Shadow Prey by John Sandford

Boston Globe
Powerfully suspenseful and psychologically convincing.

Associated Press
"When it comes to portraying twisted minds, Sandford has no peers."

Kirkus Reviews
A double-pumped roundhouse of a thriller.

Book Description
A #1 New York Times bestselling author.

The plot races along at a heart-thumping pace as Lucas Davenport, the protagonist, must solve a case involving a complex Indian conspiracy. A slumlord, a welfare supervisor, rising politician, and a federal judge are grisly murdered one by one. 

The killings are linked because each had his throat slashed with an Indian ceremonial knife. Lucas takes the case, and the body count continues to rise. He is partnered with Lily Rothenburg, a married detective from New York. Lucas tries to concentrate on the case at hand, but he cannot control his attraction to Lily. 

As their romance heats up, Lily struggles with the idea of infidelity but eventually succumbs to Davenport. Lucas and Lily strive to solve the case, but at every turn they find themselves one step behind the Indian conspirators. 

Lucas comes within seconds of losing his life, but he manages to escape with the knowledge that the next victim on the killers' list is the director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Lucas' world is thrown upside down as Lily is shot and hospitalized, and he takes justice into his own hands. 

Lucas embarks on a dangerous crusade to protect the director and avenge his fallen lover, but he does not realize that seeking revenge could be even more perilous than it seems as he battles to stay alive and save the ones he loves. Sandford excels in crafting this fine suspense novel that is even more mesmerizing than his debut Rules of Prey. 

Sandford reaches new heights of excellence in his characterization of Lucas Davenport. Davenport oozes masculinity, and he solves cases in his own way, often with a shameless disregard for the law. Sandford's writing shines the brightest as he delves into the psyche of Lucas. 

The reader becomes undeniably aware of Lucas' latent brutality and inner turmoil. Lucas even struggles with the depths of his own cruelty as the reader reflects on his own capacity for evil. Sandford takes the reader on a journey through Lucas' mind as the novel progresses, and Lucas' emotional state becomes progressively more complicated. 

n one near death experience, Lucas nearly becomes irrevocably traumatized and is plagued by reoccurring flashbacks of his ordeal. Sandford peers into the nature of his disturbing memories and emotions, and the reader actually sympathizes with Lucas as he is pushed over the edge. 

The line between right and wrong is often blurred as Lucas seeks revenge, and the reader must ask himself if what Davenport is doing is acceptable. Also, his forbidden romance with a married woman clouds his mind and his sense of morality even further. His battle with his own lust is extremely intriguing as he and Lily fall prey to carnal pleasures. 

The characterization of Lily is solid but comes nowhere near rivaling the complexity of Lucas' character. The reader often sees Lily's frustration as she finds herself on an emotional roller coaster. She is faced with the decision of staying loyal to a husband she does not truly love or giving in to her desire to be with Lucas. 

This moral dilemma, however, is somewhat short lived. One thing that sets this suspense novel apart from most is the characterization of the antagonists. The conspirators have a proud cause, which they are driven to fight for despite the cost. They are not insane killers; they are men with a distinct purpose, which some within the Indian nation might consider honorable. 

The novel's main villain, Shadow Love, is a man who persistently pursues his objectives and lets nothing stand in his way. Sanford excels in portraying Shadow as a believable character through his thoughts and actions. In many ways, Shadow is a parallel to Lucas. Both are ruthless, determined, and intelligent. 

The plot of Shadow Prey is fast and furious. The story line progresses at a relentless pace, and the reader is hardly given time to catch his breath. However, Sandford often focuses too much time on Lucas' desire to be with Lily instead of the case at hand, which may agitate some readers. 

The book's plot picks up speed as the book comes to an end. Shadow's battle of wits and instincts with Lucas in the novel's chilling conclusion provides the book's greatest thrill. Sandford grabs his reader and pulls him into a web of conspiracy, murder, and sex, and he refuses to let go until the final page. 

If you enjoy suspenseful thrillers that are hard to put down, this book comes highly recommended.
Reviewer: mattnic12 from Florida