Impostor Syndrome

Combining protagonists from multiple series, Andrew Mayne has created a spin-off series that will delight his followers. Impostor Syndrome is the second book in The Specialists series and features former FBI special agent Jessica Blackwood and investigator Sloan McPherson with the Underwater Investigation Unit, which focuses on crimes that take place in and around Florida’s waterways. However, this novel largely takes place in and near Las Vegas, Nevada.

A refuge officer is tracking a herd of pronghorn antelope in the northwest region of the Sheldon National Wildlife Refuge when she sees something out of place, a white obelisk. As she investigates, she tells her supervisor that they need to call the FBI.

A Las Vegas FBI agent contacts Jessica and asks her to look at the puzzling crime – a social media influencer encased in an obelisk of salt. When the agency is tipped off to a second body of an influencer that involves water, Jessica contacts Sloan to help with the cases. As the threats multiply, they become even more extreme. What is the killer’s endgame, and how do they identify him or her?

Sloan has good reflexes, amazing instincts, and doesn’t shirk responsibility. She also has determination and a discerning sense of justice that makes it easy for readers to get behind. She’s impulsive and improvises, which can lead to taking risks. She says what she thinks and isn’t great at concealing her emotions. Jessica has a charismatic intensity, but tries to stay out of the spotlight. She’s curious and empathetic, making her a good interviewer. She also is stubborn, stands up to bullies, and is deeply contemplative. She won’t walk away when somebody needs help. Readers also get insight into her childhood and her current relationship with her parents.

Once again, the first chapter hooked me immediately. This story doesn’t have a continuous back and forth between subplots and worked much better for me than the first book in the series. The flow was great and the pacing was exactly what I wanted. Most of this book is about the investigation with the main action scenes at the end of the novel. Mayne is an exceptional storyteller who provides readers with gripping scenes, even without continual action throughout the book. The scenes with an artificial intelligence avatar were thought-provoking and brought another level of depth to the investigation.

Some of the plot twists were harder to see than others and made for a more intense novel. The book is moving and suspenseful, but the ending felt somewhat rushed. There’s always something new to learn in this author’s books. This included some information on Las Vegas as well as information on artificial intelligence. Additional themes woven into the story include manipulations, intimidation, murder, power, and much more.

Overall, this entertaining and educational book has great characterization, a thought-provoking and chilling premise, and an intriguing mystery. Enthusiasts of crime mystery and detective stories will likely enjoy this book, with its intriguing and engrossing plot that unfolds at a moderately fast pace. I am looking forward to the next book in the series.

Thomas and Mercer and Andrew Mayne provided a complimentary digital ARC of this novel via NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions expressed in this review are my own. The publication date is currently set for October 21, 2025.