The nitty-gritty: Mayne continues his series about computational scientist/serial murder catcher Dr. Theo Cray, with another stellar entry that will terrify readers with its “what if?” premise.

Well, Andrew Mayne has done it again. Damn these stories are so much fun! I decided on a whim to pick up Murder Theory over the weekend and raced through it in only two days. If you’re new to The Naturalist series, Dr. Theo Crane is one of the most complex, intelligent and maddening protagonists I’ve ever run across. Maddening because he’s almost too smart for his own good and has a way of getting himself into a heap of trouble, even as he’s trying to do the right thing. Theo has a habit of hunting down serial killers—by himself, since most of the time his theories are so out there that the police don’t believe him—and this is what makes Mayne’s stories so good.

Theo has his own government-funded lab now and has hired top people to help him run it. He’s been tasked by his boss General Figueroa to come up with technology that can determine someone who might have “terrorist genes,” but in reality Theo is concentrating on his own personal projects. When the story begins, Theo has just found out about a strange murder that's been discovered at the site of the Toy Man murders, Theo’s last harrowing adventure from Looking Glass. Three lab techs were taking samples from the site and doing follow-up work, but now two of them are dead and one is missing. Theo is reluctant to revisit the site where he recently went through so much trauma, but he agrees to help out.

When the missing tech turns up, a man named Daniel Marcus, it’s clear to Theo that he killed the other two techs. But how to prove it? When the FBI interrogates Marcus, there’s something off about him, which puts Theo on a circuitous path to find out what made Marcus go crazy and turn on his friends. With the help of an FBI agent from D.C., Theo gets down to business, utilizing his unorthodox scientific methods to solve the crime. But as the clues are revealed, Theo realizes that they have an extremely intelligent killer on their hands, and in order to beat him, Theo is going to have to prove that he’s even smarter.

You really don’t need to read the other two books in the series to enjoy Murder Theory, as it stands alone quite nicely. However, Mayne does reference events and characters from those books, so new readers might stumble a bit. For example, in the first book, The Naturalist, Theo’s girlfriend Jillian plays a big part in the story, and while she does make an appearance or two in this book, she’s mostly in the background. New readers may wonder “who is Jillian?” because Mayne doesn’t rehash the past (thankfully!), but readers of the previous books will appreciate these brief scenes, which show Jillian’s snarky sense of humor and her ability to put up with such a wild card of a boyfriend.

Once again, Mayne adds lots of fascinating scientific details relating to the murders, and this time the plot revolves around viruses. Every time I read stories about viruses I’m reminded of how terrifying they are, and this book scared me to death! Mayne resorts to info-dumping at times in all his books, but it never bothers me because I learn so much. The reader follows his thought processes as he solves the mysteries of the murders, and trust me when I say that Theo’s mind is an intriguing place to visit.

But as smart as he is, Theo lacks the ability to stop himself from doing some crazy shit. There is one scene in this book that went WAY over the top from Theo’s behavior in the previous books, so much so that I almost started laughing. Ultimately it moved the story forward, but it was very hard to suspend my disbelief. Theo’s actions are becoming more and more risky as the books progress, so again, new readers might be shocked by his flagrant disregard for the law, especially since he’s such a high profile person now, famous in his own right for solving some “unsolvable” murders.

I also thought the ending wasn’t quite up to par with the first two books, in regards to the excitement and tension that I’ve come to expect from Mayne. That’s not to say that it wasn’t exciting, but for some reason it felt a bit flat to me. There is a WTF twist at the end, however, that made me wonder what Mayne will do in the next book. I guess time will tell!

Overall, I just love this series. Andrew Mayne continues to impress me with his near perfect pacing, vivid characterizations and the sheer amount of scientific detail that he smoothly inserts into an action-packed story.

Big thanks to the publisher for supplying a review copy.

