I've been intrigued by this author ever since reading The Naturalist. And went on to listen to a couple other via audiobook. He has great books which I would love to see made into movies some day. Does not disappoint!

A smart (literally, one of the characters is a genius) techno mystery. Theo is a quirky, nerdy, charming character and he and his wife are problem solvers. Only their problems are not the mundane! I like Andrew Mayne's books because they are different and innovative.

This is a different and unique plot which I thoroughly enjoyed. There was enough excitement to keep me intrigued. Very thought provoking.
Many thanks to Thomas & Mercer and to NetGalley for providing me with a galley in exchange for my honest opinion.

Theo Cray is my new book boyfriend. I love his quirks and how he is so intelligent it makes him socially awkward. Theo is charming without realizing it or trying. Perfect.
And so was this book. Theo goes to New Mexico after a weird signal from outer space. Theo's wife, Jessica, is in Virginia searching for two missing girls who went out looking for the mythical Tree Man.

Fast paced, thrilling, edge of the seat at times sprinkled with laugh out loud moments and smiles.

A quick easy read that will leave you wanting for more Theo Cray!

I loved FBI special agent Jessica Blackwood and scientist Dr. Theo Cray in “Mastermind”. They were highly intelligent and just plain fun to read. I wasn’t as into this book as much as the first as I wanted more of the murder/mystery/intellectual stories and really wasn't into the alien life theories.

I do still enjoy Andrew Mayne writing style and hope to continue reading about my favorite Blackwood/Cray characters.

Thank you to Net Galley and the Publishers for an ARC of this novel in exchange for an honest review.

Dr Theo Cray and FBI agent Jessica Blackwood are back at it again. This time Theo is invited to be among several other brilliant scientists of various fields searching for life on another planet. Aliens, Extraterrestrials is what Philanthropist, billionaire, genius character Thomas T. Theismann is in search of. Theo is brought in to see if there is indeed signals coming from another intelligent race of people on another planet or if it is a hoax. Jessica is pulled in after some of the participants are found missing or dead. I have grown into a big fan of Andrew Mayne's books and a large part of the reason is because in each of his books at least one of his main characters is brilliant, like genius IQ. I find that when those characters talk about some subject whatever that is, I learn new things and I love learning new things. Intelligent characters are a strong motivator for me to want to read a book. So, Andrew Mayne's books are always books I will gravitate towards. At the bare bones of things this is a good guys get the bad guys story and this is no different but it is an exciting ride as they figure out who the bad guys are. I definitely recommend and give it 41/2 stars.

A techy, sci-fi’ish mystery with the duo characters Theo and Jessica. The concept of alien life in this story is interesting and the story flowed well but at points it was just a little too techy. Overall, I enjoyed the story, especially the characters and the humor.

ARC was provided by NetGalley and Thomas & Mercer in exchange for an honest review.

Andrew Mayne is consistently one of my favorite authors. This one didn't hold my attention as much as his other books have. Even after having just read it, I can't remember exactly how it ends. I love Theo Cray and I really love Jessica Blackwood, so I'm hoping the next one will be a little more engaging. But Mayne has been writing so much lately, I can understand why they aren't all five stars.

Why do I keep reading Andrew Mayne’s books?? They’re usually packed with highly technical or scientific subject matter that is way over my head. But I just love the characters and the dynamics between them so much that I skim over the other stuff.

The plot description attracted me to “The Final Equinox” by Andrew Mayne. We follow a brilliant scientist and his equally brilliant FBI partner as they work to understand the first intelligent signal sent from the outer edge of the solar system. Who sent it, why was the signal sent, what did the signal mean, and is the signal authentic. In addition to those ( literally) earth-shattering questions back on terra firma there are mysterious deaths and some bad guys threatening the scientific discovery process. And, to add to the mysteries, there is also an ancient tomb found (here on earth!) with amazing artifacts found within.
Science Fiction, multiple mysteries, and also suspense action. Yet I found the story curiously quiet : not much action but a whole lotta talking and describing. I know much more science and have added to my baseline knowledge regarding computers. So thanks to NetGalley for the first chance to read a new author ( for me) and perhaps book 3 in this series will take all the information and create a “page turner.”

