A new crime novel draws readers into the world of John Lennon and Yoko Ono’s lesser-known film venture in 1970s New York City, written by someone who was actually there.
“Imagine Murder: A John Lennon Mystery” is a fictional story set in spring 1972 at Joko Films, the couple’s SoHo-based film company. The plot centers on Lennon and Ono helping solve the murder of a film editor named Stephanie Bradley on the eve of the Watergate break-in.
According to a media release from the book’s publishing company, Staten Island resident and author Dean Thompson worked at the actual Joko Films during the 1970s, giving him firsthand knowledge of that world. He wrote the book with his wife, Victoria Hallerman, and friend, Thom Moon.
The story takes place during a turbulent period in American history. The U.S. was deeply involved in the Vietnam War, demonstrations were being organized nationwide, and New York City was sliding toward bankruptcy. It had been nearly two years since the Beatles broke up, and Lennon and Ono were establishing themselves as New York residents and artists.
Thompson said he resisted writing about his experiences for years. “I was approached by many people to write a book about working with John,” Thompson said, “but I didn’t want to be someone who wrote another ‘I knew John Lennon best’ book. While it is fiction, I think this book gives readers a chance to experience the John Lennon I knew in a unique and personal way.”
The 200-page trade paperback will be the first in a series. Fayetteville Mafia Press will publish it with distribution by Hachette on Dec. 2, 2025, which marks the 45th anniversary of Lennon’s death. The book will retail for $19.99.
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