A bulldozer uncovers the bodies of a pair of girls, victims of a twenty year-old crime that Lucas investigated just as he was coming out of uniform and into plain clothes. Although the prime suspect was found and killed, Lucas always felt uneasy that he'd not followed his hunch that the real killer got away with it, and now he's determined to uncover the real perp.

Not sure if it's because it's been a year since the last Prey book I read but this felt fresh as a daisy. If that one felt a little bit off-form, this is right back on, with a strong story, excellent writing and a fantastic performance by Ferrone.

The structure is slightly different, with about a third of the book taken up with the story of the initial investigation, when Lucas is hungry to be taken seriously, and trying to prove himself in order to gain promotion. The rest of the book takes place in the present day, as they try and track down witnesses and evidence for a crime which seems like ancient history.

It was quite impressive how Sandford manages to make the young Lucas seem different and less mature, but still recognisable. Perhaps not such a nice person, or at least a more self-centered one, than the middle-aged detective we're familiar with.

A fairly significant character dies in this book, and that was a bit of a surprise, but was done very well: the description of how all the aspects of personality and character just disappear in a flash was quite moving.

A really great read; I was very sorry to finish it.

Completed : 27-Mar-2012 (audiobook, read by Richard Ferrone)

Completed : 25-Jun-2016 (audiobook, read by Richard Ferrone)