Author: Andrew Mayne
Published: October 21, 2025 by Thomas & Mercer
Format: Kindle, 288 Pages
Genre: Thriller
Source: My thanks to Netgalley and the Publisher for the opportunity to read an advanced copy of this book.
Series: The Specialists #2
Blurb: The FBI calls on former agent Jessica Blackwood to look at a puzzling crime. A wildlife officer has found the body of a popular YouTuber encased in an obelisk made of salt in a remote refuge. When the agency is tipped off to a second body, that of a TikTok star chained to the bottom of Nevada’s Pyramid Lake—her hands clasped in prayer—Jessica recruits a trusted colleague of her Floridian underwater investigator Sloan McPherson.
It appears to be the work of a ritualistic serial killer preying on influencers. That tracks when a third victim—a fantasy-game live streamer—barely survives a pipe bomb attack. But in navigating the social media world of instafame, manipulation, and deception, Jessica and Sloan know how illusory appearances can be. As the threats multiply across the country, they fear they’re playing with something more extreme than they a killer’s endgame that could be nothing less than apocalyptic.
My Opinion: I’ve realized that when it comes to Andrew Mayne’s ensemble, I gravitate far more toward Theo Cray and Brad Trasker than Jessica Blackwood and Sloan McPherson. His male characters consistently feel sharper, with richer depth and banter that sparks. The women, unfortunately, don’t get the same treatment; Jessica and Sloan’s interactions often read like a mother lecturing a teenage daughter, bogged down in repetitive exchanges that sap the energy from the page. That said, if Mayne ever spun off a series around Trasker’s mother, I’d be first in line.
This book sits as a companion to his other series, pulling together familiar faces from across his backlist. It’s the kind of convergence that works best if you’ve already read the individual series in order. With that foundation, you know who each character is, what they bring to the table, and the crossover feels like a reward rather than a puzzle. Readers new to Mayne might miss some of the nuance, but for those invested, the interplay adds texture.
The plot itself is a cocktail of modern intrigue: AI technology, social media influencers, and secretive Mormon fundamentalists. It’s eclectic enough that nearly every reader will find a hook. At times, though, the narrative gets convoluted, leaving gaps that aren’t fully explained. Still, Jessica’s magician upbringing and the literal tunnels she navigates lend an additional depth to the confusion.
What really landed was the final twist. I didn’t see it coming, and it was one of the rare moments that made me stop, reread, and appreciate the cleverness. That spark reminded me why I keep picking up Mayne’s books, even when some installments don’t hit the same high notes.
No author can deliver edge-of-your-seat suspense every single time, and this doesn’t quite reach the intensity of Mayne’s best. But it sets the stage for what’s next: Chaos Man, arriving soon, with the full band—Cray, Blackwood, Trasker, and McPherson—back together. And that reunion alone is enough to keep me curious.
It appears to be the work of a ritualistic serial killer preying on influencers. That tracks when a third victim—a fantasy-game live streamer—barely survives a pipe bomb attack. But in navigating the social media world of instafame, manipulation, and deception, Jessica and Sloan know how illusory appearances can be. As the threats multiply across the country, they fear they’re playing with something more extreme than they a killer’s endgame that could be nothing less than apocalyptic.
My Opinion: I’ve realized that when it comes to Andrew Mayne’s ensemble, I gravitate far more toward Theo Cray and Brad Trasker than Jessica Blackwood and Sloan McPherson. His male characters consistently feel sharper, with richer depth and banter that sparks. The women, unfortunately, don’t get the same treatment; Jessica and Sloan’s interactions often read like a mother lecturing a teenage daughter, bogged down in repetitive exchanges that sap the energy from the page. That said, if Mayne ever spun off a series around Trasker’s mother, I’d be first in line.
This book sits as a companion to his other series, pulling together familiar faces from across his backlist. It’s the kind of convergence that works best if you’ve already read the individual series in order. With that foundation, you know who each character is, what they bring to the table, and the crossover feels like a reward rather than a puzzle. Readers new to Mayne might miss some of the nuance, but for those invested, the interplay adds texture.
The plot itself is a cocktail of modern intrigue: AI technology, social media influencers, and secretive Mormon fundamentalists. It’s eclectic enough that nearly every reader will find a hook. At times, though, the narrative gets convoluted, leaving gaps that aren’t fully explained. Still, Jessica’s magician upbringing and the literal tunnels she navigates lend an additional depth to the confusion.
What really landed was the final twist. I didn’t see it coming, and it was one of the rare moments that made me stop, reread, and appreciate the cleverness. That spark reminded me why I keep picking up Mayne’s books, even when some installments don’t hit the same high notes.
No author can deliver edge-of-your-seat suspense every single time, and this doesn’t quite reach the intensity of Mayne’s best. But it sets the stage for what’s next: Chaos Man, arriving soon, with the full band—Cray, Blackwood, Trasker, and McPherson—back together. And that reunion alone is enough to keep me curious.
