There's a killer out there. Not so unusual in a mystery-thriller, but this one's different. This hit man's a kid... still in high school! And, when he guns down Rodion Oleshev in the middle of the night, several things happen. The death of a guy who turns out to be an ex-agent of the KGB sets up enough waves at a high level in the political circles of Moscow that they send good-looking 40 year old Nadya Kalin to determine the circumstances for them by joining the investigation where the assassination occurred.

In charge of the investigation is Lucas Davenport, a tough, tanned ex-homicide guy who now runs the Office of Criminal Apprehension for the governor's office. He's assisted by Officer Jerry Reasons who, though married, takes an immediate shine to the Russian "chick" when they pick up the attractive high-level law enforcement emissary at the airport. Davenport, happily married and possessed of a fine set of priorities, cooperates fully with Kalin's need to know while he earnestly and professionally pursues the case.

Also involved is ex-lawyer reduced to bag lady Annabelle Ramford, a smart squatter who happened to be on the shore of Lake Superior near the docks the night the Russian is shot. When she realizes what went down, she runs, fearing for her own life. Bad move. It causes the killer to spot her and, sure enough, he comes after her. When he's close enough to make a grab, she fends him off with a pocket knife. Managing to give him a gash in his arm, he leaves a sample of his DNA on her blade and goes running in pain.

Once she determines he's clear of the area, like a good scavenging bum, she goes to the body figuring on something of value. Sure enough, the guy's loaded. That bulge around his waist is a money belt full of hundreds. Ramford, known on the streets as Trey, suddenly sees her future, planning a return to a decent life. But, the killer has in mind to run into her again. She is his "hidden prey" and this is author John Sandford's 15th "Prey" novel.

The investigation, meanwhile, which now includes the governor's office, the FBI, the Russians, and the police departments in Duluth and several nearby Minnesota townships, leads to a multi-family Russian spy ring headed by 92-year old Carl Walther who, we learn, is the killer's grandpa and tutor in execution technique.

You're not in for the usual hunt for a killer, spy story or Commie infiltration adventure here. "Hidden Prey" is all of the above and a grippingly fine set of surprise wrinkles.