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Branded
When college professor Jackson Pierce and his students uncover a hidden pattern linking global events to corporate profit, what begins as an academic project becomes a deadly revelation. Jackson and his wife, a Shakespeare scholar, realize all too late that the pattern they've uncovered-code-named Branded-connects powerful corporations, media outlets, and political elites in a conspiracy worth killing for.
Pierce's published findings alert the firm responsible for the violent game of product placement. They respond with threats and power against the professor's family, students and journalists, as the company seeks to hide the truth that some of the biggest recent tragedies weren't accidents at all, but perfectly executed campaigns designed to sell, distract, and control.
As assassins close in and reputations burn, unlikely allies must decide whether truth itself can survive in a world where stories are weapons, and everyone, everywhere, is already... branded.
Pierce's published findings alert the firm responsible for the violent game of product placement. They respond with threats and power against the professor's family, students and journalists, as the company seeks to hide the truth that some of the biggest recent tragedies weren't accidents at all, but perfectly executed campaigns designed to sell, distract, and control.
As assassins close in and reputations burn, unlikely allies must decide whether truth itself can survive in a world where stories are weapons, and everyone, everywhere, is already... branded.
322 pages, Paperback
Published November 26, 2025
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Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews
January 29, 2026
Branded by John A. Tures is one of the most unique books I’ve ever read. The book begins in the setting of Academia and the interworkings between the professors and administration. I do not believe this is an oft-traveled road for the genre of fiction, so it came as a fresh surprise. Additionally, the world of Academia collides with the world of corporate corruption and espionage (a common enough subject in fiction), but the specific type of corporate work on display is incredibly unique.
I have never read or even considered anything on the dubious efforts of corporations to do shameless product and brand placement within media. As I was reading, I couldn’t help but think about tons of examples like The LEGO Movie or Eggo Waffles in Stranger Things. In fact, after introducing my kids to the 90s classic Jumanji, my daughter exclaimed that the entire movie was one big commercial for a board game. She saw it before I did.
The really unique part of Dr. Tures’ book was the idea of an evil corporation creating dirty laundry for a corrupt news outlet so that products could be featured or disparaged on the nightly news. The people who uncover this conspiracy are not the FBI or the CIA or even any kind of law enforcement, but rather, a college professor and his senior communications students. So, the world of Academia and the world of corporate and communication corruption are thrown in a blender, and chaos ensues. The second half of the book is where the story really takes off and becomes a very quick read, as the stakes are raised and the fight between Academia and Corporate America is on.
The book ends with a cliffhanger and begs the reader to pick up the next volume to discover the triumphs and foibles of Jackson Pierce and his ragtag group of communication sleuths.
One more note: I have no idea if this was intended, but one character in jail is referred to by his prisoner ID number as 60124, which is just an anagram of Jean Valjean's (of Les Misérables) prisoner ID number, 24601. If this is indeed a little Easter Egg, it's pretty clever and got a great chuckle from me!
I have never read or even considered anything on the dubious efforts of corporations to do shameless product and brand placement within media. As I was reading, I couldn’t help but think about tons of examples like The LEGO Movie or Eggo Waffles in Stranger Things. In fact, after introducing my kids to the 90s classic Jumanji, my daughter exclaimed that the entire movie was one big commercial for a board game. She saw it before I did.
The really unique part of Dr. Tures’ book was the idea of an evil corporation creating dirty laundry for a corrupt news outlet so that products could be featured or disparaged on the nightly news. The people who uncover this conspiracy are not the FBI or the CIA or even any kind of law enforcement, but rather, a college professor and his senior communications students. So, the world of Academia and the world of corporate and communication corruption are thrown in a blender, and chaos ensues. The second half of the book is where the story really takes off and becomes a very quick read, as the stakes are raised and the fight between Academia and Corporate America is on.
The book ends with a cliffhanger and begs the reader to pick up the next volume to discover the triumphs and foibles of Jackson Pierce and his ragtag group of communication sleuths.
One more note: I have no idea if this was intended, but one character in jail is referred to by his prisoner ID number as 60124, which is just an anagram of Jean Valjean's (of Les Misérables) prisoner ID number, 24601. If this is indeed a little Easter Egg, it's pretty clever and got a great chuckle from me!
February 6, 2026
Branded is part David vs. Goliath tale, part slow-burning thriller. It's written in the omniscient point of view, bouncing into the heads of multiple characters, but the main protagonist is Dr. Jackson Pearce, a communications professor at Peach State College.
When the story opens, Jackson is having a preliminary hearing for his tenure application, and it isn't going well. The new Higher Education Dean values publication in scholarly journals above teaching awards and positive evaluations from students. Without a significant accolade in the next few months, Jackson risks losing his job.
Then one of his students learns about a state contest where the senior class could present a research project. Winning would mean prestige and most likely publication, and it could help Jackson get tenure. And the winners would move on to a regional, then national competition. The class gets fired up. For their project, they choose to write about ubiquitous product placement in movies, TV programs, and even the news.
In the meantime, executives from the Preston Powell Partnership (PPP) decide to push the envelope from mere product placement to actually making the news. Companies that sign up with PPP see their products receive favorable news coverage, whereas their competitors suffer malfunctions and scandals. People get hurt; some even die. And PPP's profits soar.
As they research product placement in the news, Jackson's students discover a trend. And it points to deliberate manipulation of the news by PPP to favor its clients. They present their findings at the conference and gain national attention.
PPP fights back, seeking to discredit Jackson and Peach State College, targeting the individual students as well as their families. With media and politicians in their pockets, they're out for blood.
Jackson and those around him have to re-examine their values and decide what's really important in life.
An inspiring story!
When the story opens, Jackson is having a preliminary hearing for his tenure application, and it isn't going well. The new Higher Education Dean values publication in scholarly journals above teaching awards and positive evaluations from students. Without a significant accolade in the next few months, Jackson risks losing his job.
Then one of his students learns about a state contest where the senior class could present a research project. Winning would mean prestige and most likely publication, and it could help Jackson get tenure. And the winners would move on to a regional, then national competition. The class gets fired up. For their project, they choose to write about ubiquitous product placement in movies, TV programs, and even the news.
In the meantime, executives from the Preston Powell Partnership (PPP) decide to push the envelope from mere product placement to actually making the news. Companies that sign up with PPP see their products receive favorable news coverage, whereas their competitors suffer malfunctions and scandals. People get hurt; some even die. And PPP's profits soar.
As they research product placement in the news, Jackson's students discover a trend. And it points to deliberate manipulation of the news by PPP to favor its clients. They present their findings at the conference and gain national attention.
PPP fights back, seeking to discredit Jackson and Peach State College, targeting the individual students as well as their families. With media and politicians in their pockets, they're out for blood.
Jackson and those around him have to re-examine their values and decide what's really important in life.
An inspiring story!
January 22, 2026
I loved reading BRANDED, by John A. Tures. Insightful logic and strategy mixed with cynicism and hope, create a unique narrative impossible to forget. From subtle and subliminal to startling and suspenseful, it’s a thriller that spans from halls of academia and politics to corporate boardrooms, with characters you’ll want to follow long after the novel is over.
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews