John Sandford: Silken Prey

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This is a fascinating tale of how easily politics can get dirty and run out of control. Lucas Davenport, an agent of the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension is asked by the State Governor to find out why child pornography was found on the office computer of the leading Senate candidate only days before the election.

Porter Smalls, a Republican running for US Senator is well ahead in the opinion polls when his campaign is sabotaged by child pornography being found on his office computer. Despite their opposite political views, the Governor believes that, despite some personal shortcomings, Smalls is incapable of having such an interest.

What Davenport doesn't know at the beginning is that Bob Tubbs, a political operative who can change sides like a chameleon for the right money, has disappeared. Davenport soon gets down into the mire of a thriller with an explosive combination of murder, money, blackmail and politics.

Davenport gets help from a notorious computer whiz, ICE who puts him in touch with Lucas Kidd who is a strange combination of artist and computer "expert".  Davenport  also becomes quickly aware that the Democratic candidate, the attractive and wealthy Taryn Grant, has an oversized ego and ambition that could catapult her into dirty tricks. I have to admit that I really didn't know the detailed explanation of a narcissist until Grant's character was exposed.

This thriller makes Davenport explore the grey side of politics and the contemporary world of  technology to solve the case and reveals an ugly background to the machinations behind an important election. It is an interesting twist to the Davenport series of thrillers and is well recommended if you want to see things from a different aspect.