Dr. Theo Cray is a very different protagonist than I typically see in murder mysteries. He’s a computational biologist and in the prior two books, he’s used his scientific methods to track down serial killers. As someone working with him says “ You’re like a time traveler trying to explain forensics to a bunch of medieval monks who still think in terms of humors and vital essences.”

Also, the premise of this book is very different than the normal murder mystery. Something at the burial site for the victims of the prior book is causing the technicians working there to become violent. Then Dr. Cray finds another situation of what he starts calling the Hyde virus (as in Dr. Jekyl and Mr. Hyde). What is the same and is starting to wear thin is the whole Dr. Cray against the government scenario.

Andrew Mayne doesn’t make it easy on his readers. There’s lot of scientific theory in all his books. I can’t imagine the amount of research he must do. For those that like to be made to think, these are enjoyable books. And despite all the science and AI, this is a fast paced story. Mayne has added some enjoyable secondary characters to this book and it’ll be interesting to see if they come back in book four. This one ends with a big cliffhanger.

This is the third in the series and I think the reader would benefit from having read the prior two.

My thanks to netgalley and Thomas & Mercer for an advance copy of this novel.

I was tipped off to this series by my podcast co-host, and decided to jump straight into MURDER THEORY because it was about a mad scientist trying to create serial killers. After a rough start, I was happy to find that Murder Theory delivers on this ridiculous premise. With its short chapters and science genius hero, it has the feeling of a punchy 1970s pulp series (like, say, The Big Brain), and I was also pleased to see the character engage in actual detective work. I would totally be on board for more of this series, assuming Dr. Cray (!!!) can get out of this one!

This is a story of "serial killer(s) that at times is hard to follow with Dr. Cray using computers and logic to solve the crime. But then he does go off the rails to prove his point when local law enforcement and FBI doesn't understand or accept his theory of how and why the crimes are being committed. This will keep you awake at night thinking of all the what ifs. I could not put this one down even as I rolled my eyes with the computer and logical analysis.

4.5 of 5 stars

The crime mystery and thriller genres are full of protagonists who claim they will go to any lengths to stop a killer, but computation biologist Dr. Theo Cray will give them all a run for their money in this totally insane and off-the-wall third volume of Andrew Mayne’s exciting Naturalist series. Once more our hero is on the trail of a serial killer, but this time, he may have met his match. You might even say that Theo is hunting for a dark version of himself, a difficult quandary that forces him to confront some uncomfortable truths about his own psyche.

Shortly after the events of Looking Glass, Theo has resumed his work on top secret projects for the government. However, the repercussions of his last investigation haunt him still. One day, he is approached by an FBI agent whose colleagues had been working on the site of where Theo had tracked down his last target, which was also where the murderer had buried all his victims’ remains. Now two of the agents are dead, and a third one is missing, presumably having gone on the run after killing the others. But when they catch the suspect, the man appears in shock with no memory of what happened. His erratic behavior, and the fact that those closest to him say they can’t even recognize him as the same person they once knew, led to MRI scans of his brain. And the results are terrifying.

Now Dr. Cray finds himself faced with the prospect of a literal mad scientist who is using their vast genius and knowledge to kill. Whoever it is, they’re also an expert in virology and pathological behavior, as well as a master at concealing their identity and not getting caught. And, Theo fears but is loath to admit, they might even be smarter than him.

Our protagonist has always been a driven man, motivated by problems to solve because they allow him to design models and exercise his intelligence, not to mention his work also saves lives and puts murderers out of commission. This time though, his ego is also a major driving force, and while he may be cognizant of the fact, his competitive streak stills gets him into all kinds of trouble. Of course, Theo being Theo, he’s no stranger to trouble, and half the fun of these books is watching him try to mentally MacGyver himself out of some super tight spots.

