Eyes of Prey by John Sandford @J_Sandford #RichardFerrone @recordedbooks

the setup…
It begins with the murder of Stephanie Bekker, the wife of a doctor, was killed in their home while husband Michael was out of town. But unknown to the killer (and her husband), she wasn’t alone. Her lover was upstairs and later walked in on the scene while in progress. He runs out and the killer runs away but not before he mutilates her eyes. When the body of Elizabeth Armistead was discovered with her eyes similarly marred, the police realize it’s the same killer but there’s nothing to connect the two women. It’s a case tailor made for the skills of Lieutenant Lucas Davenport who needs something to save him from teetering into the abyss.

the heart of the story…
We know from the onset who the “killers” are and know it’s a team. Lucas is in bad shape after his last two cases, the most recent where he not only fought for his life but that of his child and girlfriend. He’s alone and suffering mentally, this new case a lifeline. The alpha killer is diabolical and clever so the investigation wasn’t easy. But the man who witnessed the first killing decided to hide his identity, working anonymously and dubbed “Loverboy” to assist the police in the background in finding the second man of the murder team.

the narration…
Ferrone is the perfect storyteller for this series. He captures Lucas very well but also the vibe of the entire law enforcement team, boils and all.

the bottom line…
It’s a much different reading experience when you get the points of view and identities of the killers upfront. This time it is the witness who’s the enigma and once revealed, it’s a jaw-dropping moment. Lucas shows his skills here but also his vulnerabilities. I haven’t liked him until this book where I finally started to understand him beyond his skirt chasing. He’s a complicated and insightful man who cares more deeply than I’d given him credit. The case was agonizing and the ending had me stunned. I’m finally getting invested in this series.

Book Info

• Release Date: April 9, 2012 (originally 1990)
• Series: Lucas Davenport #3
• Narrator: Richard Ferrone
• Audio Length: 14 hours, 2 minutes
• Publisher: Recorded Books

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