john sandford books in order

The Complete List of John Sandford Books in Order

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John Sandford is the New York Times Bestselling author behind the smash hit Lucas Davenport and Virgil Flowers series.

Sandford has written fifty-five gripping titles to date, and if history is anything to go by, we can expect plenty more to come.

So far, every one of this distinguished author’s novels has been featured on the New York Times Bestsellers list, and many of them have debuted at number one. So, if you love edge-of-your-seat, high-octane thrillers, you won’t want to miss John Sandford’s work.

Table of Contents

John Sandford Books

In this post, I’ll give you a full rundown of every book by John Sandford, including his popular series, standalone titles, and non-fiction work .

But before we explore his impressive bibliography, let’s learn a little more about his life and career so far.

Who is John Sandford?

John Sandford, whose real name is John Roswell Camp, was born in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, in 1944.

After graduating high school in 1962, he enrolled at the University of Iowa, completing a bachelor’s degree in American Studies and a master’s in Journalism. Between his two degrees, he also had a stint in the US Army, serving in Korea as an Army Missile Commander.

After qualifying as a journalist, he started his career as an army reporter before joining The Miami Herald, where he eventually became an editor.

In 1978, he left the Herald to work as a reporter and columnist at St. Paul Pioneer Press, a job he stayed in for twelve years.

John Camp found great success as a journalist, and in 1986, his outstanding reporting work earned him the coveted Pulitzer Prize. 

But in 1989, he shifted gears from journalism to fiction, and his career as a novelist began.

His first two books, The Fool’s Run and Rules of Prey, sparked two of his most popular series and brought him instant fame in the literary world.

But the quick succession of his novels was a concern for his publisher, who thought he needed a pseudonym. And so, taking inspiration from his great grandfather, civil war veteran Henry Sandford, John Camp’s pen name, John Sandford, was born. 

Since those early days, John Sandford has become a household name, thanks to his three hugely successful crime thriller series and standalone novels.

Each new book he releases slides straight into the upper ranks of the bestseller’s charts, including, of course, his latest 2022 titles, Righteous Prey and The Investigator.

If you’re ready to explore John Sandford’s work, you’re in the right place.

Below, I’ll list all his books in series and publication order, starting with the Prey books.

The Prey/ Lucas Davenport Books

The Prey novels star Sandford’s most iconic protagonist, Lucas Davenport.

Davenport begins the series as a detective with the Minnesota Police Department. Still, when a scandal forces him to resign, he becomes a government deputy chief in charge of his intelligence unit.

Later, he returns as an investigator for the Minnesota Department of Public Safety’s Bureau of Criminal Apprehension (the BCA), where he remains until the conclusion of the 2015 novel Gathering Prey. But ultimately, Davenport quits the BCA and goes it alone as a US marshal.

Whatever role he takes on, Detective Lucas Davenport is an independent maverick who seeks justice in his own unorthodox way.

The Prey/ Lucas Davenport Books in Publication and Reading Order

There are currently thirty-two Prey/Lucas Davenport books. To get the most out of the series, it’s best to read them in the order they were published, listed below.

• Rules of Prey (1989)
• Shadow Prey (1990)
• Eyes of Prey (1991)
• Silent Prey (1992)
• Winter Prey (1993)
• Night Prey (1994)
• Mind Prey (1995)
• Sudden Prey (1996)
• Secret Prey (1998)
• Certain Prey (1999)
• Easy Prey (2000)
• Chosen Prey (2001)
• Mortal Prey (2002)
• Naked Prey (2003)
• Hidden Prey (2004)
• Broken Prey (2005)
• Invisible Prey (2007)
• Phantom Prey (2008)
• Wicked Prey (2009)
• Storm Prey (2010)
• Buried Prey (2011)
• Stolen Prey (2012)
• Silken Prey (2013)
• Field of Prey (2014)
• Gathering Prey (2015)
• Extreme Prey (2016)
• Golden Prey (2017)
• Twisted Prey (2018)
• Neon Prey (2019)
• Masked Prey (2020)
• Ocean Prey (2021) (A Lucas Davenport and Virgil Flowers Novel)
• Righteous Prey (2022) (A Lucas Davenport and Virgil Flowers Novel)

The Kidd Books

This contemporary thriller series stars a computer genius named Kidd, who joins forces with his cat burglar sidekick, LuEllen, to sabotage shadowy government agencies and con their way across the United States.

