Reviewed By: Harriet Klausner
Certain Prey
Amazon US PB Amazon Canada PB
John Sandford
Class/Genre: Mystery Thriller Police Procedural
Series: Lucas Davenport # 10
Putnam, May 1999, $24.95, 352 pp.
Deputy chief Lucas Davenport has faced many dangerous adversaries during his time as a law enforcement official. Though many are scum, none are quite like Clara Rinka, professional hit-woman, who has never even been photographed. The only apparent reason the authorities now know she is female is because of her need for a friend, Carmel. Clara would do almost anything for her only friend.
The aggressive Carmel, a Minneapolis attorney, rarely loses a case. Her life seems charmed as she seems to always attain what she wants. Her current target is Hale Aller, a married real estate attorney. Carmel decides to eliminate the opposition by having Clara kill the spouse. Clara succeeds and surprisingly the females bond. Lucas suspects the tow of them even as he wonders if Clara is the mirror image of his own bull dogged determination.
CERTAIN PREY is a radically different type of Lucas Davenport novel than the previous tales. This time John Sandford concentrates on the two females as opposed to the usual look at his antihero. The rapport between the two women and Lucas is the underpinning of the story line and needs to be read to be fully grasped. No longer superman, Lucas remains obstinate and cooler than the earlier incarnations. By changing the lens, Mr. Sandford has written his chilliest thriller to date, one that will entice the audience to read the back issues of Lucas.
Harriet Klausner
Reprinted with permission. Do Not repost without permission from the author, Harriet Klausner
If you enjoy this website, a link would be appreciated. |