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Mastermind: A True Story of Obsession, Survival, and Justice
A crime scene investigator in a heated custody battle is shot while picking up her son, and the only person who wants her dead—her ex, a respected taekwondo master—has an airtight alibi.
Tim Amacher never wanted to let Nicki Lenway go. Upon losing his control of her, Tim shifted his focus to taking away the most important thing in the world to Nicki—their son. A mother would die to protect her child, and in this tumultuous tale detailing a dark obsession, Nicki, a crime scene investigator, must use all of her resources to protect her family. Will her colleagues on the police force be able to sort through the lies, control, and deception to prove who is involved in the plot to murder Nicki? Or will Tim be able to realize his vengeance before he can be stopped?
Tim Amacher never wanted to let Nicki Lenway go. Upon losing his control of her, Tim shifted his focus to taking away the most important thing in the world to Nicki—their son. A mother would die to protect her child, and in this tumultuous tale detailing a dark obsession, Nicki, a crime scene investigator, must use all of her resources to protect her family. Will her colleagues on the police force be able to sort through the lies, control, and deception to prove who is involved in the plot to murder Nicki? Or will Tim be able to realize his vengeance before he can be stopped?
240 pages, Paperback
Published March 10, 2026
10 people are currently reading
69 people want to read
About the author
Lou Raguse
3 books30 followersLou Raguse is a journalist based in Minnesota specializing in crime and courts. Since 2005, he’s reported for local NBC, CBS, and FOX affiliates in Minnesota, New York, Arizona, and South Dakota.
Early in his career, Raguse developed a niche for crime reporting and has covered national cases such as the murder of George Floyd and the resulting trials, the shooting of Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords, and the kidnapping and escape of thirteen-year-old Jayme Closs.
Besides countless regional Emmys and other broadcast news awards, Raguse produced an eight-part podcast on the Closs case, 88 Days: The Jayme Closs Story, which won an Edward R. Murrow award and was a top-ten performer on the iTunes podcast charts.
Raguse met his wife Emily in Sioux Falls while covering a murder trial together. The couple married in Sioux City, Iowa, and have two kids together. Lou spends as much of his free time as he can coaching his kids’ sports teams.
Raguse also enjoys competing in fantasy football leagues (including one since 1999), watching NFL football, and archiving home movies and photos from the good old days.
Early in his career, Raguse developed a niche for crime reporting and has covered national cases such as the murder of George Floyd and the resulting trials, the shooting of Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords, and the kidnapping and escape of thirteen-year-old Jayme Closs.
Besides countless regional Emmys and other broadcast news awards, Raguse produced an eight-part podcast on the Closs case, 88 Days: The Jayme Closs Story, which won an Edward R. Murrow award and was a top-ten performer on the iTunes podcast charts.
Raguse met his wife Emily in Sioux Falls while covering a murder trial together. The couple married in Sioux City, Iowa, and have two kids together. Lou spends as much of his free time as he can coaching his kids’ sports teams.
Raguse also enjoys competing in fantasy football leagues (including one since 1999), watching NFL football, and archiving home movies and photos from the good old days.
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Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
March 11, 2026
As someone who lived through this, this book is a faithful retelling of something I’m still trying to make sense of. Not sensationalist, but still a fascinating dissection of possessiveness, jealousy, and the lengths someone will go to make an ex pay for perceived wrongs.
March 12, 2026
Happy Pub Day to MASTERMIND and @lounewsman!
In his second true crime novel, Lou Raguse tells the unbelievable story of the attempted murder of Nicki, a Minneapolis Police crime scene investigator, that occurred in broad daylight a few years ago. But it is more than just this crime... the real story starts years prior.
MASTERMIND is a strong warning about the influence and pull of charismatic individuals. With red flags galore and plenty of gaslighting, it’s easy to see, in hindsight, the toxicity of the relationship between Nicki and Tim. And despite her intelligence, determination, and family support, Nicki is unable to escape her ex. To Nicki, he is dangerous, manipulative, and must be involved, even if he has an airtight alibi.
The fact that this is a true story kept me turning pages. Thankfully it does have closure in the end!
In his second true crime novel, Lou Raguse tells the unbelievable story of the attempted murder of Nicki, a Minneapolis Police crime scene investigator, that occurred in broad daylight a few years ago. But it is more than just this crime... the real story starts years prior.
MASTERMIND is a strong warning about the influence and pull of charismatic individuals. With red flags galore and plenty of gaslighting, it’s easy to see, in hindsight, the toxicity of the relationship between Nicki and Tim. And despite her intelligence, determination, and family support, Nicki is unable to escape her ex. To Nicki, he is dangerous, manipulative, and must be involved, even if he has an airtight alibi.
The fact that this is a true story kept me turning pages. Thankfully it does have closure in the end!
March 27, 2026
I knew the endpoint of this story but did not know the back story. Lou Raguse is a very good reporter and author. If you have not read Vanished in Vermillion you should give it a try.
March 26, 2026
My dad, Scott, ordered this book for me. He told me that his good friend Steven Raguse's son Lou wrote this book so he recommended that I read it. I'm guessing that Lou is a distant relative of mine since I have family with the last name "Raguse".
This book was a good read! It was nice to read about a true story that happened in the Midwestern area where I live.
My dad ordered me Lou's book "Vanished in Vermillion" so that will be my next read.
This book was a good read! It was nice to read about a true story that happened in the Midwestern area where I live.
My dad ordered me Lou's book "Vanished in Vermillion" so that will be my next read.
March 24, 2026
Couldn't put this down. Started one afternoon and finished the next morning. When I saw the author on a local news channel, I had to get this, as I had read his first true crime book Vanished In Vermillion. It didn't disappoint. It was crazy how manipulative the victim's ex-boyfriend could be.
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews