The Magician Killer

By Diane Merrill-Wigginton

"There's a very fine line between a Sociopath and a Psychopath."

At the tender age of nineteen, Special Agent Samantha Stevens was forced to endure the unspeakable. But that was ten years ago. Now, she lives an uncomplicated life in Washington, D.C., void of any personal ties as she pours over unsolved cases and clears them with unparalleled accuracy.

Seattle office Special Agent Nicholas McLeroy has discovered a disturbing trend: women are disappearing from the Alaskan territory without a trace. His four-legged partner, Officer Murphy, doesn't have the answers - so Nicholas requests the help of a profiler who his colleagues call a savant. But he's been warned that working with a genius is never easy...

Reluctant to face the past, but unwilling to reveal her traumatic secret to her boss, Sam finds herself on a case that hits too close to home. Her new partner, Special Agent McLeroy, is handsome, kind - and trustworthy. But even he can't save Sam from another encounter with the madman dubbed "The Magician Killer."
After all, she was the one that got away.

The Wishing Shelf gives this novel high praise, "A smartly plotted thriller with a strong female protagonist to root for."
BookLife Prize - 2025
Plot/Idea: 10 out of 10
Originality: 9 out of 10
Prose: 9 out of 10
Character/Execution: 10 out of 10
Overall: 9.50 out of 10

Assessment:

Plot/Idea: Wigginton's novel lays a strong case for the mystery/thriller genre's ability to captivate and entertain readers. She lays a solid foundation quickly that is then built upon piece by piece.

Prose: Wigginton's meticulous prose provides all of the essential details a reader needs to have to paint a clear image of each scene without being verbose or tangential.

Originality: The author manages to create a unique angle in the oversaturated mystery/thriller genre through her main character, Agent Samantha "Sam" Stevens as both a victim and a heroine.

Character/Execution: The characters in Wigginton's The Magician Killer are convincing in their roles and memorable. Readers will develop a strong connection to the lead character, Sam, through a well-detailed backstory into her trauma. Secondary characters provide depth to the story and leave their own lasting impressions.

Date Submitted: July 02, 2025

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: B0FDVKXSHX
• ISBN13: 9798281074223
• Release Date: June 2025
• Publisher: Independently Published
• Length: 338 Pages
• Weight: 1.00 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.8" x 6.0" x 9.0"