golden Prey (2017) ISBN 0-399-18457-0 Twisted Prey (2018) ISBN 0-73521735-1 Neon Prey (2019) ISBN 978-0525536581 Masked Prey (2020) ISBN 978-0525539520 Ocean Prey (2021) ISBN 978-0593087022 Righteous Prey (2022) ISBN 978-0593422472 Judgment Prey (October 3, 2023) ISBN 978-0593542811 Toxic Prey (April 9, 2024) ISBN 978-0593714492 Kidd series The Fool's Run (1989), by John Camp; reissued 1996 as by Sandford ISBN 0-8050-0990-6 The Empress File (1991), by John Camp; reissued 1995 as by Sandford ISBN 0-8050-1545-0 The Devil's Code (2000) ISBN 0-399-14650-4 The Hanged Man's Song (2003) ISBN 0-399-15139-7 Kidd also has a prominent role in Silken Prey and Extreme Prey. Virgil Flowers series The protagonist of the series, Virgil Flowers, is described as tall, lean, late thirties, three times divorced, with long hair and often wearing t-shirts featuring rock bands. Virgil works at the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension (BCA). Prior to the BCA he was in the Army and the military police, then the police in Saint Paul. Lucas Davenport, main character of the Prey series of books, recruited him into the BCA. Virgil is an avid outdoorsman who loves fishing and is often towing his boat, even when on duty. He is also a writer for outdoor and hunting magazines as well as a photographer. Dark of the Moon (2007) Heat Lightning (2008) Rough Country (2009) Bad Blood (2010) Shock Wave (2011) Mad River (2012) Storm Front (2013) Deadline (2014) Escape Clause (2016) Deep Freeze (2017) Holy Ghost (2018) Bloody Genius (2019) Virgil Flowers also has a prominent role in Ocean Prey, Righteous Prey and Judgment Prey. Singular Menace series (with Michele Cook) Uncaged (2014) ISBN 0-385-75306-3 Outrage (2015) ISBN 0-385-75309-8 Rampage (2016) ISBN 0-385-75313-6 Letty Davenport series Featuring Letty Davenport, daughter of Lucas Davenport of the "Prey" series The Investigator (2022) ISBN 978-0593328682 Dark Angel (2023) ISBN 978-0593422410 Letty Davenport also has a prominent role in Toxic Prey. Other fiction books The Night Crew (1997) ISBN 0-399-14237-1 Dead Watch (2006) ISBN 0-399-15354-3 Saturn Run (with Ctein) science fiction (2015) ISBN 9780399176951; 0-399-17695-0 Short stories "Lucy Had a List." Published in Murder in the Rough: Original Tales of Bad Shots, Terrible Lies, and Other Deadly Handicaps from Today's Great Writers (2006), a short story anthology by notable authors, the fourth title in the sports mystery series edited by Otto Penzler. ISBN 0-89296-017-.... Discover the John Sandford popular books. Find the top 100 most popular John Sandford books.

Best Seller John Sandford Books of 2024

  • In the Electric Mist with Confederate Dead synopsis, comments

    In the Electric Mist with Confederate Dead

    James Lee Burke

    The sixth in the New York Times bestselling Dave Robicheaux series delivers a heartpounding bayou manhuntand features “one of the coolest, earthiest heroes in thrillerdom” (Enterta...

  • Certain Prey synopsis, comments

    Certain Prey

    John Sandford

    “One of [the] best” (Orlando Sentinel) Lucas Davenport Novelsnow with a New Introduction by the Author. Clara Rinker is twentyeight, beautiful, charmingly southernand the best...

  • MatchUp synopsis, comments

    MatchUp

    Lee Child

    This “highly recommended” (Publishers Weekly, starred review) collection edited by New York Times bestselling author Lee Child pairs the beloved characters of twentytwo internation...

  • Heat Lightning synopsis, comments

    Heat Lightning

    John Sandford

    Virgil Flowers hunts a killer responsible for a strange string of murders in this thriller from #1 New York Times bestselling author John Sandford.On a hot, humid summer night in M...

  • The Hunted synopsis, comments

    The Hunted

    Brian Haig

    New York Times bestselling author Brian Haig delivers his a thriller inspired by a true story about one man running between two countries, trying desperately to escape his past. In...

  • Dred Scott, Plaintiff in Error v. John F. A. Sandford synopsis, comments

    Dred Scott, Plaintiff in Error v. John F. A. Sandford

    United States Supreme Court

    In the year 1834, the plaintiff was a negro slave belonging to Dr. Emerson, who was a surgeon in the army of the United States. In that year, 1834, said Dr. Emerson too...

