INVISIBLE PREY
John Sandford
Putnam
Thriller
ISBN-10: 0399154213
ISBN-13: 9780399154218

John Sandford always can be relied upon to satisfy readers with savvy, tension-filled, spectacularly choreographed and interesting novels. His Lucas Davenport procedurals have become a familiar and staple-reading feast for those who hunger for superior plots, well-limned characters, believable prose and striking atmosphere. In his latest work, INVISIBLE PREY, Sandford has crafted a complicated and creepy story that takes off on page one.

Davenport technically works for the Bureau of Criminal Apprehension (BCA). But Rose Marie Roux, director of the Department of Public Safety, is Lucas's "real boss," and they have been a team for many years. Their mutual respect and ability to trust each other make them tough adversaries whose solve rate is extraordinary.

The first two murder victims are a rich elderly woman and her companion. They lived together for years and had been like family. Both are brutally "hammered" to death, and the killers trashed the house. Obviously things are missing, but what the killers chose is confusing. Why did they steal this and not that? Why destroy a piece and leave a similar item in place? Why didn't they take ATM or credit cards? Why did they kill the victims right away instead of forcing them to give up the PIN numbers of any cards they owned? Why did the invaders take junk along with some extremely valuable items? And who knew what was in the house and how to break in?

The cook and the maintenance man found the women in the morning. The alarm went out immediately, and the "game was afoot." While the detectives and forensic people are focused on the first crime, another is pulled off, also with no clues or forensic evidence. Once word got around about the Boucher/Peebles murder, an elderly woman named Marilyn Coombs invites two people to her home to get their take on an old newspaper clipping that says: "A noted Chippewa Falls art collector and heir to the Thune brewing fortune [and a talented quieter] was found shot to death in her home…" No one was ever caught, and the case has remained unsolved.

Despite her age, Coombs is very insightful and sees similarities between that long-ago murder and the current one. Unfortunately, her "guests" realize how dangerous she could be to their scheme, and as "Coombs shuffled out to the front door as [her visitors left] leading the way," one of them called her name and "when she turned [she was] hit with the finial ball [pulled] out of the banister post," killing her instantly.

As the body count rises, an awareness that the relatives of the dead are also in danger makes Davenport angry and frustrated. He tries not only to solve the known crimes but also to protect the others. However, he can't be everywhere at once and is haunted when he is unable to prevent other murders. As clues and evidence begin to emerge, some things stand out. The authorities discover that quilting and an "antique" quilt of curses allegedly done by a battered woman is at the heart of some of the crimes. A music box and a sewing basket are added to the gathering items, and an oil painting with the word "Reckless" on the back is also stolen and seemingly very relevant to the current cases.

As the police give the investigation their all, readers also are in the heads of the killers. Along with describing the crimes, Sandford makes readers privy to the discussions between the deadly duo themselves, revealing how they think and rationalize their despicable acts. This device adds an extra dimension to the already relentless pace.

While all of this is going on, an explosive subplot wends its way through the entire tale. A 16-year-old girl accuses the president of the State Senate of having a sexual relationship with her. If true and he is arrested, then he will be branded as a pedophile, thus ruining both his political and personal lives. DNA and a description of the man's anatomy are the best clues to the veracity of the charge; evidently, he has an unusual skin anomaly. The discussions between the detectives about this small irregularity brings the tension down with a bit of dark humor.

John Sandford has been compared to Dashiell Hammett, Ed McBain and Elmore Leonard because he imbues his work with a realistic atmosphere. In his Prey series he has created a cast of fully-rounded characters, snappy dialogue and tightly-paced plots. Fans and new readers will not be disappointed with INVISIBLE PREY.

   --- Reviewed by Barbara Lipkien Gershenbaum

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