Ocean Prey

{{Short description|2021 novel by John Sandford}}

{{Use mdy dates|date=March 2025}}

{{Infobox book

| name = Ocean Prey

| author = John Sandford

| language = English

| country = United States

| genre = Fiction, Mystery, Suspense, Thriller, Crime

| set_in = Florida

| publisher = G. P. Putnam's Sons

| isbn = 978-0593087022

| image = File:Ocean Prey.jpeg

| caption = First edition cover

| cover_artist = Katy Riegel

| series = The Prey Series

| release_date = April 13, 2021

| media_type = Print (hardback and large print paperback)/digital (audiobook and Kindle)

| pages = 432

| preceded_by = Neon Prey

| followed_by =

| website = {{URL|johnsandford.org}}

}}

Ocean Prey is a mystery, and suspense novel by John Sandford released in 2021. The book reached number one on the New York Times Best Seller list. The novel is about two detectives who investigate the murder of three members of the Coast Guard. The novel is the 31st in the John Sandford Prey Series.

Plot

Lucas Davenport is the star character from the series of novels that Sandford wrote, called the Prey Series. Sandford also wrote a series of novels using a character named Virgil Flowers. In the novel Ocean Prey both characters Lucas Davenport and Virgil Flowers are brought together to investigate the murder of three members of the Coast Guard in Florida.

The drug smugglers who killed the Coast Guard officials hide their drugs at the bottom of the ocean and set their own boat on fire to hide any evidence. When the FBI does not make the case a priority, Flowers goes undercover to infiltrate a criminal operation. Virgil Flowers teams up with a female partner named Rae. After joining the gang of drug smugglers, Flowers goes diving in {{convert|100|feet}} of water to try to recover the drugs for the criminals.

Major themes

Reception

The book reached number one on the New York Times Best Seller list May 2, 2021.

The novel reached number one an Amazon's Most sold list April 24, 2021.

On May 11, 2021, the book was Apple Store's number 9 novel.

Ray Walsh from the Lansing State Journal called the book, "A wild ride." Tim O'Connell from the Jacksonville Florida Times-Union said the book has witty banter and, "Sandford always produces a good reading adventure... ".

Because of the diving themes Sandford one critic has said the book is too technical, and the story drags in the middle. The author concludes the book with a statement to readers: "If you are a diver, and you do find a serious error... I don't want to hear about it..."

See also

References

{{reflist|refs=

{{cite book |last1=Sandford |first1=John, February 23- |title=Ocean prey |date=2021 |publisher=G.P. Putnam's Sons |location=New York |isbn=978-0593087022 |page=423 |edition=1st |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=3J0jEAAAQBAJ&q=book+review+ocean+prey+too+technical |access-date=30 November 2021}}

{{cite web |title=Ocean prey by John Sandford |url=https://lesasbookcritiques.com/ocean-prey-by-john-sandford/ |website=Lesas book critiques |date=11 April 2021 |access-date=30 November 2021 |archive-date=30 November 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211130010607/https://lesasbookcritiques.com/ocean-prey-by-john-sandford/ |url-status=live }}

{{cite news |last1=O'Connell |first1=Tim |title=Book review: Sandford unites 2 heroes for maritime mystery |url=https://www.jacksonville.com/story/entertainment/books/2021/05/16/book-review-john-sandford-unites-2-heroes-maritime-mystery/5043202001/ |access-date=28 November 2021 |publisher=Jacksonville Florida Times-Union |date=16 May 2021 |archive-date=16 May 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210516101919/https://www.jacksonville.com/story/entertainment/books/2021/05/16/book-review-john-sandford-unites-2-heroes-maritime-mystery/5043202001/ |url-status=live }}

{{cite news |last1=Walsh |first1=Ray |title=Tempers flare, bodies pile up in Sandford's 'Ocean Prey' |url=https://www.lansingstatejournal.com/story/entertainment/books/2021/05/07/tempers-flair-bodies-pile-sandfords-ocean-prey/115834292/ |access-date=28 November 2021 |publisher=Lansing State Journal |date=7 May 2021 |archive-date=26 February 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220226050742/https://www.lansingstatejournal.com/story/entertainment/books/2021/05/07/tempers-flair-bodies-pile-sandfords-ocean-prey/115834292/ |url-status=live }}