  • Buried Prey synopsis, comments

    Buried Prey

    John Sandford

    For twentyfive years the unsolved kidnapping of two young girls has haunted Minneapolis homicide detective Lucas Davenport. Today, the bodies have been found. Today, he returns to ...

  • Deserves to Be Dead synopsis, comments

    Deserves to Be Dead

    Lisa Jackson & John Sandford

    Virgil’s gaze swept up and down the river as he stood over the body and listened…In this short story from the thrilling anthology MatchUp, bestselling authors Lisa Jackson and John...

  • Rough Country synopsis, comments

    Rough Country

    John Sandford

    The murder of a successful advertising executive leads Detective Virgil Flowers to the unlikely scene of the crime: a peaceful and bucolic wooded resort with as many suspects as it...

  • Righteous Prey synopsis, comments

    Righteous Prey

    John Sandford

    Lucas Davenport and Virgil Flowers are up against a powerful vigilante group with an eye on vengeance in this thrilling novel in the beloved series by the #1 New York Times bestsel...

  • John Sandford Lucas Davenport Novels 6-10 synopsis, comments

    John Sandford Lucas Davenport Novels 6-10

    John Sandford

    Novels six through ten in #1 New York Times bestselling and Pulitzer Prizewinning author John Sandford’s Prey series, featuring Minneapolis homicide investigator Lucas Da...

  • Neon Prey synopsis, comments

    Neon Prey

    John Sandford

    Lucas Davenport tracks a prolific serial killer in this nailbiting #1 New York Timesbestseller from John Sandford.Clayton Deese looks like a smalltime criminal, muscle for hire whe...

  • Life Support synopsis, comments

    Life Support

    Tess Gerritsen

    From New York Times bestselling author Tess Gerritsen, a terrifying novel of deadly proportions as an ER doctor tries to determine the cause and cure of a fatal and mysterious viru...

  • Escape Clause synopsis, comments

    Escape Clause

    John Sandford

    Whenever you hear the sky rumble, that usually means a storm. In Virgil Flowers’ case, make that two. The exceptional new thriller from the writer whose books are “pure reading ple...

  • The Night Crew synopsis, comments

    The Night Crew

    John Sandford

    #1 New York Times bestselling author John Sandford takes all the action and suspense of his acclaimed Prey novels and heads west to the dark gleam of L.A.A mobile unit of vide...

  • Holy Ghost synopsis, comments

    Holy Ghost

    John Sandford

    Virgil Flowers investigates a miracleand a murderin the wickedly entertaining new thriller from the master of "pure reading pleasure" (Booklist)Pinion, Minnesota: a metropolis of a...

  • Rules of Prey synopsis, comments

    Rules of Prey

    John Sandford

    #1 New York Times bestselling author John Sandford's “haunting, unforgettable, iceblooded thriller” that introduced Lucas Davenport...   The killer was mad but brilliant. ...

  • Cold Snap synopsis, comments

    Cold Snap

    Marc Cameron

    “A doublebarreled blast of action, narrative, and impossibletofake authenticity with a great sense of place and a terrific protagonist. I’m looking forward to many more Arliss...

  • Judgment Prey synopsis, comments

    Judgment Prey

    John Sandford

    Lucas Davenport and Virgil Flowers team up to crack an unsolvable case in this thrilling new novel by #1 New York Times bestselling author John Sandford.Alex Sand was spending the ...

  • Masked Prey synopsis, comments

    Masked Prey

    John Sandford

    Lucas Davenport investigates a vitriolic blog that seems to be targeting the children of U.S. politicians in the latest thriller by #1 New York Timesbestselling author John Sandfo...

  • The Armageddon File synopsis, comments

    The Armageddon File

    Stephen Coonts

    "Stephen Coonts delivers another highpowered, politicallycharged thriller that is not to be missed." The Real Book Spy "[A] headlineinspired thriller with a conservative slant."Pub...

  • Bad Blood synopsis, comments

    Bad Blood

    John Sandford

    The fourth thrilling novel in #1 New York Times bestselling author John Sandford's Virgil Flowers series.Two bodies in two days. One is murder. The other is suicide. Virgil Flowers...

  • Storm Front synopsis, comments

    Storm Front

    John Sandford

    #1 New York Times Bestseller An ancient relic is unearthed during an archaeological dig. A Minnesota college professor is keeping a secret that could change the world’s history as ...

  • Extreme Prey synopsis, comments

    Extreme Prey

    John Sandford

    An extraordinary Lucas Davenport thriller from #1 New York Times–bestselling author and Pulitzer Prize winner John Sandford.   After the events in Gathering Prey, Lucas D...

  • Shadow Prey synopsis, comments

    Shadow Prey

    John Sandford

    A series of ritualistic murders committed across the United States draws Lucas Davenport into an unimaginable conspiracy of revenge in this “classic”(Boston Globe) thriller in ...