I received this book in exchange for an honest review, which has not altered my opinion of this book. I would like to thank NetGalley and Thomas&Mercer for the ARC copy.

As soon as I finished the first book in this series, I felt the need to continue with it. The main characters are just so much fun and make me very happy with everything that they decide to do. The fact that they're both able to 1. think their way out of any problem and 2. trust the other enough to get themselves into (and generally out of) trouble. The amount of trust is something that I aspire to have in my own personal relationships. While it helps that they're both basically the best in their respective fields, I appreciate the fact that they also have weaknesses and don't attempt to pretend ever that they don't.

This book was a little less whelming than the first one, but I think that for me it is because I am not quite so interested in space exploration. Space is not something that I know a whole lot about, but it is something that I have a base knowledge in. That being said a lot of this went over my head, though I will say the simplified explanations really helped. The fact that there was at least one character who asked for clarification really helped to make me feel a lot less stupid for not understanding some of the science-y or tech-y stuff.

Overall, this book still got a 3.75/4 out of 5 from me because I did enjoy it, it was just a bit less in my wheelhouse of knowledge. The science they talked about and the amount of research that I am sure the author did is impressive and I can't wait to see what else he comes up with for these two characters. At least, I hope that the series will be continuing!

It always takes me a long time to get into an Andrew Mayne novel. Instead of accepting the science, theories, and references at face value, I am hopping onto the internet and diving into the more curious parts.

To understand Theo, and his unconventional ways, start his books from the beginning. I was not introduced to Jessica until she first met up with Theo, and I do not think I have missed too much of her past. The left turns in this book will keep the reader fascinated, and knowing all points will merge, does not diminish their individualism and the reader's joy in bouncing back and forth.

Are some parts farfetched? Of course, but that is the beauty of the writing and Theo in particular. His mind does not work like everyone else's and his perception, and naivete of the world, take the reader through the real, and the imagined, with a great deal of humor on the side.

By all means, Theo, help those in need, not self-indulgent billionaires and their dreams of world domination.

A thrilling technomystery that focuses on the possibility of contact from another universe.

Theo Cray is a brilliant computational biologist who is invited by a billionaire to spend some time out in the desert at a super secret research facility. It seems that the highly regarded scientists there claim to have received some sort of signal from outer space. Is an intelligent species trying to contact and communicate with Earth? Theo shares some of his concerns about the transmissions to his girlfriend, FBI Agent Jessica Blackwood, and she ends up joining him on his adventures as he tries to analyze and investigate the source.

This was quite interesting, but I confess that the theories, science, and math were way over my head even though the author does his best to try to make it relatable on a scale I could understand. I enjoy the duo of Theo and Cray working together and they certainly have the smarts to outwit any adversary. I probably would have liked this a lot more, as I did the first in the series, if it had been a plot that I found a bit more interesting. I admit, I was sort of hoping that there would be aliens and spaceships. In any event, the book was entertaining and I read it over a couple of hours. I would definitely give another installment a chance as enjoy the main characters. I like the author's writing style and I've definitely enjoyed the Underwater Investigation Unit series.

Thank you to NetGalley and Thomas & Mercer for this e-book ARC to read and review.

I had already met Jessica Blackwood (magician now FBI agent), and so this was my first book reading of her with Theo Cray who is Computational Biologist. Theo is mysteriously recruited to investigate the viability of receiving signals / communication from space. In the center of it all is Theismann and eccentric, brilliant, aging billionaire investor, who has been working on the probability for decades.
Theo has suspicions and Jessica is not at all comfortable with the bits that she is hearing from Theo. fast-paced reading, I have to be honest that some of the more techie talk was way way over my head, but I enjoyed the plot, storyline and characters.
And now I need to get my hands on the first book

The Final Equinox is a sci-fi/murder mystery. I will start off by saying keep an open mind because the plot summary does sound a bit " out of this world." This is the second novel to feature Dr. Theo Cray, computational biologist, and and magician-turned-FBI-agent Jessica Blackwood working together. I had a hard time seeing them as a "couple" , but I felt they worked well together as partners, each bringing their individual strengths to solve the mystery.

