In 2019, writing about John Sandford’s Neon Prey, I wrote “There aren’t many authors whose latest book I eagerly await, and who maintain a consistently high level in terms of plot, character, and entertainment value. John Sandford has been one of those (along with Michael Connelly, Michael Robotham, Robert Crais, and Elizaeth George (OK, a few clunkers in the Lynley series, but overall still a fave). I was a bit surprised to realize that his latest, Neon Prey, is #29 in the Lucas Davenport series. I’m pretty sure I have read them all, and over the years I’ve come to know and love Lucas and some of his cronies, so I was happy to receive…”  Here’s the thing: I JUST realized that for the past several years, Sandford has released two books a year: A Lucas Davenport/Prey book in the spring, and a Virgil Flowers title in the fall. (Am I the only one who never realized this???). And although I have been less than thrilled with a couple of fairly recent titles, looking back I realize those were Flowers books, and the Lucas Davenport series has been more to my liking.

Now along comes Masked Prey, #30 (!) in the Lucas Davenport series, and thanks to G.P. Putnam’s Sons and NetGalley, I received a copy in exchange for this honest review. In this one, Lucas has been called in to help with a possible threat to the children of wealthy/powerful people in Washington, D.C. Apparently a right-wing extremist group is planning an attack, targeting students as a way to get to their parents. Immediately, there are questions: who created the website that included photos of the students? What exactly is planned? And, since no crime has been committed, what can be done?

Bob and Rae return to help Lucas track down the answers to these questions, and it’s fast-paced and complex, with great characters including some entitled teenagers and a surprise ending that not all Davenport fans will appreciate. I almost loved it! Can’t say why it’s not five stars without spoiling a couple of things, but it’s a solid four stars. Like the others, it is fine to read as a standalone, but I still think it’s better to have read the series, as the recurring characters develop throughout the books.