Working outside the law, they have their own special brand of justice. Kidd’s razor-sharp intelligence and mastery of the long con, combined with LuEllen’s quick wit and street smarts, make these renegades a remarkable pair.

But they aren’t just partners in crime; they’re partners in love, too, and as their series develops, so does their sexual chemistry.

Suppose you’ve already read the Prey series. In that case, you might recognize Kidd from the novels Silken Prey and Extreme Prey, where he takes on a leading role.

The Kidd Books in Publication and Reading Order

To get the most out of the Kidd series, it’s best to read the books in the order they were published, listed below.

• The Fool’s Run (1989) (by John Camp; reissued as John Sandford in 1996)
• The Empress File (1991) (by John Camp; reissued as John Sandford in 1995)
• The Devil’s Code (2000)
• The Hanged Man’s Song (2003)

The Virgil Flowers Books

Fans of the Prey/Lucas Davenport series will already be familiar with Virgil Flowers as Davenport recruits him into the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension. But before he joined the team, he was a US Army and military police officer, and he also had a stint as a cop in Saint Paul.

Virgil Flowers is an avid outdoorsman who is most at home tracking and hunting wild animals, fishing, and practicing his impressive survival skills in the wilderness. And his bushcraft abilities prove to be extremely useful while he’s on the job, too.

Check out our dedicated Virgil Flowers post for more detailed information on this gripping series.

The Virgil Flowers Books in Publication and Reading Order

There are fourteen Virgil Flowers books to explore, with the most recent two crossing over from the Prey/Lucas Davenport series. 

To get the most out of the books, it’s best to read them in the order they were published, listed below.

• 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)

The Singular Menace Books (with Michele Cook)

In 2014, John Sandford joined forces with fellow thriller author Michele Cook to pen the Singular Menace series.

These young adult mystery thrillers begin when sixteen-year-old Shay Remy sets out on a dangerous mission to track down her computer hacker brother, Odin.

But soon, she finds herself in an action-packed pursuit to expose the truth behind sinister experiments conducted by a powerful and secretive corporation.

The Singular Menace Series in Publication and Reading Order

There are four Singular Menace books in total, and to get the most out of the series, it’s best to read them in the order they were published, listed below.

• Uncaged (2014)
• Outrage (2015)
• Rampage (2016)

John Sandford’s Standalone Books

Alongside his four smash hit series, John Sandford has several standalone titles to explore.

The most recent, the 2022 novel The Investigator, features Lucas Davenport’s daughter, Letty Davenport.

• The Night Crew (1997)
• Dead Watch (2006)
• Saturn Run (with Ctein) (2015)
• The Investigator (2022) (featuring Letty Davenport, daughter of Lucas Davenport)

John Sandford’s Short Story

In 2006, John Sandofrod penned the popular short story Lucy Had a List, which tells the chilling tale of a grammar-obsessed golf teacher and her very important list.

The story was originally published in the sports mystery anthology, Murder in the Rough: Original Tales of Bad Shots, Terrible Lies, and Other Deadly Handicaps from Today’s Great Writers (2006.)

• Lucy Had a List (2006)

John Sandford’s Non-fiction Books in Publication Order

During his career as a journalist, Sanford published two fascinating non-fiction books, both under his real name, John Camp.

The first is a detailed examination of the life and art of John Stuart Ingle, which went on to win him the Pulitzer Prize for Journalism.

The second is an unbiased examination of the booming plastic surgery industry, written in collaboration with distinguished surgeon Bruce Cunningham.

The book offers fascinating insights into the increasing popularity of elective cosmetic surgery. It also helps readers to understand the benefits and the risks of numerous popular procedures so that patients can make an informed choice.

