Imagine that it’s a Friday night, and you are watching Netflix or perhaps reading a book. You take a break and go to the kitchen to get a drink out of the fridge, and when you close the door, a total stranger is standing inches from you. You only have a split second to register this before you are abruptly thrust into a life-and-death battle, with dishes shattering and chairs overturning. You fight valiantly, but your opponent overpowers you; as you both tumble to the floor, you feel the pain of a needle plunging into your arm. Just as suddenly as the fight began, your attacker vanishes, leaving you lying there and wondering what just happened. Such is the predicament of the title character in the thriller Who Okayed This?! The Riveting Life of Grant Davis. Written by Stellar award-winning author Philip E. Barrington, the novel throws Grant into mystery and turmoil when he is injected with a possibly lethal toxin and must find an antidote and understand why his closest friends tried to kill him.

Philip E. Barrington says his novel is a mix of mystery, action, and introspection. “Grant is a much deeper kind of character than is often found in mysteries,” he believes. “He is very self-aware and believes in doing the right thing. He isn’t the kind of person who seeks out danger, and he is often found standing up for those who are too weak to stand up for themselves. In a world of greed and corruption, those attributes put him at odds with his enemies, who happen to be his greatest friends.”

In Who Okayed This?!, the toxin quickly spreads throughout his body, and with his health deteriorating, Grant is faced with two choices: find a cure somewhere in the world or die. Philip E. Barrington says it was a lot of fun creating Grant’s character, who decides to fight for his life and find answers. 

“He is a very complex person, and as he flies from one locale to the next, staying one step ahead of corrupt authorities on both sides, he reflects on his relationships and his own mortality,” Philip E. Barrington reveals. “ At every step, he is hindered by the hidden motives of those around him. However, while Grant is focused on uncovering the truth of why he was poisoned, he can’t help but see the world, its people, and its beauty differently now that he may be on the verge of losing all of it.”

With his time in this world presumably running down, Grant struggles to decide if he should redo parts of his life or simply let go of his past. As just one person among billions, he wonders if the needs of the many really do outweigh the needs of the few and what that might mean for his own personal happiness. 

“What exactly constitutes a healthy relationship? What kind of support should anyone be able to expect and receive from family?” Philip E. Barrington asks. “As Grant travels from locale to locale, searching for a cure, he is dogged by these questions that do not always have easy answers, as we all know.”

Philip E. Barrington grew up in New York City, where he worked in the world of luxury goods at the Plaza in Manhattan. His own life was upended by a horrific accident when he was crushed between two cars. He remembers the bewilderment and disorientation that he felt when he woke up in a hospital bed.

“One moment, I had been just fine, and the next, I was wearing a Philadelphia collar around my neck, and I had two metal wrist-splints on both wrists and a cast from my right knee down to my toes,” Philip E. Barrington recalls. “I had concussion syndrome as well as multiple herniations in my neck and back, and the only way I could get around was by scooter.”

He says he learned very quickly who his true friends were, as many deserted him in his time of need. He was able to use that experience to make the emotions and reactions of Grant more realistic when he learns his friends are behind the attack.

“I was also very fortunate to cross paths with a woman who used a wheelchair due to a serious illness,” Philip E. Barrington reveals. “I was inspired by her full recovery, which she attributed to changing her diet and mindset. She was also a best-selling author, and this motivated me to begin writing my book.”

The ideas for Who Okayed This?! The Riveting Life of Grant Davis flew onto the page, and within a few years, he had created his first “faction” novel (a book that is based on some true events). 

“In some ways, I had my own Grant Davis experience because of my accident,” Philip E. Barrington reflects. “Thankfully, I have made a full recovery, and I’m having a great time working on my second book as well as learning more about photography, cell physiology, and geo/bio physics.”

While he is focused on his career as an author and is developing other ideas for mysteries and thrillers, Who Okayed This?! will likely remain his favorite book to write.

“I created it during a pivotal time in my life when I was faced by tremendous adversity,” Philip E. Barrington says. “Grant’s character taught me a lot about bravery, resilience, and the importance of seeing the true beauty within all of us and making the most of every second we are given.”

Philip E. Barrington is the author of Who Okayed This?! The Riveting Life of Grant Davis, which is the Stellar book award recipient winner of 2022. Who Okayed This?! can be purchased on Amazon or on Barnes & Noble.