Jonathan Goodwin: Author/Screenwriter
The Persistence Hypothesis
What if you could bring someone back from the dead? Not in spirit. Not in memory. But truly back.
Dr. Daniel North has spent his life chasing the impossible. After witnessing his brother’s death as a child, Daniel dedicates himself to unraveling the greatest mystery of all—what happens after we die? Through relentless research, secret experiments, and one forbidden breakthrough, he edges closer to a terrifying, beautiful truth: consciousness might not end with the body. But every discovery comes at a cost. As his obsession grows, so do the consequences—academic disgrace, ethical lines crossed, and a therapy mandate that leads him to Anna, a psychologist with her own quiet fractures. As their sessions unfold, a connection sparks that neither expected. One that might just change everything.
Told through intertwining perspectives, The Persistence Hypothesis is a haunting, heart-wrenching journey through grief, memory, and the reckless, relentless pursuit of love across the boundary of death.
NOW AVAILABLE ON AUDIBLE
Starring Amanda Abbington.
PRAISE FOR “PH: FIRST LIFE”
“THIS IS A FANTASTIC READ, an introduction to a premise and world I want more of.
Fans of Alan Moore, Grant Morrison and Christopher Nolan’s work will find much to love in this story which I’m hoping becomes a series.
THOUGHT PROVOKING, MOVING, TRIPPY. Very much recommended!
Aldous
“AT TIMES I QUESTIONED WHETHER THIS WAS FICTION. The scientific detail given by Jonathan Goodwin throughout this book was so thorough that I began to wonder if Jonathan himself had actually been carrying out the research. THE IDEA BEHIND THE PLOT WAS FASCINATING and unique and I was left wanting to know so much more. I CAN’T WAIT TO READ MORE of Jonathan's work, particularly the next chapter in this sci-fi mystery.”
Sue
“This was honestly SUCH A FASCINATING, FAST READ that I DIDN’T WANT IT TO END. Jonathan packs a surprising amount of depth into so few pages and I FOUND MYSELF PULLED IN by the ideas and atmosphere. It ended before I was ready which says it all. I am really excited to see where the author takes this next as it FEELS LIKE THE START OF SOMETHING MUCH BIGGER. ”
Crazybooklady_
“I’VE NEVER READ ANYTHING LIKE IT. I’ve read a lot and from many genres. THIS IS NEW. I haven’t read any take from this angle. It has pace, the characters are believable, the rhythm is natural, and THE ENDING LEFT ME BREATHLESS. Cannot wait for the next book.”
Cat
I was given an advanced copy of this novel recently, and I feel like this was written specifically for me. I dug it immensely for the ideas it put forth, the quite sweet romance that pops up, and the DEVASTATING CLIMAX.
Kevin Lawlor
“The Persistent Hypothesis PULLED ME IN FROM THE START. Jonathan Goodwin writes with a clarity and energy that makes the book HARD TO PUT DOWN. It’s insightful, engaging, and leaves you thinking long after you finish. I genuinely enjoyed every chapter and CANT RECOMMEND IT ENOUGH.”
Ann
“I REALLY ENJOYED THIS. I read while sat in the hairdressers in one go and IT IS ABSOLUTELY BRILLIANT. I loved the science in it and how it made you think about what happens when we leave this world. It was a fast paced read FILLED WITH SUSPENSE and some sad moments touching on grief. THE ENDING LEFT ME SPEECHLESS”
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Jonathan Goodwin
Over more than twenty years, Jonathan Goodwin made his name in broadcast media and live performance — starring as a magician and theatrical daredevil on television and on stages from London’s West End to Broadway and the Sydney Opera House.
In 2021, a near-fatal accident changed everything. It ended the performing chapter of his life; but awakened a deeper question: what happens when the body dies, and could consciousness endure beyond its shell?
Now a writer, Jonathan channels a lifelong fascination with science, survival and the inexplicable into fiction inspired by Michael Crichton and Andy Weir. His debut novel, The Persistence Hypothesis: First Life, is a story about grief, memory and the relentless drive to transcend mortality.
If you’ve ever wondered what lies beyond the final frontier of existence — this is the journey.
(“Where science ends, the story begins.”)