• The Eye and the Heart: The Watercolors of John Stuart Ingle (1988) (Published as John Camp)
• Plastic Surgery: The Kindest Cut (1989) (Published as John Camp)

John Sandford is one of the world’s most acclaimed thriller writers. His bestselling novels have captivated readers around the globe for decades, and with two brand new books and plenty more to come, there’s no better time to explore this electrifying author’s work.

Are you a John Sandford fan? If so, I’d love to hear about your favorite reads. Drop me a comment in the box below!

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John Sandford Books in Order | Prey/Lucas Davenport Series

John Sandford Books in Order – If you love to read novels about suspense , thriller , and crime , then we highly recommend reading John Sandford books . John Sandford is one of the best-selling authors in these genres. 

What's in this post?

Meet the Author

John Sandford is the pen name of journalist and famous author John Roswell Camp. Initially, John wrote a couple of novels with his real name. As he used to write in different genres, it began to create confusion with publishing. So, on the request from the publisher, John begins to write with a pseudonym.

John was a journalist turned author who began writing in the 1970s. He got the chance to publish his first novel in 1989. After moving to Minnesota , he joined the local press and started working full-time columnist.

John Sandford won his Pulitzer award in 1986 for his series of novels on Native American culture. After this achievement, John turned into a full-time writer and wrote 30 novels till today. Among all his novels, his Prey Series is the most popular. In today’s article, we will be reviewing and summarizing some of the popular novels. 

John Sandford Books in Order

John Sandford has a rich portfolio of lots of novels. He wrote many books with both of his names. But from all of his books, it’s the Prey series that got his famous and non-stoppable. His niche genre is crime thrillers. But he also wrote some novels in the non- fiction genre . Let’s get a synopsis of the most popular novels in this series.

Publication Order of Prey/Lucas Davenport Books

Publication order of lucas davenport vs. lincoln rhyme short stories/novellas, publication order of letty davenport books, publication order of kidd & luellen books, publication order of virgil flowers books, publication order of singular menace books, publication order of standalone novels, publication order of non-fiction books, publication order of the matchup collection books, publication order of anthologies, prey/ lucas davenport thriller series , rules of prey.

The first novel of the famous Prey Thriller Series, Rules of Prey, set John as one of the best-selling novelists. This novel introduces us to the main protagonist, Lucas Davenport, an extraordinary cop.

Lucas has a way of working alone that he prefers. He takes the luxury car to work, plays, and invents computer games. He is on the chase of one psychopath young attorney who turned serial killer. The killer has unique ways to kill and eliminate his female victims, but Lucas instantly understands the killer’s moves. The book shows the chase between them in an unforgettable, haunting manner.

Neon Prey is the 29th novel from the famous John Sandford books in order , Prey Thriller Series. The book tells us yet another thrilling and nail-biting chase between Lucas Davenport and the ruthless serial killer.

The story starts with the arrest of a small-time criminal that gets paid for breaking bones. For a similar kind of assignment, he got arrested and got bail after seven months.

Lucas swears to reveal this mystery by keeping track of a serial killer that has been hiding and doing his work for long enough. The cops are more interested in his boss, so they began keeping track of his movements. This led them to the dirt trail of his rural cabin and jungle with lots of dead bodies.

Virgil Flowers Mystery Series

Apart from the Prey Thriller Series, John also wrote another thrilling set of novels, Virgil Flowers, where the plot of all 12 novels revolves around some investigations done by the character Virgil Flowers. John Sandford, the writer, had created this character with Lucas Davenport, an interesting character in his famous Prey Thriller Series. 

As mentioned, there are 12 novels in this mystery series. We are going to give you a glimpse of the most popular novels of this series.

Dark of the Moon

It is the first novel from the Virgil Flowers series of John Sandford books in order . The books introduce us to Virgil Flowers, an affable member of the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension. He reports his work to Lucas Davenport, a cop from the famous Prey series.

