Black Fall - (Jessica Blackwood) by Andrew Mayne (Paperback)

About the Book

-In Black Fall, the third book in the ITW Award-nominated series that began with self-published eBook phenomenon Angel Killer, magician-turned-FBI agent Jessica Blackwood investigates a series of seemingly unrelated, but equally bizarre and sinister, crimes that lead her to the Colorado desert and a town that has, simply, disappeared. With two big cases under her belt, FBI Agent Jessica Blackwood is learning to embrace her unconventional past as the rising star in a family dynasty of illusionists. Her talent and experience endow her with a unique understanding of the power and potential of deception, and a gift for knowing when things are not always as they appear to be. Once resenting her eccentric grandfather, a brilliant magician in his own right, Jessica now sees him as a mentor and regularly seeks his advice about her work.But Jessica's routine surveillance operation becomes a fight for survival when a disturbed young woman, clutching a baby, shows up at the stake-out location and threatens to kill her child. On the same day, an hour after a severe earthquake rocks the eastern seaboard, a strange video goes viral. Nobel Prize-winning physicist Peter Devon has been dead for eight years, yet here he is on camera, predicting the location and date of the earthquake. Jessica is put on the case by her boss, Dr. Ailes, but when Detective Aileen Lewis reports that they've found a Jane Doe who matches her description of her attacker, she's torn between professional duty and a personal desire to find out who the woman was, and why she was killed.The investigations pull her in very different directions--until they start to converge, leading Jessica to confront something darker, and more powerful, than anyone expected. Something so twisted, only one person could be behind it

Book Synopsis

"Enthralling . . . . The author, a professional magician, makes the impossible seem probable in this twisty, clever treat." --Publishers Weekly

In Black Fall, the third book in the ITW Award-nominated mystery series, magician-turned-FBI agent Jessica Blackwood investigates a series of seemingly unrelated, but equally bizarre and sinister, crimes that lead her to the Colorado desert and a town that has, simply, disappeared.

With two big cases under her belt, FBI Agent Jessica Blackwood is learning to embrace her unconventional past as the rising star in a family dynasty of illusionists. Her talent and experience endow her with a unique understanding of the power and potential of deception, and a gift for knowing when things are not always as they appear to be. Once resenting her eccentric grandfather, a brilliant magician in his own right, Jessica now sees him as a mentor and regularly seeks his advice about her work.

But Jessica's routine surveillance operation becomes a fight for survival when a disturbed young woman, clutching a baby, shows up at the stake-out location and threatens to kill her child. On the same day, an hour after a severe earthquake rocks the eastern seaboard, a strange video goes viral. Nobel Prize-winning physicist Peter Devon has been dead for eight years, yet here he is on camera, predicting the location and date of the earthquake. Jessica is put on the case by her boss, Dr. Ailes, but when Detective Aileen Lewis reports that they've found a Jane Doe who matches her description of her attacker, she's torn between professional duty and a personal desire to find out who the woman was, and why she was killed.

The investigations pull her in very different directions--until they start to converge, leading Jessica to confront something darker, and more powerful, than anyone expected. Something so twisted, only one person could be behind it...the Warlock.

From the Back Cover

An hour after a severe earthquake rocks the Eastern seaboard, a video of Nobel Prize--winning physicist Peter Devon predicting the location and date of the earthquake goes viral.

But Peter Devon has been dead for eight years.

The FBI's best chance at finding an explanation is agent Jessica Blackwood. Raised as the rising star in a family dynasty of illusionists, Jessica has talent and experience that endow her with a gift for knowing when things are not always as they appear to be. Jessica's boss, Dr. Ailes, puts her on the case even though she's still recovering from a routine surveillance operation gone horribly wrong. When police discover a body that matches her description of the disturbed young woman who attacked her at the stakeout, Jessica is torn between professional duty and a personal desire to find out who this woman was, and why she was killed.

The investigations pull her in very different directions--until they start to converge, leading Jessica to confront something so twisted, only one person could be behind it . . .

The Warlock.

Review Quotes

"Enthralling . . . The author, a professional magician, makes the impossible seem probable in this twisty, clever treat." -- Publishers Weekly

"Delivers more fast-paced entertainment." -- Booklist

Praise for Name of the Devil: "Science supersedes the supernatural in this action-packed follow-up.... With snappy prose and a smart protagonist, this is an adrenaline-fueled procedural with an unusual twist. Great reading." -- Booklist (starred review)

"In Mayne's exciting second Jessica Blackwood novel, the cunning FBI special agent applies her magician training to investigating a bizarre explosion.... A fast-moving thriller in which illusions are weapons for both good and evil." -- Publishers Weekly

Praise for Angel Killer: "Mayne, the star of the A&E show Don't Trust Andrew Mayne, combines magic and mayhem in this delightful beginning to a new series.... Readers will look forward to Jessica's future adventures." -- Publishers Weekly

"A magical debut that mixes charismatic characters, an intriguing premise and a dash of illusionists' secrets to entertain readers and leave them eager for the next act." -- Kirkus Reviews

"Professional illusionist Mayne introduces a fresh angle to serial-killer hunting.... Mayne forgoes gimmicks, instead dissecting illusions with human behavior, math, and science without losing sight of the story's big picture." -- Booklist

"Looking for a dark page turner that will keep you guessing until the very end? Jessica Blackwood is your girl!" -- WhyGirlsAreWeird.com

"Entertainment at its finest! Magic and mystery blend together to showcase one heck of an intriguing plotline.... The sort of book you just can't put down and yet you regret once that last page is turned." -- Fresh Fiction

"Magic and murder make a spectacular entrance in Angel Killer, an intricate thriller with techno overtones written by illusionist Andrew Mayne.... Addictive." -- BookPage