Dead First

by Johnny Compton

From the Bram Stoker award-nominated author of The Spite House comes a bone-chilling new novel about a private investigator hired by a mysterious billionaire to discover why he can’t die.

When private investigator Shyla Sinclair is invited to the looming mansion of mysterious Texan tycoon Saxton Braith, she’s more than a little suspicious. The last thing she expects to see that night is Braith’s assistant driving an iron rod straight through the back of his skull. Scratch that—the last thing she expects to see is Braith’s resurrection afterward.

Braith can’t die, it turns out, but he has no explanation for his immortality, and very few intact memories of his past. Which is why he wants to pay Shyla millions to investigate him, and bring his long-buried history to light. 

Shyla can’t help but be intrigued, but she’s also trapped by the offer. Braith has made it clear that he knows she’s the only person he can trust with his secret, because he knows all about hers. 

Bold, atmospheric, and utterly frightening, Johnny Compton’s Dead First is spine-chilling supernatural horror about the pursuit of power and the undying need for reckoning.

Genres: Horror, Fiction, Mystery, Thriller, Adult, Mystery Thriller, Paranormal

368 pages, Hardcover

First published February 10, 2026

Reviews

[chantalsbookstuff · Rating 2 out of 5]

Nothing horror'ish about this book. I didn't like the characters and got a little bored with the two amateur detectives. Expected atleast one jump scare.

[Elyse · Rating 2 out of 5]

This feels like a standard detective novel with a supernatural twist. There is not much depth to the characters outside of their backstory, and I was not particularly invested in any of them. I had to check several times to make sure this was not part of a series because it felt like I was missing backstory that was repeatedly hinted around. Large parts of the book were really boring.

There are several scary moments in the book, though, and I did feel like those moments were written exceptionally well. Very creepy and well-paced. I'm definitely interested in reading Compton's other books, but this one did not work for me outside of those scary moments.

[Erin · Rating 2 out of 5]

ARC for review. To be published February 10, 2026.

2 stars

PI Shyla Sinclair can’t imagine what billionaire Saxton Braith wants to hire her for, and when she goes to see him she isn’t prepared for what she learns: Braith can’t die. But he’s not quite sure why and he wants a to make sure things stay that way so he wants Shyla to investigate.

Why does Shyla take the job? Braith has something on her and soon Shyla’s situation gets worse when her psychic ex becomes involved.

Some people may really like this bloody horror story but this wasn’t really my thing; a lot of unanswered questions and a bit too gunfighty/ugly violence for my taste. It wasn’t awful, just not for me.

[Kurryreads (Kerry) · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.25 stars - thank you Putnam for the copy!

https://www.tiktok.com/t/ZTh9JQd6E/

[Katie · Rating 3 out of 5]

I’m an absolute sucker for supernatural mysteries & especially love the PI version! This leaned more towards detective novel than horror but still had a few very well developed horror sequences! I think the horror functioned best when the grotesque became the main focus combined with the shifting doubts of our narrator. Genuinely had goosebumps break out & had to sit up in bed for two chunks! Haven’t had this happen since I read The Hollow Places four years ago.

Compton made some unusual choices that I enjoyed. It feels like we’ve been dropped into an ongoing detective series at book five instead of book one. There’s detailed references to previous cases, character backstory or relationships. This builds complete characters with complex motivations that we understand hints of vs a complete profile of how their every trauma leads them to their choices.

It helps serve the horror too. I had to trust the characters without feeling like I knew everything. The MFC is often unsure of her instincts & internally will debate whether she saw what she perceived. These two elements keep the reader guessing, was that real? Could there be a mundane explanation instead? Because I was off balance/ destabilized going into the horror sequences I was creeped me out.

I did struggle with our MFC at times. Her lack of remorse & intense desire to kill certain people made her seem sociopathic. Her tendencies which have commonalities to a much lesser degree with the villain are never really addressed. Also there were times where the author would take two sentences to achieve what one could do. It didn’t make the book repetitive just like there was still fat to trim.

[Dennis]

I gave it to over 120 pages and sadly am dnfing. I thought it was a horror novel, and yes there’s a supernatural/horror aspect, but it’s a detective procedural. I was not in the mood for that. If you like procedurals, this is your book!

[Vonnie · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a solid supernatural mystery with strong detective vibes and some genuinely creepy moments. The atmosphere and setting were well done and kept me engaged throughout the story. I didn’t always connect with the main character and a few parts felt longer than needed, but overall it was an enjoyable read!!

[Shannon Miz · Rating 4 out of 5]

Dead First was so atmospheric, and quite entertaining! Also, billionaires are terrible people! Shyla, our main character, is summoned to shitty person reclusive billionaire Saxton Braith's house. Honestly even his name makes me mad. I digress. He has a secret, and he needs her help: He cannot die, and he wants her to figure out why. Well, that is a big ask for our private investigator, is it not? When Shyla's ex-girlfriend and psychic/telepath Jihn joins the band (against Shyla's will, initially), they set out to uncover the secrets of Braith's (long) life, and why it can't end. And, they try to not lose their own along the way.

Shyla's backstory is quite compelling too, and I really enjoyed learning more about that. I also really loved her dynamics with Jihn, Braith's hired hand Remy and without giving away too much, some of the folks who are involved in Braith's situation (not the bad ones, come on guys). I was absolutely invested in the story- not just why Braith couldn't die, but the whole story. My one minor complaint was that the pacing was a wee bit slow at times, but this is a minor gripe in an otherwise solid story.

