Angel Killer

A person, who calls himself Warlock, hacks in to the FBI’s website and posts a code. When cyphered, it leads to a dead girl who seems to have died crawling out of her grave. Except, this young woman has been dead a few years and the body has only been deceased a few hours. Is a miracle or an illusion? The FBI brings in agent Jessica Blackwood (whose past as a magician may come in useful) before another murderous illusion is performed.

I don’t know if it the illusion and magical aspect, the development of the Jessica character and her back story or the fast paced action as they chase the Warlock, but I could not put this book down. I wanted to know how these illusions were accomplished but more why the Warlock was doing it. The show more writing was tight; made me think; the characters were interesting and I can see myself reading more Jessica Blackwood stories in the future. You have to read this one! show less

Jessica Blackwood, once a skilled magician carrying on her family’s tradition, now an FBI agent, is thrust into a case pitting the impossible crimes of a depraved killer against her ability to recognize illusion and use her skills to stop the killing.

An interesting, unique premise and compelling writing make this book a page-turner. But Damian seems to serve as the author’s deus ex machina and easily stretches willing suspension of disbelief to its breaking point. Be prepared for a let-down of major proportions at the end where there are more questions than answers and disappointment is a guarantee.

Angel Killer – An Excellent Debut Series

Andrew Mayne is an American (shouldn’t hold that against him) with an serious interest in magic and illusions, so much so that he has his own TV show and worked with some very famous illusionists and magicians. He has taken his knowledge and experiences in to the writing of this excellent thriller which introduces us to Special Agent Jessica Blackwood.

Jessica Blackwood is trying to escape her family and her past by working in law enforcement but the harder she tries to run from the past the more the past travels the journey with her. She is on secondment to Quantico where she is working white collar crime looking at people’s financials find the criminals. When she is summoned to see a Dr show more Ailes who has his own team of number crunchers and geeks in a building avoided by most in the FBI.

Jessica feels like she is being quizzed about a recent cyber attack on the FBI systems that revealed a clue to a dead body. Ailes tells her that she is being placed on the team that is investigating this attack and the dead body as a consultant and is to join the team at the airport.

Throughout the book many of her colleagues are sceptical of her skills in the field or even in the area of homicide. But as the Warlock seems to push the case to the bounds of the impossible Jessica’s unique insight gives the team an unexpected edge and a different view of the Warlock.

As the case develops we are introduced to Damien who is an exlover, a friend and a continued annoyance to her. At the same time that he is a high functioning gambler and magician who is able to get Jessica to ignore the smoke and mirrors take a closer look, that there is trickery afoot and she can uncover it.

As the thriller develops Jessica has become known as the ‘witch’ of the FBI especially when she shows her colleagues how Warlock managed a misdirect to fool everyone including TV viewers. It becomes clearer that this really is a battle between Blackwood and The Warlock with a fight to the last which could possibly be life and death, but Blackwood knows what she has to do to undermine The Warlock.

Angel Killer is an excellent thriller that ticks all the boxes with the addition of magic and illusions thrown in that gives the read a rounded excellent thriller that is not like procedural thrillers. Jessica Blackwood is an interesting character that will be interesting to see her develop as time goes on. This really is a gripping story with plenty of mystery that you are still not sure of who the Warlock is until the very end of the book and the great thing is there is no obvious choice of who it could be so you are kept guessing throughout the book.

A great debut series and I cannot wait to see the Jessica Blackwood Thrillers develop with a new slant on magic and the FBI. This is well written and really enjoyable. show less

The first shall be the last. I have read the other books in this series and they were excellent. Jessica, with her unique skill set, is a splendid protagonist. The crimes are complexly plotted, well-practiced, and brilliantly executed, providing unusual challenges for a final solution She is up to it, and the chase and resolution make for a compelling story.

Andrew Mayne is an illusionist and magician who has worked for David Copperfield, Penn and Teller and David Blaine. He's also the star of A&E's Don't Trust Andrew Mayne. And....he's also an author. Mayne self published his novels and had some success. Angel Killer sold really well in that format and Bourbon Street Books picked it up, with a hard copy of Angel Killer just published.

I normally eschew self published books, but was incredibly curious to read Angel Killer (especially after a large publisher picked it up.) I found the premise intriguing - an FBI agent who grew up in a 'magic' family. When a killer calling himself the Warlock starts staging and executing seemingly impossible crimes, Jessica Blackwood is called in. The FBI show more seems to think her unusual background will be the key they need to find this killer. But it's easier said than done - The Warlock is incredibly devious and seems to have a long range plan.....

Well, Mayne is smart as well - he's writing what he knows. The use of magic and illusion as the serial killer's signature is unique. And having an agent just as familiar with the sleights of hand and misdirection is fresh and different. And quite fascinating.

Mayne is setting the stage (yes pun intended) for Jessica. We get to know her background and mindset and I quite liked her. We're also introduced to the mysterious Damien n - I definitely want to know more about him.

The plot is inventive and again, out of the ordinary. There are a few instances where I questioned the leap to the next point or some technical wizardry, but overall I thought it was really good.

And through it all runs the idea of magic. I am always entertained by illusionists and am not sure how I feel about knowing the truth behind some 'tricks' I've seen, but it's pretty interesting to discover how some of them are achieved.

Angel Killer is being marketed as the first Jessica Blackwood novel. I would definitely pick up the next in this series - even more so that the end of Angel Killer is not truly the end - the last page is a definite link to a larger plot still not uncovered. I've peeked at other's thoughts on this book and many readers mention their dissatisfaction with the ending. I actually like the unfinished threads - the idea that there's more in store for this character and the anticipation of the continuation of a good tale. show less

I have never seen Mr. Mayne's television show. Yet, after reading this book I am going to check it out. I like the way the author used his profession and experience and incorporated it into a murder mystery book. Not just a book but the start of a really, good series. Featuring a multi-complex and ever changing female lead, Jessica Blackwood. I say this because I know there is more to Jessica than meets the eye. She is just coming out of her shell and will only get stronger as the series progresses. The way she thought of things that others did not in the non practical sense was great. Of course, I admit Jessica did have help. In the form of her own fanatic stalker named Damian. Jessica knows nothing about Damian other than he is her show more guardian angel. I can't wait to see more of Damian as well. Angel Killer is a must read. show less

Illusion, or staging the scene is a large part of a magician's repertoire. As a former but still practicing magician, Jessica Blackwood is an interesting but underutilized asset for the FBI. Rescued from data analysis, an agency strength and priority, she welcomes the opportunity to join the search for "Warlock" Her, oft-questioned, insights provide a very different and interesting perspective for analyzing this criminal's activities.

Jessica is an interesting and likable protagonist for this first book in a new series.