Things do take a slightly dark turn though, as Theo is pushed to the limits. Our boy takes vigilantism to a whole other level in this one, and if you thought his law-flouting and risk-taking was extreme in the previous books, just wait ‘til you see what he does here. There’s a lot I love about this series, including the thrilling action and fascinating science, but a big part of the enjoyment is also in watching the main character grow over time. In The Naturalist, Theo was a fledgling serial-killer hunter whose naivete was a weakness that almost became the death of him. As a result, he hardened his heart in Looking Glass and welcomed the darkness. By the end of Murder Theory, however, we may be witnessing another change in Theo as he realizes he may have taken things a little too far and that his by-any-means-necessary attitude might be swiftly leading him down a dangerous path.

For this reason, I highly recommend starting the series from the beginning, though one could probably get away with reading Murder Theory as a standalone. A thing to note is that the book does make many references to Theo’s past investigations, in essence forming a thematic link between the serial murder cases in each book that only someone familiar with all three can fully appreciate. Plus, these books are just so much fun, it would be a shame to miss any of it by jumping in at a later point. I continue to be impressed by the scientific aspects, as well as Theo’s knack for spotting patterns in the data. Mayne’s storytelling is also once again on full throttle in this fast-paced no-stops thrill ride boosted with plenty of humor and straight up crazy twists.

That said, Murder Theory probably wasn’t my favorite of the series (an honor that still belongs to Looking Glass) due to a couple minor faults. One, I found the early parts too heavy on the scientific jargon. Two, this book didn’t make me laugh nearly as much as the previous ones did! I guess I’m just going to chalk it up to the darker, more macabre direction of the story. And three, though technically this isn’t a real criticism, I found it way too short. Talk about leaving me wanting more; this was a book hangover that hit me even before I could finish! I’m not exaggerating when I say I would have happily gone for another hundred pages or two following Theo on his pursuit of the killer, and I was practically distraught when the book ended, because damn, that last line!

What more can I say, but I just loved this. I love this series. I love Theo Cray. Yes, things can get a little bonkers sometimes, but that’s what makes these books so amazing. Every time I pick up something with Andrew Mayne’s name on the cover, I know I’ll be in for a hell of a good time, and he hasn’t let me down yet. Can’t wait for the next one.

I really liked this installment. I have read the two previous and enjoyed both. I thought the book was fast paced and witty. I really liked the science aspect of it. I am excited to read the next one.

I read the first book in the series and rated it highly. I didn't like the second as much. This one was back on track for me. Mayne is a talented writer, and he creates interesting characters and plots. I'll try his other series next. Recommended.

I appreciate the free advanced copy for review!

Another stellar entry in this constantly surprising, uniquely compelling series - which is as thought-provoking and morally-challenging as any series I can think of. Top marks.

In Murder Theory, Computational biologist and serial-killer hunter Dr. Theo Cray is back after slaying dragons and killing monsters in the previous two novels. Well, okay, no dragons and the monsters were serial killers. Now there is something strange lurking in the dig around the last murder site, something that is making seemingly normal people kill and kill violently. While the local cops and even the FBI are quick to write this off as a one time psychotic break, Cray begins to see a pattern of behavior that could be viral based and, if it is, could spell potential problems if it falls into the wrong hands aka WMD used by any government or military. As Cray searches for the causes, the how and why of the virus and how it could be spread, he begins to trip ever so lightly over the line of good and evil and, at times, appears a little closer to the monster he once was chasing. Has the virus affected him or is this just part of his mad genius working overtime?

Mayne is an excellent story-teller. His writing style and quick chapters propel the story along at a rapid fire pace making this a thrilling ride to the finish. There are times when the story could get bogged down in the scientific jargon, and there is a lot of that, but Mayne makes the science so interesting that it lends to the excitement of the tale rather than detracts from it. It creates substance rather than has the reader skimming over the dry parts because, quite simply, there are no dry parts. I have no idea if any of the science is real but it certainly sounds authentic to me and I love it! And let me tell you – I’m a sucker for last lines that make me go “WHAT!?!?” and the last line of the book had me doing exactly that!!! I would read this book all over again just to get to that last line! You know me well enough by now that when I write that, it’s a killer ending! And in this case it may very well be just that!

Murder Theory could be read as a stand alone. There is enough back story that a new reader could pick up and carry on without reading the first two installments. I do, however, highly recommend the first books as well as his Jessica Blackstone series. They are well worth reading and highly enjoyable!

Murder Theory is available today at your local book seller or library. Many thanks to #Netgalley, #AndrewMayne and #Thomas&Mercer for my copy of this great thriller!

4.5 of 5 stars
https://lynns-books.com/2019/01/31/murder-theory-the-naturalist-3-by-andrew-mayne/
Murder Theory is the third instalment in Andrew Maine’s Naturalist series and is yet again a compelling and completely engrossing read. I think this could be read as a stand-alone although personally I would advise readers to check out the first two books in the series as they’re both great reads and on top of that it will give a better understanding of the main character, Theo Cray.

This books picks up just a short time after the conclusion of No.2. We have a short opening sequence where Theo is assisting the Government with questioning a potential Russian spy. From there the story then balloons fairly quickly with Theo himself coming under suspicion from the FBI. It seems that a crime scene has itself become the scene of yet a further murder with two dead bodies on site and a third person missing. In typical Mayne fashion it feels a bit crazy and totally random and yet once again you are pulled very quickly into the story.

Theo once again comes up with a unique train of thought that sees the investigation take an unusual turn and I have to say that the actual theory he comes up with is pretty darned chilly to read about. I don’t want to give away any spoilers for this because this is the type of book where readers will make discoveries thick and fast all on their own but for me this particular story definitely had the scare factor in terms of making you consider possibilities and ‘what ifs’. On top of that the author has come up with a very intelligent antagonist indeed. A person who can not only put Theo to the test in very clever ways and think one step ahead but also seems to be a fan of Theo’s own particular maverick style of investigation .

On top of this we have another couple of elements to the story in terms of keeping up with Theo’s personal life and also being updated on his laboratory work, where he’s supposed to be working on a top secret initiative involving genes and terrorists. This adds another layer of chaos to Theo’s already frantic life and demonstrates the tenuous grasp he has on the ‘normal’ life he leads and that many others take for granted.

Theo is the sort of individual who finds it difficult to interact with others and this is something that inevitably leads him into bother with others. He doesn’t seem to have the skill set necessary to get people onboard and in fact usually ends up antagonising others with his wild theories. This book is very similar in that respect and in fact I did wonder if the series might be becoming too formulaic in that regard. Thankfully Mayne avoids this pitfall by taking Theo to an even darker level in this instalment where he really pushes the line between good and bad/right and wrong and takes the story into a different realm where reflection and doubt play a greater role. I can’t lie, Theo does push the limits in this story and whilst he’s trying to catch a baddie some of his actions do make you wonder whether he’s going too far. Thankfully I do like Theo, he’s a very interesting character to read and his theories and train of thought are fascinating and he seems to be making not only a name for himself but also, thankfully, garnering a couple of people who are sympathetic to his way of thinking – although I have my doubts about one of these.

In terms of criticisms. Well, as I already mentioned above this felt like it could go down a familiar route. I think the author manages to keep this fresh by taking our main guy into even darker territory in terms of right and wrong. I would also mention that the ending, well, let’s just say that I t ends on one of those notes that makes you desperate to read the next book.

Overall. I’m loving this series. It’s a little bit crazy, it’s totally compelling and I know that when I pick the next instalment up I’ll yet again be completely transfixed by Dr Cray and his world. I can’t get enough of this series at the moment.

I received a copy courtesy of the publisher through Netgalley, for which my thanks. The above is my own opinion.

I enjoyed reading this book. It had a good story to it. I liked the variety of characters in it. It is my first book read by this author. I hope to read more books by this author.

