GurusReads

Reading Order

Lucas Davenportseries.seoTitleShort

Start with Rules of Prey and continue through all 35 books in the listed reading order.

35 books
Published 1990 to 2026
Status: Possibly ongoing

About This Series

The Lucas Davenport series, crafted by bestselling author John Sandford, is a gripping collection of crime novels that plunge readers into the world of suspense and investigation. Centered around the character Lucas Davenport, a smart and resourceful detective, the series unfolds with twists and turns that keep readers on the edge of their seats. Sandford's masterful storytelling combines elements of mystery, action, and psychological depth, making this series a standout in the genre.

What sets the Lucas Davenport series apart is its intricate plotting and richly developed characters. Sandford explores themes of morality, justice, and the human psyche, often presenting moral dilemmas that challenge Davenport's ethics as a detective. Ideal for fans of crime thrillers and psychological dramas, this series is a must-read for those who appreciate character-driven narratives and complex storylines. Whether you are a long-time lover of the genre or a newcomer looking for an engaging read, Sandford's work promises to deliver an unforgettable experience.

To fully enjoy the series, it’s best to start with "Rules of Prey," the first installment, as it lays the foundation for Davenport’s character and his evolution throughout the series. While the books can be read independently, following the chronological order enhances the reader's understanding of the character development and overarching plots. Prequels or spin-offs do not exist in this series, allowing readers to immerse themselves fully in the journey of Lucas Davenport.

Though no thought leaders have specifically recommended this series on GurusReads, it is clear that avid readers and fans of mystery thrillers will find immense value in Sandford's writing. The engaging narrative style and the psychological complexity of the cases will resonate well with readers who enjoy delving into the minds of both detectives and criminals alike.

Start Here

Rules of Prey

Start with Rules of Prey

Book 1 by John Sandford

Use the reading order above to move through the series in the intended sequence.

Complete List

Lucas Davenport reading order

Ends with Revenge Prey

  1. 1
    Rules of Prey

    Book 1:Rules of Prey

    John Sandford

    Use the reading order above to move through the series in the intended sequence.

  2. 2
    Shadow Prey

    Book 2:Shadow Prey

    John Sandford • 1990

    A string of ritual throat-slashing murders, from a slumlord to a rising politician, leads Lucas Davenport into the world of Native activism and a terrifying enforcer known as Shadow Love, while his affair with visitin...

  3. 3
    Eyes of Prey

    Book 3:Eyes of Prey

    John Sandford

    Use the reading order above to move through the series in the intended sequence.

  4. 4
    Silent Prey

    Book 4:Silent Prey

    John Sandford

    Use the reading order above to move through the series in the intended sequence.

  5. 5
    Winter Prey

    Book 5:Winter Prey

    John Sandford

    Use the reading order above to move through the series in the intended sequence.

  6. 6
    Night Prey

    Book 6:Night Prey

    John Sandford

    Use the reading order above to move through the series in the intended sequence.

  7. 7
    Mind Prey

    Book 7:Mind Prey

    John Sandford • 1995

    A respected psychiatrist and her two young daughters are kidnapped in broad daylight. As the abductor taunts Lucas Davenport with phone calls and puzzles, Lucas races to decode his moves before the captive family’s ni...

  8. 8
    Sudden Prey

    Book 8:Sudden Prey

    John Sandford

    Use the reading order above to move through the series in the intended sequence.

  9. 9
    Secret Prey

    Book 9:Secret Prey

    John Sandford • 1998

    A powerful executive is shot during a hunting trip, and every man in his party has a motive. Lucas Davenport’s search for the shooter uncovers decades of buried crimes, a twisted domestic history, and a killer hiding...

  10. 10
    Certain Prey

    Book 10:Certain Prey

    John Sandford

    Use the reading order above to move through the series in the intended sequence.

  11. 11
    Easy Prey

    Book 11:Easy Prey

    John Sandford • 2000

    A glamorous model is found strangled after a wild party, and one of Lucas Davenport’s own officers becomes a suspect. As more bodies turn up around the Twin Cities celebrity scene, Lucas has to untangle fashion-world...

  12. 12
    Chosen Prey

    Book 12:Chosen Prey

    John Sandford • 2001

    An art professor with a secret stash of voyeuristic drawings starts turning his fantasies into murder. Lucas Davenport takes the case, only to realize the killer is learning fast, refining his methods with each victim...

  13. 13
    Mortal Prey

    Book 13:Mortal Prey

    John Sandford

    Use the reading order above to move through the series in the intended sequence.

  14. 14
    Naked Prey

    Book 14:Naked Prey

    John Sandford

    Use the reading order above to move through the series in the intended sequence.

  15. 15
    Hidden Prey

    Book 15:Hidden Prey

    John Sandford • 2004

    When a Russian visitor is shot with decades-old bullets on the Duluth docks, Lucas Davenport teams up with a mysterious officer sent from Moscow. Their search for answers uncovers a long-buried family spy ring and Col...

  16. 16
    Broken Prey

    Book 16:Broken Prey

    John Sandford • 2005

    A young woman is found tortured and displayed along a Minneapolis riverbank, followed by a similarly posed male victim. Lucas Davenport suspects a recently released inmate, but as the killings escalate, he fears the m...

  17. 17
    Invisible Prey

    Book 17:Invisible Prey

    John Sandford • 2007

    Two elderly women are beaten to death in an upscale Minneapolis home, apparently victims of a botched robbery. Lucas Davenport isn’t convinced. Following faint financial and antique-trade clues, he uncovers careful pr...

  18. 18
    Phantom Prey

    Book 18:Phantom Prey

    John Sandford • 2008

    Asked as a favor to look into the disappearance of a wealthy woman’s Goth daughter, Lucas Davenport stumbles into a subculture of games, drugs, and secrets. When Goths begin turning up dead, he realizes a patient, uns...

