Fire in the Sky

A Jessica Blackwood Short Story

Description

In this compelling short story from Andrew Mayne, master illusionist and the author of Angel Killer, we see a new side to magician-turned-FBI agent Jessica Blackwood—and get an electrifying sneak peak at her next adventure, Name of the Devil.

Headstrong, sarcastic, and fiercely intelligent, Jessica Blackwood knows better than anyone how easily people can be fooled. So she's not happy about being sent to Louisiana on what appears to be a wild goose chase hinging on an elderly man's recollection of an event that occurred decades ago. Especially because her boss, FBI consultant Dr. Jeffrey Ailes, has paired her up with young, earnest rookie agent Nadine. After risking her life to help the Bureau catch the serial killer of the century, this is her reward?

As she and Nadine clash about how to handle their strange assignment, Jessica must accept that, despite her best efforts, she's having trouble moving beyond her past as the rising star in a dysfunctional family of magicians. Raised in a world dedicated to deception, her refusal to accept things at face value is one of her strengths—but is it also a weakness that could cause her undoing?

About the author(s)

Andrew Mayne started his first illusion tour while he was a teenager and was soon headlining in resorts and casinos around the world. He’s worked behind the scenes creatively for David Copperfield, Penn & Teller, and David Blaine. With the support of talk show host and amateur magician Johnny Carson, Andrew started a program to use magic to teach critical thinking skills in public schools for the James Randi Educational Foundation. Andrew’s “Wizard School” segments, teaching magic and science to children, aired nationwide on public television. He also starred in the reality show Don’t Trust Andrew Mayne.

Reviews

“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

“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)

“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

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

“These books are…unable-to-put-downable. In this follow-up to the first book, there is a very different sort of mystery, but I enjoyed it just as much.” — BibliophiliaPlease.com

“If you really like thrillers that will keep you up late at night dying to know what happens next, then this is most definitely the series for you. I cannot get enough.” — GirlLostInABook.com

“Each chapter ends like a punch to the gut. Andrew Mayne is a master at creating an interesting premise and characters.… Whip smart and electrifying.” — PriscillaAndHerBooks.com

“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