Lethal Prey Quiz: Test Your Knowledge of John Sandford's Thriller
Lethal Prey Quiz
Welcome to the comprehensive quiz for John Sandford’s Lethal Prey. This 20‑question test covers plot points, character motivations, themes, and synthesis of the novel. Whether you’re a first‑time reader or a seasoned fan, this quiz will challenge your recall and understanding. For more on the book, check out our book summary or questions and answers.
Plot and Sequence Questions (1–8)
1. Where does Amanda Fisk murder Doris Grandfelt?
A. In Shawnee Park
B. In a restroom at Bee Accounting
C. In Timothy Carlson’s car
D. In Amanda’s home
2. Who discovers Doris Grandfelt’s body?
A. A police officer on patrol
B. Brandon and Alice Parkinson
C. A true‑crime blogger
D. Lara Grandfelt
3. What triggers the reopening of the cold case?
A. A new witness comes forward
B. Lara Grandfelt offers a $5 million reward
C. DNA evidence is re‑tested
D. A confession from an old suspect
4. What object does Bud Light find near the park parking lot?
A. A human bone
B. A corroded table knife
C. A diamond ring
D. A cell phone
5. According to the medical examiner, what is the official cause of Bud Light’s death?
A. Homicide by blunt force
B. Accidental anaphylactic shock
C. Suicide by overdose
D. Natural causes (heart attack)
6. How does Amanda Fisk kill her husband Timothy Carlson?
A. She poisons his insulin
B. She pushes him off a balcony
C. She stabs him with a knife
D. She stages a car accident
7. Who does Amanda mistakenly kill in place of Lara Grandfelt?
A. Marcia Wise
B. Stephanie Brady
C. Anne Cash
D. Dahlia Blair
8. What piece of evidence eventually leads to Amanda’s indictment for Doris’s murder?
A. DNA from golf shoes found in Timothy’s locker
B. A video of the murder
C. A confession from Amanda
D. Fingerprints on the knife
Character Motivation Questions (9–13)
9. Why does Amanda Fisk kill Doris Grandfelt?
(Short answer)
10. Why does Lara Grandfelt decide to offer a $5 million reward for information?
(Short answer)
11. Why does Amanda stage Timothy’s death as an accident?
(Short answer)
12. Why does Amanda plan to kill Lara Grandfelt?
(Short answer)
13. Why does Virgil Flowers propose marriage to Frankie Nobles?
(Short answer)
Theme and Symbol Questions (14–17)
14. What does the full moon in the early chapters most likely symbolize?
A. Romance and new beginnings
B. Madness and the unleashing of violence
C. Justice shining down
D. The passage of time
15. What does the corroded knife buried near the park represent?
(Short answer)
16. The true‑crime bloggers in the novel primarily embody which theme?
A. The power of investigative journalism
B. The commercialization of tragedy and risk of mob justice
C. The importance of community collaboration
D. The dangers of social media addiction
17. The $5 million reward most clearly symbolizes:
A. The price of a life
B. Lara’s wealth
C. The commodification of justice and closure
D. Amanda’s greed
Synthesis Questions (18–20)
18. How does Amanda Fisk’s traumatic childhood (described by her father) connect to her adult behavior as a serial killer?
(Short answer)
19. Describe two advantages and two disadvantages of using modern technology and crowdsourcing to solve the cold case. Provide examples from the novel.
(Short answer)
20. Why does John Sandford include real‑life attorney Earl Gray in the story? What does his presence add to the theme of justice?
(Short answer)
Answer Key
1. B. Amanda kills Doris in a restroom at the Bee Accounting building (Chapter 1).
2. B. Brandon and Alice Parkinson discover the body while walking their dog in Shawnee Park (Chapter 2).
3. B. Lara Grandfelt announces a $5 million reward, which goes viral and brings massive attention to the case (Chapter 6).
4. B. True‑crime enthusiast Bud Light finds a corroded table knife buried near the parking lot (Chapter 9).
5. B. The medical examiner rules Bud Light’s death as accidental anaphylactic shock from a peanut allergy, though it is actually murder (Chapter 14).
6. B. Amanda lures Timothy onto a balcony and pushes him off, staging it as an accident (Chapter 10).
7. A. Amanda kills Marcia Wise, Lara’s partner, who was driving Lara’s Jaguar (Chapter 19).
8. A. DNA from the golf shoes recovered from Timothy’s discarded locker matches the semen from Doris’s murder, linking Amanda (Chapters 27–28).
9. Amanda kills Doris out of jealousy because Doris was having an affair with her boyfriend Timothy (Chapter 1, later revealed).
10. Lara, diagnosed with breast cancer, wants closure for her twin sister’s murder and uses her wealth to reignite the cold case (Chapter 6).
11. Amanda fears Timothy will be implicated in Doris’s murder due to the growing investigation, so she kills him to protect their shared wealth and prevent his arrest (Chapter 10).
12. To stop the true‑crime investigation by eliminating the reward (she thinks Lara’s death would end the reward and the hunt) (Chapter 18).
13. After his stable is burned down (by Amanda), Virgil needs a new barn. Marrying Frankie is both a romantic commitment and a practical financial decision to access loans and stabilize their life (Chapter 25).
14. B. The full moon appears during the murder and body discovery, linking it to primal violence and madness.
15. The knife symbolizes the hidden truth that can resurface after decades, and the connection of the crime to the workplace (Bee Accounting) (Chapter 9).
16. B. The bloggers treat the murder as entertainment, invade privacy, and sometimes interfere with the investigation, highlighting the dark side of true‑crime culture.
17. C. The reward turns justice into a commodity, motivating amateurs and professionals alike, and raising ethical questions about turning tragedy into a contest.
18. Amanda’s childhood (abandonment, possible abuse, witnessing death) matches common backgrounds for psychopaths. It explains her lack of empathy and history of killing from a young age (e.g., Becky Watson in 9th grade) (Chapters 27, 28).
19. Advantages: Speed of information dissemination (170,000 downloads), identification of suspects (e.g., Porsche owner Timothy). Disadvantages: Invasion of privacy (suspects’ photos leaked), mob harassment (true‑crimers staking out homes), and potential for false leads (metal‑detector nickel) (Chapters 7–9, 15).
20. Earl Gray’s inclusion grounds the story in reality (Sandford’s note says Gray is real). It adds legal authenticity and explores the theme that even a guilty person can have a zealous defense, raising questions about the limits of legal ethics in pursuit of justice (Author’s Note, Chapter 31).