Bottom Line: I was invested in both the plot and the characters, loved the atmosphere, and consider this one a win! 

You can find the full review and all the fancy and/or randomness that accompanies it at It Starts at Midnight

[Becky Spratford · Rating 4 out of 5]

Reading for review in the January 2026 issue of Library Journal

Three Words That Describe This Book: Supernatural Detective Horror, Emotionally Charged, Original Monster story

Draft Review: Shyla, 27, has cemented herself as the go-to PI for rich eccentrics in Texas, so it is not surprising when Braith wants to hire her to figure out why he cannot die. To provide proof, Shyla watches helplessly as Braith’s assistant violently murders him right in front of her, healing moments later. After this unsettling start readers settle in to follow Shyla and ex-girlfriend, psychic Jinh, as they follow a string of terrifying clues beginning with a plane crash in 1958 and leading them into basements, warrens hidden just beyond plain sight, filled with menacing beings out for blood, but exactly whose blood? Like all solid PI novels, Shyla has her own secrets and Compton keeps readers hooked on both Shyla’s backstory and the original monster tale, revealing deatils with a steady pacing, bringing it all together for a final confrontation that allows Shyla to shine, conquering her personal demons and bringing to light the real horror at the heart of this story.

Verdict: An emotionally charged supernatural mystery with a PI readers will want to hear from again like in The Haunting of Room 904 by Erika T Wurth, as well as those who like horror about the uber rich such as Fiend by Alma Katsu.


It is important to note that this is as much a PI novel as it is a horror novel. That is not bad. Both are done well. But readers who are not used to how a PI detective novel needs to be written, might not enjoy it as much as a horror novel. I thought those details were done very well. We have well placed red herrings, great investigative detail, back story in Shyla and her former girlfriend/partner Jinh (a psychic) as they work together to investigate. And most importantly, Shyla as our PI is built well. We understand her motivation, her past, and how it all works to make her who she is. The sympathy for her is built well.

The horror part is original and interesting. The client-- Braith- an uber rich TX guy who cannot die-- we see it right at the start-- hiring Shyla to figure out why. Of course it is not that simple. He is not just a vampire and he has ulterior motives etc.. We know this, Shyla knows this. But Compton pulls it off. The horror/monster/supernatural things at not cookie cutter in anyway. The backstory is developed well and how Shyla's specific background and traumas are used to resolve it all is also good.

I am being vague because the reader is told form the start that Shyla has secrets but Compton reveals them slowly which allows the unease to build realistically and keeps the reader interested, turning the pages, without Compton having to sacrifice the pacing and investigation moving forward but still giving us the details we need.

There is an easter egg connection to Compton's first love-- The Spite House. Also a hint that Shyla might be back. This could be a series.

References to The Monkey's Paw a famous story by English author W.W. Jacobs-- first published in 1902 are used here. Enough info is given about that story to allow readers who are unfamiliar with it to understand. Also the story has been adapted and used in other stories enough that people are familiar a bit.

Readalikes-- The Haunting of Room 904 by Erika T. Wurth is a great readalike here. Both are solid supernatural PI stories with strong investigative details, an emotion backstory, and original monster to be stalking.

Harry Dresden fans and Sandman Slims will like this too. Those readers are always eager for new, original supernatural PI stories.

Fans of Alma Katsu's 2025 FIEND, focused on an under rich family has some cross over appeal here too, especially for those who don't want more investigative elements but want the rich family with "monstrous" secrets.

[BiblioSizzle · Rating 4 out of 5]

A woman is hired to investigate why her client cannot die.. and all hell breaks loose. Literally.

Johnny Compton can write horror! The scenes that included the violent and the paranormal were terrifying and I had to push myself to keep going because I wanted to close my eyes. The way he writes the setting makes you feel like you are there witnessing the events. It was so well done.

Being local to the area, I am very familiar with San Antonio and its paranormal history, so the nods to the town were obvious and strong for me. I have stayed at the Menger Hotel and I cannot shake that it had some inspiration on our adventure. I loved that you could feel the Texas heartbeat throughout.

The only thing I didn’t like was feeling like this was the second or third book in a series, when it wasn’t. There are many references back to a history and another investigation and set of events that the narrator assumes the reader is aware of, except we aren’t. It’s unsettling and instead of being a unique way to provide some character development (like I think Johnny meant to do) it felt more like I was the butt of some inside joke. That everyone was in on something that I was left out of. I can only hope that this means we will get a prequel.

[OutlawPoet · Rating 4 out of 5]

While not my favorite book from the author, there's still so much good here.

It starts with a bang, but then slows to a slightly more methodical and atmospheric read. I'll honest that the first half of the book was a little slower than I liked - I read it in fits and starts. However, once we got to the 2nd half, it was a dark and horrific rollercoaster ride until the end.

I adored Shyla and Remy. I didn't care so much for Shyla's ex.

The author managed to do some powerful worldbuilding and (aside from a couple of long back story bits), I was definitely in.

Not a perfect read, but 3.5 trending 4 and I'm looking forward to the author's next offering.