{{cite news |title=The top 10 books on the Apple Store |url=https://abcnews.go.com/Entertainment/wireStory/top-10-books-apple-store-77625296 |access-date=29 November 2021 |agency=Associated Press |publisher=ABC News |date=9 May 2021 |archive-date=29 November 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211129004800/https://abcnews.go.com/Entertainment/wireStory/top-10-books-apple-store-77625296 |url-status=live }}

{{cite web |last1=Ingham |first1=Alexandria |title=Most sold Amazon books last week: 9th Outlander book enters on pre-orders |url=https://amazonadviser.com/2021/04/28/sold-amazon-books-april-18-2021/ |website=Amazon Advisor |date=28 April 2021 |publisher=Minute Media |access-date=29 November 2021 |archive-date=29 November 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211129003236/https://amazonadviser.com/2021/04/28/sold-amazon-books-april-18-2021/ |url-status=live }}

{{cite news |last1=Sheridan |first1=Doreen |title=Book Review: Ocean Prey by John Sandford |url=https://www.criminalelement.com/book-review-ocean-prey-john-sandford/ |access-date=28 November 2021 |publisher=Criminal Element |date=13 April 2021 |archive-date=28 November 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211128021239/https://www.criminalelement.com/book-review-ocean-prey-john-sandford/ |url-status=live }}

{{cite news |title=Best Sellers - Books - May 2, 2021 - The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/books/best-sellers/2021/05/02/ |access-date=28 November 2021 |work=New York Times |date=2 May 2021 |archive-date=28 November 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211128015421/https://www.nytimes.com/books/best-sellers/2021/05/02/ |url-status=live }}

{{cite news |last1=Strafford |first1=Jay |title=Book review: Revisit Virgil Flowers in John Sandford's 'Bloody Genius' |url=https://fredericksburg.com/entertainment/arts/books/book-review-revisit-virgil-flowers-in-john-sandfords-bloody-genius/article_b46c433f-b72e-57eb-b5f2-ef85f18c9ef1.html |access-date=29 November 2021 |publisher=The Free Lance Star |date=16 November 2019 |archive-date=29 November 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211129000316/https://fredericksburg.com/entertainment/arts/books/book-review-revisit-virgil-flowers-in-john-sandfords-bloody-genius/article_b46c433f-b72e-57eb-b5f2-ef85f18c9ef1.html |url-status=live }}

{{cite news |last1=Grossman |first1=Mary Ann |title=Readers and Writers: Three new mystery novels to keep you guessing |url=https://www.twincities.com/2021/04/24/readers-and-writers-three-new-mystery-novels-to-keep-you-guessing/ |access-date=30 November 2021 |agency=Twin Cities Pioneer Press |publisher=MediaNews Group, Inc. |date=24 April 2021 |archive-date=30 November 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211130000335/https://www.twincities.com/2021/04/24/readers-and-writers-three-new-mystery-novels-to-keep-you-guessing/ |url-status=live }}

{{cite news |last1=Anderson |first1=Patrick |title=John Sandford: A thriller writer having a little fun with the genre |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/entertainment/books/john-sandford-a-thriller-writer-having-a-little-fun-with-the-genre/2017/10/12/6f8f96a8-a786-11e7-b3aa-c0e2e1d41e38_story.html |access-date=28 November 2021 |newspaper=The Washington Post |date=13 October 2017 |archive-date=30 November 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181130023408/https://www.washingtonpost.com/entertainment/books/john-sandford-a-thriller-writer-having-a-little-fun-with-the-genre/2017/10/12/6f8f96a8-a786-11e7-b3aa-c0e2e1d41e38_story.html |url-status=live }}

{{cite web |title=Ocean Prey |url=https://www.publishersweekly.com/978-0-593-33164-4 |website=Publishers Weekly |publisher=PWxyz LLC. |access-date=28 November 2021 |archive-date=28 November 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211128022207/https://www.publishersweekly.com/978-0-593-33164-4 |url-status=live }}

}}