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14 books added

John Copenhaver



John Copenhaver is a crime fiction writer, Lambda columnist, blogger, photography lover, film noir enthusiast, high school English teacher.

Awards: Lefty (2025), Macavity (2019)  see all

Genres: Mystery
 
New and upcoming books
Series
Nightingale Trilogy
   1. The Savage Kind (2021)
   2. Hall of Mirrors (2024)
   3. Goddess of Love (2027)
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Novels
   Dodging and Burning (2018)
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Anthologies edited
   Crime Ink: Iconic (2025) (with Salem West)
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Books containing stories by John Copenhaver
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Crime Ink: Iconic (2025)
An Anthology of Crime Fiction Inspired by Queer Icons
edited by
John Copenhaver and Salem West
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Every Day a Little Death (2025)
Crime Fiction Inspired by the Songs of Stephen Sondheim
(Inspired by anthologies)
edited by
Josh Pachter
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Happiness is a Warm Gun (2023)
Crime Fiction Inspired by the Songs of The Beatles
(Inspired by anthologies)
edited by
Josh Pachter

Awards
2025 Lefty Award for Best Historical Mystery Novel : Hall of Mirrors
2019 Macavity Award for Best First Novel : Dodging and Burning

Award nominations
2026 Anthony Award for Best Anthology or Collection (nominee) : Crime Ink: Iconic: An Anthology of Crime Fiction Inspired by Queer Icons
2025 Macavity Award for Best Novel (nominee) : Hall of Mirrors
2025 Agatha Award for Best Historical Novel (nominee) : Hall of Mirrors
2022 Lefty Award for Best Historical Mystery Novel (nominee) : The Savage Kind
2019 Barry Award for Best First Novel (nominee) : Dodging and Burning
2019 Anthony Award for Best First Novel (nominee) : Dodging and Burning


John Copenhaver recommends
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All We Hide (2026)
Robyn Gigl
"Robyn Gigl writes with rare insight and deep compassion in All We Hide, delivering a crime novel that is as emotionally powerful as it is gripping. With an insider's understanding of this world and a clear moral intelligence, Gigl reminds us that justice is never simple and that empathy must move in many directions. The result is a riveting and deeply humane cold-case police procedural."
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The Dead Room (2026)
Catriona McPherson
"Catriona McPherson delivers a masterclass in psychological suspense with The Dead Room, a haunting tale of a distraught young widow returning to her Scottish hometown. Grief warps the edges of reality - familiar places feel off-kilter, memories flicker, and paranoia takes root. The eeriness of a home seen through a Dutch angle and the precision of Highsmith-like tension are expertly woven together by McPherson's remarkable storytelling prowess. A deliciously complex, unforgettable thriller."
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Writers and Liars (2025)
Carol Goodman
"Carol Goodman's brilliant Writers and Liars is a fresh take on the classic Agatha Christie-style closed-circle island murder. While it cleverly and wittily plays with this familiar setup - most of the suspects are mystery writers, after all - it also grounds itself in psychological realism and an exquisitely rendered sense of place. The story hums with the thematic undertones of classical literature, making it not just a thrilling read but one layered with emotional depth. I say this without reservation: Goodman is our generation's Christie!"

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