Prayers For Rain has so many twists and turns, you'll think you're on a roller coaster. Patrick Kenzie, Angela, and Bubba are all back in this book, the fifth in Dennis Lehane's "Kenzie" series. For those familiar with the series, you'll enjoy following these three characters. But if this is your first Lehane novel, don't worry about feeling left out, there's plenty of backstory given so you can keep up, and feel like you know these people.

Kenzie meets Karen during a fairly routine stalker case. Kenzie and Bubba do their usual to take care of the stalker situation (scare the heck out of him), and as far as they know, the case is closed. But a few weeks later, Patrick receives a message from Karen, and he blows her off. He didn't mean to be rude to her, it's just that he was walking out the door when the message came in, and he simply forgot to call her back. We've all done that, right?

But the next time Patrick hears Karen's name, it's on the news. She's committed suicide. And that's when Patrick remembers the un-returned message. And guilt sets in. It's too late to help Karen, but Patrick feels compelled to figure out what happened. When he met Karen, she seemed very sweet, and very content with her life (well, other than the stalker, that is). So why does Patrick discover that for the past few months Karen has delved into a world of drugs and prostitution? What could possibly change a woman that drastically, that quickly?

It takes quite a long time to get to the ultimate answers. But the payoff is great. This story goes places you'd never suspect. I don't want to give away too much, but trust me when I say, you won't guess this outcome.

This book also contains one of the nastiest, most sadistic "bad guys" I've ever "met". The best way to describe this person is 'diabolical'. I can't imagine how Lehane came up with this character. The depths to which this person goes, in order to inflict pain and torture on others is just unbelievable. His acts are hideous, but they sure make fun reading!

Equally fun are the three main characters. Kenzie is brave, funny, and dedicated. Once he sets his mind to a task, he will not waiver, nor will he ever give up. He has his flaws, but he knows them, and admits them. I like that in a main character.

At the start of this book, Angela is Kenzie's ex-partner (both professional and personal). They haven't spoken in quite some time, but now Kenzie needs her help. Thus they're tossed together again. Thank goodness! It's great the way they play off each other, and really make each other laugh.

Bubba is "interesting" to say the least. His greatest strength is his fierce loyalty to Kenzie. He will protect Patrick to the death. (But let's hope it doesn't come to that!)

My complaints about this book are minor. The first is that the actions of several characters are completely unrealistic. I'm talking about supposedly upstanding citizens who act in completely unethical ways, for reasons that don't ring true. But, of course, if novels were completely realistic they'd be pretty boring.

The second complaint is a reliance on a technique I personally don't enjoy in novels. I'm referring to having characters find answers in their dreams. Now I'm not saying that such a thing is impossible; I'm sure it's happened before. But the way it's done in this book is just annoying.

Like I said, these complaints are minor. Overall this is a very enjoyable book that will appeal to lovers of the psychological thriller genre.


Recommended: Yes