With three years of experience in the department, Virgil is all set to solve the confusing and thrilling mystery behind the gruesome murders happening in the small town of Bluestem.

Deep Freeze

Deep Freeze is the 10th novel from the Virgil Flowers Series by John Sandford. Virgil Flowers is on yet another mission to solve the murder mysteries that are linked back to the murders that happened 20 years ago.

With a good knowledge of Trippton town of Minnesota, Virgil once again came across the fraud investigation that turned homicidal. He did this investigation a few years back.

With the series of murders beginning to happen, he feared beginning the same murder trials have started again. To unleash the suspense and mystery behind these murders, Virgil has to dig out all the traumas of so many cases.

The 11th novel of the famous Virgil Flowers Mystery series, Holy Ghost, showcases yet another thrilling mystery by the New York Times bestselling author, John Sandford.

The neat, clean and peaceful town of Minnesota, Pinion, experienced a series of events following the new Mayor’s announcement. To bring Pinion on the map and increased tourism, Mayor plans to transform the town into pilgrims by showcasing a floating image of the Virgin Mary. 

But, as the events of this planned situation were about to begin, the dead body was found by Virgil Flowers. The whole situation causes lots of trouble, and Virgil should find a solution soon.

Bloody Genius

This is the 12th novel from the series Virgil Flowers. The plot revolves around the murder investigation led by Virgil Flowers, a generous member of the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension.

Virgil got the call from the city’s governor about the mystery surrounding the murder of a famous and wealthy professor in Twin Cities. On investigation, it turned out that the number of individuals involved in this university debate turned to murders.

Virgil suspects everyone from the two major groups of the university. But these suspects are highly genius to get trapped as they have alibis and maybe be motives that may lead to academic war.

Conclusion – John Sandford

John Sandford books in order have stored some great reads in the crime thriller genre . These novels give you the experience of thrill, and suspense while reading. Though all the novels written by John are excellent, we have summarized some of them for you.

Top Faq About John Sandford

Is john sandford a real person.

No, John Sandford is the pen name of journalist and famous author John Roswell Camp .

How many books are there in the Prey series?

There are a total of 34 books in the Prey series. The recent release is “Toxic Prey” which will be launched on 16th April, 2024.

Which is the official website of John Sandford ?

You can visit https://www.johnsandford.org/

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What do you think about John Sandford and his books & series ? Leave your comment below.

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Mystery Sequels

John Sandford Books In Order – Complete List of Novels

The John Sandford books in order include his most popular bestselling Lucas Davenport (Prey) series, with over 30 crime mystery novels. The series started with Rules of Prey , which was first published in 1989.

While Prey is John Sandford’s main series, he has also written additional books in the Virgil Flowers series, the Kidd series, The Singular Menace books, and his latest series featuring Letty Davenport, the adopted daughter of Davenport. All series are well worth reading.

Latest John Sandford Books

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Lucas Davenport Books In Publication Order

The publication order of Prey books is the same as the chronological reading order.

• Rules of Prey (#1), 1989
• Shadow Prey (#2), 1990
• Eyes of Prey (#3), 1991
• Silent Prey (#4), 1992
• Winter Prey (#5), 1993
• Night Prey (#6), 1994
• Mind Prey (#7), 1995
• Sudden Prey (#8), 1996
• Secret Prey (#9), 1998
• Certain Prey (#10), 1999
• Easy Prey (#11), 2000
• Chosen Prey (#12), 2001
• Mortal Prey (#13), 2002
• Naked Prey (#14), 2003
• Hidden Prey (#15), 2004
• Broken Prey (#16), 2005
• Invisible Prey (#17), 2007
• Phantom Prey (#18), 2008
• Wicked Prey (#19), 2009
• Storm Prey (#20), 2010
• Buried Prey (#21), 2011
• Stolen Prey (#22), 2012
• Silken Prey (#23), 2013
• Field of Prey (#24), 2014
• Gathering Prey (#25), 2015
• Extreme Prey (#26), 2016
• Golden Prey (#27), 2017
• Twisted Prey (#28), 2018
• Neon Prey (#29), 2019
• Masked Prey (#30), 2020
• Ocean Prey (#31), 2021
• Righteous Prey (#32), 2022
• Judgement Prey (#33), 2023
• Toxic Prey (#34), 2024

Lucas Davenport Short Stories

• Rhymes With Prey (Lincoln Rhyme / Lucas Davenport short story with Jeffery Deaver ), 2014

Letty Davenport Series in Publication Order

• The Investigator (#1), 2022
• Dark Angel (#2), 2023

Virgil Flowers Series In Reading Order

• Dark of the Moon (#1), 2007
• Heat Lightning (#2), 2008
• Rough Country (#3), 2009
• Bad Blood (#4), 2010
• Shock Wave (#5), 2011
• Mad River (#6), 2012
• Storm Front (#7), 2013
• Deserves to Be Dead (#7.5), 2018 (with Lisa Jackson )
• Deadline (#8), 2014
• Escape Clause (#9), 2016
• Deep Freeze (#10), 2017
• Holy Ghost (#11), 2018
• Bloody Genius (#12), 2019
• Ocean Prey (#13), 2021
• Righteous Prey (#14), 2022
• Judgement Prey (#15), 2023

The Singular Menace Books in Publication Order

co-authored with Michele Cook

• Uncaged (#1), 2014
• Outrage (#2), 2015
• Rampage (#3), 2016

Series Edited and Anthologies in Publication Order

• FaceOff , 2014 (with David Baldacci , Michael Connelly ,  Lee Child ,  Jeffery Deaver , and more)
• MatchUp , 2017
• Best American Mystery Stories , 2017

Standalone Novels and Short Stories in Publication Order

• The Night Crew , 1997
• Dead Watch , 2006
• Lucy Had a List , 2006 (published as a short story in Murder in the Rough)
• Saturn Run , 2016

Books Written as John Camp

Kidd series in publication order.

• The Fool’s Run (#1), 1989
• The Empress File (#2), 1990
• The Devil’s Code (#3), 2000
• The Hanged Man’s Song (#4), 2003

Non-Fiction Books

• The Eye and the Heart: The Watercolors of John Stuart Ingle , 1988 (a detailed examination of the life and art of John Stuart Ingle)
• Plastic Surgery , 1989 (written with Minnesota plastic surgeon Bruce Cunningham)

John Sandford Biography

New York Times bestselling author John Sandford is the pen name of the Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist John Roswell Camp, aka John Camp. He was born in 1944, in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. He attended the University of Iowa where he received his BA in American History and a master’s degree in journalism.

For several years John Sandford was a journalist, working for The Miami Herald between 1971-1978. After moving to Minneapolis, he started writing as a features reporter for The Saint Paul Pioneer Press for two years, before becoming a full-time daily columnist in 1980.

During his journalism career he was once nominated for the Pulitzer price, and once actually won it for a series he wrote about a farming family in Minnesota, with the title “Life on the Land: an American farm family.\

His debut as a novel writer started with two books he wrote in 1989, the first one titled The Fool’s Run written under his own name, while the second one, Rules Of Prey written under his new pseudonym, John Sandford. Each of these books was the start of a new – and very popular – series.

My favorite series if, of course, his Prey series. It suspenseful, gory, with an edge of your seat type stories, and I’ve been reading the books as fast as they were published, which thankfully came at a rate of a book a year. While the official name of the series is Lucas Davenport, I’ve always called it ‘Prey’, because, well, each book title contains the word’Prey’ in it, and honestly, once you read the John Sandford novels for this series, you realize just how much more fitting Prey is compared to Lucas Davenport.

The entire Prey series by the author John Sandford is fascinating, especially to anyone who loves books with a vicious mad serial killer and their nemesis who loves to hunt them down in often non-orthodox ways. Lucas Davenport is by no means poor. He has made his money from designing war games and he really doesn’t need this job. But he wants it and the freedom of not needing the money means he can catch the bad guys by playing by his own rules.

