Storm Prey

Starred review from March 15, 2010
At the start of bestseller Sandford's superb 20th Lucas Davenport thriller (after Wicked Prey
), the getaway vehicle from a botched early morning robbery, which results in a pharmacy employee's death, almost collides with the car driven by Lucas's surgeon wife, Weather Karkinnen. Weather, who was on her way to work at the Minnesota Medical Research Center, becomes a key witness. Sandford masterfully handles both sides of the equation as the thieves—planner Lyle Mack, his brother, Joe, and their henchmen—work to cover their crime. The investigation belongs to Minneapolis deputy chief Marcy Sherrill, but Lucas of the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension pulls out all the stops to protect his wife. Sandford creates additional drama throughout as Weather and a skilled team of doctors perform an operation to separate twins joined at the skull. Sharply drawn characters, intricate plotting, and smooth dialogue make this a sure-fire winner. 500,000 first printing; author tour.

The race is on. Two races, actually. Both a matter of life and death. Both involve series hero Lucas Davenport's wife, surgeon Weather Karkinnen. A trio of crooks loots a hospital pharmacy, killing one worker. Rushing from the hospital, the robbers find themselves face to face, for a split second, with Dr. Karkinnen, who is arriving for a critical surgery to separate 18-month-old conjoined twins. The race to apprehend the crooks takes Lucas on a trail of murders, and the doctor, witness to one of the crimes, may be next. Richard Ferrone shines as he portrays a large cast of characters. His voices range from the hacksaw grittiness of law enforcement to the empathetic tones of Weather's updates for the twins' parents. Sandford and Ferrone are at their best again. T.J.M. (c) AudioFile 2010, Portland, Maine