  19. 19
    Wicked Prey

    Book 19:Wicked Prey

    John Sandford • 2009

    During a major political convention in St. Paul, Lucas Davenport juggles two threats: a crew planning to rob big-money delegates and a vengeful paraplegic criminal who blames Lucas for ruining his life. With the city...

  20. 20
    Storm Prey

    Book 20:Storm Prey

    John Sandford • 2010

    A crew of thieves botches a robbery at a hospital pharmacy and crosses paths with surgeon Weather Karkinnen—Lucas Davenport’s wife. When the criminals decide the only safe move is to eliminate the witness, Lucas must...

  21. 21
    Buried Prey

    Book 21:Buried Prey

    John Sandford • 2011

    Demolition at a Minneapolis construction site uncovers the long-hidden bodies of two girls abducted in 1985—a case a young Lucas Davenport once worked and never solved. Given a second chance, he reopens the investigat...

  22. 22
    Stolen Prey

    Book 22:Stolen Prey

    John Sandford • 2012

    In a wealthy Minnesota suburb, an entire family—parents, children, even their dogs—is brutally slaughtered, a bloody message left on the wall. Lucas Davenport suspects cartel retribution, drawing DEA agents, Mexican i...

  23. 23
    Silken Prey

    Book 23:Silken Prey

    John Sandford • 2013

    A smear campaign involving child pornography detonates in a heated Senate race, and a political fixer vanishes soon after. Lucas Davenport follows the trail to a relentlessly ambitious candidate and her ruthless inner...

  24. 24
    Field of Prey

    Book 24:Field of Prey

    John Sandford • 2014

    A teenager smells something wrong in a Minnesota cornfield and discovers a cistern packed with bodies—victims killed over many summers and left to rot underground. Lucas Davenport digs into the cold trail of a patient...

  25. 26
    Gathering Prey

    Book 26:Gathering Prey

    John Sandford • 2015

    Lucas Davenport’s adopted daughter Letty calls him after a young traveler friend vanishes while following a dangerous drifter known only as Pilate. The search drags Lucas into a roving community of street kids, cultis...

  26. 27
    Extreme Prey

    Book 27:Extreme Prey

    John Sandford • 2016

    No longer with the BCA, Lucas Davenport joins the staff of Minnesota’s governor during a presidential campaign. On the trail he discovers a pair of extremists convinced the governor must die to save the country, and h...

  27. 28
    Golden Prey

    Book 28:Golden Prey

    John Sandford • 2017

    Now a U.S. marshal who can pick his own cases, Lucas Davenport goes after a legendary stickup man who robbed a cartel counting house and left a child dead. As cartel enforcers close in, Lucas races brutal professional...

  28. 29
    Twisted Prey

    Book 29:Twisted Prey

    John Sandford • 2018

    A suspicious crash in Washington, D.C., points Lucas Davenport back to Taryn Grant, a billionaire psychopath he once failed to nail who is now a U.S. senator. Working as a marshal, he probes a circle of hired killers...

  29. 30
    Neon Prey

    Book 30:Neon Prey

    John Sandford • 2019

    Chasing a low-level enforcer who skipped bail, U.S. marshal Lucas Davenport discovers the man has been burying victims in a Louisiana swamp and may have turned cannibal. The pursuit drags Lucas across the country as t...

  30. 31
    Masked Prey

    Book 31:Masked Prey

    John Sandford • 2020

    When the teenage children of prominent politicians discover their photos on a hate-filled extremist website, Washington turns to Lucas Davenport. With no obvious crime yet committed, Lucas has to trace anonymous agita...

  31. 32
    Ocean Prey

    Book 32:Ocean Prey

    John Sandford • 2021

    After three Coast Guardsmen are murdered investigating a suspicious dive boat off Florida, the stalled case lands on Lucas Davenport’s desk. He teams up with Virgil Flowers, going undercover around a dangerous offshor...

  32. 33
    Righteous Prey

    Book 33:Righteous Prey

    John Sandford • 2022

    A secretive group calling itself The Five announces online that it will murder people who “need to be murdered” and then donates cryptocurrency to charity after each kill. Lucas Davenport and Virgil Flowers team up to...

  33. 34
    Judgment Prey

    Book 34:Judgment Prey

    John Sandford • 2023

    A federal judge and his two young sons are gunned down at home, a crime that shocks St. Paul. With local police and the FBI stymied, Lucas Davenport and Virgil Flowers are brought in to sort through political enemies,...

  34. 35
    Toxic Prey

    Book 35:Toxic Prey

    John Sandford • 2024

    Epidemiologist Lionel Scott believes humanity is killing the planet—and disappears after developing a terrifying new virus. Letty Davenport is tasked with tracking him down and pulls her father, Lucas, into a global m...

  35. 37
    Revenge Prey

    Book 37:Revenge Prey

    John Sandford • 2026

    A high-ranking Russian defector and his family are moved into witness protection near Minneapolis, with Lucas Davenport assigned to help receive them. When a professional hit team tracks the convoy, Lucas must uncover...

Quick Answers

Lucas Davenport FAQ

What is the best order to read the Lucas Davenport series?

The recommended reading order is the numbered order shown on this page, starting with Rules of Prey.

How many books are in the Lucas Davenport series?

There are 35 books currently listed in the Lucas Davenport series on GurusReads.

Where should I start with the Lucas Davenport series?

New readers should start with Rules of Prey, the first book in the reading order.

Is the Lucas Davenport series complete?

Based on the publication years we have, the series appears possibly ongoing and spans releases from 1990 to 2026.