A new Sam Shephard book from Vanda Symon always creates a buzz of excitement for fans of the New Zealand author, and Prey is sixth in the series. Here, Shephard will investigate a cold case – the murder of Reverend Mark Freeman, a highly regarded Anglican priest.
The coastal city of Dunedin, New Zealand is the setting, with St Paul’s Cathedral, where the murdered man worked, the centre of much of the action. Symon’s descriptions of the Gothic-inspired cathedral make it easy to visualise how the structure dominates the area and casts a rather ominous shadow over Dunedin.
A prologue gives us some inside information about the murder. We know that two people were outside the cathedral, arguing on the stairs in the pouring rain. As the fight progressed, it became more physical and ended with one of them falling down the steps. The fight and murder were obviously witnessed by someone, but we don’t know who. More importantly, why did the witness not speak up at the time?
Sam Shephard’s character has shifted subtly since Overkill, the first book in the series. She is still a determined investigator who is not shy about expressing what she thinks, but Sam has experienced some major life changes throughout. The shift began when she moved from a more rural area to Dunedin, where she has formed a steady, loving relationship with another officer, Paul. She has also grieved the loss of an important person in her life. Aside from her boss, Sam has a good relationship with her workmates at the police station. Most recently, she and Paul had a daughter. These things have led to a more focused and slightly less impulsive Sam.
Themes of secrets and motherhood are intertwined in Prey. Other crime fiction books may mention the guilt that many mothers feel about returning to work after maternity leave; few authors provide such an honest and sometimes funny look at the day-to-day challenges of being a new mum. Symon realistically depicts Sam trying to fit her lactation schedule into a busy workday. Sam also faces the embarrassment of leaky breasts while conducting an interview.
Sam is highly motivated to solve the cold case, wanting to demonstrate to her boss, DI Johns, that she can successfully lead an investigation. However, there are challenges ahead. The case is 25 years old and key witnesses may have relocated or died.
Another challenge will be handling her boss. She will need to ensure that a conflict of interest does not arise with DI Johns. There are several red flags. Firstly, he was a member of the original investigating team. Secondly, he is married to the victim’s daughter. These factors as well as DI Johns’ tendency to want to micromanage her do not bode well for Sam. His connection to the victim’s family shows another side of DI Johns.
His primary motivation in reopening the case is the knowledge that Yvonne, his mother-in-law, has advanced cancer. He wants to give her peace of mind in knowing that the guilty party has been arrested before she dies. His intentions are kind, but reopening the case without consulting with the victim’s family first is rather telling of his personality.
Yvonne’s adult children, Felicity and Callum, were teenagers at the time of the murder and it is difficult for them to dredge up memories of such a painful period in their lives. As Sam gets further into her investigation, she uncovers some secrets. There is an underlying theme in the book about the destructive nature of secrets. The more Sam digs into the past, the more evident it becomes that someone wants it to remain hidden. It also gets Sam thinking about her own past.
Sam’s investigation will capture your interest. A person’s character was often defined by their job title 25 years ago and Reverend Freeman was automatically perceived to be a good person. Society is no longer that naive and the book title suggests a possible connection between prey and pray.
This series is not about heart pounding, life or death police car chases, however there are many elements in the plot line that will surprise you. Character is the primary focus. It explores how people react in different situations. Sam’s ability to connect with people, gather information and view the information from different perspectives are what make her such an effective police officer. It is her connection to people that engages your interest.
If you are new to the Sam Shephard series, you can read Crime Fiction Lover reviews of Overkill, The Ringmaster and Bound.
Orenda Books
Print/Kindle
£5.99
CFL Rating: 4 Stars
