DEATH IN ADVERTISING

by Stephen Hawley Martin.
256p, Trade Paper, ISBN 0-9646601-1-3, 6" x 9"

Winner of the Writers Digest Fiction Award!

The protagonist, Brian Durston, is a bright young hot shot in the ad game. When he left a huge New York advertising agency to join his uncle's medium-sized shop, his uncle promised to sell his ownership stake in the agency to Durston. The future is secure until Durston discovers his uncle's body slumped at a desk, an apparent suicide. Life insurance won't pay, so Durston won't inherit the money needed to buy his uncle's share. Durston begins a clandestine investigation of the agency's shareholders, believing one of them has murdered his uncle. He must also work with the shareholders to save the agency's biggest account. The beautiful but enigmatic copy writer, Nickie D'Agostino, joins in his crusade to find the murderer. A romance tortured by suspicion follows, and a frenetic race to find the murderer before his uncle's shares in the company revert to the surviving partners.

The Buzz on Death in Advertising

"Death in Advertising draws a fascinating, dead on accurate portrayal of the advertising industry as a backdrop for its murder mystery. The author clearly knows his milieu. In addition, his prose is sharp and clean, and the protagonist comes across as a believable character who makes believable, if sometimes wrongheaded, choices. Martin, who also won the 1995 fiction award, is an author well worth reading...and watching in the future." ~ Nancy Kress, Writers Digest

"An engrossing murder mystery wrapped around the inner intrigue of the agency business." ~ Jim Osterman/Editor - Adweek

"An authentic inside look at the advertising business. And an exciting murder mystery. Your friends will thank you if you recommend it to them." ~ Marvin Chernoff/Chairman - Chernoof/Silver & Associates

"Stephen Hawley Martin knows the ad business well, but we already knew that. Now we know that he can also write a taut, compelling thriller that keeps the reader guessing from the opening page." ~ O. Burtch Drake/President & CEO - American Association of Advertising Agencies

"Well done!" ~ Joseph J. Cronin/President & CEO - Saatchi & Saatchi