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You know how it is when you really resent work and real life getting in the way of your reading? Well, that's how I felt with John Sandford's BROKEN PREY. Yes, yes, I know I've claimed before that I'm burned out on serial killer books, but believe me when I say this one is worth eating my hat for. I've read one previous book in the Lucas Davenport series, and a couple of the Kidd ones and enjoyed them well enough, but there's always been books ahead of them in Mount TBR. That's changed after BROKEN PREY -- and my neighbour sent reinforcements round after 100 or so books went crashing down on my landing as I tried to get to several Sandford books at the bottom! The style took some getting used to. It's beyond laconic and occasionally reads like a rough draft with throwaway or inconsequential lines or 'this happened later' sort of comments. But it's how people speak and interact, and the bone-dry humour is a gem. Without giving too much away the plot has a heck of a twist that feels like a sledgehammer across the head! Charlie Pope is a lowlife scum of a sex offender who's living in a grotty trailer and working as a garbage collector. But it looks like he's responsible for two violent and sadistic murders -- the DNA certainly says so. But Davenport has his doubts. Pope certainly isn't the sharpest knife in the drawer, and Davenport starts to wonder about the Big Three -- three deranged serial killers who were locked up in the same high-security unit as Pope. One of the things I liked about BROKEN PREY were the cameo characters. Davenport and detective colleague Sloan are a great double act, but the book is peopled by sharp little appearances from various rural sheriffs, other police support staff and the deeply weird people at the secure hospital. There's a fantastic running gag about Davenport's top 100 rock songs of all time. Nirvana, yes, definitely. Led Zeppelin? Oh, all right, if you must. But weirdy beardies ZZ Top? Oh purleese . . .!
Reviewed by Sharon Wheeler, May 2005
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Contact: Yvonne Klein (ymk@reviewingtheevidence.com)
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