* ARC via Publisher

[Kez · Rating 1 out of 5]

Had to read this for a challenge and it was really just not the book for me. I didn’t like the plot, nothing made sense. I didn’t like the main character, found her unrelatible and unrealistic. Some things that were important were under explained. Other times the writing just seemed to go on and on. Spoiler. I was super annoyed with the whole parent thing/ steeling her at birth. Then having the right for some reason to kill her fake dad. Idk, just didn’t get any of it. Tons of plot holes.

[Nerea]

DNF... too messy. I lost the plot too many times :*(

[The Blog Without a Face · Rating 3 out of 5]

BWAF Score: 6/10

TL;DR: Dead First is a slick, vicious supernatural noir that moves like a blade. Johnny Compton fuses private-eye momentum with occult dread, delivering crisp set pieces, grim humor, and a steady sense that power is the real haunting. It’s propulsive, nasty, and smart about predation, with folklore mechanics that actually bite.

Dead First by Johnny Compton is a supernatural noir that knows exactly how to keep your pulse up while it drags you into something old, ugly, and spiritually uninsured. It’s the kind of book that reads like a fast walk through a bad neighborhood with a loaded backstory, where the streetlights keep flickering and you start noticing the same footprints behind you in every puddle.

The opening posture is pure hard-boiled dread: Shyla Sinclair, a private investigator with a fucked past, gets summoned to billionaire Saxton Braith’s manor, a place described like a floodlit fort that turns into a “dark church” after sundown. That vibe is the book’s operating system. Shyla’s job offer quickly becomes a guided tour through Braith’s secrets, including his eerie confidence in what people are, what they want, and how easy they are to push into the shape he needs. And because this is Compton, the story does not dawdle. The chapters move with that clean thriller hunger, but the horror keeps interrupting with blunt, bodily wrongness: head trauma that does not behave like head trauma, the lingering stink of ritual, and the constant suggestion that “wealth” here is not just money but an occult advantage. A PI gets hired by a terrifyingly well-prepared billionaire, uncovers the machinery behind his survival, and gets pulled into a revenge chain that has been waiting a long time to close its fist.

The writing is a close third on Shyla, with enough interiority to make her fear and fury feel lived-in, but not so much navel-gazing that the engine stalls. Shyla’s skepticism is one of the book’s best tonal choices. She’s surrounded by people who believe in things: a clairvoyant ex (Jinh Gang), a billionaire who treats “ESP” like a résumé bullet, and a whole ecosystem of institutional myth. Shyla’s refusal to immediately worship any of it creates friction, and friction creates heat. The dialogue is punchy without trying to be cute, and Compton has a knack for letting people say the sharp thing, then immediately regret saying it, which is how real conversations work when your nerves are already shredded.

This book moves. Shyla investigates, gets leads, hits walls, gets shoved into the next room anyway. There’s a satisfying escalation ladder: the creepy mansion meeting, the widening circle of Braith’s history, the dive into the Yorktown psychiatric hospital lore, then the confrontation sequences that turn “investigation” into “survive this right now.” Compton times reveals with professional confidence, including the way Braith’s past gets teased through photos, archives, and the stink of Garrett Schramm, a pilot with a service record and a trail of sick stories attached. The mid-book doesn’t sag because Compton keeps swapping your flavor of dread: sometimes it’s procedural, sometimes it’s occult, sometimes it’s pure “this guy is a monster and the system makes room for him.” The downside of that efficiency is that it rarely becomes disorienting. It’s propulsive and clear, not a hallucinatory mind-maze.

Braith’s manor feels like wealth weaponized into architecture, all black windows and doors that read like a dare. The Yorktown material adds institutional rot: rumors of secret chapels, “death tunnels,” neglect, and abuse, all filtered through small-town gossip and family memory that gradually stops feeling like gossip. Compton’s recurring motifs are physical and humiliating: hands, wounds, the body as evidence, and the way “inheritance” can mean money, trauma, or an actual cursed object you cannot return to sender. The book’s grossest images do not feel random. They’re tied to the central idea that power is always eating somebody.

Compton knows when to imply and when to show. The “hand of glory” element is handled with the right mix of folklore explanation and tactile disgust: a severed hand preserved into a glove, worshipped, handled, worn, and eventually used as the story’s ugliest instrument of justice. The scenes in the subterranean hospital spaces hit because the book treats them like a battery, a place where belief has been fed for decades and now it’s hungry again. And the action beats are staged cleanly enough that you can picture them, but not so cleanly that they feel sanitized. When bodies get hurt, it’s not glamorous. It’s splintery, rubbery, panicked.

Johnny Compton broke out in the last few years with The Spite House (his debut novel) and followed it with Devils Kill Devils, and he has also published horror short fiction. He’s been recognized by the Horror Writers Association ecosystem, including a Bram Stoker Award nomination for The Spite House, which places him in the “newer, but already widely clocked” tier of modern horror writers. In interviews around Dead First, he’s talked explicitly about wanting a detective noir nested inside horror, and about anger and revenge as thematic fuel, which tracks with how this book keeps returning to the pleasures and costs of payback. He also positions himself as someone steeped in classic spooky storytelling, but writing in a contemporary register that cares about systems, publicity, and how predators hide in plain sight. Dead First reads like a pivot toward a more overt crime-framework than his haunted-house branding, without abandoning the supernatural dread that got him noticed in the first place.

