Antony Johnston | Resources for press, media & events

Resources for Press, Media & Events

On this page:

• Biography
• Reviews
• Headshot photos
• Social Media links
• Book covers
• Press Contacts

Short Biography

Antony Johnston is one of the most versatile writers of the modern era, with a body of work spanning books, film, graphic novels, videogames, and non-fiction. An award-winning author and New York Times bestseller, his creations include Atomic Blonde, The Dog Sitter Detective, Can You Solve the Murder?, the Brigitte Sharp thrillers, and many more.

Full Biography

Antony Johnston is one of the most versatile writers of the modern era.

The Charlize Theron movie Atomic Blonde was based on his graphic novel. His murder mystery series The Dog Sitter Detective won the Barker Book Award. His crime puzzle novel Can You Solve the Murder? reinvented choose-your-own-story books for a mainstream audience and was a Waterstones Paperback of the Year. The Brigitte Sharp spy thrillers are in development for TV. And his productivity guide The Organised Writer has helped authors all over the world take control of their workload.

Antony is a celebrated videogames writer, with genre-defining titles including Dead Space, Shadow of Mordor, and Resident Evil Village to his credit. He also consulted on the Emmy Award-winning Silent Hill Ascension, making him the only writer in the world to have worked on all of the ‘big three’ horror gaming franchises.

His immense body of work also includes Marvel superheroes such as Daredevil, Wolverine, and Shang-Chi; the award-winning Alex Rider graphic novels; the dystopian epic Wasteland; and more. He wrote and directed the sci-fi film Crossover Point, made entirely in quarantine during the coronavirus pandemic.

An experienced podcaster and public speaker, he also frequently writes articles on the life of an author, and is a prolific musician.

Antony is a former vice chair of the Crime Writers’ Association, a member of International Thriller Writers and the Society of Authors, a Shore Scripts screenwriting judge, and sits on the Writers’ Guild of Great Britain’s videogames committee. He lives and works in England.

Reviews

Can You Solve the Murder?

“A superior interactive crime story is always a delight. Sharpen your wits: this clever, intricate book is a highly entertaining mental workout”
The Guardian

“It's an incredibly inventive concept, and I enjoyed playing detective, although it took me two tries to guess the killer”
Washington Post

“It's a lot of fun. A book like this stands or falls on the strength of its story (which is genuinely suspenseful and surprising) and the choices presented to the reader (which are clever and entirely logical within the context of the investigation). A satisfying mystery, well presented, and one that invites multiple readings”
Booklist

“Combines the intrigue of fair-play detective fiction with the excitement of a Choose Your Own Adventure book. The differences are so significant that they make the book well worth reread-ing, unlike similarly themed mysteries whose ostensible choices matter little. Crafted with obvious love for its golden age predecessors, this intricate puzzle will delight armchair sleuths of all ages”
Publishers Weekly

“Reinvents the traditional whodunnit by putting you in charge. It's part novel, part puzzle, and entirely addictive. If you've ever shouted answers at TV detectives or wanted to interrogate suspects, this is your chance. This is a fresh, fast-paced crime read where your brain does the heavy lifting – and that's what makes it so satisfying”
Sunday Mail

“The interactive structure is executed with remarkable precision. Fans of classic murder mysteries will feel right at home. I absolutely recommend Can You Solve The Murder? to any mystery fan, especially those who’ve ever read Agatha Christie or watched Midsomer Murders and thought, ‘I could solve this’”
Game Vortex

“One of the cleverest books I've ever read. I can't even begin to think how Johnston wrote it. If you're a fan of a murder mystery, then definitely get this on your radar. It's unbelievable”
Books By Your Bedside

The Dog Sitter Detective series

“An addictive cosy crime novel with plot twists, laughter and mayhem – a great distraction from the outside world”
Kennel Club News

“Delightful . . . Entertaining from start to finish. Slightly barking mad but thoroughly enjoyable”
The Irish Independent

“Fast paced, with lots of gentle humour, plenty of clues and red herrings, vibrant characters and adorable dogs, I loved every minute. I would heartily recommend it”
Sixty Plus Surfers

“A fun and very funny investigation. With criminals, clues, and canines aplenty, The Dog Sitter Detective is pure escapism in the company of a delightful amateur detective”
Crime Fiction Lover

“A really engrossing read, a clever mystery and a load of fun. I was genuinely caught out by the murderer. Well worth your time”
In Search of the Classic Mystery Novel

“The story moves at a great pace. Gwinny comes across as fun, intelligent, and has us rooting for her all the way along, with the dogs as an added delight. The story contains all the ingredients of an excellent cosy crime, whodunnit, and my recommendation is to rush out and buy it. I loved it”
Promoting Crime Fiction

“Another compulsive read in this brilliant series. Antony has a way of writing such interesting characters, and knows how to add a few surprises along the way. Highly recommended”
Two Heads Are Better Than One

The Organised Writer

“Johnston has a deep understanding of the procrastinating writer. He is, I strongly suspect, a fellow traveller in this particular vale of tears. Understanding the excuses one makes and the delaying tactics one adopts, his suggestions for overcoming these hurdles are very practical”
The Supercargo

“I have a variety of writing projects and began to feel a little bit overwhelmed. I turned to this book. Just dipping in and learning the basics of the technique Johnston advocates was really useful. The Organised Writer is definitely worth a read for writers of all kinds”
The Addition

The Exphoria Code

“A fast-paced and cleverly constructed story that uses many of the familiar spy-novel tropes but does so in exciting new ways. A rousing success”
Booklist

“A fresh voice in spy thriller writing. An engaging character, top flight technological expertise made easy for the reader, fast action and a web of intrigue make this a propulsive read”
Crime Time

Headshots

Permission is granted freely to download and reproduce these images for editorial and publicity, without substantial alteration and subject to photographer credit.

Hi-res versions suitable for print are available on request; contact pr@antonyjohnston.com