The registration

In the not too distant dystopian future of Lawson's earnest debut, each citizen--for an affordable fee--is given the one-time-only right to murder a person of their choice, with no legal repercussions. They have two weeks to complete the kill. If they fail, the chosen victim is safe until someone else chooses to Register them. Lynell Mize, 24, of Dallas, Tex., is waiting in line to Register to kill her abusive stepfather when she hears her own name being Registered by a man who identifies himself as Zachary Price. She has no idea who he is or why he would want her dead. She hastily heads for her apartment to grab a bag, planning to leave the city and lie low for the next two weeks. After a few close calls, she realizes that Zachary isn't the only one who has Registered to kill her. Her attempts at escape only bring her closer to the secret truth about her family's past. Lynell's ability to talk herself out of danger is a bit too facile, and the coincidence-filled plot builds to a perplexing conclusion. This tale of a targeted innocent person on the run isn't up to Hitchcock standards. Agent: Julie Gwynn, Seymour Agency. (Oct.)

DEBUT Fights over abortion, euthanasia, and the death penalty led to a civil war, which left the country in tatters, until the Registration funneled the anger. Citizens are allowed to register one person in their lifetime and get 14 days to kill them with no repercussions. Most people use their Registration to end the suffering of a loved one or enact justice when the law fails them. While standing in line to register the stepfather who abused her, Lynell Mize overhears her own name being registered. What reason would this stranger have for registering her, and why does it seem like everyone in her life knows more about what's going on than she does, including her ex-husband? As she gets closer to the answer, Lynell learns that the Registration she has put so much faith in may not be the perfect solution she thought it was. In fact, nothing is as simple as she has believed. VERDICT Lawson delivers a compelling dystopian near-future tale with plenty of meaty subject matter and slightly inconsistent pacing. For readers who enjoy their sci-fi with a side of moral quandary.--Portia Kapraun

DEBUT Fights over abortion, euthanasia, and the death penalty led to a civil war, which left the country in tatters, until the Registration funneled the anger. Citizens are allowed to register one person in their lifetime and get 14 days to kill them with no repercussions. Most people use their Registration to end the suffering of a loved one or enact justice when the law fails them. While standing in line to register the stepfather who abused her, Lynell Mize overhears her own name being registered. What reason would this stranger have for registering her, and why does it seem like everyone in her life knows more about what's going on than she does, including her ex-husband? As she gets closer to the answer, Lynell learns that the Registration she has put so much faith in may not be the perfect solution she thought it was. In fact, nothing is as simple as she has believed. VERDICT Lawson delivers a compelling dystopian near-future tale with plenty of meaty subject matter and slightly inconsistent pacing. For readers who enjoy their sci-fi with a side of moral quandary.—Portia Kapraun

In the not too distant dystopian future of Lawson's earnest debut, each citizen—for an affordable fee—is given the one-time-only right to murder a person of their choice, with no legal repercussions. They have two weeks to complete the kill. If they fail, the chosen victim is safe until someone else chooses to Register them. Lynell Mize, 24, of Dallas, Tex., is waiting in line to Register to kill her abusive stepfather when she hears her own name being Registered by a man who identifies himself as Zachary Price. She has no idea who he is or why he would want her dead. She hastily heads for her apartment to grab a bag, planning to leave the city and lie low for the next two weeks. After a few close calls, she realizes that Zachary isn't the only one who has Registered to kill her. Her attempts at escape only bring her closer to the secret truth about her family's past. Lynell's ability to talk herself out of danger is a bit too facile, and the coincidence-filled plot builds to a perplexing conclusion. This tale of a targeted innocent person on the run isn't up to Hitchcock standards. Agent: Julie Gwynn, Seymour Agency. (Oct.)