The Forgotten Sequel to Death Wish

The iconic vigilante thriller Death Wish actually has a lesser-known 1975 literary sequel called Death Sentence. While the film franchise pivoted toward mindless action, the original book series explored the psychological toll of relentless violence.

Most fans of the Charles Bronson films are unaware that the protagonist Paul Kersey’s story continued in this darker written form. Brian Garfield wrote the sequel to address the sensationalism he felt his original novel inadvertently caused. He was deeply unhappy with how the movies glorified vigilantism, so he used this book to highlight the destructive, hollow consequences of such a lifestyle. It serves as a stern rebuttal to the hero-worship of the film versions.