Dylan Barnes didn't know what hit him, and neither did the others. Quicker than a gunshot, Statton City's road toll eclipsed the state's annual figures. Authorities had no clue what caused the deaths, each victim dying before impact. No one even noticed their strange tattoos marking their sequence of death.
That is until psychic detective Craig Ramsey's adopted daughter dies, her neck snapped by an invisible assailant before her car ploughs into another parked vehicle. Craig experiences a vision of his daughter's death, spurring him to capture the supernatural killer. Soon he is up to his eyeballs in secret government organisations, an army of ghosts, and a higher body count than a John Woo movie.
But first he must contend with Detective Sergeant Brianna Cogan, a sceptic who holds the key to his survival. Will they overcome their professional differences and join forces? Or will they delay each other as a killer stalks the highways, killing more people?
Dead Cell will rattle your senses, hurtling you into a world of conspiracy, psychic assassins, and road rage from beyond the grave.
Chris Johnson writes high-stakes thrillers with a sci-fi and supernatural edge—think ancient secrets, time travel, and rogue agencies chasing ghosts.
When he’s not writing, Chris performs as a mentalist at private and corporate events, bending minds with psychology and sleight of hand. He lives in Brisbane, Australia, with his family, and still reads The Phantom when no one’s looking.
4 Stars - Pretty Fabulous Book. No, I would not set up a trust fund to ensure this book's care for the next hundred years but all things considered, I enjoyed it. I'm emotionally invested and marginally devastated if the rest of the series doesn't pan out.
Wow, what a fantastic book!! Chris Johnson has done a great job in creating this very clever and unique story. It’s well written, and the plot has a number of surprises that I thoroughly enjoyed. The characters are really well thought out, and the unpredictability of the story definitely appealed to me. Like it or not, with so many road accidents in such a short period of time, and there being so many deaths, Detective Sergeant Brianna Cogan needs Psychic Detective Craig Ramsey’s help. She’s certainly not a believer in the psychic world, however some of the car accidents occurring are becoming very hard to explain. There is no doubt that Craig has a gift, although it does seem a little strange that he seems to be talking to dead people. It’s probably a good thing that Craig can communicate with dead spirits, as he is going to need their help in stopping the Spirit Assassin in killing so many drivers. He certainly seems quite angry, and he’s showing no signs of slowing down in his deadly pursuit of the living. Then just to make things even more difficult, another killer has thrown his hat into the ring, and this one is just as deadly. The question remains though, how in the hell is Craig and Brianna going to stop all the killings. I was thrilled to see that this is book 1, and that there will be more to follow, which I’m really excited about. If you enjoy Thrillers, then this is a must read. It’s well worth the 5/5 Star Rating.
Original in concept and taut in execution, "Dead Cell" is a story that I'll remember for some time. The author builds the scenes beautifully, with enticements at the end of each chapter to pull the reader further into the story. Ripping action, elements of the supernatural and a massive body count are some of the key aspects of "Dead Cell" that would have some producers salivating at the chance to put this one up on the screen.
With a superb cast of larger-than-life characters and page-turning action, I'm keen t0 see what else psychic superhero Craig Ramsey gets up to next. Hopefully he'll keep on fighting crime with his new flame, the resourceful and doggedly determined Detective Brianna Cogan. As if evil humans weren't enough to deal with, when there are angry, vengeful dead guys to be dealt with, these two are the ones to keep the streets safe. Almost forgot to mention the third main character - the wonderfully engaging spirit from the past, Emily - who is at once an able assistant and an annoying gooseberry.
By the way, there's an overt message to be take from Dead Cell. Don't use your mobile while driving. Geddit? "The authorities had been posting these warnings for so long, nearly twenty years, but no one listened. Even the authorities, the police, did the same."
Thanks for a hugely entertaining novel, Chris Johnson.
"Never turn your back on the living for the sake of the dead".
When you hear the word, "psychic", what images come to mind?
An old gypsy woman, sitting at a crushed velvet covered table gazing into a crystal ball? Or maybe you think of a television personality, transmitting the unheard messages of those who've gone onto the great beyond?
Well, whatever image you're conjuring right now, I imagine it looks nothing like private investigator Craig Ramsey, an intriguing combination of James Bond and James Dean with psychic abilities thrown into the mix. And, once his niece Debra becomes a victim in a string of mysterious and deadly car accidents, he begins to put those powers to good use -- much to the chagrin of the deadly duo orchestrating these moments in the quiet Australian city of Statton.
