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Theo Cray and Jessica Blackwood #2
The Final Equinox
Dr. Theo Cray and FBI agent Jessica Blackwood follow a deadly celestial trail in a thrilling novel by the Amazon Charts and Wall Street Journal bestselling author of Mastermind.
A signal is detected at the outer edge of the solar system. Computational biologist Dr. Theo Cray and magician-turned-FBI-agent Jessica Blackwood are looking—and listening—a little closer.
The man at the center of this cosmic mystery is billionaire Thomas T. Theismann. He’s spent a lifetime—and a fortune—trying to find out if we’re alone in the universe. Highly skeptical, Theo joins the effort to find the source of the signal, and he quickly enlists Jessica to look into the suspicious death of another academic at the lab. As their investigations converge, they uncover curious connections to the otherworldly contact, including a 1970s science-fiction writer and the body of an astronaut found buried in an ancient tomb.
As they delve into Theismann’s history, Theo and Jessica’s fascination with the signal intensifies. How dangerous will the investigation get? That depends on how deep into the unknown Theo and Jessica are prepared to venture.
A signal is detected at the outer edge of the solar system. Computational biologist Dr. Theo Cray and magician-turned-FBI-agent Jessica Blackwood are looking—and listening—a little closer.
The man at the center of this cosmic mystery is billionaire Thomas T. Theismann. He’s spent a lifetime—and a fortune—trying to find out if we’re alone in the universe. Highly skeptical, Theo joins the effort to find the source of the signal, and he quickly enlists Jessica to look into the suspicious death of another academic at the lab. As their investigations converge, they uncover curious connections to the otherworldly contact, including a 1970s science-fiction writer and the body of an astronaut found buried in an ancient tomb.
As they delve into Theismann’s history, Theo and Jessica’s fascination with the signal intensifies. How dangerous will the investigation get? That depends on how deep into the unknown Theo and Jessica are prepared to venture.
336 pages, Kindle Edition
First published September 13, 2022
1912 people are currently reading
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 299 reviews
July 17, 2022
My thanks to Thomas and Mercer, Andrew Mayne and Netgalley.
It's funny, but I didn't much like these two together, in their last book.
This time I did.
Unfortunately, the story as a whole was not to my liking at all.
It actually seemed a bit ridiculous.
Not that I don't believe in intelligent life out in the cosmos.
I could bitch and moan about what Mayne has done to my 2 favorite characters.
What I want to say is please bring back the strange and funked up murder mysteries.
Until it goes back in course, then I'm finished with this author.
It's funny, but I didn't much like these two together, in their last book.
This time I did.
Unfortunately, the story as a whole was not to my liking at all.
It actually seemed a bit ridiculous.
Not that I don't believe in intelligent life out in the cosmos.
I could bitch and moan about what Mayne has done to my 2 favorite characters.
What I want to say is please bring back the strange and funked up murder mysteries.
Until it goes back in course, then I'm finished with this author.
July 14, 2022
Makes you wonder.....If there really is intelligent life out there in Space, the last place they'd contact would be US.
Andrew Mayne brings together the dynamic duo of Dr. Theo Cray and Jessica Blackwood in this second edition of this series. Theo is a computational biologist as well as a computer modeling expert. Jessica is his girlfriend who happens to be an outstanding FBI agent. When we say that Jessica has plenty of tricks up her sleeve, it's not an exaggeration. In her younger days, she performed as a magic prodigy with her father and her grandfather. She knows every trick in the trade.
Thomas T. Theismann, billionaire investor, likes to throw money at his latest endeavors. And since the 1980's, Space exploration gets his attention. That's why he's called a group of scientists from various backgrounds to meet in New Mexico. His reps have sworn everyone to secrecy including the curious Theo. A signal has been transmitted from Space and received in the jungles of Guatemala. But as Carl Sagan has stated: "Extraordinary claims require extraordinary evidence."
Road trip......And what Theo and the others find within some deep caves in those jungles will be jaw-dropping. Science tries, through trial and error, to figure out the rules of the Universe. But this latest situation is just not following any kind of rules. And add to that, there are always blind spots in even the best in their expertise.
Theo Cray realizes that he has been called as a fill-in for the famous Dr. David Ikeda. Ikeda was found dead in his hotel room some time back. Suicide was the ruling. But Jessica is not so sure after she begins an investigation into his death. Her greatest fear is that Theo is in danger. What Jessica doesn't realize is that her name is on that death star as well.
There's plenty of excitement in The Final Equinox. I've enjoyed the pairing of Theo and Jessica together with their high intelligence and their snappy dialogue and comebacks. I would have liked them to have had a more extended adventure in Guatemala and in Ecuador. They were back in the U.S. in a heartbeat. There were also long passages of scientific explanations that leaned heavily at times and took us away from the intensity of the storyline.
The Final Equinox reads as a standalone, but there are earlier works of Andrew Mayne that feature Theo from the very beginning. Those are exceptional. The Final Equinox just makes you cast your eyes to the skies and wonder what all those strange lights are out of nowhere in the late, late night sky.
I received a copy of this book through NetGalley for an honest review. My thanks to Thomas & Mercer and to the talented Andrew Mayne for the opportunity.
Andrew Mayne brings together the dynamic duo of Dr. Theo Cray and Jessica Blackwood in this second edition of this series. Theo is a computational biologist as well as a computer modeling expert. Jessica is his girlfriend who happens to be an outstanding FBI agent. When we say that Jessica has plenty of tricks up her sleeve, it's not an exaggeration. In her younger days, she performed as a magic prodigy with her father and her grandfather. She knows every trick in the trade.
Thomas T. Theismann, billionaire investor, likes to throw money at his latest endeavors. And since the 1980's, Space exploration gets his attention. That's why he's called a group of scientists from various backgrounds to meet in New Mexico. His reps have sworn everyone to secrecy including the curious Theo. A signal has been transmitted from Space and received in the jungles of Guatemala. But as Carl Sagan has stated: "Extraordinary claims require extraordinary evidence."
Road trip......And what Theo and the others find within some deep caves in those jungles will be jaw-dropping. Science tries, through trial and error, to figure out the rules of the Universe. But this latest situation is just not following any kind of rules. And add to that, there are always blind spots in even the best in their expertise.
Theo Cray realizes that he has been called as a fill-in for the famous Dr. David Ikeda. Ikeda was found dead in his hotel room some time back. Suicide was the ruling. But Jessica is not so sure after she begins an investigation into his death. Her greatest fear is that Theo is in danger. What Jessica doesn't realize is that her name is on that death star as well.
There's plenty of excitement in The Final Equinox. I've enjoyed the pairing of Theo and Jessica together with their high intelligence and their snappy dialogue and comebacks. I would have liked them to have had a more extended adventure in Guatemala and in Ecuador. They were back in the U.S. in a heartbeat. There were also long passages of scientific explanations that leaned heavily at times and took us away from the intensity of the storyline.
The Final Equinox reads as a standalone, but there are earlier works of Andrew Mayne that feature Theo from the very beginning. Those are exceptional. The Final Equinox just makes you cast your eyes to the skies and wonder what all those strange lights are out of nowhere in the late, late night sky.
I received a copy of this book through NetGalley for an honest review. My thanks to Thomas & Mercer and to the talented Andrew Mayne for the opportunity.
September 1, 2022
The very smart and mega, mega rich dude, Thomas T. Theismann is obsessed with finding and making contact with other civilisations in the universe. By the weight of the sheer numbers of galaxies you could safely assume that we are not “alone”. So Theismann has spent several fortunes setting up research institutes and space observatories to search for that all elusive message. I mean we know humans have been sending all sorts of data out into space - music, digital encyclopaedias, Simpsons episodes for years. But so far nobody has “replied”. Until now!
The transmission seems to originate somewhere in the vicinity of Neptune. Computers translate the binary data into a message approximating “hello earthlings, we come in peace. A carefully crafted reply is sent and scientists are eagerly awaiting a response.
