A Non-Stop Thriller
5 out of 5 stars
Going into Mastermind I thought it was going to be another Theo Cray novel, which it was. What I didn’t realize was it was Cray AND another one of Mayne’s main characters from another series, Jessica Blackwood. And now, instead of thinking, I was caught up on Cray’s books (all of them have been downright excellent) I realized that I have three Jessica Blackwood books to get caught up on.
Now, saying that – I’m admitting to only knowing who half of the main characters were in this and the main bad guy was someone Blackwood was hunting in other books, but it didn’t prevent me from thoroughly enjoying this book from cover to cover. Mastermind was full of insanity and action from beginning to end. A globetrotting, spit in the face of the 3-letter authorities while also working with them thriller that wouldn’t relent.
The chemistry between Cray and Blackwood was palpable and really turned this awesome thriller into something even more. I liked the “will they” or even the “do they see it” that Mayne was able to weave into the story without making it cheesy or unnecessary. It just felt natural instead of forced.
Overall, without spoiling it, Mastermind was so much fun. The different things that the Warlock did or had done really tickled the technothriller-lover part of my brain. And I can tell that Mayne did some research to make sure that this came off as plausible instead of pure science fiction.
Book Description:
Dr. Theo Cray and FBI agent Jessica Blackwood confront a cataclysmic conspiracy in a pulse-quickening thriller by the Wall Street Journal bestselling author of The Naturalist.
A mysterious electrical storm plunges Manhattan into darkness. As a strange, smothering fog rolls in, all communication crashes. In the blink of an eye, the island seems to vanish into a void.
FBI special agent Jessica Blackwood and brilliant scientist Dr. Theo Cray know this isn’t a freak accident. It’s a sinister sleight of hand. Their greatest adversary, a serial killer and cultist known as the Warlock, has escaped during a prison transfer in New York. A depraved master of manipulation, he promised the end of days. He’s making good on it.
One by one, cities across the globe are erupting in chaos as they disappear into the same black holes. Even for two ingenious trackers like Jessica and Theo, there’s still so much to learn about the pattern to the Warlock’s madness. The voids are just a warm-up for something bigger. To discover it – to stop it – Jessica and Theo must descend into the darkest of shadows – and minds.
Mastermind by Andrew Mayne
Narrator: Jennifer O'Donnell, Will Damron
Length: 9 hrs and 59 mins
Series: Theo Cray and Jessica Blackwood #1
Published by Brilliance Audio on September 7th 2021
Genres: Mystery, Thriller
Format: Audiobook
Buy from Audible
Also by this author: The Naturalist (The Naturalist #1), Looking Glass (The Naturalist #2), Murder Theory (The Naturalist #3), Dark Pattern
Also in this series: The Final Equinox
- The Mayor’s Mission (Home to Milford College #2) by Piper Huguley (Narrated by Shamaan Casey) - September 18, 2023
- New and Notable Audiobook Releases for the Week of September 17th on Brian’s Book Blog - September 18, 2023
- Trust in Truth by Emily Banting (Narrated by Lulu Russell) - September 15, 2023
