The Seasonal Reading Challenge discussion

30.10 Amy FL’s task: Return of a Favorite

I’m a mystery reader who loves a good series. This summer I’m looking forward to reading the newest entry in one of my absolute favorites. Let’s pay tribute to that series.

This is a two book task. Choose two different options and read one book for each option.
Required: State the option

I was hooked on The Prey series by John Sandford from the very first book, Rules of Prey. The main character, Lucas Davenport, is a police officer who is tough, brilliant and surrounded by some memorable characters.

Option 1: The Titles
The newest entry is #35 in the main series. There are two spinoff series, but for this task we will focus on the Lucas Davenport books which all have “Prey” in the title. Read a book with one of these words from the series in the title (subtitle excluded). Words must be exact. No variations.
Rules, Shadow, Eyes, Silent, Winter, Night, Mind, Sudden, Secret, Certain, Easy, Chosen, Mortal, Naked, Hidden, Broken, Invisible, Phantom, Wicked, Storm, Buried, Stolen, Silken, Field, Gathering, Extreme, Golden, Twisted, Neon, Masked, Ocean, Righteous, Judgment, Toxic, Lethal

Option 2: The Setting
This series takes place in Minnesota so for this task, read a book set at least 75% in Minnesota.
Required: If the setting is not obvious from the Goodreads Main Page, provide a reference.

Option 3: The Author
John Sandford is a pseudonym for the author who was born John Roswell Camp. Read a book written using a pseudonym. The pseudonym must be a single author, so no writing teams. J. D. Robb (pseudonym for Nora Roberts) works; Nicci French (pseudonym for Nicci Gerrard and Sean French) does not.
Required: If the pseudonym is not listed on on the Goodreads author page, provide a reference.

Option 4: The Characters
Read a book by an author who shares a first or last name with one of the recurring characters in the Prey series. The name must match exactly but can appear in any position.
Lucas Davenport, Jennifer Carey, Weather Karkinnen, Virgil Flowers, Del Capslock, Harrison Sloan, Letty Davenport, Rose Marie Roux (Rose or Marie work), Marcy Sherrill, Elle Kruger
Required: State the character’s name

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I love this series too! I'm up to date but happy to have an excuse to re-read. Just checking to make sure I can read one of the Lucas Davenport books for option 1 and a Virgil Flowers book for Opt 3

can I read a book from the series for options 2 or 3

Just double checking - Mira Grant - which is pseudonym used by Seanan McGuire

Susan A wrote: "I love this series too! I'm up to date but happy to have an excuse to re-read. Just checking to make sure I can read one of the Lucas Davenport books for option 1 and a Virgil Flowers book for Opt 3"

Absolutely! Any of the "Prey" books will work for Option 1 and you can read any John Sandford book for option 3. His author page states that he writes under a pseudonym.

Glad you love the series too :-)

Marie (UK) wrote: "can I read a book from the series for options 2 or 3"

Option 3 for sure. For option 2, just make sure your chosen book cites the location.

Does the book you read need to be written under the pseudonym? I'm thinking about Agatha Christie, who uses Mary Westmacott for books other than her mysteries. Would I need to read one of the romances, or could I read a book written under Christie?

Dee wrote: "Just double checking - Mira Grant - which is pseudonym used by Seanan McGuire"

The author page reads:

Mira also writes as Seanan McGuire.

If you read a Mira Grant book, you may want to provide an outside reference to show that Seanan McGuire is her given name since the author page doesn't make the use of a pseudonym clear.

Kim wrote: "Does the book you read need to be written under the pseudonym? I'm thinking about Agatha Christie, who uses Mary Westmacott for books other than her mysteries. Would I need to read one of the roman..."

The book has to be written under the pseudonym, so Agatha Christie won't work.

Amy wrote: "Dee wrote: "Just double checking - Mira Grant - which is pseudonym used by Seanan McGuire"

The author page reads:

Mira also writes as Seanan McGuire.

If you rea..."

so like: https://seananmcguire.com/bio.php

Seanan is the author of the October Daye urban fantasies, the InCryptid urban fantasies, and several other works both stand-alone and in trilogies or duologies. In case that wasn't enough, she also writes under the pseudonym "Mira Grant." For details on her work as Mira, check out MiraGrant.com.

Dee wrote: "Amy wrote: "Dee wrote: "Just double checking - Mira Grant - which is pseudonym used by Seanan McGuire"

The author page reads:

Mira also writes as Seanan McGuire...."

That's perfect, Dee.

For Opt 4, can the book be written by two authors as long as one of the authors matches?

For option 3, if nobody knows who the author is behind a pseudonym, therefore it can't be confirmed that only one author is behind the pseudonym (though that's generally assumed), would that author work? I plan to use Wikipedia as my source.

Thank you!

KSMary wrote: "For Opt 4, can the book be written by two authors as long as one of the authors matches?"

sorry for the delay in responses. I am going to say the book needs to be written by a single author.

Mai wrote: "For option 3, if nobody knows who the author is behind a pseudonym, therefore it can't be confirmed that only one author is behind the pseudonym (though that's generally assumed), would that author..."

Since we dont know if its two authors or one or a group of authors, I am going to say this will not work.

JennRenee wrote: "KSMary wrote: "For Opt 4, can the book be written by two authors as long as one of the authors matches?"

sorry for the delay in responses. I am going to say the book needs to be written by a sing..."

Thanks for the response. I can easily move the book that I was going to use to another task.

For Option 3, can I use Darkest Hour by Jenny Carroll which is a pseudonym for Meg Cabot?

The books were later released under her own name.

Chandni wrote: "For Option 3, can I use Darkest Hour by Jenny Carroll which is a pseudonym for Meg Cabot?

The books were later released under her own name."

Sorry for the delay, Chandni, but I wanted to check with the mods on this one.

I looked at the book page and only see Meg Cabot on the covers, but I do see Jenny Carroll listed as an author along with Meg Cabot. If you can provide a reference showing that the book was originally written under the pseudonym, it will work.

Amy wrote: "Chandni wrote: "For Option 3, can I use Darkest Hour by Jenny Carroll which is a pseudonym for Meg Cabot?

The books were later released under her own name."

Sorry for..."

Thanks! Sure, I can provide a reference.