This is a book about predation dressed as opportunity. It’s about how the powerful collect people, how institutions (money, mental health systems, policing, celebrity-adjacent fame) can become cover stories, and how revenge becomes its own kind of faith when there’s no other structure left that feels fair. The title’s idea of being “dead first” is a worldview: some people treat everyone else’s life as the cheap part of the equation, and their own survival as the only real resource. That entitlement is the true monster, and the supernatural elements function like a cosmic audit. Not a moral lesson, not a neat parable, but a reckoning that has been accruing interest.

The book keeps returning to hands, to touch, to what it means to put your mark on somebody else’s life. Compton doesn’t do the prestige-horror fade-out where you’re left squinting at ambiguity like it’s profundity. He commits to resolution while still letting the aftermath sting, especially for Shyla, whose emotional arc involves letting go of a hatred that has kept her upright. The final sequences are brutal in a satisfying way, and they pay off the folklore you’ve been collecting all book. The plotting is clean, the set pieces are legible, the dread is engineered rather than unknowable. If you want a supernatural thriller that feels like it could be adapted without losing its spine, this is your meal. It’s sharp, nasty, and confident.

Read if “billionaire occult bullshit” is your favorite subgenre and you like your revenge served cold.

Skip if you want your monsters to be abstract metaphors instead of knives with backstories.

[rowan | gloomandgrimoire · Rating 5 out of 5]

Johnny Compton the man that you are!!!! This was FANTASTIC. I had a very difficult time peeling myself away from this book every time I picked it up because it was so gripping and atmospheric.

Dead First follows Shyla Sinclair, a private investigator, who gets hired by a mysterious wealthy benefactor, Saxton Braith. He wants her to uncover his shrouded history and the secret behind why he can't die, while she is worried about secrets of her own and her past catching up to her as she hunts for answers.

I love Shyla. She is such a developed and complex character, with a very remarkable backstory that lends itself to a unique internal conflict, which ends up coming to a fruition in a perfect way for the story. Since she is a private investigator, the story has some of the feel of a crime procedural without leaning too heavily into the gritty detective/cop feel.

Another character heavily featured is her psychic ex-girlfriend, Jinh, whom I also thought was wonderful. I love that their relationship was complicated; you could really tell how their interpersonal struggles and character traits influenced the way they interacted with one another, and it made it feel so authentic on the page.

I am never ever going to say no to a supernatural story, but I love to see a fresh take on it, and Dead First absolutely delivered that. There are so many different elements woven into this - immortality, hauntings, cursed objects - but they exist in perfect harmony in the world Compton created. There is certainly a lot going on, but at no point did it ever feel overwhelming or confusing to me, nor did anything feel out of place or introduced without a specific purpose. It was just so satisfying to read!!

Also, as an aside, I just love reading things that are set in Texas lol. It's so fun for me getting to read about San Antonio, Houston, and Galveston and picture everything clearly in my head as the events of the book play out.

If you are craving a good supernatural horror thriller, I definitely would suggest picking this up next month when it comes out! Devils Kill Devils by Compton is also high up on my TBR and I'm looking forward to picking that one up soon!!

Thank you to NetGalley and Putnam books for this ARC!!! ❤️🖤❤️🖤

[Diana · Rating 3 out of 5]

⭐️⭐️⭐️ 3/5 STARS!
the premise of this drew me in right off the bat. i knew i had to read it. it felt like the author really took a handful of genres and crafted something masterfully good! almost like literally throwing paint on a canvas and out comes a masterpiece of work. the writing style might not be for everyone, but if you give it a chance to immerse yourself in it... it's gritty, gorey, and action-packed. i'd be so hyped if they found a way to make this into a movie. i would def watch that! i'm more of a books > movies type of girl, but this story feels like it would be more impactful on-screen. or maybe that's just me.

one of the major reasons for my rating is that i had trouble really connecting with the characters. i was left wanting more. something about it didn't feel... complete. not sure if that's the word i'm looking for, but as of this moment it's fitting. kind of like there were more questions than answers. i tend to get really invested into the story/characters, so i nitpick. 😅 nonetheless, i did enjoy reading it. it's a solid 3 STARS for now. maybe in the future i'll revisit this read and change my mind. no doubt there're people who would appreciate this much more than i did and rate it higher, because it's still a good story. i'd still recommend it & think it's worth a read. no regrets here!

thank you to the author and publisher for allowing me the opportunity to read an advanced copy via NetGalley. i leave this review of my own volition; all thoughts and opinions are my own.

[Jim Holscher · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not dead and not really loving it!
Shyla is a private investigator who is hired by a business tycoon to answer a vexing question, why can't he die. Shyla is helped by her ex-girlfriend Jihn who is telepathic

Interesting, but.....
The premise was interesting, however, this went a tad long for me. I say that because at a couple points in the story Shyla and Jihn became needlessly confused to me as characters. I had to remind myself that Jihn was the telepathic one and Shyla was the Private investigator.

Good book just needed trimming
Overall I liked this one and would recommend it for fans of noir horror or thrillers such as S.A. Cosby or T Kingfisher.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for the digital review copy!