Dr Theo Cray, computational biologist and overall brainiac has been asked to visit one of the facilities in the Nevada desert. He is taking the place of David Ikeda who recently killed himself in his room during some conference. Theo is not sure why they want him there but treats it like any other job. Despite the NDA everyone had to sign he is in pretty constant contact with his girlfriend, Jessica Blackwood - FBI agent and specialist in debunking illusions. She tells him to be careful as she is not convinced of Ikeda’s suicide.
Soon Jessica joins Theo at the facility as more people have disappeared and at least one has been murdered. They travel to Guatemala as another signal seems to emanate from there. They also travel to Ecuador where they find a baffling structure. By now Theo is playing devil’s advocate and is trying to see how the messages could be spoofed if indeed that is what’s happening.
I love Andrew Mayne’s books and I love the Theo and Jessica characters, each has their own series as well. But, I found this book had less action than I would have liked and a bit too much “geek speak”. I can usually follow along quite well but this was next level it just confused me as I wasn’t sure what was supposed to real and what was made up gobbledygook. Unfortunately this lessened my enjoyment of the book a bit and I found myself skimming pages of jargon. Nevertheless I will always be keen to pick up a new Andrew Mayne book. Many thanks to Netgalley and Thomas & Mercer for the much appreciated arc which I reviewed voluntarily and honestly.
The transmission seems to originate somewhere in the vicinity of Neptune. Computers translate the binary data into a message approximating “hello earthlings, we come in peace. A carefully crafted reply is sent and scientists are eagerly awaiting a response.
Dr Theo Cray, computational biologist and overall brainiac has been asked to visit one of the facilities in the Nevada desert. He is taking the place of David Ikeda who recently killed himself in his room during some conference. Theo is not sure why they want him there but treats it like any other job. Despite the NDA everyone had to sign he is in pretty constant contact with his girlfriend, Jessica Blackwood - FBI agent and specialist in debunking illusions. She tells him to be careful as she is not convinced of Ikeda’s suicide.
Soon Jessica joins Theo at the facility as more people have disappeared and at least one has been murdered. They travel to Guatemala as another signal seems to emanate from there. They also travel to Ecuador where they find a baffling structure. By now Theo is playing devil’s advocate and is trying to see how the messages could be spoofed if indeed that is what’s happening.
I love Andrew Mayne’s books and I love the Theo and Jessica characters, each has their own series as well. But, I found this book had less action than I would have liked and a bit too much “geek speak”. I can usually follow along quite well but this was next level it just confused me as I wasn’t sure what was supposed to real and what was made up gobbledygook. Unfortunately this lessened my enjoyment of the book a bit and I found myself skimming pages of jargon. Nevertheless I will always be keen to pick up a new Andrew Mayne book. Many thanks to Netgalley and Thomas & Mercer for the much appreciated arc which I reviewed voluntarily and honestly.
July 4, 2022
This is the second book that combines two characters from two series by this author - Theo Cray and Jessica Blackwood. Already in the first book, I thought it was a very successful combination and I still think so. This time, Theo and Jessica spend less time together, at least in the first half of the book, but still work on the same cause - each from its own perspective and using their own unique skills.
This time, the case they are working on is not related to a serial killer, but it is about something completely different. Theo is asked to join a group of scientists working on a top-secret project that could be groundbreaking for humanity. But as usual with Theo, he distrusts everything he sees and is always looking for hidden patterns. And this time he may be right. The key to solving this mystery may be to answer the question of what happened to one of the scientists who previously participated in this project. This is what Jessica does.
Theo and Jessica are such fascinating characters. Watching their extraordinary minds work is always fun. I really like that working together makes their skills develop significantly. They are now able to analyze the problem not only in a way that is unique to them, but also learn from the experience of the other person. I guess you could also say that they're more aware of their limitations now, especially Theo.
The pace of the story is very fast, with some good twists. The plot is, as always, unique and very closely related to science and scientific discoveries. I like that this time Jessica and Theo are working on something other than a serial killer case, even though, of course, they are also solving several mysterious deaths and crimes.
If you haven't read the first book in this series, that won't be a problem. Like the fact that you haven't read any of the other books by this author, and this is your first meeting with Jessica and Theo.
As for me, I will definitely continue this series.
Thanks to NetGalley and Thomas & Mercer for providing me a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
This time, the case they are working on is not related to a serial killer, but it is about something completely different. Theo is asked to join a group of scientists working on a top-secret project that could be groundbreaking for humanity. But as usual with Theo, he distrusts everything he sees and is always looking for hidden patterns. And this time he may be right. The key to solving this mystery may be to answer the question of what happened to one of the scientists who previously participated in this project. This is what Jessica does.
Theo and Jessica are such fascinating characters. Watching their extraordinary minds work is always fun. I really like that working together makes their skills develop significantly. They are now able to analyze the problem not only in a way that is unique to them, but also learn from the experience of the other person. I guess you could also say that they're more aware of their limitations now, especially Theo.
The pace of the story is very fast, with some good twists. The plot is, as always, unique and very closely related to science and scientific discoveries. I like that this time Jessica and Theo are working on something other than a serial killer case, even though, of course, they are also solving several mysterious deaths and crimes.
If you haven't read the first book in this series, that won't be a problem. Like the fact that you haven't read any of the other books by this author, and this is your first meeting with Jessica and Theo.
As for me, I will definitely continue this series.
Thanks to NetGalley and Thomas & Mercer for providing me a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
January 18, 2023
Andrew Mayne brings two of his most complicated protagonists together once more for an adventure that is, literally, out of this world. Dr. Theo Cray and FBI Agent Jessica Blackwood explore the world of space and a few murders on Earth, trying to see how they might be interconnected. Cray uses his highly scientific mind to posit answers while gent Blackwood sticks to the facts to convey her thoughts. Mayne does a wonderful job, though the reader will have to remain attentive to catch all the banter found herein. A great addition to the series.
When Dr. Theo Cray is contacted to be a part of a highly secretive project, he is leery. The computational biologist has seen his share of fraudulent activities and is not entirely sold, but proves interested when presented with proof that a signal has been noted at the edge of the solar system. Other scientists have been brought in to consult, though it appears only Cray is completely grounded in analytical and provable thoughts to date. This leads to a trip down to Guatemala, where proof might be further presented and Cray is eager to see what awaits him.
Billionaire Thomas T. Theismann is at the heart of the project, having invested large sums to explore other intelligent life on other planets or in various galaxies. Cray follows along as well as he can, but enlists the assistance of his partner, FBI Agent Jessica Blackwood, to investigate the presumed murder of a previous scientist at the lab. Agent Blackwood soon discovers some mysterious goings-on at a recent conference and wonders if someone has been trying to cover something up from the authorities.
As Cray and Blackwood try to combine their investigations, they discover that Theismann’s life appears to mirror a poorly penned 1970s sci-fi horror novel. Could this be his plan, to use money and as-yet understood technology to bring his dreams to fruition? There are some troubling things that both discover, leading them to wonder if there is a more sinister aspect. With a cult-like group at the heart of things in Arizona, both will have to work their respective magical abilities to find the truth before they are the next victims. Mayne dazzles and invests a great deal into this latest novel, which is of the highest calibre.
I enjoyed my discovery of Andrew Mayne a few years ago, learning much about both these protagonists in their respective series. He has a way with any topic he chooses, pulling the reader into the middle and keeping them captivated throughout. Truth be told, the Cray series (and this one) are heavy on science, though Mayne tries to present it in such a way that the reader can digest. A strong story, full of great asides, kept me captivated until the final pages, as I tried to decipher just what Cray and Blackwood discovered and how the pieces fell into place.
While narrative flow is alway essential to a great book, I feel Mayne must also juggle trying to utilise the vast amount of science he wishes to include while staying ‘layperson’ enough for the reader. There is so much going on and so many angles that need addressing, keeping it straight and not losing the reader are much more difficult tasks. Mayne does so relatively well, using Jessica Blackwood to ensure that Theo Cray does not fly into too many feats of fancy (though he still does). Putting the Blackwood and Cray protagonists together has proven to be a great addition, creating a series that permits many more characters of differing backgrounds to pepper the pages of each novel. Mayne’s use of many and complex plot twists will surely work for some readers, though things do flirt with the line of being ‘overly technical’ at times too. I have thoroughly enjoyed all books that I’ve read by Andrew Mayne, though I do need to be at the top of my game to process them. Eager to see what’s next and where it will take things!
Kudos, Mr. Mayne, for keeping my non-scientific brain sharp as I try to decipher what’s going on whenever Theo Cray has something to say.
Love/hate the review? An ever-growing collection of others appears at:
http://pecheyponderings.wordpress.com/
April 16, 2022
My thanks to Thomas and Mercer, as well as to NetGalley, for the opportunity to read and review an early copy of The Final Equinox.
When a signal is detected at the outer edge of the solar system, computational biologist Dr. Theo Cray and magician-turned-FBI-agent Jessica Blackwood are looking ... and listening.
I absolutely love Theo Cray and Jessica Blackwood AND this series!! The humor in these books definitely keeps me hooked. Billionaire Thomas T. Theismann was certainly an interesting character. He’s spent a lifetime—and a fortune—trying to find out if we’re alone in the universe. I think we are all interested in that!
I'm taking one star off because some of the science went way over my head. (Quick! Where is my Science for Dummies book??) I still recommend The Final Equinox, though.
When a signal is detected at the outer edge of the solar system, computational biologist Dr. Theo Cray and magician-turned-FBI-agent Jessica Blackwood are looking ... and listening.
I absolutely love Theo Cray and Jessica Blackwood AND this series!! The humor in these books definitely keeps me hooked. Billionaire Thomas T. Theismann was certainly an interesting character. He’s spent a lifetime—and a fortune—trying to find out if we’re alone in the universe. I think we are all interested in that!
I'm taking one star off because some of the science went way over my head. (Quick! Where is my Science for Dummies book??) I still recommend The Final Equinox, though.
September 3, 2023
Dr. Theo Cray and FBI agent Jessica Blackwood return in this second novel in the series following up on their adventures in Mastermind. This time out they are a couple. In this story Theo is recruited to join a mysterious project. A group of scientists are searching for, and trying to contact, intelligent life somewhere in the cosmos. And a signal is received. The project is being funded by a reclusive billionaire, Thomas T. Theismann.
Theo is recruited because they need a new computational biologist. The previous guy, David Ikeda, died under strange circumstances. The death was ruled a suicide. Jessica is brought into the story when Theo asks her to look into it. And she has doubts about the suicide ... and Theo's safety.
Meanwhile back at the site of the project the signal points to Guatemala and a Mayan temple in the jungle. Theo is among a group dispatched to check it out and there the group dicovers the body of a cosmonaut in a sealed sarcophagus. I think it was at this point where the story seemed to veer off into the ridiculous and started reading like a Clive Cussler novel. Of course Jessica was able to explain it. She comes from a family of illusionists. I hope it isn't a spolier if I say it wasn't aliens who visited the Mayans and stopped off to pick up a cosmonaut on the way.
If a trip to the jungles of Guatemala isn't enough Theo and Jessica also take a trip to Ecuador and make another amazing disovery. By this point Theo is trying to figure out how the signals could be spoofed if they aren't the work of aliens.
This was an entertaining read. Not great literature by any stretch. But if you are looking for a quick and fun read this fits the bill. I enjoy the Theo and Jessica characters. Especially the dialogue between them. I don't know if the author plans to write a third book but if he does I would read it. This can be read as a standalone.
Theo is recruited because they need a new computational biologist. The previous guy, David Ikeda, died under strange circumstances. The death was ruled a suicide. Jessica is brought into the story when Theo asks her to look into it. And she has doubts about the suicide ... and Theo's safety.
Meanwhile back at the site of the project the signal points to Guatemala and a Mayan temple in the jungle. Theo is among a group dispatched to check it out and there the group dicovers the body of a cosmonaut in a sealed sarcophagus. I think it was at this point where the story seemed to veer off into the ridiculous and started reading like a Clive Cussler novel. Of course Jessica was able to explain it. She comes from a family of illusionists. I hope it isn't a spolier if I say it wasn't aliens who visited the Mayans and stopped off to pick up a cosmonaut on the way.
If a trip to the jungles of Guatemala isn't enough Theo and Jessica also take a trip to Ecuador and make another amazing disovery. By this point Theo is trying to figure out how the signals could be spoofed if they aren't the work of aliens.
This was an entertaining read. Not great literature by any stretch. But if you are looking for a quick and fun read this fits the bill. I enjoy the Theo and Jessica characters. Especially the dialogue between them. I don't know if the author plans to write a third book but if he does I would read it. This can be read as a standalone.
October 17, 2022
3 of 5 stars at The BiblioSanctum https://bibliosanctum.com/2022/10/14/...
I have certain expectations from an Andrew Mayne novel. That I would have to big time suspend my disbelief, perhaps. Or that things would be over-the-top bonkers or off the wall insane. What I didn’t expect, though, was to feel—GASP!—bored?
But that’s exactly what I thought of The Final Equinox. Not all of it, fortunately, but there were good chunks that left my mind zoning out and thinking of other things. It’s quite possible that the subject matter and themes might have been a factor. Because for the first time, a Theo Cray story got away from the murder mystery and hunting down a killer format to focus on something a bit more science-fictiony and out there—literally. The story begins with our favorite computation biologist and weirdo genius being summoned to a mysterious facility out in the middle of nowhere in the Nevada desert. No one will tell him anything about why he’s there until he agrees to sit through a presentation by the facility’s director, and out of sheer curiosity, Theo agrees.
And what he ends up learning is mind-staggering. For years, a billionaire named Thomas T. Theismann has been pouring his vast fortune and endless resources into his obsession of finding and making contact with alien life. At long last, it appears he has succeeded. A signal has been detected at the outer edges of the solar system, and now, along with group of other experts and supersmart individuals, Theo has been asked to help find the source. Later on, he discovers that he’s also there to replace another scientist, who recently killed himself. Feeling out of his depth, Theo covertly contacts his girlfriend Jessica Blackwood to ask her to look into the suspicious death. As their separate investigations gradually come together to form a larger disturbing picture, Theo and Jessica wonder how all of these strange happenings could be related.
At first, I was excited at the premise of The Final Equinox. Granted, it seemed a little outside the scope of Theo Cray’s usual adventures, but ever since he got together with Jessica Blackwood, his horizons have been broadened and I could hardly resist a story related to the search for first alien contact.
However, I ended up being less than impressed by the results. But first, let’s start with the positives. The globetrotting aspect of this series is one thing I’ve been enjoying greatly, and the trend continues here, with Theo and Jessica each setting off on their own assignments which take them to some fascinating, uncanny places. And for all that Theo and Jessica may seem like an odd pairing, I do like their unique dynamic, which makes for some interesting and witty conversations. Their different backgrounds also lead them to bring different strengths to the series. Theo, who is socially awkward, is at his best when he’s dealing with data, and not people. Jessica, on the other hand, is the complete opposite. Being raised in a family of magicians have taught her how to be a master of deception and play to a crowd’s emotions, skills that make it possible for her to blend into any social situation. Together, they make a formidable team.
And now for the not so great. I mentioned losing interest during certain parts of the story, and this was not exclusive to just one character’s POV. Overall, I enjoyed Theo’s chapters slightly more than Jessica’s, simply because I prefer his voice (audiobook narrator Will Damron had a lot to do with that too—he’s superb). Despite her unconventional childhood and extraordinary background, Jessica has always struck me as more of your standard mystery series heroine. Contrast that with Theo, whose personality makes his POV very distinctive and engaging to read. That said, even Theo’s chapters let me down this time. We’ve gone deep diving into heavy science and technology topics before in previous books, but the info-dumping and techo jargon in one just got waaaay out of hand. As I was listening to this audiobook, more than once I found my attention drifting, the first time this has ever happened to me with an Andrew Mayne book.
