Dodging and Burning
John Copenhaver
(Author)
Description
A lurid crime scene photo of a beautiful woman arrives on mystery writer Bunny Prescott's doorstep with no return address--and it's not the first time she's seen it. Fifty-five years earlier, in the summer of 1945, Ceola Bliss is a lonely twelve-year-old tomboy, mourning the loss of her brother, Robbie, who was declared missing in the Pacific. She tries to piece together his life by rereading his favorite pulp detective story "A Date with Death" and spending time with his best friend, Jay Greenwood. One unforgettable August day, Jay leads Ceola and Bunny to a stretch of woods where he found a dead woman, but when they arrive, the body is gone. They soon discover a local woman named Lily Vellum is missing and begin to piece together the threads of her murder, starting with the photograph Jay took of her abandoned body. As Ceola gets swept up playing girl detective, Bunny becomes increasingly skeptical of Jay. She discovers a series of clues that place doubt on the identity of the corpse and Jay's story of how he found it, and journeys to Washington, D.C. in search of Lily. In D.C., Bunny is forced to recognize the brutal truth about her dear friend, and sets off a series of events that will bring tragedy to Jay and decades of estrangement between her and Ceola.Product Details
Price
$16.95
Publisher
Pegasus Crime
Publish Date
August 13, 2019
Pages
384
Dimensions
5.5 X 8.7 X 1.1 inches | 0.85 pounds
Language
English
Type
Paperback
EAN/UPC
9781643131559
BISAC Categories:
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About the Author
John Copenhaver is the author of Dodging and Burning, which won the Macavity Award for Best First Mystery Novel and garnered Anthony, Strand Critics, Barry, and Lambda Literary Award nominations. Copenhaver writes a crime fiction review column for Lambda Literary called "Blacklight," is a co-host on the House of Mystery Radio Show, and is the six-time recipient of Artist Fellowships from the Washington, DC, Commission on the Arts and Humanities. He's a Larry Neal awardee, and his work has appeared in CrimeReads, Electric Lit, Glitterwolf, PANK, New York Journal of Books, Washington Independent Review of Books. He lives in Richmond, VA, with his husband, artist Jeffery Paul.
Reviews
Complex and multilayered, Copenhaver's outstanding debut combines a murder mystery with a coming-of-age tale. Copenhaver's darkly lyrical exploration into the consequences of war--and prejudice--in small-town America will resonate with readers long after the last page is turned.
LGBTQ crime-writing has its heroes. John Copenhaver lists many of them. He may have to add himself to that list now.
The mystery also becomes an examination of gay life in the 1940s. The setting is well realized, and, interestingly, in its diction and syntax, the book reads as if it might itself have been written in the 1940s.
Copenhaver beautifully renders the lives of four young people through alternating lenses of photographs, letters, diary entries, notes, and other documents.
Copenhaver beautifully addresses the difficulties faced by two gay men in this time period, and the dangers of such a love, a story that will break readers' hearts.
Compelling.
Copenhaver's debut novel gives readers a gorgeous, critical look at the LGBTQ community in post-WWII society, revolving around a murder. This is a book that must be read and discussed with as many people as possible. Very highly recommended.
I'm a big fan of John Copenhaver's elegant work. He's a sophisticated stylist who can break your heart right before he turns devilish. Highly recommended.--Luis Alberto Urrea, author of 'Into the Beautiful North' and 'The Water Museum'
Dodging and Burning is a beautifully rendered coming of age story, a compelling exploration of a young man's struggle with his sexual identity amid the evils of war, and an impeccably executed crime novel that keeps you guessing and ultimately strikes a deep and resounding emotional cord.--Ayelet Waldman, author of 'Love & Treasure' and 'A Really Good Day'
LGBTQ crime-writing has its heroes. John Copenhaver lists many of them. He may have to add himself to that list now.
The mystery also becomes an examination of gay life in the 1940s. The setting is well realized, and, interestingly, in its diction and syntax, the book reads as if it might itself have been written in the 1940s.
Copenhaver beautifully renders the lives of four young people through alternating lenses of photographs, letters, diary entries, notes, and other documents.
Copenhaver beautifully addresses the difficulties faced by two gay men in this time period, and the dangers of such a love, a story that will break readers' hearts.
Compelling.
Copenhaver's debut novel gives readers a gorgeous, critical look at the LGBTQ community in post-WWII society, revolving around a murder. This is a book that must be read and discussed with as many people as possible. Very highly recommended.
I'm a big fan of John Copenhaver's elegant work. He's a sophisticated stylist who can break your heart right before he turns devilish. Highly recommended.--Luis Alberto Urrea, author of 'Into the Beautiful North' and 'The Water Museum'
Dodging and Burning is a beautifully rendered coming of age story, a compelling exploration of a young man's struggle with his sexual identity amid the evils of war, and an impeccably executed crime novel that keeps you guessing and ultimately strikes a deep and resounding emotional cord.--Ayelet Waldman, author of 'Love & Treasure' and 'A Really Good Day'
