It is a close political race between incumbent Sen. Porter
Smalls and newcomer Taryn Grant, a filthy rich heiress
ruthlessly in pursuit of the position. It is a very close
race in the final days to election with Smalls having a
slight lead. When a young volunteer for Smalls
inadvertently finds child porn on the campaign
headquarters' computer, Small accuses Grant of planting it
to discredit him.
Believing that Smalls if being framed, the governor calls
on Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension agent Lucas
Davenport to secretly and swiftly investigate the
situation. What Lucas uncovers involves shady dealings in
the Minneapolis Police Dept., a missing politico assumed
dead with ties to the porn, some pretty shady characters as
main players in Grant's campaign, and computer hackers with
skills beyond imagination.
Each layer peeled away reveals something worse than Lucas
ever anticipated. Politics are not only dangerous but
lethal in SILKEN PREY, the 23rd installment of John
Sandford's exemplary Prey series. As usual, the pace is
breakneck as the exciting plot twists unravel and the
culprit is revealed. That does not always mean justice is
served, but the results are still electrifying.
Murder, scandal, political espionage, and an extremely
dangerous woman. Lucas Davenport’s going to be lucky to get
out of this one alive.
At 1:15 a.m., a Minnesota political fixer answers his
doorbell. The next thing he knows, he’s waking up on the
floor of a moving car, lying on a plastic sheet, his body
wet with blood. When the car stops, a voice says, “Hey, I
think he’s breathing,” and another voice says, “Yeah? Give
me the bat.” And that’s the last thing he ever knows.
Lucas Davenport is investigating another case when the
trail leads to the man’s disappearance, then - very
troublingly - to the Minneapolis police department itself,
and then - most troublingly of all - to a woman who could
give Machiavelli lessons. She has very definite ideas about
the way the world should work, and the money, ruthlessness,
and sheer will to make it happen. No matter who gets in the
way.