Hidden Prey

This is yet another of the Lucas Davenport "Prey" novels. I happened upon this series by accident (basically, I was preparing to eat a Whopper (with (plenty of) cheese, thank you very much) and I needed something to read. The CVS next door had about 6 books in their cheesy paperback book section, and one of the Prey novels was there.

1 minute (and 6 bucks) later, I was reading John Sandford and noshing on about 1800 calories of greasy bliss.

What I learned (before my arteries completely clogged) was that Sandford could write, and Lucas Davenport is a heck of a character. Intelligent and tough, dark and multi-faceted (without being noir-brooding-cliched), I found the book an excellent read. Subsequent novels hooked me -- each novel maintained its own raison d'etre (which, I know, sounds vaguely like fruity french cooking) while building interest in the arc of the character.

In "Hidden Prey", Lucas ends up investigating the death of a russian sailor. Soon, he is embroiled (although he does not know it) in an old russian spy ring. The book shifts back and forth between Davenport and the two main spies (Grandpa, an elderly spy who has waited years to be called upon, and Carl, his grandson and would-be protege (and the murderer in question)). Davenport is assisted by Nadya, a russian cop (who, of course, turns out to be a spy herself).

Lots of opportunities for mystery and betrayal and the deliciously slow unfolding of the enigmas within the mysteries. Unfortunately, "Hidden Prey" had none of that. Davenport, for the most part, simply muddles from place to place, accompanied (and frequently annoyed by) Nadya. Nadya, for her part, seems to offer nothing to the investigation or the book (except the observation the America has "too many signs").

Ultimately, the bad guys are outed (much more by luck (and fortuitously absurd plot twists) than by any real detecting)....but about 5 minutes after finishing this book, I had already forgotten most of it. Sandford is better than this. Much better than this.