The Mastermind

by B.P. Stevens

Ian and his friends walk into the building where their teacher Dennis Walker has been held captive for the last three weeks. With Ian and Ashley getting closer than ever to unraveling the mystery of the kidnapped school teacher, the stakes are raised higher than ever. Ashley runs into more problems than she can handle at the precinct, and Ian comes face to face with the mastermind behind his teacher's disappearance. In a race against time to save Dennis Walker, Ian and his friends come face to face with unseen threats that leave the town of Belton rocked to its core.

From the author of the Shadow-Man series, B.P Stevens comes in No Trace, part of the Curious Series, a riveting collection of short stories about Ashley Wayman, a local detective hunting for the organization behind the suspicious disappearance of Dennis Walker. Follow Her in each installment, which can be read in a single sitting.

67 pages, Kindle Edition

Published December 31, 2022

Reviews

[Jerry Walch · Rating 5 out of 5]

Yes, this is Steven’s at his best. He’s raising the bar on the new cliffhanger thriller serials to a new height of perfection with The Curious Series. He has come a long way since the first episode of The Shadowman Series. Without the shadow of a doubt, B. P. Stevens is well on his way to becoming the master of the episodic thriller.

With The Mastermind, Ashley and her three young musketeers (Ian, Lincoln, and Badhardra) continue searching for the missing teacher, Dennis Walker. The tension is building at runaway freight train pace as the pieces fall into place. Little did they know just how much their own lives were in danger.
The Mastermind end in the traditional cliffhangers always ended when Max... well, read the book to find out what Max did. The question it left us with is, did Ian and Ashley survive the confrontation? We’ll just have to wait for the next episode, Book 5, to find out.

[Linda · Rating 4 out of 5]

While this book was just as short as the others in the series, it had more action. Ian and his friends dig deeper into the disappearance of their teacher. Ashley pushes too hard against the police chief and finds herself out on the street without a gun or her badge. Like before, this book ends in a cliff hanger. I still think all of these books could have been combined into one. But, they are short reads and hopefully we'll find out all the information and the corruption will be brought into the light. Looking forward to the next in the series and going back to read the first two.

I received an ARC copy of this book and this is my honest review.

[Teresa Daugherty · Rating 5 out of 5]

The questions continue

This is the 4th installment. We learn quite a bit about the mystery of Dennis 's disappearance.
Det. Ashley is banished by the Chief to looking thru old case file and forbidden to snoop. Max comes in and starts with Ashley. She takes Ashley's phone and breaks it and Ashley puts her hand on her gun...will she shoot Max? The Chief call Ashley into his office and relieves her of duty. Meanwhile Ian figures out Chester Labs and he and his friends go there and wrangle a tour.
I don't want to say more but it is coming to a end. Will it be the one we want?
I received this ARC from the author for an honest review.
Read this series. Its really good.

[PAR · Rating 5 out of 5]

Mastermind is part of the Curious Series. This series is focuses on the life and investigative work of Ashley Wayman. Ashley is a local detective. She is hunting for the organization behind the disappearance of Dennis Walker. Follow along with Detective Wayman as she filters through more leads than she can possibly handle. This is one exciting read. Be prepared, once you start you will not be able to set this book down. I highly recommend the work of BP Stevens. I received this novel from BookFunnel. This is my true and honest review.

[Cat B. · Rating 4 out of 5]

The story continues as Ashley pushes her luck in the precinct while the small group of teenagers push theirs at Chester Labs, fast talking their way into the building in their quest to find Dennis Walker. Neither endeavour goes well and there are consequences to their actions.Fourth in the Curious series the story is progressing nicely with each installment.
I received a complimentary copy of this book and this is my honest opinion of the tale.

[Billie · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a wonderful addition to this thrilling series!
Wonderful well written plot and story line that had me engaged from the start.
Love the well fleshed out characters and found them believable.
Great suspense and action with wonderful world building that adds so much to the story.
Such a thrilling read that I couldn't put it down.
Can't wait to read more of these.
Recommend reading.

I read a complimentary advance copy of the book; this is my voluntary and honest review.

[Artist_carrie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Corruption goes straight to the top. How will this end? Ashley lost her job plus her and the kids on on the wrong end, when everyone is against you what can you possibly do? I really enjoy this series can't wait to find out what happens next I received this as an ARC and voluntarily choose to reveiw

[Kenneth Lingenfelter · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ashley gets suspended from the police force by her chief. It looks like the chief is working for the man that is holding Dennis Walker for his research. Ian and his friends get a tour of Chester Labs and feel Mr. Walker is being held there. Max is out to kill Ashley and Ian. Max's father owns Chester Labs. More action as things heat up.

[Noleen Rubin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another very good book in the series. So difficult to find Mr Walker when the police chief is in cahoots with the criminals. Really hope they find him alive. It was a free book. Can't wait for the next book to see what happens.

[Becky · Rating 4 out of 5]

An exciting piece to this kidnapping thriller. The kids are in dangerous territory. Ali is in more danger than she even knows. Everyone is against them. How can they possibly get out of this safe? And save Mr. Walker?
I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book.

[Barbara Harrison · Rating 4 out of 5]

Set aside two hours for the fourth PG episode in the search for Belton High School teacher Dennis Walker, but it will make more sense if you read the earlier episodes first. I had an ARC via Bookfunnel and this is my voluntary review. 4 1/2*

[Deb · Rating 4 out of 5]

There is a bit more action in this installment. The reason Max is there is becoming apparent. The ending was a bit of a cliffhanger.

[Judy Morris · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great read Short and sweet.

This author is the greatest

[Karin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Where is Dennis Walker??? Can't trust the police??? Continued??? I enjoyed this story and recommend the book - as far as it went.

[Karin Tillotson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Almost there, aren't we???? I enjoyed this part of the story and recommended the book.

[Laurie Robertson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ian and his friends have cracked it, they learnt a lot more as the action picked up. Who to trust is really their biggest question. Ashley realized there is more factual evidence out there and gets a lot closer to understanding what it is all about, especially after her get together with the kids. The list of who is behind it all, abetting them, and who to avoid is growing as names become known, but there are also previously unknown faces making appearances and the totally unpredictable psychotic Max.

[Roger · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Mastermind (Curious Series Book 4), my eleventh read from author B.P Stevens. A 66-page read that grabbed me and kept me reading until I finished it in less than an hour. “I received a free Kindle copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review." The gifting of this book did not affect my opinion of it. I look forward to reading more from this author and in particular Last Stand (Curious Series Book 5), the next book in this series when it's published. (RIP Marley January 20, 2014 - July 24, 2018).