Do you have to read the John Sandford books in order? My opinion is yes, and here is why. The events in the John Sandford Prey series take place in chronological order, which means if you start the series from a book in the middle, you might not have some of the backgrounds into the main character or some things that happened before.

As for the Virgil Flowers series, the main character here is known to Lucas Davenport, who takes him into the BCA (the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension), which means Lucas Virgil’s direct boss. The location of the place is in Bluestem, a small town which is hardly on the map.

So the two John Sandford series not only should be read in proper chronological order but with the two main characters being connected, it just makes sense to follow them based on how the events happened. Thus, the John Sandford book list includes quite a lot of books to pick up, but they’re all worth it.

24 Comments

Would love another Shay Remby book after The Singular Menace Series.

Are there more Jake Winter books.

In Buried Prey Marcy Sherril is killed as a single woman. A couple of books earlier Marcy is married with a child. What happened?

Does anyone know where both Lucas Davenport and Virgil Flowers titles are merged in reading order?

Clive Owen = Lucas Davenport Josh Holloway = Virgil Flowers

Love all Sandford characters including Kidd…but the early versions when they were single and had a titillated sex life 🙂 Added spice to their characters and to the stories. Getting bored with Davenport’s Finnish midget surgeon wife…and Flowers big busted mini girlfriend expecting twins after 5 kids…really? I am no pervert and as old as Mr. Camp…but we can still remember 🙂 Maybe we can give Davenports oldest college age daughter a book of her own…

I’m sorry but I can’t help it John Sandford is one of my favorite authors and 1 book per year is not good enough 🙂 🙂 🙂 yes he is older now and doesn’t have to work but he chose the life and he has many many many fans who crave a fix of Davenport or Flowers and all of his other anti-hero’s come on John …. you can do it 🙂 🙂 🙂

For pity’s sake, politics has been part of the series since the beginning of the BCA in the 1990s.

I like how he brings lesser known characters back from obscurity. Kidd and LuEllen have been enjoyable in the Prey series. It was nice to see Sloan playing poker with the guys in Neon Prey, after disappearing for most of a decade.

The problem as I see it for Sandford movies is who gets to play the main characters? No-one I presently see on the big screen can fit the bill. Using someone like Woody Harrelson (who’s way too old) would change Virgil forever and destroy his uniqueness. Virgil is not a drug addict or drunk. His character needs to be played by someone who understands what it’s like to actually live in rural MN/Iowa. Davenport? He’s cold, calculating, intelligent, obstinate, horny, fatherly, subtle, mean, lovable, easy to hate yet love. There are no arrogant boys in Hollywood who can play him, period. These are men folks, not left wing nuts who opine on things they think they understand. Virgil and Lucas would never live in Hollywood or even fit in. They’re too real! But maybe, just maybe the Coen Brothers could cast it correctly?

When will the next Virgil Flowers novel be published? I love those books, and I can’t wait to read the next one.

JUST LOVE LUCAS. WISH HE WERE BACK IN THE BCA TOO. WISH HE LOVED HIS WIFE MORE. DON’T WANT TO SEE OLDEST DAUGHTER ANYMORE. DONATING ALL MY USED BOOKS (HAVE ONE OF EACH, SOMETIMES TWO) TO TINY LIBRARY. THOSE CUSTOMERS ARE GONNA THINK SANTA CLAUSE IS REAL. SHE IS. BYE ALL, MARY, FROM IDAHO.

Waiting for Hollywood to make movies from John sanford books. I see woody harrelson playing Virgil flowers. Thanks for your excellence Mr.camp.

My first exposure to John Sanford’s books was “twisted prey”. Someone left this new paperback book I picked up at a generous food pantry in Wareham, Massachusetts I have many more I find at a used thrift shop in new Bedford,mass. Thank you John for keeping me entertained and learning new words too

I just read my first John Sandford book storm pray. Loved it. I know all the places he’s talking about I grew up in West St. Paul Minnesota. Looking forward to reading more of his books.

