In the past nine years, John Sandford has written eight thrillers in his "Prey'' series, featuring Minneapolis police detective and computer-game designer Lucas Davenport. Fortunately, having read the previous books is not a prerequisite to full enjoyment of the ninth, "Secret Prey,'' a competent thriller that doesn't insult the intelligence of grownup readers.
Sandford reads a lot of non-fiction. He is a Civil War buff and therefore has a large Civil War library. He also reads a lot of archeological stuff. In fiction, he reads mostly his competitors. He likes Carl Hiaasen, Robert Crais, Randy Wayne White, Patricia Cornwell, and a lot of people.... Grisham, Clancy, King, and he reads them.
Sandford could have been a lawyer. He entered the Army and then suddenly, he was sent me journalism school. After leaving the Army, there were jobs open as newspaper reporters so that was how he became a writer today.