Book Club

[Tinkrbl44]

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wrote:

I've read all the Prey and Flowers books, and all four Kidd books as well.  I liked them, and actually Kidd shows up from time to time in the Prey books.  The Kidd books feature the antics of an artist, Kidd and his girlfriend, LuEllen, and the con jobs they pull.  So, they are written from the point of view of a criminal, rather than a lawman.  But, as I recall, none of their crimes are too bad, more like intricate plots like Oceans 11.  I always think it's funny when Lucas encounters Kidd, because Lucas somehow senses that Kidd is not completely honest..... I think the books Sandford writes with his wife, Michelle Cook, are aimed at a teen audience.  BTW, Sandford has a new book, "TWISTED PREY" coming out in April.

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@dawg lover

Funny you should mention that .... I'm about half way through #12 in the series - Chosen Prey - and Kidd just showed up for the first time!   

So, I'm ordering the first Kidd book on Ebay.  I read only paperbacks exclusively (with few exceptions) and find I can get most books slightly used for about $4 each ... less than a movie ticket.    I later donate them to Goodwill or whatever.

[dawg lover]

@Tinkrbl44 - that was good timing (mentioning Kidd and then he shows up in the book!).  I think you'll like the Kidd books too, since you like the others.

[sandy53]

I also really like John Sandford.  You might also enjoy another series set in Minnesota called the Monkeewrench series by PJ Tracy.  The tone is quite similar.  

[dawg lover]

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wrote:

I also really like John Sandford.  You might also enjoy another series set in Minnesota called the Monkeewrench series by PJ Tracy.  The tone is quite similar.  

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I agree with @sandy53, the Monkeewrench books are fantastic -- very well written.  They are written by a mother and daughter team and unfortunately, the mother recently passed away.  I was glad to see that the series will continue through the daughter.  The first book in the series, "MONKEEWRENCH", is amazing.  If ordering used books in the series, be aware that in the UK the titles are different, so you don't buy the same book twice!  This almost happened to me, but I checked at the last minute.

[Tinkrbl44]

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@sandy53wrote:

I also really like John Sandford.  You might also enjoy another series set in Minnesota called the Monkeewrench series by PJ Tracy.  The tone is quite similar.  

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@sandy53

Thanks for the recommendation!   I just checked on FictFact and it has 8 books in that series.   

Minnesota must have a lot going on ... in the criminal aspect.    

[icezeus]

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@sassenach1wrote:

@Tinkrbl44 John Sanford is one of my favorites and he never disappoints.  I’ve read all his Lucas Davenport books and the Virgil Flowers ones.  My problem is that I devour them.  He is an author I wish could write as fast as I can read.  Lol.  I have a few authors like that.  I’ve not read the Kidd series.

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@sassenach1

I have the same problem. I love the Virgil Flower Series and I don't want it to end. I originally thought that there were 17 books in the series but actually he has written only 11. I have deliberately slowed myself down and started to insert other books in between to stretch it out.

I have the first Lucas Davenport Series on hold at the libraryand  I hope that I enjoy them as much as the Virgil Flower themed books.

[apple sauce]

.   I have read all the Prey books, love Lucas. I have thought about starting the Virgil Flowers series and because of this thread got book one.  John Sandford never disappointed me with the Lucas Davenport series. I always wait eagerly for the next Prey book every spring. I think Lucas has gotten older has settled down and married, has a lot of kids. Virgil Flowers reminds me of a young Lucas from the early Prey books. I think I will like this series.  Thanks for this book club thread.  I get the best recommendations for great reads here.   Sonia

[Tinkrbl44]

@icezeus   @apple sauce

I have now read 9 of the 10 Virgil Flowers series, and really liked them.   I'm now on #20 of the 28 novel Lucas Davenport series.   (#28 is listed, but has not been released yet)

I've purchased the 4 novel Kidd series, and will read them soon.    Like you, they are hard to stop once you start.

I also concur that it's best to read them in order, if you can.

IMPORTANT ----- Scheduled 2018 releases

According to John's website, the  publisher is  releasing TWISTED PREY on April 24, 2018, or thereabouts.

Also .....  the next Virgil Flower book, tentatively named HOLY GHOST, is scheduled for release in October 2018.

The link below gives you a list of all his novels, in case you want to read any of the others .... The Prey and Flowers books seem to be the most popular, but there's also the 4 book Kidd series, the  3 book Singular Menace series, and 3 stand alone non-series books.

If anyone has read those mentioned in the paragraph above ....  could you please give us your thoughts on them?   TIA

http://johnsandford.org/faq.html

[kitty45]

@Tinkrbl44  I'm going to have to move him up my TBR.

[smoky22]

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@dawg loverwrote:

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wrote:

I also really like John Sandford.  You might also enjoy another series set in Minnesota called the Monkeewrench series by PJ Tracy.  The tone is quite similar.  

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I agree with @sandy53, the Monkeewrench books are fantastic -- very well written.  They are written by a mother and daughter team and unfortunately, the mother recently passed away.  I was glad to see that the series will continue through the daughter.  The first book in the series, "MONKEEWRENCH", is amazing.  If ordering used books in the series, be aware that in the UK the titles are different, so you don't buy the same book twice!  This almost happened to me, but I checked at the last minute.

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Mr Smoky has read almost every John Sandford and really likes them.  I'm interested in the Monkeewrench series you both mentioned.  I just put the first one on hold.  Thanks for the recommendation.