Yes, the Prey books should be read in sequence, with the Flowers books folded in. The Kidd books should be read somewhere in the middle, but before Golden Prey. All three series mesh.

I have read all of the prey novels and some of Virgil Flowers loved them all. I am also from New Mexico

I love the prey series and Virgil flowers series… I listen on audiobook do to being a Trucker and have listened to every book at least twice… PS bring Lucas back to the BCA

Love all the books of John sandforf

I love all of the prey books especially the Flowers novels. In twisted prey it got political. I have yo ask “why”? Why alienate loyal readers? It made me sad to think John Sandford has gotten so big that he could live without some loyal fans.

the prey books are outstanding, i live in Wisconsin so it makes it even more fun to read since i’ve been to most of the places he talks about.

Absolutely, in sequence ! Love Sanford’s writing !

Love Prey books but not as much since Davenport became a US Marshall.

Would love to see more Jacob Winter books

Would love to see a series of Jacob Winter.

I would like to know why Kidd novels stopped? Very strong character story line. Was it because ending of hang mans song was too painful?

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Series Books In Order

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John Sandford

Books in order.

• Pulitzer Prize
• International Thriller Writers award: Best Hard Cover Novel 2011(for Bad Blood)

John Sandford Book List & Suggested Book Order

John sandford interview.

Lucas Davenport series and Virgil Flowers series creator, John Sandford answers fan questions, including give away details of how he constructs his characters and reveals his dislike for one of the greatest bands of all time – watch to discover which band!

John Sandford Biography

John Sandford was born on the 23 rd of February in 1944, which was a Wednesday. For those readers interested in all things astrological, that makes him a Pisces, which is one of the Water signs.

John was born in Cedar Rapids, which lies on the banks of the River Cedar. It has a population of around 131,000 and is in Iowa, a state almost in the very middle of the United States of America when you look at a map. The son of Anne Agnes and Roswell (from whom he got his middle name), John attended public schools in Cedar Rapids, graduating from Washington High School in 1962. By continuing his education, he received a degree in American history from the University of Iowa, during which time he met his future wife Susan. While studying, John wrote a number of articles for The Daily Iowan , the university newspaper.

John spent a couple of years in the U.S. Army, working as a military journalist for the base newspaper for the 4th U.S. Army Missile Command in Chuncheon, which is a city in the north of South Korea. After that, he spent another couple of years working as a reporter in Cape Girardeau, Missouri, where he wrote for the Southeast Missourian . In 1970, he returned to the University of Iowa and gained a…

To continue reading, get the full 1000-word biography in John Sandford Books In Order .

If you love John Sandford’s books you need the most comprehensive book list available, which includes a check list, alternative titles, page counts, movie adaptations, co-authors, star ratings, and a host of other features, plus:

• Prey series in order (Lucas Davenport series in order)
• Virgil Flowers books in order
• Kidd books in order
• Singular Menace books in order
• a complete list of short stories, standalone novels & nonfiction

Get John Sandford Books In Order .

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Why Read the John Sandford Prey Series in Order?

Author John Sandford hails from Cedar Rapids, Iowa, USA. Despite John having won the highly prestigious Pulitzer Prize for journalism in 1986, it’s as a fiction writer that most people know of him. He’s dabbled with books for a younger audience and a science-fiction audience, but it’s thriller that he’s famous for, with his Prey series, featuring Lucas Davenport, being his number one series. while his Virgil Flowers series come a close second.

This John Sandford book list not only gives all the John Sandford books in chronological order, but will let you see the characters develop and witness events at the correct time, just as John intended.

So, if you've ever wanted the John Sandford book order, or the Lucas Davenport books in order, here you go.

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John Sandford Books in Order (57 Book Series)

John Sandford has written a series of 57 books. Here, you can see them all in order! (plus the year each book was published)

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Last Updated: Monday 1 Jan, 2024

• John Sandford Books in Order

The Eye and the Heart

John Sandford

Plastic Surgery

The kindest cut.

Rules of Prey

Lucas davenport, book 1.

The Fool's Run

Kidd, book 1.

