International Writers Inspiring Change feature book review: The Magician Killer

The Difference between a Sociopath and a Psychopath is a Very Fine Line

At the tender age of nineteen, Special Agent Samantha Stevens’s life was forever altered when she 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 commitment or ties as she pours over unsolved cases and clears them with unparalleled accuracy.

Unfamiliar Partners Make for Strange Bedfellows

Handsome Special Agent Nicholas McLeroy and his four-legged partner, Officer Murphy, are from the Seattle office of the FBI. He has stumbled upon a disturbing pattern that involves women disappearing from the Alaskan territory without a trace. So, he does the only thing he can do: request the help of a profiler whom he’s only heard about in the professional circle as the savant of profilers. He’s told she can read people and situations like no other but that working with her complex personality can be quite challenging.

Learning to Trust Again

The stakes are high, and it doesn’t take Sam long to figure out that she is chasing the man who has haunted her nightmares for a decade. Sam decides to trust again by revealing her secret to her new partner. But is it too little too late to save her from another encounter with the madman dubbed “The Magician Killer?” After all, she was the one that got away.

Our review of The Magician Killer

The Magician Killer, by Diane Merrill Wigginton, where this prolific author stretches the envelope into another genre, the thriller, mystery murder category, with a touch of romance included. The title of the book eludes you until later, in the story, one comes to understand that this serial killer is called that because of his "magical" ability, it seems, to disappear without a trace. The story, no spoilers, starts off fast with a brutal, and I mean brutal murder, which instantly sets the pace for the investigation that ensues, and the decrepit nature of the man they are hunting down. The main investigator in the case, Sam or Samantha Stevens, who teams up with Nicolas McLeroy, start on the trail of missing girls, all of them of similar age and appearance, and soon discover that the trail is filled with a string of missing women. The real twist, again, no spoilers, is when we discover Sam's connection to the murderer and what appears to be his real motive. This is a good thriller with lots of good old-fashioned police procedural, moreover, the author does a good job of giving us an insight into the nature of psychopaths and sociopaths, which allows us, the reader, to follow their line of investigation even better. Recommended. 5 Stars!

Review by International Writers Inspiring Change

About the author

Diane Merrill Wigginton was born in 1963 in Riverside, California, and raised in the lively neighborhood of Mira Mesa, San Diego. From a young age, she discovered a passion for storytelling, shaped by the vibrant adventures of her childhood in the 1970s and early 1980s. Summers spent on her grandparents’ ranch in Idaho deepened her love for animals, nature, and the power of a good story—elements that would later influence her writing.

After marrying her husband, David, in 1998, Diane lived in Encinitas before settling in Herald, California, in 2001. There, they embraced rural life on a 5½-acre ranch while raising their six children. Though her passion for writing remained strong, Diane devoted her early years to her family and full-time work. It wasn’t until her 50s that she reignited her dream of becoming a published author.

Her debut novel, Angelina's Secret, marked the beginning of the critically acclaimed Jeweled Dagger Series. Since then, Diane has authored five novels, including her first children’s book, The Secret of One-Eyed Cogburn, The Dreaded Pirate Captain. Her work spans historical romance, suspense, and children’s fiction, earning her numerous accolades, including the Benjamin Franklin Digital Award, Reader's Favorite First Place Historical Fiction Award, and multiple awards for A Compromising Position.

In 2017, following her retirement, Diane and her husband relocated to Kalispell, Montana, where they now enjoy hiking and exploring the majestic wilderness surrounding Glacier National Park. A full-time writer and proud grandmother of eleven, Diane continues to captivate readers with rich characters and adventurous, heartfelt stories—living her dream and inspiring others along the way.

Author website