Johnson's use of this awesome protagonist is only amplified by his diverse writing style. Sometimes he's blunt to the point of almost being graphic, other times he's witty and flippant. What I enjoyed most about his style is that it reflected the personalities of the characters being featured on the page, infusing it with the character's spirit.
I don't want to reveal much about the story and all of its excellent features because, honestly, I want you all to experience them for yourself uninhibited by my words, but I will say that Johnson does some very interesting things when it comes to the supernatural and psychic abilities. They're done in such a simplistic and unique way, he actually had me wondering why no one had ever thought of it before. Even the elements that I have seen before were well done with his own unique style and interpretation.
From the excellent characters, to the interesting story and the new twists on old twists all over his book, I'm sure you'll enjoy what Dead Cell by Chris Johnson has to offer.
started reading this book with the intention of reading one chapter and then going to bed. That didn't happen. I read eight chapters in one sitting. This book is a fantastic read! It has spirits (both good and bad), psychics, skeptics, a 'she totally wants him but won't admit it' angle, and murder cases. It's a fascinating look into a world of the paranormal and the effect it can have on our everyday lives. It may also make you think twice about using your cell phone whilst driving! Well done Chris.
I really enjoyed reading this book. It was full of suspense and action. The characters were likeable. The plot moved along and there were some nice twists revealed at the right time. The writing is good, though there is a bit of head hopping which can be a little jarring when you suddenly hear from a character you didn't know was there. But the head hopping is what gives this book its fast pace.
Dead Cell reminded me a bit of early Dean Koontz because of it's supernatural content and the main characters are thrust together to solve a case. This is book one so it does ends without resolving some of the set ups, but I'm looking forward to reading 2 to find out what happens next.
Can driving and speaking on your cell phone cause chaos? In this book there is an obsessed killer. He is targeting irresponsible drivers talking on their cellphones while driving. People have been mysteriously murdered in their cars by an invisible entity. A psychic investigator and an attractive police officer have been tasked with stopping the mayhem as only the psychic can track the killer. What will be the aftermath? A gripping book which will have you glued to it till the very end. One of the best books I have read in the paranormal genre.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Dead Cell is a well written book by Chris Johnson. The author had my attention from the very first page and kept it until I was done reading. The plot was very well developed and turned tjhis book into a nail gripper that was difficult to put down. I pretty much ate this book up and enjoyed it tremendously! The plot was fantastic and has some very well placed twists that give this book an amazing pace which is important to me. I never felt like the story was being dragged out nor did it feel like the author was trying to rush me through the story!
Craig Ramsey is one of my favorite characters who I wish existed in real life. He is a strong male character, which fits perfectly to this story. Even though he is that strong, he does not over power the other characters or the story. Emily is a perfect counter part, not really sure about the paranormal but at least open minded enough to not call it all complete bogus. I think these 2 play perfectly of each other.
I have to say, this is the first book I have read from this author and I will be reading more soon! Chris Johnson will be on my list to read more books of in the future! I can only recommend this to people who enjoy a great investigator story mixed with the paranormal!
I have received this book from the author for an honest review. (LoP, Lovers of Paranormal)
We are not alone. The psychic detective Craig Ramsay, knows this only too well. Statton City is hurtling towards mayhem as a spate of unexplained 'accidents' see the city's road toll rise to an unprecedented level. Are they just accidents or something more sinister? After Ramsay's adopted daughter dies in one of these accidents, he experiences a vision of her death which incites him to use all his paranormal skills to find the killer. With his supernatural sidekick Emily, Ramsay's search for the culprit overlaps with the mainstream police investigation where he meets sceptic Detective Sergeant Brianna Cohan. Will Ramsay and Cohan overcome their differences and find the assailant?
In Dead Cell: How Do You Catch A Dead Killer? (Revenant Chronicles Book 1), Chris Johnson treats us with a very different kind of detective story. Action packed and well written, the characters (both embodied and spiritual), in Dead Cell are down to earth and amusing, to downright sinister. A fantastic read Chris Johnson, looking forward to the next instalment.