We meet billionaire Thomas T. Theismann, a man who has spent years searching for other intelligent life in the universe. He discovers a signal coming from Neptune and proceeds to bring a number of scientific minds to New Mexico to verify it is real. Theo joins this elite group.

It is learned that Dr. David Ikeda, who worked for Theisman, is thought to have committed suicide, but Jessica has her doubts. People disappear, another signal is detected coming from Guatemala. Their travels take them to Ecuador, where they find a mysterious structure. What is going on, are these signals not from space?

There is alot of science in this book, and I admit to skimming through it. I did not enjoy this book as much as, Mastermind, the previous installment. Both Theo and Jessica are well developed characters, each having had their own series. I found that Theo was more confident in this outing than the previous book. Andrew Mayne is a very good writer and I look forward to see what "mystery" is next for Theo and Jessica.

Thank you to NetGalley for an ARC. The review is my own.

First Contact? — Theo Cray Is Asked To Validate

This novel has two introductory chapters. The first one is in the first few chapters in the Part One. Theo Cray demonstrates his deductive abilities by determining if a robot had killed an engineer who help create it. In part two, Jessica Blackwood demonstrates her deductive abilities with two agent trainees finding two teenage girls who reportedly taken and killed by the meme known as the Tree Man. The main storyline starts when Cray is asked to be part of a review panel. After the vetting process, he is told that the panel is to confirm whether or not a research center has communicated with extraterrestrial life. Cray is replacing a person who recently committed suicide. Jessica starts unofficially investigating the suicide. The main storyline grows from here.

The main storyline consists of two threads. The Theo Cray thread goes very technical. The author incorporates technology very well and makes it very understandable. This thread has Theo traveling to South America and finds some very intriguing discovers. The possibility of communications with extraterrestrial life locked my interest immediately. Every reveal only strengthen that hold. Jessica’s investigation reveals a dark and complex dark side of the organizations affiliated with the effort that Theo has been asked to validate. From potential threats that become real threats heighten the tension and suspense for me. The flow is quick, and even with the voice of the chapters changing back and forth between Theo and Jessica did not cause any problems. There really were not any twists or turns, but more reveals that made the storyline threads richer for me.

The Theo and Cray characters were quite different than in the first novel in this series that was the only previous novel with these characters that I have read. From basically a passive follower, he is a confident in all situations and can more than handle himself in the present of danger. Jessica went from an adrenaline-filled action heroine to a very observant detective. Both can act rapidly if needed. These aspects enriched my reading enjoyment.

For the aspects that turn off some readers, this novel should not be objectionable for almost all readers. There are not any intimate scenes. Vulgar and impious language is minimal. Rude language occurs just a little more. Violence is described mostly after the fact or just implied. Lastly, this novel can be read before any other novels as I did not see any dependance on the previous novels.

This novel exhibits all the aspects of this author that I like. It is an easy and quick read that kept my attention all the way to the end. Unfortunately, this novel came close to my one rating killers. This occurs when the author leaves a significant aspect unexplained at the end. Jessica offered an off-the-cuff possible explanation, but, in my opinion, it was inadequately addressed. When I finished the novel, this issue left me on a down note. I still recommend reading this novel, and the author remains in my Must-Read author category. I am eagerly waiting for his next novel. I did thoroughly enjoy reading this novel up to the end. If a loose end is not significant for you, this novel probably will be a five. For me, this novel was a four-star novel.

I received a free e-book version of this novel through NetGalley from Thomas & Mercer. My review is based only by my own reading experience of this book. I wish to thank Thomas & Mercer for the opportunity to read and review this novel early.