Don’t get me wrong, ultimately The Final Equinox was worth reading. Obviously, I’m not going to give away anything about the ending, but it was a good one. But boy, I do hope the author will go back to stories more in the vein of murder mysteries with his brand of wild action and fun shenanigans. I just hope this book isn’t setting the trend for future Theo Cray & Jessica Blackwood novels or I just might start regretting the two of them ever getting together! The good news is, the audiobook edition, which I was lucky enough to review, was a decent listen. Will Damron always delivers, he’s the perfect Theo Cray, and Jennifer O’Donnell also does a fantastic job as Jessica Blackwood.
I have certain expectations from an Andrew Mayne novel. That I would have to big time suspend my disbelief, perhaps. Or that things would be over-the-top bonkers or off the wall insane. What I didn’t expect, though, was to feel—GASP!—bored?
But that’s exactly what I thought of The Final Equinox. Not all of it, fortunately, but there were good chunks that left my mind zoning out and thinking of other things. It’s quite possible that the subject matter and themes might have been a factor. Because for the first time, a Theo Cray story got away from the murder mystery and hunting down a killer format to focus on something a bit more science-fictiony and out there—literally. The story begins with our favorite computation biologist and weirdo genius being summoned to a mysterious facility out in the middle of nowhere in the Nevada desert. No one will tell him anything about why he’s there until he agrees to sit through a presentation by the facility’s director, and out of sheer curiosity, Theo agrees.
And what he ends up learning is mind-staggering. For years, a billionaire named Thomas T. Theismann has been pouring his vast fortune and endless resources into his obsession of finding and making contact with alien life. At long last, it appears he has succeeded. A signal has been detected at the outer edges of the solar system, and now, along with group of other experts and supersmart individuals, Theo has been asked to help find the source. Later on, he discovers that he’s also there to replace another scientist, who recently killed himself. Feeling out of his depth, Theo covertly contacts his girlfriend Jessica Blackwood to ask her to look into the suspicious death. As their separate investigations gradually come together to form a larger disturbing picture, Theo and Jessica wonder how all of these strange happenings could be related.
At first, I was excited at the premise of The Final Equinox. Granted, it seemed a little outside the scope of Theo Cray’s usual adventures, but ever since he got together with Jessica Blackwood, his horizons have been broadened and I could hardly resist a story related to the search for first alien contact.
However, I ended up being less than impressed by the results. But first, let’s start with the positives. The globetrotting aspect of this series is one thing I’ve been enjoying greatly, and the trend continues here, with Theo and Jessica each setting off on their own assignments which take them to some fascinating, uncanny places. And for all that Theo and Jessica may seem like an odd pairing, I do like their unique dynamic, which makes for some interesting and witty conversations. Their different backgrounds also lead them to bring different strengths to the series. Theo, who is socially awkward, is at his best when he’s dealing with data, and not people. Jessica, on the other hand, is the complete opposite. Being raised in a family of magicians have taught her how to be a master of deception and play to a crowd’s emotions, skills that make it possible for her to blend into any social situation. Together, they make a formidable team.
And now for the not so great. I mentioned losing interest during certain parts of the story, and this was not exclusive to just one character’s POV. Overall, I enjoyed Theo’s chapters slightly more than Jessica’s, simply because I prefer his voice (audiobook narrator Will Damron had a lot to do with that too—he’s superb). Despite her unconventional childhood and extraordinary background, Jessica has always struck me as more of your standard mystery series heroine. Contrast that with Theo, whose personality makes his POV very distinctive and engaging to read. That said, even Theo’s chapters let me down this time. We’ve gone deep diving into heavy science and technology topics before in previous books, but the info-dumping and techo jargon in one just got waaaay out of hand. As I was listening to this audiobook, more than once I found my attention drifting, the first time this has ever happened to me with an Andrew Mayne book.
Don’t get me wrong, ultimately The Final Equinox was worth reading. Obviously, I’m not going to give away anything about the ending, but it was a good one. But boy, I do hope the author will go back to stories more in the vein of murder mysteries with his brand of wild action and fun shenanigans. I just hope this book isn’t setting the trend for future Theo Cray & Jessica Blackwood novels or I just might start regretting the two of them ever getting together! The good news is, the audiobook edition, which I was lucky enough to review, was a decent listen. Will Damron always delivers, he’s the perfect Theo Cray, and Jennifer O’Donnell also does a fantastic job as Jessica Blackwood.
May 16, 2022
This is a difficult review for me to write. Not because I do not know what to say, but because I hate to say it.
I love the books of Andrew Mayne. I get honestly excited when a new one comes out. I usually rip right through them in a day because they are so engrossing and fun... But in this case... sigh... I didn't love it. In fact, I barely liked it.
A signal is detected at the outer edge of the solar system. - is it truly contact from another planet/galaxy... The man at the center of this cosmic mystery is billionaire Thomas T. Theismann. He’s spent a lifetime—and a fortune—trying to find out if we’re alone in the universe. He hires a team to verify a signal that was received.
I loved the concept. I love the recurring characters. I found the information on space, and the search for other beings to be super interesting. But... I was bored. there was way too much detail, and not enough story. The details were so highly technical for so long that my head hurt. I had to stop and wonder what was going on. It almost felt as if the author wanted to spit out all of the knowledge about this (and it is vast) and then tried to build a story around it.
If you want a really good read - go back and read the authors others books. And start at the beginning so you get to know his characters. Then stop when you get to this one.. sigh..
3 stars because I just can't give him lower.. and I did finish it... And I don't honestly know if my disappointment is based on this book itself, or how far from my expectations this book was.
Thank you to the author, the publisher and #netgalley for the ARC which obviously did not impact my review.
I love the books of Andrew Mayne. I get honestly excited when a new one comes out. I usually rip right through them in a day because they are so engrossing and fun... But in this case... sigh... I didn't love it. In fact, I barely liked it.
A signal is detected at the outer edge of the solar system. - is it truly contact from another planet/galaxy... The man at the center of this cosmic mystery is billionaire Thomas T. Theismann. He’s spent a lifetime—and a fortune—trying to find out if we’re alone in the universe. He hires a team to verify a signal that was received.
I loved the concept. I love the recurring characters. I found the information on space, and the search for other beings to be super interesting. But... I was bored. there was way too much detail, and not enough story. The details were so highly technical for so long that my head hurt. I had to stop and wonder what was going on. It almost felt as if the author wanted to spit out all of the knowledge about this (and it is vast) and then tried to build a story around it.
If you want a really good read - go back and read the authors others books. And start at the beginning so you get to know his characters. Then stop when you get to this one.. sigh..
3 stars because I just can't give him lower.. and I did finish it... And I don't honestly know if my disappointment is based on this book itself, or how far from my expectations this book was.
Thank you to the author, the publisher and #netgalley for the ARC which obviously did not impact my review.
November 19, 2022
A competent, well-paced sequel. Narrators are doing a good job, so it works well as an audiobook.
April 29, 2022
I really hope that the “final” in the title has nothing to do with this series because I love these characters with a passion. If Theo Cray and Jessica Blackwood were awesome on their own, together they are unstoppable. What one lacks, the other brings, and this time their case is spectacular! Theo is invited to a secret compound to help prove - or discredit - a signal from outer space. The author is obviously very bright and Theo is a literal genius, so it’s fun to hear his position on extraterrestrial lifeforms and the possibility of first contact. Jessica not only humanizes him, but serves as an interpreter for readers without a PhD. There are a few spots that seemed a little too rushed and were not explained properly, but the plot is so entertaining that I didn’t mind. The dialogues are very funny and watching Theo and Jessica navigate a real, adult relationship, is very touching. Five stars (including any habitable planets surrounding them).
I chose to read this book and all opinions in this review are my own and completely unbiased. Thank you, #NetGalley/#Thomas & Mercer!
I chose to read this book and all opinions in this review are my own and completely unbiased. Thank you, #NetGalley/#Thomas & Mercer!