[laurakellylitfit · Rating 3 out of 5]

Out February 10th, 2026
Private investigator Shyla Sinclair is summoned to the eerie mansion of Saxton Braith, a reclusive Texas billionaire with a chilling secret—he cannot die. Her skepticism turns to horror when she witnesses Braith’s assistant impale him with an iron rod, only for Braith to resurrect moments later. With no memory of how he became immortal and desperate for answers, Braith offers Shyla a fortune to uncover the truth about his past. But the job comes with strings: Braith knows Shyla’s own buried secrets and insists she’s the only one he can trust.

As Shyla digs deeper into Braith’s shadowy history, she uncovers a web of supernatural forces, forgotten identities, and sinister motives that stretch far beyond the confines of his mansion. The investigation leads her into a world where death is not the end, and power comes at a terrifying cost. Each revelation brings her closer to understanding Braith’s curse—and the role she may unknowingly play in it.

Blending noir detective grit with supernatural horror, Dead First is a haunting exploration of immortality, guilt, and the relentless pursuit of truth. Compton crafts a tense, atmospheric narrative where every answer raises new questions, and the line between investigator and subject begins to blur. It’s a chilling tale of reckoning, where the past refuses to stay buried and the dead don’t always stay dead

Thank you to NetGalley and G.P. Putnam's Sons for this ARC!

[Stephanie Zeuli · Rating 2 out of 5]

This started off so strong! I was hooked right away. But it fizzled out quickly. By the end I was really bored and barely cared what happened.

[Stevie · Rating 5 out of 5]

This ARC was provided by the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. 

Thank you NG & Johnny Compton
-Dead First-

I ate this book UP in one sitting.
“people who have gone in, have come back changed”

This book was so interesting to me because it has a lot more depth than the description leads on. Especially with telepathy & dreams and things I wasn’t expecting that was a pleasant surprise. You really have two stories being told and merging into one. It’s so clever reading about her past, what lead her to where she is now and how her past has impacted her.

The paranormal aspects are absolutely eerie & daunting. The descriptions in this book paint a picture of EXACTLY HOW CREEPY things looked and made it extremely easy to picture in your mind.

This book is dark and usually I don’t like descriptive torture/ violent books at all but this one was tolerable even in moments I had discomfort and the “this is awful” feeling. The paranormal aspect of that in my opinion helped balance that out.

The story just kept getting better & better as it went on and is definitely a page turner. I wish so badly someone would draw or paint images from this book 😭 the paranormal place they went, the “witches” they saw. So if someone does that send it my way because I’d love to see this in art!

I actually really adored this book!

ALSO LGBTQIA MAIN CHARACTERS 🖤

[Torrie Bailey · Rating 3 out of 5]

The SECOND I see a new release is coming from Johnny Compton, I am all in, so Dead First was at the top of the list for me. Compton has an ease with writing strong atmosphere and setting that just FEEL heavy as you read, and that's something that came across so well in this book. That being said, I think readers of Dead First are going to fall fairly solidly into one of two camps, so let's lay it out.

Who I think WILL enjoy this book:
-fans of detective noir
-readers who like their supernatural horror on the violent side

Who I do NOT think will enjoy this book:
-readers who like to connect deeply with characters
-readers with aversion to violent scenes or torture

I did enjoy the book for the most part, but found myself struggling to really align with any of the characters here. And I don't necessarily think that's BAD - not every character is going to resonate with every reader. But in this case, it made it difficult for me to invest in hopes for any one outcome. That experience aside, I still recommend this book and will be waiting for future releases from Compton.

((While the viewpoints shared are my own, I want to thank NetGalley, Putnam Books, & Johnny Compton for this complimentary copy.))

[Peter Rosch · Rating 5 out of 5]

This take on immortality is raw, original, and unapologetically Compton. No writer sits my soul closer to the brutal consequences of morbid curiosity quite like Compton. Dead First is a reckoning of desire and decay, where even love isn't spared from the price of knowing too much.

[Jordan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Probably a 3.5. There were things that I really liked about this book and a couple things I really disliked. It’s good enough that I’ll definitely pick up any future books by Compton though.

[April L · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.25 rounded down.

Private investigator Shyla Sinclair is invited to the home of billionaire Saxton Braith, where he offers to pay her an obscene amount of money if she can find out why he cannot die. Shyla finds this ridiculous until she watches Braith’s assistant drive a fireplace poker through the back of his skull and sees it come out of his mouth. This would be a fatal injury to anyone, yet the man miraculously heals and is once again whole and unscathed. Braith explains that since he has very little memories of his past and has no idea how he came to be immortal, he wants Shyla to do some digging and find answers. She feels that she is no position to refuse his offer. Underneath his polite and polished exterior, a sense of power emanates from this man. He also knows a secret of Shyla’s past. Something that would destroy her if it came to light. This was never going to be just a job offer. How do you say no to someone who’s standing over your long buried secrets with a shovel?

That premise sounds good, huh? I thought so too. Unfortunately I was very disappointed. At the very beginning this story had promise. A mysterious billionaire who, despite having his blood and gore scattered across the floor, pulls a rod from his skull and keeps chatting? Intriguing. He cannot remember his past and the many years he’s lived? Interesting. He has no explanation of how he came to be immortal? Yes, please. Then things go downhill. What I assumed would be an enthralling horror story about an immortal billionaire ended up being a paranormal detective novel with a plot that was punt kicked to the curb in favor of a bunch of side quests.

Right off the bat Shyla got to work investigating and very soon into it my ears did the equivalent of what eyeballs do when they glaze over and kind of stare into space (I listened to this on audio). The plot was quickly buried by confusion, side characters who take a spotlight for way too long, detailed and lengthy info dumps that were unnecessary, and a deep focus on the MC’s past even though it barely had any significant tie in with the main story. I get that the author wanted Shyla to not be a one dimensional character, so she gets dealt the common card of trauma. This is brought up, discussed, swallowed down, and regurgitated so often that it felt like someone was not only beating a dead horse but river dancing on a whole herd of them.

The story focused very little on Saxton, but instead microscopically analyzed people from his past. I mean, yeah some of those people were meant to be a support to the story as a whole, but not the foundation. Right away they ended up hijacking it and it felt like those chapters draaaagged on for hours. In the midst of all this, Saxton became a side character in his own history. As for Saxton himself, his character was bland and formulaic. There was nothing remarkable about him. Shyla’s character also felt flat. Even with her tragic past. I can’t tell you one thing that stuck out about her personality wise. Shyla’s ex-girlfriend, Jinh comes in with the psychic abilities and an “it’s complicated” type of relationship trope. She plays the more tender half of the duo while Shyla is the “deeply scarred but tries not to show it on the surface, so I push people away” type. There was zero connection between me as the reader and any of these characters. They came across very unoriginal.

One thing I did like is when Saxton’s past is uncovered and we see everything that took place for him to become immortal. That part was unique, layered, and complex, but once again went a little overboard and became confusing and drawn out.

This story is a good example of “less is more.” So many things could’ve been condensed, there could’ve been better organization, and the story could’ve not lingered so long or focused so heavily on everyone other than Saxton. Yes, the storyline obviously required other characters to be involved, but not to the point where they steamroll the person the story is supposed to focus on. It had so much potential, but not so great execution. I held on until the end because part of me hoped there would be some mind blowing ending that would redeem the whole story and the other part didn’t want to stop because I used an Audible credit and didn’t want it to go to waste. I also felt that I was already too far into it once I started really considering dropping it. This is my first novel by this author. Based off this one, it’s unlikely that I would read any of his other work.

[Get Your Tinsel in a Tangle · Rating 4 out of 5]

You know that feeling when a story kicks off like a freight train to hell and you’re just trying to hang onto your eyebrows because things are getting weird fast? That’s exactly how Dead First opens. You’ve got Shyla Sinclair, hard-boiled PI with more baggage than an unclaimed carousel at JFK, rolling up to a creepy Texas mansion to meet the reclusive billionaire client of the week. Saxton Braith. He’s rich, mysterious, haunted by a past he can’t remember… and also, tiny detail, he cannot die. Not in a "he keeps getting lucky" way. Like, his assistant literally impales him with an iron rod through the skull, and thirty seconds later he's up and moving like it's a Monday meeting.

I mean. Sir? What kind of dental plan comes with that?

This setup? Flawless. A big honking chef’s kiss. We’ve got supernatural noir vibes, private eye snark, an eerily atmospheric mansion that definitely has blood history in the walls, and a client who should be six feet under but is instead offering Shyla a fat check and a threat. You know. Classic business meeting. Also, Braith knows Shyla’s secrets and when this book peels back her layers? It’s not just skeletons in her closet, it’s an entire séance.

But here’s the thing. While the premise struts in like it owns the place, the pacing kind of slinks in behind it like a hungover intern on a Monday morning. The middle chunk gets lost in its own exposition, like it wandered off into the woods with a flashlight and no cell signal. We're talking lore dumps, detours, and some scenes that felt like they were making eye contact with me just to stall for time. I kept waiting for the momentum to return from whatever coffee break it took. Thankfully, it does. Eventually. But you might need a snack to get there.

And then. And then. The second half kicks in like a Red Bull-fueled exorcism. The horror gets gnarlier. The culty vibes start culting. Shyla and her psychic ex-girlfriend Jinh (YES we’re doing trauma-laced queer romance, thank you Johnny Compton) go full ride-or-die mode. I had to pause and take a deep breath somewhere around the creepy twins and the twisted religious lore that started surfacing like something unholy in a baptismal font. The vibes go from detective story to full-on paranormal fever dream, and honestly, it works. Mostly.

Shyla herself? Iconic. She’s rough, complicated, emotionally scorched by her past but not burned out. She makes morally questionable choices, uses sarcasm as a bulletproof vest, and has a deep, aching love for people she’s convinced she doesn’t deserve. Her dynamic with Jinh was hands down the emotional heart of the book, even when the plot started wobbling on its axis. The stakes were high, the danger felt real, and there were moments I genuinely considered throwing my Kindle into the void and screaming, “MA’AM. WHAT IS THE PLAN.”

Braith, though? He’s a fascinating mess. The mystery around him kept me locked in, but the actual answer to why he’s immortal? Felt like it should’ve hit harder. I wanted something sharper, weirder, maybe even a little more emotionally devastating. Instead, it kind of landed like a corporate memo from hell. Like, thanks for the context, but where’s the existential meltdown?

Anyway. Before Saxton Braith pops up behind me with another iron rod and a monologue, let’s close this out.

