Prey Books in Order (The Ultimate Guide)

Last Updated: June 18, 2025

This reading order guide provides the complete list of Prey books in order and is always updated, so you won’t miss anything. Whether you’re a first-time reader or a returning fan, this guide will help you follow the series in the correct order.

About the Prey Series

The Prey series by John Sandford, featuring the unforgettable Lucas Davenport, is a long-running collection of crime thrillers that has captured the imaginations of readers for decades. With sharp twists, chilling cases, and a lead character unlike any other, these books have become must-reads for fans of gritty detective fiction. The author, John Sandford (a pen name for John Roswell Camp), combines real-world police work with psychological depth and high-stakes drama, all centered around one unforgettable man—Lucas Davenport.

What makes this series so compelling is not just the crimes or the suspense, but Lucas himself. Davenport is not your average detective. He’s smart, sometimes brutally honest, and always thinking a step ahead. When we first meet him, he’s working for Minnesota’s Office of Special Intelligence, a division created just for cases that need a special kind of mind—someone willing to bend the rules to get the job done. And that’s exactly who Lucas is.

He’s got a tough exterior, often dressed in expensive, unique clothes that stand out in a room full of uniforms. But behind the sharp suits and the quiet confidence is a mind that works like no other. He can crawl into a killer’s thoughts and imagine the scene from their eyes. He takes risks, follows gut feelings, and occasionally breaks the law if it means catching a murderer. That moral grey area is where he operates best. He doesn’t always play by the book—but he gets results.

Throughout the early books, we watch Lucas face not just cold-blooded killers, but also his own mistakes. In the third book, Eyes of Prey, his actions catch up to him, and he’s forced to resign due to excessive force. But that’s not the end of his story. In Silent Prey, he’s pulled into a terrifying case in New York City, hunting a sadistic killer who got away. It’s here that he meets Lily Rothenberg, a strong NYPD lieutenant who becomes both a partner and a romantic interest. Their chemistry adds a layer of emotional tension that balances the darkness of the crimes they’re chasing.

As the series moves forward, so does Lucas’s career. He takes on new roles, from consulting detective to deputy chief and eventually becomes a high-ranking officer in the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension. No matter what badge he wears, though, he remains the same driven investigator—relentless, clever, and a little dangerous.

One of the most fascinating parts of Lucas’s character is his past. Long before he ever joined the police, he was a successful video game designer. He built and sold his own software company, creating realistic training simulations for law enforcement. That business success made him independently wealthy, which gives him a certain freedom—he doesn’t work for the money. He does it because he’s hooked on solving puzzles, especially the darkest ones. His wealth also feeds his love for firearms, and over the series, he builds an impressive collection that any gun enthusiast would recognize instantly.

But Davenport isn’t just about action and adrenaline. He’s a man of contradictions—cold and calculating at work, yet deeply affected by the people in his life. His personal relationships are complicated. He had several affairs in his early years, including with a reporter named Jennifer Carey, with whom he had a daughter, Sarah. Eventually, though, Lucas finds stability with Weather Karkinnen, a talented surgeon. Together, they raise a family, including their adopted daughter, Letty, whose tragic backstory adds another emotional layer to the series. Watching Lucas grow from a lone wolf to a father and husband is just as interesting as the cases he solves.

The Prey series doesn’t shy away from intense, graphic crimes—but it’s never gore for the sake of shock. Every murder, every chase, and every criminal has depth. The killers Lucas hunts are terrifying not just because of what they do, but because they feel real. They’re well-written, psychologically layered characters who challenge Davenport in unexpected ways.

John Sandford also introduces recurring characters who grow with the series. One of the most beloved is Virgil Flowers, who eventually becomes the star of his own spin-off series. Virgil brings a lighter, often more humorous tone, but he’s just as sharp as Davenport. Their interactions are a treat for fans who follow both series, and the crossovers keep things fresh and exciting.

Over the years, the Prey novels have also made their way to the screen. While not every adaptation was a hit, the 2011 film Certain Prey, starring Mark Harmon as Lucas, was a notable success. It showed just how powerful and cinematic the stories could be when done right. However, for many fans, nothing beats the books. There’s a depth in Sandford’s writing—the inner monologues, the detailed investigations, the quiet intensity of Lucas—that doesn’t always translate to screen.

What’s most remarkable is how the series has managed to stay strong for so long. With over thirty books and counting, it never feels tired. That’s partly because Sandford allows Lucas to evolve. He’s not stuck in time—he ages, changes jobs, grows emotionally. He still solves high-stakes crimes, but he does so with a maturity that keeps the stories grounded. He’s no longer just a rogue detective; he’s a leader, a father, and a man who has learned from the past.

If you love crime fiction with deeply developed characters, unexpected plot twists, and a little bit of danger, the Prey series is a perfect pick. Whether you’re just starting with Rules of Prey or catching up on the latest release, one thing is certain—once you enter Lucas Davenport’s world, you won’t want to leave.