Shadow Prey

Prey, book 2.

The Empress File

Kidd, book 2.

Eyes of Prey

Lucas davenport, book 3.

Silent Prey

Lucas davenport, book 4.

Winter Prey

Lucas davenport, book 5.

Lucas Davenport, Book 6

Lucas Davenport, Book 7

Sudden Prey

Lucas davenport, book 8.

The Night Crew

Secret Prey

Lucas davenport, book 9.

Certain Prey

Lucas davenport, book 10.

The Devil's Code

Kidd, book 3.

Lucas Davenport, Book 11

Chosen Prey

Prey, book 12.

Mortal Prey

Lucas davenport, book 13.

The Hanged Man's Song

Kidd, book 4.

Lucas Davenport, Book 14

Hidden Prey

Prey, book 15.

Broken Prey

Prey, book 16.

Dark of the Moon

Virgil flowers, book 1.

Invisible Prey

Prey, book 17.

Heat Lightning

Virgil flowers, book 2.

Phantom Prey

Prey, book 18.

Rough Country

Virgil flowers, book 3.

Wicked Prey

Lucas davenport, book 19.

Virgil Flowers, Book 4

Lucas Davenport, Book 20

Virgil Flowers, Book 5

Buried Prey

Lucas davenport, book 21.

Virgil Flowers, Book 6

Stolen Prey

Prey, book 22.

Storm Front

Virgil flowers, book 7.

Silken Prey

Lucas davenport, book 23.

The Singular Menace, Book 1

Virgil Flowers, Book 8

Field of Prey

Lucas davenport, book 24.

The Singular Menace, Book 2

Gathering Prey

Lucas davenport, book 25.

The Singular Menace, Book 3

Escape Clause

Virgil flowers, book 9.

Extreme Prey

Lucas davenport, book 26.

Deep Freeze

Virgil flowers, book 10.

Golden Prey

Lucas davenport, book 27.

Virgil Flowers, Book 11

Twisted Prey

Lucas davenport, book 28.

Bloody Genius

Virgil flowers, book 12.

Lucas Davenport, Book 29

Masked Prey

Lucas davenport, book 30.

Virgil Flowers, Book 13

Righteous Prey

Virgil flowers, book 14.

The Investigator

Who is the author of john sandford series.

Navigating the literary seas of the John Sandford series is John Sandford. This author, whether a rising star or a seasoned veteran, has crafted the pages that whisk readers away on this series' journey. Their background, style, and influences often shine through in their writing, making each book a unique experience. Fans of the series might find it intriguing to delve into other works by {author name} to see how their writing has evolved or how different themes are explored across their body of work.

How many John Sandford books are there?

To answer a question as vital as the number of coffee cups consumed while reading, there are exactly 57 books in the John Sandford series. Each book represents a chapter in the broader narrative, introducing new twists, turns, and perhaps the occasional talking dragon (disclaimer: dragons depend on the genre). The series might take you on a rollercoaster of emotions or provide a steady companion on lazy Sunday afternoons. Remember, the journey through a book series is not just about reaching the end but also about the memories created along the way.

In what order should I read these books?

The first page of this saga was turned in 1988, and the ink dried on the latest page in 2022. While each book might be a world in itself, reading them in the order they were published helps maintain the storyline's natural progression. Think of it like baking a cake; you could add the ingredients in any order, but following the recipe usually results in a tastier treat. Of course, for the adventurous souls, mixing up the order might offer a new perspective – just be prepared for unexpected plot revelations!

Where can I find more information about each book?

Each book in the John Sandford series comes with its own little treasure trove of information, nestled snugly above the "View on Amazon" button. Here, you'll discover not just the publication year, which is essential for understanding the context and evolution of the series, but also a succinct summary that teases the story without spoiling any surprises. It's the perfect spot for readers to get a glimpse of what lies within the pages, helping them decide which book to dive into next. Additionally, we occasionally include insights into the writing process, thematic elements, or how each book fits into the larger tapestry of the series.

What To Read Next

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