What's it about (in a nutshell):
The Final Equinox by Andrew Mayne is the second book featuring Jessica Blackwood and Theo Cray. Even though it is the second book in a series, it can easily be read as a standalone. Dr. Theo Cray has been called on to participate in ongoing research into life on other planets. Jessica soon realizes that all is not on the up and up, and Theo's life may be in danger. Together, they can expose everything that has been going on behind the scenes with space research.

Initial Expectations (before beginning the book):
I read the first book in this series and love the combination of a scientist and an FBI agent with a magic background. Both characters are a lot of fun, and the thrills should be endless. I expect a fast-paced, intelligent, witty thriller with a sci-fi angle.

Actual Reading Experience:
My actual reading experience was much as I expected. I still loved the characters and relished their unique voices and backgrounds. The thrills are nonstop, and I particularly loved the story's cloak and dagger space research angle.

I look at everything with a heaping spoonful of skepticism and the awareness that you never know until you know. And we don't know much about what's contained in the vastness of space. It's hard to believe that in all the 170 billion galaxies in the universe, only this little planet had the right conditions to create and sustain life, so I always keep that in mind.

There is an overriding theme in this novel of perception versus reality, and it can be seen in both cases that Jessica works on as well as the additional odd evidence that pops up in Theo's case. I find this an incredibly suitable theme for an FBI agent with a magic background and a scientist since both are quick to not believe what they see until all the ways that perception can be toyed with are ruled out.

Characters:
Jessica Blackwood is one of the main characters. She grew up in a family of magicians and brings the lessons learned from performing magic tricks to each case she is assigned. She is strong, determined, no-nonsense, and has a sharp wit and a sharper tongue.

Dr. Theo Cray is a computational biologist, which is someone who uses computational data to pinpoint the source of biological phenomena in any given environment. At least, that's how I think it is defined since I and science are barely on friendly terms. He is sharp and sees things in a way that very few others do, making him great in any case.

Narration & Pacing:
I loved the narration. It's in first person, with some sections being told by Dr. Theo Cray and some sections being described by FBI Agent Jessica Blackwood. Their individual chapters are in very distinctive voices, with Theo's being more fluid, as he is a natural-born storyteller, and Jessica's more staccato-like narration similar to what I see in hard-boiled mysteries. They are witty, with Theo being more sarcastic and Jessica having a drier sense of humor.

The pacing is mainly fast, but Theo's sections could get long-winded as scientific information is explained, which slowed down the pace.

Setting:
The setting is in a few different places: a top-secret lab in New Mexico, the jungles in Guatemala, and various points around the US. Each was directly about a case at hand, so the focus made the use of each setting very detailed.

To Read or Not to Read:
If you love action adventure thrillers with a sci-fi thread, Book 2 of the Theo Cay and Jessica Blackwood mysteries – The Final Equinox – is just the book for you!

The story is not my usual type of read, but I was so captivated by the whole concept of this story that I couldn’t put it down until I finished the last page.

It is an interesting story overall, with characters that picked my interest with so many hidden twists and a great ending.

The dialogue and the whole mysterious veil of the billionaire and what he actually created is captivating and the author’s ability to create interconnected scenes for each character from other states has made me seeing this story exactly like a TV movie. And I think it will make an interesting on screen time.

I had some theories from the beginning. Some have been proved along the way, but there were quite a few unpredictable turns. And those were my highlights.

I have read nothing by the author in the past, but this story made me look up his other works and add them high on my to read list.

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.
The review will be published on Barnes & Noble, Google Books, Edelweiss, and Amazon.

Andrew Mayne is not an author I would normally read, nor does he write the type of books i normally read. Having said that, i continue to read his books b/c he is just so darn good. I've read a few Theo Cray novels and really enjoyed. and began this new series with Mastermind. which brings him and Jessica Blackwood together. i love their banter!! As an aside, this title, The Final Equinox, led me to read the Jessica Blackwood series.