She Treads Softly: Chaos Man

Sunday, March 1, 2026

Chaos Man

Chaos Man by Andrew Mayne
3/24/26; 332 pages
Thomas & Mercer
The Specialists #3

Chaos Man by Andrew Mayne is an engaging, very highly recommended investigative thriller. I was totally engrossed from the start and thoroughly enjoyed it. This is the third book in The Specialist series which features characters from Mayne's other novels who work together on cases. It can definitely be read as a standalone novel, but fans of Mayne's novels will have greater background information on these characters.

The Specialists are: Theo Cray (computational biologist, math genius, intuitive pattern recognition abilities), Jessica Blackwood (former FBI agent, child of magicians), Brad Trasker (private security specialist, former spy with many military connections) and Sloan McPherson (with the Florida Underwater Investigation Unit).

When a train derails in Idaho, Theo Cray suddenly recognizes a pattern of disasters which connects the derailment to a failure at a battery facility in Florida, along with other previous "accidents" which he now knows were sabotage. Following a mathematical formula, Cray also knows the frequency and scope of the disasters are going to increase, potentially leading to the catastrophic death of millions. When Theo and Jessica are detained by authorities in Idaho, it becomes clear that along with the assistance of Brad and Sloan they will need to follow the clues themselves to stop future disasters perpetrated by a mysterious saboteur who wants to spread chaos.

Chaos Man is another lightning-fast paced, exceptionally well-written thriller with an engaging plot that held my complete attention throughout. Through short chapters, readers can follow the different characters as they logically conduct their investigation using their own, unique individual strengths. There are plenty of gripping action scenes and suspense along the way and the twists, as well as the ending, are not predictable.

At this point, fans of Mayne's novel will know these characters very well. It is entertaining to follow them piecing together clues, using their instincts, and following up on the information they uncover. Each of the Specialists are intelligent, fearless investigators. All of them are portrayed as fully realized unique individuals with strengths and weaknesses and it is always exciting to follow them during their action-packed investigations.

Chaos Man is an excellent choice for those who enjoy well-written, engaging investigative thrillers. I'm always looking forward to Mayne's next book. Thanks to Thomas & Mercer for providing me with an advance reader's copy via NetGalley. My review is voluntary and expresses my honest opinion.

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John Updike's six rules for reviewing:

1. Try to understand what the author wished to do, and do not blame him for not achieving what he did not attempt.

2. Give him enough direct quotation--at least one extended passage--of the book's prose so the review's reader can form his own impression, can get his own taste.

3. Confirm your description of the book with quotation from the book, if only phrase-long, rather than proceeding by fuzzy precis.

4. Go easy on plot summary, and do not give away the ending.

5. If the book is judged deficient, cite a successful example along the same lines, from the author's oeuvre or elsewhere. Try to understand the failure. Sure it's his and not yours?

To these concrete five might be added a vaguer sixth, having to do with maintaining a chemical purity in the reaction between product and appraiser.....Review the book, not the reputation.... Better to praise and share than blame and ban. The communion between reviewer and his public is based upon the presumption of certain possible joys in reading, and all our discriminations should curve toward that end.