Death Warrant - by Bryan Johnston (Paperback)

About the Book

Short Summary: Frankie Percival agrees to be assassinated on the most popular TV show on the planet: Death Warrant. But once she signs on, her memory is wiped clean of the deal. She has no idea she will soon be killed in spectacular fashion. She could be a star, if only she lives that long.

Book Synopsis

Death Makes Great TV.

Frankie Percival is cashing in her chips. To save her brother from financial ruin, Frankie--a single stage performer and mentalist who never made it big--agrees to be assassinated on the most popular television show on the planet: Death Warrant. Once she signs her life away, her memory is wiped clean of the agreement, leaving her with no idea she will soon be killed spectacularly for global entertainment.

After years of working in low-rent theaters, Frankie prepares for the biggest performance of her life as her Death Warrant assassin closes in on her. Every person she encounters could be her killer. Every day could be her last.

She could be a star, if only she lives that long.

Review Quotes

"[A] deeply satisfying tale that compellingly depicted both the magic of stagecraft and the power of good people coming together to affect meaningful change." --Criminal Element

"Holding a very special appeal for readers with an interest in action/adventure technothrillers and dystopian fiction, Death Warrant by Bryan Johnston is a simply riveting read with all manner of unexpected plot twists and turns. An inherently compelling, deftly crafted, and impressively original novel, Death Warrant is especially and unreservedly recommended for community library collections." --Midwest Book Review

"I absolutely loved Death Warrant! This will definitely make the 'Best of 2022' list." --Elle Ellsberry, Content Acquisition & Partnerships, Scribd

"Professional mentalist Frankie Percival signs a participant contract with the wildly popular reality show "Death Warrant" in the hope that her younger brother will receive sizable financial compensation for her demise. The tonal shifts between Frankie's doggedly optimistic point of view and the ratings-driven television production team amplify the suspense." --AudioFile Magazine

"Subtle yet effective world-building, deftly drawn characters, and a dynamite premise elevate Johnston's latest, which is, by turns, a speculative thriller, a decidedly nontraditional murder mystery, and a love letter to all forms of stage magic. Frankie's snarky, endearingly candid first-person-present narration thoroughly invests readers in her fate, inspiring dread and against-all-odds hope in equal measure." --Mystery Scene Magazine

About the Author

Bryan Johnston takes tremendous pride in being an eleven-time Emmy award-winning writer and producer during his 25 years in local network television. Following his career in broadcast, he became the Creative Director for a Seattle-based creative agency, developing concepts and writing scripts for companies like Microsoft, Starbucks, T-Mobile, and Amazon. He has authored several books and written for numerous magazines and websites.

Bryan lives in the Seattle, Washington area with his wife, two kids, and one large Goldendoodle. He is a devout movie lover, sports fan, and avid reader. His one great hope is for the Seattle Mariners to make it to the World Series before he dies. He's not holding his breath.