April 4, 2022
I've read all the Theo Cray books and all of Jessica Blackwood books. So this was a real treat for me to have them together. I really like the way the stories develop piece by piece (and sneakily teach me things I didn't know before). I hope there will be plenty more Theo & Jessica books.
August 27, 2022
Book Review: The Final Equinox (Theo Cray and Jessica Blackwood #2) by Andrew Mayne
Published by Thomas & Mercer, September 13, 2022
★★★★☆ (3.75 Stars)
Mixed!
The most notable change in this "Theo Cray" book compared with previous editions in the series, is its absence of profanity.
I decided to give author Andrew Mayne another look, five years after I read the first two Kindle offerings of his "Theo Cray" series: "The Naturalist" (2017), and "Looking Glass" (2018).
Like many readers, I was then turned off by the profanity.
It was quite incomprehensible that the protagonist, painstakingly portrayed as an erudite, highly-educated college professor /computational biologist, would drop the "F-BOMB" in almost every page of both first books as though he lacked the vocabulary to expression exasperation - or fright.
I was happy to be spared this time. So many books to read, so to speak.
The Andrew Mayne brand, I notice after reading three books, consistently shoots for the sky, so I was prepared for a brilliant plot, cutting-edge scientific theorem and technological jargon, at times arguably in the "Believe It Or Not" category, gadgetry - and magic, the author being a noted magician, inventor, diver and TV show host, alongside his Edgar award achievements.
In "The Final Equinox", the paradoxical vision of a Yuri Gagarin-era cosmonaut entombed intact inside a hermetically-sealed ancient Mayan sarcophagus deep in the Guatemalan jungle, is paired with extraterrestrial interactive communications triangulated to the planet Uranus.
What a premise, setting such high expectations!
I read with bated breath. This has to be where the talented author segues to what may be a new genre in his writing, new dimensions and worlds to conquer.
Alas, this was not to be. The finale falls far short.
But the story does have its brilliancies.
Review based on an advanced reading copy courtesy of Thomas & Mercer, and NetGalley.
Published by Thomas & Mercer, September 13, 2022
★★★★☆ (3.75 Stars)
Mixed!
The most notable change in this "Theo Cray" book compared with previous editions in the series, is its absence of profanity.
I decided to give author Andrew Mayne another look, five years after I read the first two Kindle offerings of his "Theo Cray" series: "The Naturalist" (2017), and "Looking Glass" (2018).
Like many readers, I was then turned off by the profanity.
It was quite incomprehensible that the protagonist, painstakingly portrayed as an erudite, highly-educated college professor /computational biologist, would drop the "F-BOMB" in almost every page of both first books as though he lacked the vocabulary to expression exasperation - or fright.
I was happy to be spared this time. So many books to read, so to speak.
"The Final Equinox" (2022) by Andrew Mayne
The Andrew Mayne brand, I notice after reading three books, consistently shoots for the sky, so I was prepared for a brilliant plot, cutting-edge scientific theorem and technological jargon, at times arguably in the "Believe It Or Not" category, gadgetry - and magic, the author being a noted magician, inventor, diver and TV show host, alongside his Edgar award achievements.
In "The Final Equinox", the paradoxical vision of a Yuri Gagarin-era cosmonaut entombed intact inside a hermetically-sealed ancient Mayan sarcophagus deep in the Guatemalan jungle, is paired with extraterrestrial interactive communications triangulated to the planet Uranus.
What a premise, setting such high expectations!
I read with bated breath. This has to be where the talented author segues to what may be a new genre in his writing, new dimensions and worlds to conquer.
Alas, this was not to be. The finale falls far short.
But the story does have its brilliancies.
Review based on an advanced reading copy courtesy of Thomas & Mercer, and NetGalley.
January 30, 2023
Great series.... have to wait to read number 3 when it is released.
October 20, 2022
I really should get used to and expect things to be a little crazy when Theo and Jessica are involved. This one started out a bit normal, Theo at home, Jessica on a case. Jessica's case had me rolling my eyes, stupid, stupid girls, I'm glad that she communicated that to them. I found it interesting how Theo got pulled into the odd situation he did, was glad he gave them a crazy fee for consultation, he actually earned it!
I loved how both Theo and Jessica knew there would be a time when they would need to communicate without others know it. Their coded phone calls made me laugh, what Theo actually said was so different from what he meant, but I was also glad that Jessica realized he was in over his head and was able to go there and help him.
The whole alien thing just seemed weird to me. It was odd how some of the people were so into it and believed with their whole heart, others it was a job. But the oddest thing was how the benefactor had so many businesses doing different things and how they were all connected. It seemed to take Jessica a while to figure that out, but once they knew that most of the other things fell into place.
The big reveal at the end had me laughing, but I know there were people there that were heart broken over what Theo showed them. But at least now they weren't being taken advantage of any longer.
I loved how both Theo and Jessica knew there would be a time when they would need to communicate without others know it. Their coded phone calls made me laugh, what Theo actually said was so different from what he meant, but I was also glad that Jessica realized he was in over his head and was able to go there and help him.
The whole alien thing just seemed weird to me. It was odd how some of the people were so into it and believed with their whole heart, others it was a job. But the oddest thing was how the benefactor had so many businesses doing different things and how they were all connected. It seemed to take Jessica a while to figure that out, but once they knew that most of the other things fell into place.
The big reveal at the end had me laughing, but I know there were people there that were heart broken over what Theo showed them. But at least now they weren't being taken advantage of any longer.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 15, 2023
4 stars
Andrew Mayne has developed some interesting characters to pursue unusual mystery solutions. This is the second in the series that combines two of those characters: Jessica Blackwood, an FBI agent who starred as a rising magician earlier in her life; and, Theo Cray, a Computational Biologist specializing in determining pattern in nature and predicting behavior as a way to solve mysteries.
This book begins with Jessica in pursuit of "Treeman", a regional legend thought to live in the forest but not considered dangerous until two teenage girls go missing with significant amounts of their blood is found in the forest after recently posting a video depicting them searching for the legend late one night.
Theo finds himself invited to join a group of specialized scientists with only the assurance that he would find his time interesting and the compensation significant. After an interview he finds peculiar, he is flown to a very remote research station where he finds it is being financed by a noted billionaire. The research: communicating with aliens. The research group believes they have been contacted by an alien probe. Theo and other specialists are intended to confirm or disprove the validity of the communication. Though suspicious, Theo considers the potential as (in his terms) a non-zero.
After Jessica solves her case, she becomes intrigued by Theo's situation and in particular the death of a scientist Theo believes he is replacing.
Andrew Mayne dreams up interesting and unusual mysteries for solving by his unusual main characters. Fun reads.
Andrew Mayne has developed some interesting characters to pursue unusual mystery solutions. This is the second in the series that combines two of those characters: Jessica Blackwood, an FBI agent who starred as a rising magician earlier in her life; and, Theo Cray, a Computational Biologist specializing in determining pattern in nature and predicting behavior as a way to solve mysteries.
This book begins with Jessica in pursuit of "Treeman", a regional legend thought to live in the forest but not considered dangerous until two teenage girls go missing with significant amounts of their blood is found in the forest after recently posting a video depicting them searching for the legend late one night.
Theo finds himself invited to join a group of specialized scientists with only the assurance that he would find his time interesting and the compensation significant. After an interview he finds peculiar, he is flown to a very remote research station where he finds it is being financed by a noted billionaire. The research: communicating with aliens. The research group believes they have been contacted by an alien probe. Theo and other specialists are intended to confirm or disprove the validity of the communication. Though suspicious, Theo considers the potential as (in his terms) a non-zero.
After Jessica solves her case, she becomes intrigued by Theo's situation and in particular the death of a scientist Theo believes he is replacing.
Andrew Mayne dreams up interesting and unusual mysteries for solving by his unusual main characters. Fun reads.
October 21, 2023
There is just something about Theo Cray that is always intriguing even when his pissing everyone off while broadcasting that he is the smartest guy in the room. And if anyone has the ability to prove contact with aliens has happened it would be Theo Cray.
