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Black Fall  By  cover art

Black Fall

By: Andrew Mayne
Narrated by: Jennifer O'Donnell, Fred Berman
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Publisher's summary

In Black Fall, the third book in the ITW Award-nominated series that began with the self-published phenomenon Angel Killer, magician-turned-FBI agent Jessica Blackwood investigates a series of seemingly unrelated but equally bizarre and sinister crimes that lead her to the Colorado desert and a town that has simply disappeared.

With two big cases under her belt, FBI agent Jessica Blackwood is learning to embrace her unconventional past as the rising star in a family dynasty of illusionists. Her talent and experience endow her with a unique understanding of the power and potential of deception and a gift for knowing when things are not always as they appear to be. Once resenting her eccentric grandfather, a brilliant magician in his own right, Jessica now sees him as a mentor and regularly seeks his advice about her work.

But Jessica's routine surveillance operation becomes a fight for survival when a disturbed young woman, clutching a baby, shows up at the stakeout location and threatens to kill her child. On the same day, an hour after a severe earthquake rocks the Eastern seaboard, a strange video goes viral. Nobel Prize-winning physicist Peter Devon has been dead for eight years, yet here he is on camera, predicting the location and date of the earthquake.

Jessica is put on the case by her boss, Dr. Ailes, but when Detective Aileen Lewis reports that they've found a Jane Doe who matches her description of her attacker, she's torn between professional duty and a personal desire to find out who the woman was, and why she was killed. The investigations pull her in very different directions - until they start to converge, leading Jessica to confront something darker and more powerful than anyone expected. Something so twisted, only one person could be behind it...the Warlock.

©2017 AndrewMayne.com LLC (P)2017 HarperCollins Publishers

What listeners say about Black Fall

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  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
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Disappointing

I enjoyed the first two books in the Jessica Blackwood series, but this installment falls flat. Like someone got bored three quarters of the way thru and just phoned in the ending. Plot-line is also very tenuous as it tries to connect with previous characters in the series. I was disappointed.

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6 people found this helpful

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Disappointing ending

The first 75% of the book was great. The author went to a lot of trouble setting the stage, weaving an interesting plot, and developing the characters, only for the end to just fizzle out with a tiny whimper.

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3 people found this helpful

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    4 out of 5 stars
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Ending could have been better

Man, I love this series. Let me start it with that. this book started off strong, and grabbed my attention immediately. Like before, the voice performances were amazing.

My complaint comes near the end of the book. The entire ending seemed very rushed. Almost as though the author was either pressed for time, or got bored with the story. It didn't feel resolved in any real way. In fact there were elements (the two count down timers) that weren't resolved AT ALL. Perhaps this was intentional and play a part in future books. To me, though, it feels like it the ending was rushed together to get the book complete.

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3 people found this helpful

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    5 out of 5 stars
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Mayne does it again

Fast paced and fun. Mayne knocks this one out of the ballpark. I wish the story was longer.

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Just ok

The first two books in the series were pretty good. Black Fall was silly especially in the actions of the lead character. The scene on the train comes to mind as silly due to a lack of inaction.

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Another great thriller from Mayne

Easily his best Blackwood novel and ny second favorite book by him behind his Orbital thrilller.

You should probably read his first two books before starting this one, but you are in luck, they are also very good.

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Jessica Blackwood.... always selfless

Jessica Blackwood, Theo Cray, and Sloan McPherson all have one HUGE trait in common..... they are relentlessly SELFLESS! Dangerously selfless, maybe even in a sense that could even make it toxic at times. . and THAT is what makes them the perfect "Hero," in every story. Well, that and a VERY complex and deep personality! They are ALL highly intelligent. more intelligent than most main Characters of any story. That's what pulls you in and makes you love them!
Anywho, this specific book wasn't at the top of my list of favorite Andrew Mayne books.... but still among my favorite of the books I have read.... and there have been A LOT!
This book was more psychological thriller than action thriller. Although all of his books are BOTH psychological AND action. This one was the REALEST. I'm willing to bet this story is (a version of it) is really happening in the world because the world is more messed up, devious, and twisted than most "average," people could possibly fathom!
That is why this book wasn't at the top of my favorites list...lost.... because it is TOO real.... and I already think about that enough. Andrew Mayne certainly knows how to get you thinking, using that lazy brain we all have.
Now.... after much anticipation, I am going to move on to the Theo Cray, Jessica Blackwood novels!!!! Watching them go after the Warlock together is exactly the kind of escape I crave!

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  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
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Review of all 3 Jessica Blackwood Novels

Ok-I enjoyed all 3 of these books. I've read some peoples reviews about the lead character "whining". I don't know what they are talking about as I never heard any. These stories are unique and well paced. The narration was excellent. I'm not a mystery thriller guy as a rule. But I would recommend these to anyone.

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    4 out of 5 stars

FBI Witch solved another case

I've been enjoying these series, and hope to see them continue. The protagonist, Jessica Blackwell, FBI agent and media dubbed "FBI Witch" uses her savvy and her instinct to solve another crime. this one seems to have a little less Hocus pocus than the previous ones, and touches on some of the current socio-political issues we're dealing with such as media truths and political intrigue. But of course, woven in to this tale is the underlying influence of the Warlock, a religious sect, and who's out to get Blackwell this time? My only gripe with this book is the far too frequent, repetitive comments by Blackwell where she states outright that she knows she should not pursue something, but can't stop herself. Or the excessively whiny and emotional moments that seem just a little bit too fabricated for a woman - particularly a woman who is in law enforcement. I don't know if it's what a male writer thinks a woman would really think, or if somehow he was inspired by far too many other fiction stories with similarly conflicted female protagonists doing what they shouldn't do. I think there is also a hole in the story in which Damien, Blackwell's sortof-lover, is now in contact with her boss to rescue her? It's annoying when these things happen but the rest of the story is great. and I have to say, I really like the conclusion of this one in particular.

Final note, the narrator is impressive, maintaining multiple voices for various characters.

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  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
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Jessica scores again!

Andrews brings todays headlines into the mix.....reality meets fiction in Black Fall. Oh how I wish the recent headlines were fiction but unfortunately the truth is that the division we see is not fiction but all too real.

I'm not going to give away too much (I'll try not to.) because there is an intricate plot that goes back to the Warlock. Jessica figures it out again and this time comes face to face with death. Oh but that did happen in the last two books didn't it? Nevermind! Although sometimes disturbing, this is another great book I think you will enjoy.

I would like to say. Did you ever wonder why people follow leaders who demand absolute loyalty to them and no matter what lies they say or what bad deeds they do their followers never waiver their loyalty. This question is addressed in Black Fall and the answer is not satisfying because these followers drink the kool-aid and die (sought of). So many people who are looking for a leader all too often turn to the person who is a psychopath in everyone's eyes except theirs. Very disturbing in fiction as it is in reality. Anyway just needed to say that. Sorry if I gave away too much.

This is a great book and I am looking forward to the next one which is putting Jessica and Dr. Cray together. That should be interesting!

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