3.5-4 starsMy only "nit" with this book is that the previous 2 books have been really clean - no real language or detailed sex scenes to speak of. But this book has both - not graphic sex scenes, but at least one where we get more than a fade-to-black with Mac and Sally. My question is WHY? Why now? Was the author under some pressure to put more "grit" into the series? 'Cuz it comes across as a rather half-hearted and unnecessary attempt at "grit", IMO.Putting that aside, this book is fast moving. I spend from 3rd grade to graduating from high school in Minnesota - smaller communities, about 1 hour north of the Twin Cities. So it cracked me up that this book is almost like a tour of Minnesota - the crooks travel far-and-wide throughout MN and even into Wisconsin, trying to stay one step ahead of Mac Ryan and his crew.Lyman Hisle's daughter and Chief Flannigan's daughter have been kidnapped - both in very controlled, planned ways. Hisle is the really connected defense attorney we met in book 1. He's well-liked by the cops, though, because for every scum he defends, he also lends a hand on cop-related defense cases. Hisle is well-liked and well-respected... and very rich.Mac and his crew can't quite figure out what the deal is, though, because the kidnappers talk about money, but no real ransom demands. There's something else going on here. When the investigation crosses into Wisconsin, because the bad guys used a pay phone there to make one of their calls, the FBI becomes involved. Tensions are a bit high, 'cuz the FBI doesn't always play well.The mayor is determined to keep Flannigan and "his boys" on a leash. He wants the FBI in charge, which is fine, except Burton, the SAIC, seems to be dragging his feet to Mac. But Mac and his boys were part of a highly-publicized and criticized take-down just a few weeks before, and there were allegations of police brutality when it was all captured on video.It's a twisted, puzzling case... and while I knew who the insider was right away, I didn't know why - the connection. But these bad guys aren't your average bad guys. Prepared, controlled, planned... they don't leave much to chance and know how not to leave any clues or trace behind. It's almost a miracle that Mac and his guys figure it out. But can they rescue the girls AND Hisle and the Chief?==============Other than the change in language and the one sex scene, not much has changed. Which is a good thing. Mac is a solid character - maybe too much of a hero... too good at his job, but hey, he's the one you want solving your case!Sally and Mac are still together. While they practically live together, there's no real talk of marriage. Both seem to be burned, yet, by their failed first marriages. Sally's OK, but somehow she's not floating my boat. She's got some fire and flare, but... dunno. Maybe the sex scene was a way to make her more interesting?Other than his cop relatives, not much about Mac's family. A brief mention of one of his 3 sisters at the beginning. But by now, I'd think we'd have a bit more insight into Mac's mom and his family, including the extended family. I guess Mac is all business? Other than Sally, we don't have real glimpses into Mac's life beyond his business contacts and friends he brings in to help him solve cases. By now, I'd think we'd have a more well-rounded picture of Mac. Is his job really his life? That's kinda sad, and it doesn't seem like who Mac is.BUT, this is a good, keep-you-guessing book. It's gritty, harsh, realistic (as a book can be), and just plain tough.Good book! On to the last book currently available in the series...