Another good pair up with Jessica Blackwood, these two work well with and off of each other. And even though I think I enjoy the books with Theo off on his own these are a close second. With the two watching each other's back they are able to avoid possible blind spots they have on their own. Of course that doesn't mean that together they won't find a different type of trouble together.
Another good pair up with Jessica Blackwood, these two work well with and off of each other. And even though I think I enjoy the books with Theo off on his own these are a close second. With the two watching each other's back they are able to avoid possible blind spots they have on their own. Of course that doesn't mean that together they won't find a different type of trouble together.
September 22, 2022
As awesome as I expected it to be. The ending seemed a little rushed to me but Mayne’s books are so good they always seem too short! I hope “final” in the title doesn’t mean this is the final installment in the Theo/Jessica books.
July 19, 2022
I’m a huge fan of Andrew Mayne’s Jessica Blackwood series, which made this book a must-read for me the instant I saw it. Even better, it’s the second time Mayne is teaming Jessica up with Dr. Theo Cray, the protagonist of the author’s other popular series. Jessica is a magician-turned-FBI-agent, and Theo is a computational biologist and skeptic who is trained to see patterns where others see chaos. In this novel, Theo is summoned to join a group of scientists trying to interpret whether an apparently interplanetary signal is coming from intelligent life elsewhere in our universe.
I wish I could say I loved this book. I did like it, but it left me wanting more of what makes Mayne’s novels so great. This book is very heavy on the science and way too light on the storyline. I get it – Mayne knows a lot about the subject and is sharing his research with the reader – but it feels like a data dump at times. While it’s undeniably an interesting topic, the “it factor” behind Mayne’s other clever and compelling thrillers is missing here. We are introduced to an extensive cast of scientists, but they aren’t well developed and I couldn’t keep them all straight. I love the interplay between Theo and Jessica, but I wanted more of it, as they spend most of the story working in parallel rather than together. I also wanted more of Jessica and her butt-kicking magician-style crime solving, but she feels more like a supporting character to Theo rather than the absolute bad-a$$ female protagonist she usually is.
I’d recommend this book for fans of Andrew Mayne’s other work. While this reads perfectly fine as a standalone, if you’re new to Mayne, I highly recommend going back and reading Angel Falls or The Naturalist to see what makes Mayne’s stories so intriguing and original, and what makes these two main characters so awesome.
Many thanks to NetGalley and Thomas & Mercer for providing me an advance copy of this book.
I wish I could say I loved this book. I did like it, but it left me wanting more of what makes Mayne’s novels so great. This book is very heavy on the science and way too light on the storyline. I get it – Mayne knows a lot about the subject and is sharing his research with the reader – but it feels like a data dump at times. While it’s undeniably an interesting topic, the “it factor” behind Mayne’s other clever and compelling thrillers is missing here. We are introduced to an extensive cast of scientists, but they aren’t well developed and I couldn’t keep them all straight. I love the interplay between Theo and Jessica, but I wanted more of it, as they spend most of the story working in parallel rather than together. I also wanted more of Jessica and her butt-kicking magician-style crime solving, but she feels more like a supporting character to Theo rather than the absolute bad-a$$ female protagonist she usually is.
I’d recommend this book for fans of Andrew Mayne’s other work. While this reads perfectly fine as a standalone, if you’re new to Mayne, I highly recommend going back and reading Angel Falls or The Naturalist to see what makes Mayne’s stories so intriguing and original, and what makes these two main characters so awesome.
Many thanks to NetGalley and Thomas & Mercer for providing me an advance copy of this book.
May 9, 2022
Thank you NetGalley and Thomas & Mercer for the copy of The Final Equinox. I love the Theo and Jessica books. I love the characters and the mixture of science and magician tricks is addictive. Of course the writing is as great as usual in these books. The story was intriguing even though the science was a little over my head. If you are more versed in programming you would love this, for me it was a little tough going but not enough to ruin the book. If you're looking for a book that will make you wonder about the possibility of alien life and communication and keep you on your toes to find out what happens next, go read this book! 4.5 stars rounded up to 5.
September 17, 2022
For the second time, following the success of the thriller MASTERMIND, author Andrew Mayne has brought together the protagonists of two of his acclaimed series --- computational biologist Dr. Theo Cray and magician-turned-FBI-agent Jessica Blackwood.
THE FINAL EQUINOX will take Cray and Blackwood into a possible conspiracy that has cosmic consequences including the possible proof of intelligent life at the far reaches of our solar system. Dr. Theo Cray is barely finished with a case involving a deadly AI when he receives a mysterious phone call from someone claiming to require his expertise in person. They are unwilling to indicate who they are working on behalf of but make it clear that money is no object and they are willing to do whatever it takes to acquire his expert opinion in a vital manner.
After assuring for himself that the matter is not a criminal one, Cray agrees to go. He finds himself swiftly taken along with a few other individuals to a location somewhere in the desert out West. It is there where Cray is questioned hard by a small panel of people about his belief in UAP’s or Unidentified Aerial Phenomena. Once he is offered a contract for his services, based upon his honest answers, Cray then learns that the benefactor of this mysterious getaway was none other than the billionaire Thomas T. Theismann. It is known to Cray that Theismann has spent a fortune trying to prove the existence of intelligent life in the universe.
Once Cray meets the rest of the team that has been gathered, as well as the experts working at the site, he learns that they claim to have received an audio response from somewhere around the planet Neptune from a message they had sent out into space. Cray, of course, brings immediate speculation to the proceedings which is what they wanted from him. Further exploration reveals that the message may have been speaking to a location on earth, somewhere amidst the Incan ruins. That of course means that Cray’s next stop will be the jungles of Guatemala to confirm this.
Working with an archaeologist named Trevor, Cray and he plan their journey to the GPS point where this supposed communication came from. The contact they received back had come from someone or something calling themselves Seeker and the message sounded too benign for Cray to be anything but computer or AI generated. During all of this, Cray needs to reach out to assistance from the outside world for some information he knows he will not get while he is with the Theismann people. A coded message sent to his old colleague, Agent Jessica Blackwood, has her look into the person who Cray was brought in to replace --- a Dr. David Ikeda who allegedly died at his own hand.
This brings us to Jessica Blackwood who is just coming off another tough case, this one involving a high-profile kidnapping, as she dives into research and investigation for Dr. Cray to assist him with information regarding the situation he now finds himself in. Cray and Trevor return to their base in the desert and it is here where Dr Cray has decided to bring in Agent Blackwood as security detail since his mission in the jungle turned fairly dangerous. Cray and Blackwood begin to believe that there is something else going on, something far more sinister than mere deep space communication. The question remains who and why --- was the elderly Theismann even aware of a potential conspiracy or was something legitimately unprecedented taking place and an unknown party was seeking to cover something up about it, at any cost?
Reading any Andrew Mayne novel is pure enjoyment and you always come away learning something. His own personal work with AI as well as a prior career as a magician means he always has something up his sleeve. The mix of science, thrills, and intrigue calls to mind the work of writers like James Rollins and even the late Michael Crichton. THE FINAL EQUINOX has it all and show why Andrew Mayne is one of the brightest talents working in the thriller field today.
Reviewed by Ray Palen for Book Reporter
THE FINAL EQUINOX will take Cray and Blackwood into a possible conspiracy that has cosmic consequences including the possible proof of intelligent life at the far reaches of our solar system. Dr. Theo Cray is barely finished with a case involving a deadly AI when he receives a mysterious phone call from someone claiming to require his expertise in person. They are unwilling to indicate who they are working on behalf of but make it clear that money is no object and they are willing to do whatever it takes to acquire his expert opinion in a vital manner.
After assuring for himself that the matter is not a criminal one, Cray agrees to go. He finds himself swiftly taken along with a few other individuals to a location somewhere in the desert out West. It is there where Cray is questioned hard by a small panel of people about his belief in UAP’s or Unidentified Aerial Phenomena. Once he is offered a contract for his services, based upon his honest answers, Cray then learns that the benefactor of this mysterious getaway was none other than the billionaire Thomas T. Theismann. It is known to Cray that Theismann has spent a fortune trying to prove the existence of intelligent life in the universe.
