Description

In this electrifying sequel to the crowd-pleasing thriller Angel Killer, magician-turned-FBI agent Jessica Blackwood must once again draw on her past to go up against a brutal murderer desperate for revenge at any price.

After playing a pivotal role in the capture of the Warlock, a seemingly supernatural serial killer—and saving the FBI’s reputation in the process—agent Jessica Blackwood can no longer ignore the world she left behind. Formerly a prodigy in a family dynasty of illusionists, her talent and experience endow her with a unique understanding of the power and potential of deception, as well as a knack for knowing when things are not always as they appear to be.

When a church congregation vanishes under mysterious circumstances in rural Appalachia, the bizarre trail of carnage indicates the Devil’s hand at work. But Satan can’t be the suspect, so FBI consultant Dr. Ailes and Jessica’s boss on the Warlock case, Agent Knoll, turn to the ace up their sleeve: Jessica. She’s convinced that an old cassette tape holds the key to the mystery, and unraveling the recorded events reveals a troubling act with far-reaching implications. The evil at work is human, and Jessica must follow the trail from West Virginia to Mexico, Miami, and even the hallowed halls of the Vatican.

Can she stop a cold-blooded killer obsessed by a mortal sin—or will she become the next target in a twisted, diabolical game of hunter and prey…?

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