"Broken Prey"

John Sandford has written another great Lucas Davenport novel, "Broken Prey."  I keep thinking he can't outdo himself but he continues to surprise me -- twists and turns just like his novels.

Lucas is on his own at home while Weather has taken the rest of the family with her to London where she received a prestigious fellowship in maxillo-facial surgery for three months. He'd put on a little weight so, while she's gone, Weather put Lucas on the South Beach Diet and he's a little grouchy.

He has a distraction, though.  Weather gave him an Apple iPod for his birthday and a gift certificate for 100 songs.  He decided to take that as a challenge to limit himself to 100 songs and is compiling a lit of the "Best Songs of the Rock Era" with lots of input from his friends and co-workers.

Sloan, who is taking the lead on one of the investigations, says he's had enough of catching murderers and is ready to retire.  Lucas doesn't believe it but Sloan's wife and Weather convince him otherwise -- time to let Sloan choose another path when this case is finished.

A series of gruesome murders have Davenport, Sloan, and the other police involved stumped trying to find their serial killer.  With the help of Sister Mary Joseph (or Elle to Lucas), they come up with a profile and some ideas about where to start looking.  Of course, where would a good story be without some challenges.  Just when they think they have a suspect identified, there's a new twist.  Will they ever discover the real killer and stop him (or her)?

As a pleasant distraction throughout the book, Davenport is coming up with his list of "Best Songs of the Rock Era" and we readers get a copy of the list at the end of the book.  Were there any missed that you thought should be on it?  In the meantime, I can't wait to start my next Davenport novel!  pazt