Once Cray meets the rest of the team that has been gathered, as well as the experts working at the site, he learns that they claim to have received an audio response from somewhere around the planet Neptune from a message they had sent out into space. Cray, of course, brings immediate speculation to the proceedings which is what they wanted from him. Further exploration reveals that the message may have been speaking to a location on earth, somewhere amidst the Incan ruins. That of course means that Cray’s next stop will be the jungles of Guatemala to confirm this.
Working with an archaeologist named Trevor, Cray and he plan their journey to the GPS point where this supposed communication came from. The contact they received back had come from someone or something calling themselves Seeker and the message sounded too benign for Cray to be anything but computer or AI generated. During all of this, Cray needs to reach out to assistance from the outside world for some information he knows he will not get while he is with the Theismann people. A coded message sent to his old colleague, Agent Jessica Blackwood, has her look into the person who Cray was brought in to replace --- a Dr. David Ikeda who allegedly died at his own hand.
This brings us to Jessica Blackwood who is just coming off another tough case, this one involving a high-profile kidnapping, as she dives into research and investigation for Dr. Cray to assist him with information regarding the situation he now finds himself in. Cray and Trevor return to their base in the desert and it is here where Dr Cray has decided to bring in Agent Blackwood as security detail since his mission in the jungle turned fairly dangerous. Cray and Blackwood begin to believe that there is something else going on, something far more sinister than mere deep space communication. The question remains who and why --- was the elderly Theismann even aware of a potential conspiracy or was something legitimately unprecedented taking place and an unknown party was seeking to cover something up about it, at any cost?
Reading any Andrew Mayne novel is pure enjoyment and you always come away learning something. His own personal work with AI as well as a prior career as a magician means he always has something up his sleeve. The mix of science, thrills, and intrigue calls to mind the work of writers like James Rollins and even the late Michael Crichton. THE FINAL EQUINOX has it all and show why Andrew Mayne is one of the brightest talents working in the thriller field today.
Reviewed by Ray Palen for Book Reporter
September 8, 2022
The Final Equinox by Andrew Mayne is a very highly recommended thriller with a world traveling science fiction theme.
After opening with an interesting autopsy in Atlanta attended by computational biologist Dr. Theo Cray, the plot takes a turn to New Mexico. Billionaire Thomas T. Theismann has been spending a fortune and years on trying to find extraterrestrial intelligent life in the universe and when he believes he has received an alien signal, Cray is one of the experts he hires as an advisor. In the meantime, Cray's girlfriend, magician-turned-FBI-agent Jessica Blackwood is on another case when she learns information, the death of David Ikeda, which has her very concerned for Cray's health. Blackwood finds a way in to join Cray and take a deep look into what is happening in Theismann's companies and the two face dangers that seem to be other worldly.
The discussions and interactions between Cray and Blackwood as they both use their intelligence and skills to uncover what is happening is absolutely riveting. Their interactions and insight is what makes this a wonderful thriller for action as well as perfect escapism as they both logically examine what is going on. I highly recommended their first collaboration in Mastermind, but The Final Equinox is even better. This is really a fascinating, compelling thriller and kept me glued to the pages throughout.
Both Theo Cray and Jessica Blackwood are fully realized characters. Their individual expertise, background, and strengths are fully established and clearly portrayed in the plot. Following the logical threads of the investigation through their unique personalities and outlook is irresistible.
Cray and Blackwood pursuing the clues and investigating where the signals are coming from and what could be really happening is where the action is at and worth your time to read. The collaboration between Cray and Blackwood is what pushes this novel to my highest recommendation. I totally loved this second outing of Cray and Blackwood together. Their thought processes and dialogue is pitch perfect. Hopefully I'll see another complicated and intricate case set before the pair.
Disclosure: My review copy was courtesy of Thomas & Mercer via NetGalley.
http://www.shetreadssoftly.com/2022/0...
After opening with an interesting autopsy in Atlanta attended by computational biologist Dr. Theo Cray, the plot takes a turn to New Mexico. Billionaire Thomas T. Theismann has been spending a fortune and years on trying to find extraterrestrial intelligent life in the universe and when he believes he has received an alien signal, Cray is one of the experts he hires as an advisor. In the meantime, Cray's girlfriend, magician-turned-FBI-agent Jessica Blackwood is on another case when she learns information, the death of David Ikeda, which has her very concerned for Cray's health. Blackwood finds a way in to join Cray and take a deep look into what is happening in Theismann's companies and the two face dangers that seem to be other worldly.
The discussions and interactions between Cray and Blackwood as they both use their intelligence and skills to uncover what is happening is absolutely riveting. Their interactions and insight is what makes this a wonderful thriller for action as well as perfect escapism as they both logically examine what is going on. I highly recommended their first collaboration in Mastermind, but The Final Equinox is even better. This is really a fascinating, compelling thriller and kept me glued to the pages throughout.
Both Theo Cray and Jessica Blackwood are fully realized characters. Their individual expertise, background, and strengths are fully established and clearly portrayed in the plot. Following the logical threads of the investigation through their unique personalities and outlook is irresistible.
Cray and Blackwood pursuing the clues and investigating where the signals are coming from and what could be really happening is where the action is at and worth your time to read. The collaboration between Cray and Blackwood is what pushes this novel to my highest recommendation. I totally loved this second outing of Cray and Blackwood together. Their thought processes and dialogue is pitch perfect. Hopefully I'll see another complicated and intricate case set before the pair.
Disclosure: My review copy was courtesy of Thomas & Mercer via NetGalley.
http://www.shetreadssoftly.com/2022/0...
October 11, 2022
Did I fall into Asimov’s Elijah Baley robot series? Wait . . . is there a murder bot?
“The Final Equinox” opens with mu2, an inactivated bipedal robot, being examined on a lab table. Its developers think mu2 bashed in the head of its engineer-creator, who is now in an ICU. Did mu2 intentionally harm its creator? I was reminded of “The Caves of Steel,” plus the second chapter’s eye-rolling title is “The Three Laws.”
This murder mystery features Dr. Theo Cray—brilliant scientist, serial-killer-hunter, and amateur detective—and Jessica Blackwood, who is Cray’s partner and an FBI agent with a background in magic and illusions. I like the two characters working as a team, because Blackwood’s missing persons case helps to lighten the science-heavy Theo Cray chapters.
Early on, the plot seems to be sci-fi-suspense, with a mélange of paranormal and supernatural elements. The author also tosses in ancient aliens, ufology, Soviet cosmonauts, and Mayan sarcophagus—so yes to pseudoscience and pseudo-history. The storyline takes a while to fully settle into crime fiction, although Theo Cray’s chapters always has maths, tech, hard sciences, etc. I followed the science and tech jargon, and I kept up with Dr. Cray’s more convoluted storyline. I eventually did guess the villain’s identity, but I read on to see how the author handled the denouement. Overall, a good read.
“The Final Equinox” opens with mu2, an inactivated bipedal robot, being examined on a lab table. Its developers think mu2 bashed in the head of its engineer-creator, who is now in an ICU. Did mu2 intentionally harm its creator? I was reminded of “The Caves of Steel,” plus the second chapter’s eye-rolling title is “The Three Laws.”
This murder mystery features Dr. Theo Cray—brilliant scientist, serial-killer-hunter, and amateur detective—and Jessica Blackwood, who is Cray’s partner and an FBI agent with a background in magic and illusions. I like the two characters working as a team, because Blackwood’s missing persons case helps to lighten the science-heavy Theo Cray chapters.
Early on, the plot seems to be sci-fi-suspense, with a mélange of paranormal and supernatural elements. The author also tosses in ancient aliens, ufology, Soviet cosmonauts, and Mayan sarcophagus—so yes to pseudoscience and pseudo-history. The storyline takes a while to fully settle into crime fiction, although Theo Cray’s chapters always has maths, tech, hard sciences, etc. I followed the science and tech jargon, and I kept up with Dr. Cray’s more convoluted storyline. I eventually did guess the villain’s identity, but I read on to see how the author handled the denouement. Overall, a good read.
