Stolen Prey

April 2, 2012
A horrific crime—the torture murders of Patrick Brooks, his wife, son, daughter, and three dogs at their palatial lakeside home in Wayzata, Minn.—propels bestseller Sandford’s solid 22nd novel featuring Lucas Davenport of the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension (after 2011’s Buried Prey). That DEA officials believe the killings to be the work of Los Criminales del Norte brings Mexican detective David Rivera and assistant Ana Martínez to the Twin Cities area, though Brooks’s Spanish-language company, Sunnie Software, which peddled its product in Mexico, appears to have been an unlikely money laundry. Since the author makes it clear who the bad guys are early on, the slow revelation of what they’ve done and how they’ve done it gives the story its kick. Meanwhile, Lucas, after a couple of meth addicts rob him at an ATM, turns for help to series regular Virgil Flowers, who gets surprising results. Once again, Sandford smoothly blends action and suspense with a soupçon of humor. Author tour. Agent: Esther Newberg, ICM.

Agent Lucas Davenport, of the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Investigation, is called to a small town when an entire family is murdered. He finds the remains of a bank president-software engineer, his wife, two daughters, and their pets--all tortured, then slaughtered. Richard Ferrone's edgy performance whisks listeners into a no-holds-barred investigation in which Davenport breaks all the rules. Ferrone's delivery of Davenport's fast-paced banter with DEA agents, Mexican Federales, and team members Del, Jensen, Shrake, and Flowers adds comic relief to otherwise chilling crime scenes. His adept handling of the multiple story lines makes them believable. Ferrone's skillful narration enhances the action, adventure, and unexpected conclusion. G.D.W. © AudioFile 2012, Portland, Maine