Mind Prey (Hardcover)

With the most original plot of all the "Prey" novels (as well as the most frightening and unpredictable villain), if you are new to the Prey series and you don't care about going in order, read this one before you even think about the others.

The only thing I didn't like about this book was that sometimes Sandford would create completely unnecessary characters and make it seem like their purpose in the story was meaningful, but then you'd find out that it wasn't (like Ice, one of the programmers at Davenport Simulations).

This book, Sandford's seventh "Prey" mystery, deals with a psycho kidnapper and the games he plays (mental and otherwise) with Deputy Chief Lucas Davenport. If it were just the two of them in the battle of wits, the bad guy might have had a chance, but late in the game he recognizes that Davenport has more than just his uncanny intuition going for him: his crew is top-notch and he has some sharp women on his side, like Elle "Sister Mary Joseph" Kruger, Weather Karkinnen, and a newcomer known only as "Ice."

The violence is not for the faint of heart or stomach and the language is frequently harsh (we do learn the difference, however, between profanity, obscenity and vulgarity, so the book is at least educational in that respect). In the context of the story it all makes sense and doesn't sink into exploitation, but if it's not your cup of tea (or martini glass of, well, martini) it will likely detract from the story too much for you to enjoy it.

Sandford's imagery draws you into the story and keeps you there. The only times the book begins to drag are during long paragraphs of scene description (the train yard especially gets bogged down...and just when the race against time is at its peak). Thankfully this is kept to a minimum and - once we know where we are - the pace picks right back up again.

A fast-paced thriller that is sure to please Sandford's fans, and earn him some new ones, even as it raises the question: "Why do the psychos like the Cities so much?"

Step in Lucas Davenport - Part detective, part game designer, part animal. This guy is about the best detective I have seen portrayed. He isn't Sherlock Holmes and He isn't Mike Hammer, but he is definitely a bit of both.

One last thing - if you read one - be prepared to buy the rest!