May 13, 2022
Mystery/Thriller
Andrew Mayne crushes the Smart Thriller genre once again!
I fell in love with Theo Cray in The Naturalist series and I also love the character of Jessica Blackwood in her series, so bringing these two beloved characters together is genius. Theo is a computational biologist who made his name when he captured a few serial killers. He also gave all his money away and not only became a possible suspect in some of the murder mysteries he solved, but managed to piss off the government. Jessica is a former magician turned FBI agent who solves some of the truly mysterious crimes the FBI gets involved in.
Theo gets hired to work on a super secret project. He isn't even allowed to know what it is until he goes through an interview process, signs and NDA and arrives onsite. When Jessica hears from Theo about what he has gotten involved in, she too, gets involved in the project. I don't want to reveal too much but the project is a doozy. Mayne clearly loves science and we are treated to some very intellectual problems - these things get explained so that a layman can understand, but some of these items are very abstract concepts. If you loved Andy Weir's The Martian then this a book for you!
What was missing for me was more of that human interaction between Jessica and Theo. In fact, I think there wasn't enough humanity in the book, period. Part of that is due to the subject matter, and part of that is because the book is told in dual POV's and Theo and Jessica are often working independently here.
Andrew Mayne is still a favorite author when I want a smart fast paced thriller. His books are simply fantastic, I just didn't love this one as much as some of the others.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for my ARC of this novel.
Andrew Mayne crushes the Smart Thriller genre once again!
I fell in love with Theo Cray in The Naturalist series and I also love the character of Jessica Blackwood in her series, so bringing these two beloved characters together is genius. Theo is a computational biologist who made his name when he captured a few serial killers. He also gave all his money away and not only became a possible suspect in some of the murder mysteries he solved, but managed to piss off the government. Jessica is a former magician turned FBI agent who solves some of the truly mysterious crimes the FBI gets involved in.
Theo gets hired to work on a super secret project. He isn't even allowed to know what it is until he goes through an interview process, signs and NDA and arrives onsite. When Jessica hears from Theo about what he has gotten involved in, she too, gets involved in the project. I don't want to reveal too much but the project is a doozy. Mayne clearly loves science and we are treated to some very intellectual problems - these things get explained so that a layman can understand, but some of these items are very abstract concepts. If you loved Andy Weir's The Martian then this a book for you!
What was missing for me was more of that human interaction between Jessica and Theo. In fact, I think there wasn't enough humanity in the book, period. Part of that is due to the subject matter, and part of that is because the book is told in dual POV's and Theo and Jessica are often working independently here.
Andrew Mayne is still a favorite author when I want a smart fast paced thriller. His books are simply fantastic, I just didn't love this one as much as some of the others.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for my ARC of this novel.
February 9, 2023
Rating: 3 stars
This is the second book in this series which currently only has two books. If a third is written, I'd happily read it! I don't always understand the science behind Dr. Theo Cray's ideas and lessons, so I suspend belief and go with the broad concepts without getting frustrated. I've already read the previous book series (The Naturalist) featuring Dr. Cray. I like the personal and work relationship between Cray and Blackwood. I'm planning to read the Blackwood series to get more of Jessica's backstory.
A signal is detected at the outer edge of the solar system. Computational biologist Dr. Theo Cray and magician-turned-FBI-agent Jessica Blackwood are looking—and listening—a little closer. The man at the center of this cosmic mystery is billionaire Thomas T. Theismann. He’s spent a lifetime—and a fortune—trying to find out if we’re alone in the universe. Highly skeptical, Theo joins the effort to find the source of the signal, and he quickly enlists Jessica to look into the suspicious death of another academic at the lab. As their investigations converge, they uncover curious connections to the otherworldly contact, including a 1970s science-fiction writer and the body of a cosmonaut found buried in an ancient tomb.
This is the second book in this series which currently only has two books. If a third is written, I'd happily read it! I don't always understand the science behind Dr. Theo Cray's ideas and lessons, so I suspend belief and go with the broad concepts without getting frustrated. I've already read the previous book series (The Naturalist) featuring Dr. Cray. I like the personal and work relationship between Cray and Blackwood. I'm planning to read the Blackwood series to get more of Jessica's backstory.
A signal is detected at the outer edge of the solar system. Computational biologist Dr. Theo Cray and magician-turned-FBI-agent Jessica Blackwood are looking—and listening—a little closer. The man at the center of this cosmic mystery is billionaire Thomas T. Theismann. He’s spent a lifetime—and a fortune—trying to find out if we’re alone in the universe. Highly skeptical, Theo joins the effort to find the source of the signal, and he quickly enlists Jessica to look into the suspicious death of another academic at the lab. As their investigations converge, they uncover curious connections to the otherworldly contact, including a 1970s science-fiction writer and the body of a cosmonaut found buried in an ancient tomb.
May 3, 2022
Thank you to NetGalley for the privilege or reading this book in return for an honest review.
I read this as a stand alone book and have not had the privilege of reading the first book in the series. With that said, I really enjoyed this book! I loved the characters, especially Jessica Blackwood. The storyline, as well as the humor, kept me engaged. Once I started reading this book, I had a hard time putting it down. My only negative feedback is sometimes the science aspect was hard to follow, but I loved learning about it. Overall, I highly recommend!
I read this as a stand alone book and have not had the privilege of reading the first book in the series. With that said, I really enjoyed this book! I loved the characters, especially Jessica Blackwood. The storyline, as well as the humor, kept me engaged. Once I started reading this book, I had a hard time putting it down. My only negative feedback is sometimes the science aspect was hard to follow, but I loved learning about it. Overall, I highly recommend!
November 2, 2022
Love this series! Can’t wait for more! This is the second book in the series that was born from merging 2 unrelated series. The genius scientist detective Theo Cray is now in a relationship with magician FBI agent Jessica Blackwood. If you haven’t read the Blackwood or Cray series prior to this book or the first in the series, I don’t think you will enjoy it as much. I don’t know if having Jessica and Theo in a relationship really works for a sexual chemistry, but their brilliant minds make for a wild ride in figuring out if aliens have contacted earth. This book really gets your geek on! Love all the science and out of the box thinking they do, though the math and computer portions went over my head. But that’s the cool thing about Mayne’s writing, it is good even when it goes over your head. And his writing is always opening new and wonderful frontiers. It is entertaining AND makes you think!
Sign me up for anything Mayne writes and keep ‘em coming!
Highly recommend.
Sign me up for anything Mayne writes and keep ‘em coming!
Highly recommend.
October 27, 2022
Theo & Jessica do it again
I love this duo. Theo Cray and Jessica Blackwood are the ultimate power couple, in that they vanquish assassins and solve puzzles with their combined skills. The puzzle to be solved in this book in the series is on a cosmic scale, literally. It’s the revelation of a communication from a distant galaxy, unless they can prove it’s a hoax. Their efforts to do so place them in the crosshairs of a murderer. Meanwhile, the dead bodies are piling up. A thrill ride of a read.
I love this duo. Theo Cray and Jessica Blackwood are the ultimate power couple, in that they vanquish assassins and solve puzzles with their combined skills. The puzzle to be solved in this book in the series is on a cosmic scale, literally. It’s the revelation of a communication from a distant galaxy, unless they can prove it’s a hoax. Their efforts to do so place them in the crosshairs of a murderer. Meanwhile, the dead bodies are piling up. A thrill ride of a read.
April 18, 2024
Wow! This book was a crazy up and down ride. Some parts were waaay too science-y for me. Other parts were super cool! I laughed a lot. And some things made me think. I think the MMC and FMC are cute. The way they balance each other is 💙💙.
October 16, 2025
I’m a big fan of both characters in this books from having reading previous Andrew Mayne books featuring Theo Cray and Jessica Blackwood.
I was underwhelmed by the premise and story here, and it kinda felt like Mayne phoned it in for this one.
I was underwhelmed by the premise and story here, and it kinda felt like Mayne phoned it in for this one.
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