This book was fun to read. It's fast-paced, includes a psychic, and kept me on the edge of my seat the whole time I was reading it. The characters are well-developed and make sense. A small amount of heat is thrown into the mix to make it more interesting. PTSD is threaded throughout, speaking about the damage to a person it can cause. Recommended for anyone who loves to read Paranormal stories.
This is a brilliant read. Wonderful well written plot and story line that had me engaged from the start. Love the well fleshed out characters and found them believable. Great suspense and action with wonderful world building. Can't wait to read what the author brings out next. Recommend reading.
I read a complimentary advance copy of the book; this is my voluntary and honest review.
The synopsis of this book totally appealed to me. I absolutely loved the idea of the dead helping to solve crimes via a type of a "medium" connection etc.
When I started reading, it seemed very slightly familiar to me?? I now know that I'd read an early preview of the book the previous year.
However, I am sorry to say that by mid-book, I really struggled to focus on the story. I really can't put my finger on why, as the concept & main characters are really great.
So I'm going to blame my old age hormones! 😄
I'm looking forward reading Demon Blade, which is the next book in the series.
I have always loved the supernatural and the spirit world, and I got plenty of that in this story. Plenty of creepy scares and I really enjoyed the police side of it too. Craig Ramsey makes me too want to have psychic powers. How he keeps a level head while talking to the 'other side' freaked me out but had me turning the pages fast. I also got quite a kick out of my home city being in this book. A well penned story from Australian author Chris Johnson. Will be reading more.
This psychic story will have you on the edge of your seat. Craig Ramsey is a psychic and is asked to help the police find out who is on a killing spree. He is teamed up with Brianna Cogan, who is skeptical about his powers. According to some witnesses, it is an unknown spirit and there is no way the police are going to catch him. This action packed story is unputdownable. I enjoyed it. I received this book as an ARC and this is my honest review.
Dead Cell follows Craig Ramsey, as he uses his paranormal abilities to assist the local police after a spate of car accidents. The story line is intriguing and kept me wanting to know more, but most of all it was the characters in the book that kept me engrossed. They were real and well developed, giving the reader a vested interest in what happens to the characters.
I really enjoyed this book and found it very similar to the works of Dean Koontz, one of my favourite authors. I am looking forward to reading more from Chris Johnson and highly recommend Dead Cell.
I was a bit confused when I started Dead Cell but the further I read the more I enjoyed it. I do like genres being mixed around, like in the Dresden Files by Jim Butcher, where it not quite one style.
In this case, it a mixture of a crime/mystery novel with a strong paranormal theme, which surprisingly works exceptionally well. There were things inside the book I would never think of with the supernatural which again was fantastic.
I would recommend anyone who loves crime or paranormal novels, as either will entertained by Chris's book.
A psychic thriller that kept me engaged the whole way through, interesting and compelling, this is not a book i usually would pick up, but after I read this one, i might just investigate this genre a bit more, i may have been missing out on some great books. Fascinating and compelling to the very last page.
In a way, this book felt like a longer, more action-packed TAC ad. There's a clear message here - don't use your mobile phone while driving. That message was right on the verge of being preachy, but it's woven into the fabric of a story with a strong narrative structure, likeable lead characters in Craig and Brianna, and with good use of the paranormal. It's an engaging story with a strong hook to lead into the next book. A recommended read.
Dead cell takes you on a ride to revenge, from beyond the grave. As accidents and death piles up it becomes personal to psychic detective Craig Ramsey as he battles to save his family and catch a supernatural killer.Trying to get Detective Sergeant Brianna Cogan to believe the unbelievable before its too late could be the challenge. This is an intriguing and well developed supernatural thriller with well developed characters and a page turning plot. So hang on tight and turn off your cell, your in for a thrill ride.
This is the first “supernatural’ thriller I’ve read and I really enjoyed. The novel had several intriguing plots, was fast-paced, and Johnson’s exquisite description of action-packed scenes had me re-reading excerpts.
Without revealing too much, Dead Cell is the story of psychic Craig Ramsey who flits in and out of conversation with the spirit world. Ramsey, a medium, also engages in astral travel and psychometry. I liked his character immediately. And although the story is supernatural, the author creates vivid, likeable, and real characters. Another of my favorite's was Emily, the ghost. Loved her.
