![]() ![]() Hired to take down the incumbent US senator with a vicious smear, to open the way for an ambitious, take-no-prisoners heiress who sees the Senate as merely a stepping-stone, he decides his payoff should be larger. Lucas Davenport's going to be lucky to get out of this one alive.Ī Minnesota political fixer has hit the jackpot - or so he thinks. Murder, scandal, political espionage and an extremely dangerous woman. This is one adversary he won’t soon forget.**Don't miss John Sandford's brand-new thriller Ocean Prey – out now**Ī Lucas Davenport thriller by internationally bestselling novelist John Sandford Still, Lucas is at his best when facing down a sociopath, regardless of pedigree, origin or financial status. A sly climber on her way to Washington and more power, Grant may not be an exception in that venue, but she certainly does nothing to inspire hope for the future. ![]() Of the primary characters, Taryn Grant is near impossible to like, or even admire. These characters, while well drawn, are particularly hard to like, so when a little double-dipping by a peripheral player occurs, it’s not disappointing. Even Virgil Flowers, one of Davenport’s crack agents, gets called in to assist an investigation that requires unearthing information buried by the government from the war in Iraq.Ĭurrent and contemporary, Sandford taps into the trend for political thrillers, though his solid “plain folk” mysteries are more satisfying for me. Nothing Lucas can overtly use, but it does give him some idea whom they are looking at and what it might take to flush him from the anonymity that is giving protection. When the disappearance of a political operative appears too coincidental to the breaking Smalls scandal, a vital connection is made and a devious plot brought to light near the election date. Calling in his savvy computer expert, ICE (Ingrid Caroline Eccols), and Kidd, an artist (and former computer hacker) with mad skills, Lucas sneaks in the back door to discover secrets he can’t use in court but can use to facilitate a better game plan. Whether the traditional thriller or one laced with poisonous politics, Davenport’s usual methods prove successful, usually because he thinks outside the box, especially when considering human motivations in this “gunfight at the one-percent corral.” Privy to the same ease with which these folks walk through their lives, Lucas is not swayed by the perks of wealth or entitlement that accompany this particular cast of characters. This is where Sandford’s experience in the genre pays off. Less cooperative, Taryn Grant is a narcissist with a touch of the sociopath who has no intention of losing the race or taking advantage of her opponent’s dilemma. While Smalls has his enemies, he is essentially an honest man-for a politician-and stoutly denies any such activity in his affairs. Both politicians are rich, so this is a high-stakes game played on a field reserved for power brokers and money men. Governor Elmer Henderson asks Lucas to quietly investigate, hoping to avoid any drama that might impact his own plans for career advancement.Īs Lucas sets to work using a broad network of contacts, both departmental and governmental, he studies activities in both political camps, frustrated by a lack of information pointing to either someone in Smalls’ campaign or dirty tricks from that of the up-and-coming Grant. As a close race for the US Senate fast approaches, both Republican Porter Smalls and newcomer Taryn Grant, a Democrat, are in a contest too close to call-until the media breaks a story of child pornography found on Smalls’ campaign office computer, a scandal days before the election. ![]() Lucas Davenport hits the ground running in this latest thriller, mixing politics and his duties at Minnesota’s Bureau of Criminal Apprehension. Book review: John Sandford's *Silken Prey*
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |