Mortal Prey

He's still a renegade copper though. Clara Rinker, hit woman and previous foe with whom he once danced, is on the prowl. She had disappeared and settled into a new life. Then a hit man kills her partner and the child she is carrying. Now, she's out for revenge, pure and simple. The FBI calls in Davenport for assistance and he leaves behind his pregnant fiance, and the wedding arrangements, and the house re-build (for which she and the builders are grateful), and he Porsche's it into town, to link up with some retired coppers. Between them, and unofficially, they make more headway in 48 hours than the FBI!

Rinker our foe, is well drawn as a character. She has an awful and limiting background and upbringing, family members who have suffered too, and a friend whose ultimate outcome is firmly lost - we are left in the dark. But, all in all, killer she may be - you still have sympathy. And that is the work of a good writer.

Sandford's pace of the chase is really good until about two thirds of the way through the book. Then I could have left it, had I not read the book in just three sittings and pushed on for the denouement.

Sandford reminds us of Davenport's idiosyncrasies but doesn't display/show them in his behaviour and actions so much these days. That's where the book loses the colour and gloss and pace of his previous outings with Davenport. It's a good read, but it could have been much more. Getting older and settling down doesn't mean getting less and becoming bland. Mr Sandford, please give us more of the colour that used to grace the life of the scarred and courageous Davenport next time around. And more of the life of his old colleagues that have supported him so well up until now - they merely had a feature mention in this story.