Mastermind

A Theo Cray and Jessica Blackwood Thriller (Theo Cray and Jessica Blackwood, Book 1)

By: Andrew Mayne

Narrated by: Jennifer O'Donnell, Will Damron

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.

©2021 by Andrew Mayne. (P)2021 Brilliance Publishing, Inc., all rights reserved.

Critic reviews

“A passionate and thorough storyteller…Thriller fans will be well rewarded.”—Publishers Weekly

Fun, but disappointing

It was exciting to see his characters from different series interact with each other, but thy execution fell flat.
Overall as a mystery thriller, it was okay. Considering the reveal, honestly felt like it could be more theatrical?
Voices are great for their main characters, but not so great for others.
And while looking back at it, I see the hints of growing relationship, I don't like the chemistry. Feels more male fantasy

Chilling Possibilities

This is a well crafted thriller that you wish was obviously sci-fi but is too close to possible for any comfort.

My "oops" = interesting listen

I listen to a lot of audiobooks. I also read a lot of Kindle books and traditional paper books, for fun as well as for research. Consequently, sometimes I forget which books or series I have in which format. This was one such "oops."

I have - on Kindle - the entire separate series for both Jessica Blackwell (plus short stories) and Dr. Theo Cray, in addition to this title featuring them both. I very much enjoy all three series, as far as they've gone as of this writing. Consequently, when I saw the pre-order for The Final Equinox on Audible while looking at new releases, I immediately did just that. Then I realized I didn't have the first title (this one) on Audible, and got this as well, before remembering that I was reading them in Kindle rather than listening.

The story is intricate and well thought out as one might expect from Mayne and these characters. Knowledge of their individual story lines is not necessary to enjoy this book, although I would suggest that knowing more about Jessica might be beneficial to a deeper enjoyment of this book given her level of prominence in this story over Theo's.

After reading these characters for so long, I found Jessica's voice pretty much aligned with how I heard her in my own mind, though the delivery was a bit different. Nothing too jarring though. Theo's voice, however, sounded nothing like how I've heard him inwardly as I've read. I enjoy Will's narration in other works, and I respect the voicing he gave to Theo here; it just didn't sync up as well as I would have liked. That made for some mental gymnastics initially and any time I restarted the book after some time away, even just a few hours. Eugene's voice, too, was a bit off for me, but given how infrequently he speaks, it wasn't too disconcerting. Jillian's voice, brief as it appeared, was pretty close to what I had imagined. Heywood - not quite as much.

Overall, I think both narrators did an excellent job with the material. I do plan to get The Final Equinox in Kindle, but having listened to this first book of the joint series now, I may keep this series as a dual Kindle/Audible venture and maintain the other two in Kindle alone. It's nice to have the option of listening to them done well while engaged in other tasks. Mayne's background as a magician and illusionist informs his writing beautifully, and although some of his earlier work is a bit rough around the edges, I have really enjoyed the Jessica Blackwood, Dr. Theo Cray, and joint adventure series. I continue to look forward to any new releases in any of these series, and am contemplating starting some of his others soon. (Perhaps starting them from scratch in Audible to prevent the mental double-takes I had here. 🙂)

Highly recommended.

Excellent Story & Performance

Very unique and in some ways confusing. I’m looking forward to see where things go after this. Jessica and Theo have a lot to face. While they are working for government nemesis Hayward is tearing apart the world. Having said he has cured all these diseases. It gave him compressed power. Jessica and Theo know the truth. Thousands of people have died, for whatever success may have achieved.

Masterful and wholly entertaining

Another intelligent tale masterfully constructed. I sooo enjoy Mayne’s works. I think I need to hear it again. It was over way too soon. More storylines to come for this talented duo, I hope?

The grammar occasionally caused me to cringe

Sober geniuses do not confuse physical and figurative distance (farther and further). This is just one example when my ears twirled, and I said: "What?", backed it up .30, listened again and assured myself that - yes, I had indeed heard correctly. Now, to the incongrueties... this could take all night! Okay. I realize this is a work of fiction, but even with all the fantastical elements, it's still meant to be logical. Yet it... isn't. Certain points and players are never explained, yet somehow this damned book *works*! I actually had a great deal of fun listening to it. The last 45 minutes or so... jfc. I'd like to ask Mayne: "Care to throw in another hairpin turn before you toss us over yet another cliff into a warm lagoon where we're instantly sucked into a whirlpool?"

Will Damron only!

Will Damron should’ve narrated the entire book. He does a much better female voice than Jennifer O’Donnell does a male.
In fact, I don’t like her narrating any of it, not even the female parts. This book would’ve been better with only Will’s voice.

amazing mind game

loved it. didn't know what twist was coming next. makes you wonder about real world

Good story pure ending

The story was gripping but a handcuff trip wasn’t a way to exit a max security prison.

Okay story

As one reader stated not my favorite Jessica Blackwood book. Story was just okay. Didn’t like the two different narrators theme though they both did a nice job.