Dead First is a gritty supernatural noir with big horror energy and the emotional angst of a detective who keeps staring into the abyss and accidentally falling in. It’s got teeth, but they don’t always bite where you want them to. Still, the ambition here? Immaculate. The mood? Impeccable. And Shyla? Put her in a franchise immediately. She’s got series-lead written all over her trench coat. Solid 3.5 stars. I’m not haunted, but I am deeply unsettled.

Whodunity Award: For “Client Has Died on the Premises” Energy That Just Would Not Quit

Big, weird thanks to Putnam and NetGalley for the ARC and for letting me attend this unholy job interview of a novel. I did not bring a résumé but I did leave with trauma and vibes, which feels correct.

[Dan · Rating 4 out of 5]

My thanks to NetGalley and Putnam publishers for an advance copy of this new book the melds classic detective noir and the supernatural in a story about the destructive effects the past can have on the present, the people one cares about, and the secrets that are better not investigated.

I worked with a woman who, well had family problems. Big emotions, little drama blown up into Hindenburg-like disasters, people not talking to people. The stuff of sitcoms or an streaming series, stretching to 24 seasons. One day she turned to me and said, "Orphans have to be the luckiest people. Nothing to hold them back, only the now, not the what happened." I don't know how facetious she was being, but what she said was loaded with emotion, and pain. I couldn't help but think what would not remember the past be like. Not having to deal with fears, failures and doubts about actions taken? How much would that bother a person? How much does the past make, and break what we are? This questions comes up quite a bit in this book, as one character wants to discover their past, and one finds their past weaponized in a way. And in another way her past makes her able to face the dangerous coming. And laugh. Dead First by Bram Stoker award-nominated Johnny Compton is a story of the past, running from the past, discovering the past, and the strange things that exist all around us, that use our pasts to haunt us.

Shyla Sinclair is young to be a hard-boiled detective, but some popular cases, Internet notoriety, and a very powerful client have given Shyla quite a reputation. Shyla is invited to the estate of Texas tycoon Saxton Braith, an invitation that is kept quite in many ways. The mega-mansion seems to be occupied by only two people Saxton and his assistant Remy and decorated in a strange way. Before Shyla can ask, Saxton's assistant puts a fireplace poker into Saxton's head, which does not kill Saxton. In fact within a few minutes Saxton's wound have healed, much to Shyla's shock. Saxton it seems can't be killed, and he has tried. Saxton has no idea who or what he is. Nor does he remember his past, except for a few events and a name. Saxton wants Shyla to investigate him, find out what Saxton is, and what he has done. Saxton offers the detective both the carrot of lots of money, millions in fact, and the stick. Saxton knows things about Shyla's past, things she does not want revealed. As Shyla, along her friend with psychic abilities begin to look into Saxton's past, a darkness begins to appear, weird things happen. And the past, as Shyla learns isn't quite dead, but seems to be coming back with a vengeance.

A moody atmospheric kind of story, full of pain and guilt and well very bad things. A mix of detective noir, and eldritch horror. Also a mix of two Orson Welles movies, Mr. Arcadian, and Black Magic. I liked the story, though it takes a bit to get used to the narrative. There is a sense that this is the second book in a series, but Compton gradually fills in the blanks, and one can see the mystery expanding, and becoming clearer. The mix of detective and spooky is well done. Shyla is an interesting character and still rare in detective fiction being a woman, and an African-American woman at that. And a survivor. The mythology makes sense, and is well laid out, and makes for a very interesting story.

This is the second book by Compton I have read and I enjoyed Compton's writing style quite a bit. Again a little bit of a learning curve getting into the story, even with the real strong opening, but a story I enjoyed and had a very hard time putting down. An unsettling but satisfying thriller.

[Justin Soderberg · Rating 3 out of 5]

Dead First by Johnny Compton is a moody, genre-blending horror that has a truly killer premise, a private investigator hired by a man who can't die. The story is equally supernatural thriller as well as detective noir, with an eerie atmosphere to boot.

When private investigator Shyla Sinclair is invited to the looming mansion of eccentric billionaire Saxton Braith, she’s more than a little suspicious. The last thing she expects to see that night is Braith’s assistant driving an iron rod straight through the back of his skull. Scratch that—the last thing she expects to see is Braith’s resurrection afterward.

Braith can’t die, it turns out, but he has no explanation for his immortality, and very few intact memories of his past. Which is why he wants to pay Shyla millions to investigate him, and bring his long-buried history to light.

Shyla can’t help but be intrigued, but she’s also trapped by the offer. Braith has made it clear that he knows she’s the only person he can trust with his secret, because he knows all about hers.

Dead First has a fresh premise and a truly eerie atmosphere that hits a bunch of the right notes. Taking the concept of a private investigator hired by a billionaire who can't die was enough to draw me in. As a fan of horror stories as well as mysteries, this blend of the two penned by Bram Stoker award nominated author Johnny Compton to create a supernatural/noir hybrid was something I could not let pass me by.

While the plot itself, along with the creepy mansion-mystery vibe had me going and kept me curious to find out more, but what we end up getting just didn't land for me as well as I had hopes for. The execution fell short of the stellar premise. The pacing dragged on in places, some plot threads felt a bit loose, and the payoff didn't feel as strong as the setup. This all made for someone let down by the end. As someone who typically enjoys Compton's work, personally loved Spite House, this was not a paragraph I wanted to write.