  • Toxic Prey synopsis, comments

    Toxic Prey

    John Sandford

    Lucas Davenport and his daughter, Letty, team up to track down a dangerous scientist whose latest project could endanger the entire world, in this latest thriller from #1 New York ...

  • Bloody Genius synopsis, comments

    Bloody Genius

    John Sandford

    Virgil Flowers will have to watch his backand his mouthas he investigates a college culture war turned deadly in another one of Sandford's "madly entertaining Virgil Flowers myster...

  • Ocean Prey synopsis, comments

    Ocean Prey

    John Sandford

    Fanfavorite heroes Lucas Davenport and Virgil Flowers join forces on a deadly maritime case in the remarkable new novel from #1 New York Timesbestselling author John Sandford.An of...

  • Dark Angel synopsis, comments

    Dark Angel

    John Sandford

    Letty Davenport, the toughasnails adopted daughter of Lucas Davenport, takes on an undercover assignment that brings her across the country and into the crosshairs of a dangerous g...

  • Twisted Prey synopsis, comments

    Twisted Prey

    John Sandford

    Lucas Davenport confronts an old nemesis, now a powerful U.S. senator, in this thrilling #1 New York Timesbestselling new novel in the Prey series.Lucas Davenport had crossed paths...

  • Easy Prey synopsis, comments

    Easy Prey

    John Sandford

    Lucas Davenport investigates an unsettling series of murders in this classic novel in the #1 New York Times bestselling seriesand this one is John Sandford “at the t...

  • Sudden Prey synopsis, comments

    Sudden Prey

    John Sandford

    “The stakes are high, the characters rich, the action relentless” (Publishers Weekly) in this Lucas Davenport novel from #1 New York Times bestselling author John Sandford.The crim...

  • The Investigator synopsis, comments

    The Investigator

    John Sandford

    Letty Davenport, the brilliant and tenacious adopted daughter of Lucas Davenport, takes the investigative reins in the newest thriller from #1 bestselling author John Sandford. ...

  • Golden Prey synopsis, comments

    Golden Prey

    John Sandford

    THE NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLERLucas Davenport’s first case as a U.S. Marshal sends him into uncharted territory in the thrilling new novel in the #1 New York Timesbestselling series...

  • Report of the Decision of the Supreme Court of the United States, and the Opinions of the Judges Thereof, in the Case of Dred Scott versus John F.A. Sandford synopsis, comments

    Report of the Decision of the Supreme Court of the United States, and the Opinions of the Judges Thereof, in the Case of Dred Scott versus John F.A. Sandford

    Benjamin C. Howard

    It was a landmark decision by the U.S. Supreme Court in which the Court held that African Americans, whether slave or free, could not be American citizens and therefore had no stan...

  • The Mystery of Edwin Drood synopsis, comments

    The Mystery of Edwin Drood

    Charles Dickens & David Paroissien

    'Dickens's finest work in the genre of the detective story was his last' The TimesEdwin Drood is contracted to marry orphan Rosa when he comes of age, but when they find that duty ...

  • John Sandford Lucas Davenport Novels 1-5 synopsis, comments

    John Sandford Lucas Davenport Novels 1-5

    John Sandford

    The first five novels in #1 New York Times bestselling and Pulitzer Prizewinning author John Sandford’s Prey series, featuring Minneapolis homicide investigator ...

  • Deep Freeze synopsis, comments

    Deep Freeze

    John Sandford

    Class reunions: a time for memoriesgood, bad, and, as Virgil Flowers is about to find out, deadlyin this New York Times bestselling thriller from John Sandford. Virgil knows t...

  • Field of Prey synopsis, comments

    Field of Prey

    John Sandford

    #1 New York Times bestselling author John Sandford continues his phenomenal Prey seriesand “for those who think they know everything they need to know about Lucas Davenport, [Field...

  • Rhymes With Prey synopsis, comments

    Rhymes With Prey

    Jeffery Deaver & John Sandford

    In this short story from the thrilling anthology FaceOff, bestselling authors Jeffery Deaver and John Sandfordalong with their popular series characters Lincoln Rhyme and Lucas Dav...

  • Stolen Prey synopsis, comments

    Stolen Prey

    John Sandford

    A senseless slaughter leads Lucas Davenport down a twisted path in this thriller from the #1 New York Times bestselling author. Lucas Davenport has seen many terrible murder ...

  • Night Prey synopsis, comments

    Night Prey

    John Sandford

    A savage psychopath is playing cat and mouse with Lucas Davenport. But both killer and detective find themselves at odds with a female investigator who has intensely personal reaso...