I've read all the books published in the Jessica Blackwood series by Andrew Mayne. But, Murder Theory is the first I've read in The Naturalist series. And, I have to admit that at first didn't Dr. Theo Cray, a computational biologist and serial-killer hunter, rock my boat the same way that Jessica Blackwood does. Not a bad story at all, just not on the same interested level and it got a bit "scientific" now and then. Then, BAM one of the best scenes ever happened that pretty much changed how I felt for the book. And, I can't write about it since you know spoilers. However, I will just say this, this is by far the most interesting way to capture a serial killer. Seriously, totally mental and I loved it. After that, I just felt that yup this is a series for me. Any guy that can do something like this is my kind of guy to read about!

So, kudos to Andrew Mayne for the worlds greatest how-to-catch-a-serial-killer-scene!

What on earth is computational biology, you ask. Well, read this well written just a little nutso thriller about a genius who solves serial killings and you'll find out. Theo Cray has become to go to man when no-one knows where to turn and here, in the third installment, he's contacted by the FBI when a forensic technician loses it AND he's got a weird thing going on in is brain. Cray is an odd duck, to be sure, but he's also kinda cool. This is the third in the series-I missed the first one and enjoyed the second- and I think you can easily read it as a standalone. Thanks to net galley for the ARC. This occasionally veers into the distinctly implausible but it's a good page turner.

I love this series and this latest entry makes me even love it more.

Dr. Theo Cray has a unique way of looking at serial killers and he puts his skills to the test as he searches for an ingenious monster whose modus operandi will send chills down your spine. Dr. Cray is a good guy but he doesn't suffer fools gladly and is not above bending or even breaking a few rules if he thinks the situation warrants it. Especially when the powers that be scoff at his findings. Do not let the scientific jargon put you off and give you pause in finishing the book. Believe me the ending alone is so worth the read.

I can't wait for the next one. Highly recommended!

good book. Very suspenseful. Kept my interest until the end. Liked the story a lot. Very interesting.

It was a interesting mystery novel . I recommend it for those who like sci fi thriller . I would like to thank netgalley for letting me review this book.

Another great installment in The Naturalist series. Now that we've gotten the exposition out of the way, we can really get to the meat of Dr. Theo Cray's newest case. And, when I say "meat" I shudder. Theo has always been dangerously close to the dark side. He uses his powers for good but he crosses barriers that take him to very dark places. This time, there may be an "evil" Theo at work and, being as smart as he is... this is very scary. This book could be read as a stand-alone novel, even if it's better to read the previous volumes first to get the background. A lot of people think that Theo is a pretentious jerk, but I find him likable. Maybe it's that we're seeing the world through his eyes but I don't begrudge him being the smartest guy in the room. I also enjoy the science, which is actually fascinating. I can't wait for the next book and, this time, I really, really mean it!
I chose to read this book and all opinions in this review are my own and completely unbiased. Thank you, NetGalley/Thomas & Mercer!

Sure, he works the occasional job for the DOJ and runs his private lab, but Dr. Theo Cray is just trying to get his life back to normal after using his many skills to solve two serial killer cases. A peaceful dinner with his girlfriend turns very serious after an FBI agent interrupts to ask Cray to consult on a new case. Bodies have shown up at an existing crime scene, and after some investigation a suspect is found, a man who has quickly deteriorated to a point where normal stressors have turned him into a killer. Are there others out there like him? Is there a puppet master who is creating these killers? And how?

This book is great because it builds so well on Cray's previous two cases. They are frequently called upon as references in his search to find this new killer. I loved Mayne's descriptions of the scientific methods used to expose clues and find new leads. Each reveal was permitted by a realistic deduction by Theo's genius. I honestly would have no clue if the science works or not, but the way the criminal profiling and computer analysis is written is flawless.

Mayne's short chapters move the plot forward very quickly, yet he drops some fun historical and scientific tidbits throughout. My only complaint is that the ending was tied up a little too quickly.

Building on the previous two novels, Murder Theory is the best of the genius profiler and computational biologist, Theo Cray.

4.5 out of 5 stars

 Releases on Feb 5th.

Thank you to NetGalley, Thomas & Mercer, and the author for an advanced copy for review.