Day: May 17, 2023

Audiobook Review: Death Warrant by Bryan Johnston

Death Warrant
Author: Bryan Johnston

Narrators:
Justine Eyre

Holly Palance
Published: June 21, 2022
Audiobook: 9 hours 34 minutes

Reviewed By: Jessica
Dates Read: May 8-12, 2023
Jessica’s Rating: 5 stars

Book Description:

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 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.

Jessica’s Review:

I really enjoyed this audiobook! I can almost see that this would be the direction that reality tv would go.  Set about 50ish years in the future with main stream references to movies and actors that are famous now which would be considered ‘old’ in the future.  With references to certain actors (Tom Hardy) and more. In the future we have the super popular television show Death Warrant.  This is where someone has signed up with their consent to be killed on television. When they die, the ‘volunteer tribute’ has assigned a benefactor that gets a portion of the revenue of the show.  The more people that tune in, the more money the benefactor receives. 

We learn all about Frankie, whom I liked and I wanted her to somehow beat Death Warrant.  We learn about her reasonings as well.  I had decided about 41% in where this was going and I was partially right, but then… OMG, I was still blown away by the twists!  I suspected just about everyone at some point!

I was not surprised to find out that the author, worked in television for 30 years. He definitely took what he knew and wrote a great book with surprises too! There is also some dark humor that I enjoyed in addition to the ‘Old Hollywood’ references.

The narrators are Justine Eyre and Holly Palance. I believe I have listened to Eyre before and she really brought Frankie to life for me! Both narrators did a great job. This is one I would want to listen/ read again now knowing how it ends!

Many thanks to the publisher for making Death Warrant available on NetGalley with ‘listen now’ availability. Because of that I was able to listen to and enjoy a book I had not heard of until I saw it there!

Purchase Links:
Amazon US
Amazon UK