Secret Prey

This is the first Sandford novel I've read. I picked it up years ago at a yard sale not realizing that it was not the first in the series. I read it now for a TBR prompt-book that's been on your bookshelf the longest. I didn't notice I missed too much by jumping in at #9. The language was a little outdated but I enjoyed the plot, the action, and by the end I liked Davenport. I liked the twists.

Audrey MacDonald is the power-hungry wife of a loathsome bank executive who wants to become president and CEO of the Polaris Bank. The current president, who is in the midst of negotiating a merger that would drastically alter the future plans of the other bank executives, is shot while on a hunting trip with many of those same executives. Lucas Davenport is asked to assist with the investigation. Certain peculiarities emerge that point to links between the Kresge killing and the ostensibly accidental deaths of several other bank executives that had occurred years earlier. Audrey’s husband, Wilson, who when drunk regularly beat her, was the only one who profited professionally from each of the deaths. He and Audrey are now trying to show more capitalize on Kresge’s death by attempting to manipulate the board into appointing him the new CEO. He is opposed by Jim Bone and Susan O’Dell, who also lust after the top job. Sandford’s descriptions of the back-biting and political machinations are brutal and priceless. An amusing side plot concerns a number of very well-connected old ladies who have been growing opium poppies for fun and now insist on being arrested for their flagrant violation of the law. Audrey soon realizes that, despite her best efforts, the investigation is beginning to focus on Wilson and, weak as he is, he will be unable to withstand the strain and will undoubtedly reveal the sordid truth behind the killings. She resolves to kill him, manipulating him into a situation that justifies her homicide. How she does this is truly cold and calculating. The investigation would have ended, had she left well enough alone, and not made the mistake of trying to distract Lucas – it had worked before – by creating several diversions. Specifically she assaults and firebombs two of his friends. Audrey is a librarian and hasn’t forgotten all those handy research skills to help choose her victims. The irrational and unlikely coincidental nature of these attacks leads Lucas’s team of investigators to discover the intricate pattern behind the murders that ultimately benefit only one person. You’ve really got to watch out for these librarians. . . . show less

Sandford’s early Prey novels seemed to be more mystery based. Even when we knew who the killer was, there remained some element that Lucas Davenport had to figure out, which usually came as a surprise to the reader. Though the author tries to create something different about each book, they’ve evolved into “here’s the villain, here’re the good guys, let’s follow both until they converge.” Secret Prey splits the difference. The killer is concealed for the first half of the book, and then it’s a race to the end.

The chairman of the board of a major bank is murdered while deer hunting, and thanks to a forthcoming merger there are plenty of suspects. Actually, the suspect pool is considerably bigger than usual. But if you show more like Sanford’s work--and I do--you’ll be entertained as Davenport wades through the various possibilities. Maybe not Sandford’s very best but up there. show less

This is a mystery that is complicated by yet another mystery…just going along with Davenport as he figures out that there is more to the original murder is very well written. To see him go from okay this is who the killer is to realizing that there is more is great…love to go along with him as he figures it all and to see him fall in love again.

Sanford tells his readers whom the killer is way ahead of time and we get to see some of her scheming. I think it is an effective way of helping you bond with the protagonist. To see the evil that he cannot and root for him, rather than be just as blind as he is and hope that he solves the crime.

The only thing I didn’t like about this book is the way that every character talked the same. No one had a unique voice with the possible exception of Marcy Sherrill – a cop that Davenport falls into bed with. Everyone swore a lot and used short sentences. It’s probably the way Sanford talks himself.

I don't want to say too much except that I was shocked at the reveal of who did it in this one. Sandford played a very good game with readers. I honestly didn't get it until we finally see who has been pulling strings all along. I was also sad to see how Lucas is dealing with the fallout to his relationship with Weather ending. Him getting involved with one of his subordinates didn't work for me though. She was a bit too crude (like Lucas) so I don't see them lasting too long.

Lucas is half-hearted in this one. He is dealing with the end of his relationship with Weather after his actions in the last book. He is hitting a depressive episode and all of his friends and colleagues are concerned about him. Lucas wants Weather back, but show more doesn't know what he can do. When he's asked to keep an eye on an investigation involving a wealthy banker, Lucas feels like it's not going to be a very interesting case. However, the more he probes, the more he realizes that things are not what they same. When Lucas starts probing more, it appears that someone in this banker's circle may have been ensuring that no matter what, someone always came ahead.

The secondary characters in this one like Sloan, Del, Roux, are good. We even get Ellie in this too, though I wanted more. Lucas is at a crossroads in this one with him selling off his business, he just honestly doesn't know if police work is going to fulfill him or not.

The flow was much tighter in this one than in the last book where it was all over the place.

The ending was a surprise, I was shocked at what all goes down. show less

Who killed the Chairman of the Board turns into who killed his successor and so on. Suspicion passes from big boss to big boss to their wives and ex-wives. The last part of the book delves into the mind of the killer and it is where Sandford rises to the top. It's hard to forget Lucas Davenport's foes. But will Lucas get Winter back?