Invisible Prey (Lucas Davenport Series #17) Book

There are few tasks as straightforwardly simple as naming a literary series, particularly a mystery series. Easiest and most obvious is to name it after the protagonist. If the series is ensemble in nature, then it's named for the organization for which they work. If the prominent characters interact frequently but do not necessarily work together, then the most common fallback is the area or region in which they operate. But there is one obvious exception to the obvious, and it's usually staring you in the face: the titles. The late Sue Grafton wrote what was labeled "the alphabet series" because the first word of each title was each successive letter of the alphabet. Similarly, John Sandford's novels about Lucas Davenport are known as the Prey series because that one word appears in the title of every book. It was an easy concept to make work in the beginning.

Shadow Prey had a villain named Shadow Love. Eyes of Prey featured a villain obsessed with eyes. Winter Prey took place during the harshest winter in memory. But the longer the series continues, the more difficult it becomes to designate titles that fit the novel--particularly as the author's only focus is on the story and the characters, and the publisher names the books. Over time the titles and the work have had an increasingly more tenuous relationship, and in some cases the titles are so arbitrarily selected that there may not be a connection to be found. Invisible Prey is the first truly appropriate title in quite some time.

Lucas Davenport, as the head of the state agency that handles high-profile cases in Minnesota, is called to a mansion where an extremely rich old woman and her maid were killed in a home invasion. He is also concurrently working another case that is more political in nature. In your traditional novel, further investigation would reveal a connection between the two cases. They do end up intersecting--though not in the past--in a way that Lucas should see. The real motive for the break-in is also quickly surmised but Lucas only sees a part of that too. The villains are standing right in front of him and they are also invisible. And the ensuing moves and countermoves are in plain sight of those that should see them, and they too go unnoticed. Of course none of the above comes to pass because of character incompetence or author's convenience; Sandford is far too skilled a practitioner. Invisibility--credible invisibility--is a theme that runs throughout the book.

For longtime fans, Invisible Prey is also a gathering of sorts. When Lucas needs information on art he visits Kidd, who was featured in a Sandford series of his own. LuEllen, under her real name, is there with Kidd, their newborn son in hand. To counterpoint the reader's reunion with old friends, this marks the debut of Virgil Flowers, who will soon be launching off into a series of his own with Sandford's next effort. And even before he steps on stage, multiple times he is referred to as "that F'n Flowers." While admitting that he displayed quite a few unique traits, I was surprised he did not make more of an impression. The buildup, I suppose. I guess I'll discover the full experience with Sandford's next book.

As for this book . . .

Well, I understand some once considered it bad form to quote yourself. I don't know if the computer age has altered that standard but I figure if I'm going to repeat myself (or re-repeat myself, as you will soon see), I might as well get it right. From my reviews of Hidden Prey and Broken Prey, respectively, where in the former I discussed the consistent quality and with the latter my inability to find new things to say:
I feel safe in stating that Sandford's just not going to write a bad novel. As soon as I open the cover, it's a 4-Star book . . . When Sandford delivers the obvious with little tension or a lack of suspense, or he fails to meet the implied promises of the story, that's when the rating falls to 3 Stars. When it finishes with a sense of excitement or satisfaction, an exclamation point befitting the moves and countermoves that led up to it, 5 Stars are automatic. 4 Stars seem to be the norm.And:I'm forced to repeat myself: Sandford is a master of the craft. Davenport is fascinating, multi-faceted character. The supporting cast are like old friends. The novel keeps you riveted until the end.In other words, just another gripping 4-Star page-turner from John Sandford.