While I admired the ambition and unique plot of Dead First, the pacing and payoff didn't quite work for me. Johnny Compton crafts a solid, imaginative read, just one that doesn't realize the potential of the intriguing setup. However, as with most stories this is objective and still recommend horror fans give this novel a read.

Dead First hits bookstores everywhere on February 10, 2025 from G.P. Putnam's Sons. The audiobook is available for preorder via Libro.fm!

NOTE: We received an advance copy of Dead First from the publisher. Opinions are our own.

[Elaine · Rating 2 out of 5]

Thank you to NetGalley for an ARC of Dead First.

I've never read this author before but the premise drew me in.

I love books with supernatural/horror elements and the blurb made me interested to read more.

The narrative isn't for everyone and may be triggering for some people: there's a lot of violence, blood, and murders.

** Minor supernatural spoilers ahead **

PI Shyla Sinclair has been tasked by billionaire Saxton Braith to learn why he can't die. He's not a vampire or a zombie. He's immortal.

Wary and distrustful of her new client, and with the help of her colleague and former girlfriend, Jinh, the duo discover the secret behind Braith's immortality and its downright terrifying.

When their investigation puts Jinh in danger, Shyla has to rely on her wits and her own untapped psychic abilities to defeat a man that can't be killed.

I love the premise, its different and dark, though I was a bit confused by some of the supernatural elements.

I thought the Twins were spectral but they're not, they're human but have spectral abilities and creep around like poltergeists.

Ohhh-kay.

I'm not a fan of the author's writing style.

We're in Shyla's head most of the time and its whirling a mile a minute, no surprise considering the events she's found herself in.

She has a tendency to explain what is happening when something shocking occurs which I found distracting.

It read like the author's way to explain the scene to readers.

The story isn't all ghosts and curses and mayhem; its really about rage, vengeance, love, loyalty, and forgiveness.

Shyla's troubled childhood and what she has done to survive has made her who she is, a survivor, still dealing with the trauma that continues to taint her relationships with her family and Jinh.

It's about Shyla coming to terms with her past and what she has done to get to this point and how her future is still open and waiting for her.

[Jeremy Fowler · Rating 5 out of 5]

Solve the Mystery of Saxton Braith!

Dead First absolutely had me in a chokehold from page one. Johnny Compton just knows how to craft characters who come in hot, complicated, and dripping with history. The kind you want to unpack like a suitcase that’s definitely hiding something sharp. Shyla is such a standout for me; she moves through this story with this bruised, lived‑in weight that makes every choice feel like it’s dragging a whole past behind it. And don't worry, you get that tortured past and then some. And then there’s Jinh (my personal fave), who is mysterious, quietly capable, always operating with this almost otherworldly competence that makes you pay attention every time their name appears. She knows all, but reveals her truths only when necessary. But let’s be real: Saxton Braith is the gravitational center of this universe. The man can’t die, remembers practically nothing, and oozes this unnerving charisma that makes you understand exactly why Shyla can’t walk away. He’s not just a character; he’s an orbit. These characters weave together in this mystery adventure that is sure to have you furiously flipping pages to discover the next secret.

And the world? I’m obsessed. The plot moves with this eerie, deliberate intensity. There is part gothic investigation, part supernatural unraveling, and it WORKS. Every twist pulls you deeper, and the atmosphere is so thick you basically walk around in it. I love this world. I love these characters. I love the dark, myth‑tangled energy pulsing through the whole thing. By the time I hit the end, I wasn’t just satisfied; I was already impatient. I want more Shyla. More Jinh. More Braith. More of whatever strange, haunted machinery is driving this story’s heart. If Compton gives us another slice of this universe, I’m (DEAD) first in line.

[Beth · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to NetGalley and Putnam| G.P. Putnam’s Sons as well as the author for this ARC in exchange for my honest review.

#Netgalley #PutnamGPPutnamsSons #Putnam #JohnnyCompton #DeadFirst #Horror #Fiction #Detectiveprocedural #Supernaturalhorror #BookReviews

Title: Dead First

Author: Johnny Compton

Format: eBook

Publisher: Putnam| G.P. Putnam’s Sons

Publication Date: February 10, 2026

Rating: 4 Stars

Themes: Detective, paranormal, mystery, humans as monsters, monsters, immortality

Trigger Warnings: violence, gore, murder, paranormal,



I love Johnny’s writing. Love it! This book follows Shyla and her ex-girlfriend. Shyla is a private detective and has been hired by a billionaire who can’t die. He wants her to tell him why he can’t die. He wants to hear his secrets because he knows hers.



This book was more detective procedural than horror. It’s a great book for crime thriller fans. It does have delightful gore, and the supernatural twist was fun. I really enjoyed the supernatural twist. It was super original as is becoming typical for this author. His writing here is rich and full of depth, and his characters reflect that. I felt a little like I was walking into the middle of a story at first. Backstory and background are given to the reader little by little like treats for getting through the heavy chapters. I noticed a few callbacks to Mr. Compton’s other books, which was also a treat.

I found it difficult to like the main protagonist, Shyla. She was almost emotionless and way too intense at times. Maybe that was the idea! I have a feeling this author isn’t quite done with her. Just a feeling.



All in all, I enjoyed this book but it’s not an easy read. People who love crime thrillers and supernatural horror fans will find a lot to love here.