Johnson’s storyline grabbed me on the first page and held my interest until the end. The plot is purposed and intriguing, a great story idea. And while I had to pay attention in the beginning (which I enjoy in a novel,) the story unfolded nicely. Johnson introduced several minor characters (I liked this, also.) who supported his plot and kept me engaged. I had a hard time putting the book down in spots. And while I enjoyed the entire novel, the last quarter of the book I read in one sitting.
As an author, I particularly like good writing and descriptions, and there were points in this book where Johnson described scenes so well, I read the paragraphs several times. I liked the story, characters, descriptions, and writing. Hope to read more from this author.
I belong to an online group of readers and writers who are provided with an opportunity to read new (and newish) books, with a goal of sharing honest feedback and reviews. This has exposed me to a range of genres I would not usually consider reading, such as Dead Cell, which is classified as 'urban fantasy'. So, having disclosed my pre-reading scepticism about enjoying this book, I will now share my experience.
I felt Dead Cell had a slow start, but perhaps I was being influenced by my unfamiliarity with this genre of book. Then, about 30% in (reading on Kindle), I was hooked. The protagonist, Craig, fascinated me, and I liked the way that Chris Johnson gently introduced the concepts of Craig being guided by 'spirits'. I enjoyed the story line which is underpinned by theme of revenge. There is also ethical comment through the subtle tension regarding the right of an individual to to 'punish' law-breakers. There was just enough romance, with the promise of more to come. The action scenes suggested this book would cross over well to the screen.
Working as a psychic sometimes myself, I was excited to read this book and I wasn't disappointed. There was plenty of Spirit and paranormal action, and frankly, their personalities were just as deep and tangible as the living characters in the story. I especially liked Emily, the hero's spirit sidekick.
If you are into this stuff personally, there is a lot of realism between these pages, intermingled of course with enough poetic licence to make for a great read. But as well as the paranormal aspect, the story in general was incredibly action-packed and deep enough to be stimulating, but without bogging you down. Dead Cell was a fast-paced tale about the potential evils and inevitability of technology!
Another aspect I enjoyed was the nicely cooked, realistic sexual tension which existed between the two main characters, Craig and Brianna. Then when Emily was intermittently thrown into the mix, it became quite humorous and I found myself chuckling a lot!
We are not alone. The psychic detective Craig Ramsay, knows this only too well. Statton City is hurtling towards mayhem as a spate of unexplained 'accidents' see the city's road toll rise to an unprecedented level. Are they just accidents or something more sinister? After Ramsay's adopted daughter dies in one of these accidents, he experiences a vision of her death which incites him to use all his paranormal skills to find the killer. With his supernatural sidekick Emily, Ramsay's search for the culprit overlaps with the mainstream police investigation where he meets sceptic Detective Sergeant Brianna Cohan. Will Ramsay and Cohan overcome their differences and find the assailant?
In Dead Cell: How Do You Catch A Dead Killer? (Revenant Chronicles Book 1), Chris Johnson treats us with a very different kind of detective story. Action packed and well written, the characters (both embodied and spiritual), in Dead Cell are down to earth and amusing, to downright sinister. A fantastic read Chris Johnson, looking forward to the next instalment.
Dead Cell follows Detective Cogan and Psychic Ramsey as they independently work to solve a string of suspicious, fatal car accidents in Statton City. But when Ramsey’s incredible allegations that these accidents are, in fact, murders by a supernatural force start to make sense, realist Brianna Cogan has no choice but to team up with the psychic so the victims’ list will stop growing.
Dead Cell is an interesting and enjoyable read with an intricate plot and well-developed characters. Our encounters with Ramsey defy logic, at times, but that is exactly what makes this book so unique and page-turning. His out-of-body experiences are mind-blowing and thought-provoking. Chris Johnson writes this in a way to give the feeling of endless possibilities. I highly recommend this story to the supernatural-enthusiast.
I really enjoyed this book and look forward to more stories following Ramsey and Cogan. It was a little confusing at first, but I was really interested in the spirits and the psychic powers in the novel. I enjoyed the motivation behind the characters and really felt like I was learning about them as the story progressed. I recommend this book to people who enjoy detective stories and paranormal/psychic stories.
Being a huge Dean Koontz fan who adored the 'Odd Thomas' series this book was a hit with me. Greatly enjoyed the narrative, paranormal theme and character interactions having many chuckles and ooh aah moments. Dead Cell sucked me in from the first chapter, well worth the read.