There are a slew of authors working today who should be enjoying far more success, yet they seem to keep flying under the radar. One such writer is Andrew Mayne. I have read all of his books and continue to be impressed with his work.

MASTERMIND is a great novel that brings together a pair of lead characters from two different series: FBI Special Agent Jessica Blackwood and her soon-to-be colleague in this global adventure, Dr. Theo Cray. Their meeting is not an accident and is part of a much grander plan to embarrass them on the world stage.

"MASTERMIND is a great thrill ride and a fun read from start to finish. Spread the word: Andrew Mayne is an author to watch out for, and he remains on my must-read list of writers."

Most writers write what they know, and this has been a piece of advice that Mayne has always relied on. His background is quite diverse and includes everything from big-time magic and work as an illusionist to his involvement with OpenAI, an organization that deals with artificial intelligence. You will see bits of all of this in the book, and it gives credibility and depth to the tale.

A young woman named Kelsi is heading home across the Brooklyn Bridge after a rough day being harassed by tourists and intoxicated men while posing as a costumed character in Times Square. However, she quickly forgets about this when she looks back and finds that the island of Manhattan has vanished before her eyes. Believe me, this is no David Copperfield trick, and the U.S. government has a fairly good idea of who might be behind it. Jessica is immediately called in because the prime suspect is serial killer Michael Heywood, also known as the Warlock. She apprehended him once, but it appears he may be at large again.

The assumption is that there must have been an enormous amount of EMPs set up around Manhattan to have been able to pull off such a stunt. Without having the Warlock handy, the team decides to involve someone they can get their hands on, and he just so happens to be on the list of potential suspects --- Dr. Cray. Theo had been working in the jungles of Myanmar giving medical service to the residents and children there. Jessica locates Theo and fills him in on what happened not only in Manhattan but also in a couple of other international cities. She infers that if he is not the guilty party, then whoever is responsible is certainly looking to get his attention.

The dark area surrounding the “disappeared” cities is referred to as the Void, and people trapped within it claim to have seen things flying within the dark clouds. These bizarre sightings are given Harry Potter names, such as Demons and Dementors, as they seem to be fictional or from some other magical realm. There is plenty of excitement as Jessica and Theo traverse around the world in search of answers, which includes one of the most terrifying helicopter rides you will ever read about.

Another mysterious event is the sudden disappearance of a bunch of chimpanzees from a Thai zoo. What possible reason could someone have for the abduction of these wild animals? There are also reports of zombie-like people terrorizing the area around Chernobyl in Russia. Once Theo puts two and two together, it is the stuff of nightmares.

What is even more terrifying is that Jessica and Theo still have not met the Warlock or know about his nefarious agenda. Their eventual confrontation is well worth the wait. As the Warlock monologues on like a James Bond villain, his big scheme suddenly hits Theo. It is far more terrible than anyone could have realized and presents a scientific conundrum that Michael Crichton might have thought up.

MASTERMIND is a great thrill ride and a fun read from start to finish. Spread the word: Andrew Mayne is an author to watch out for, and he remains on my must-read list of writers.