Prepare for intrigue, suspense, and unforgettable twists in this groundbreaking anthology of queer crime fiction.

In 2023, crime fiction anthologies featured 517 stories across 30 titles—but shockingly, fewer than 1 percent were penned by LGBTQ+ writers. Crime Ink: Iconic (An Anthology of Crime Fiction Inspired by Famous Queer Icons) is a resounding response to this glaring disparity, offering a vibrant collection of stories by and about queer authors and characters.

Drawing inspiration from queer icons—James Baldwin, Oscar Wilde, Candy Darling, Radclyffe Hall, Babadook, Megan Rapinoe, Laverne Cox, Dolly Parton, Vita Sackville-West, and many more—these tales span the rich spectrum of crime fiction, from cozy mysteries and whodunits to noir, psychological thrillers, and police procedurals. Each story is a testament to the depth, ingenuity, and thrilling originality of queer voices in the genre.

This anthology showcases an incredible array of talent, including New York Times Best Crime Novels of 2024 honorees Margot Douaihy, Robyn Gigl, John Copenhaver, and Katrina Carrasco; Lambda Literary winners Ann Aptaker, Greg Herren, Ann McMan, and J.M. Redmann; and other celebrated writers like Cheryl Head, Penny Mickelbury, Christa Faust, and Kelly J. Ford. But that’s not all—this collection also includes many more decorated and emerging voices, ensuring a dynamic reading experience as inclusive as it is entertaining.

With a foreword by Ellen Hart and an afterword by Katherine V. Forrest, two luminaries of queer crime fiction, this anthology is more than a collection of stories—it’s a movement. Bursting with intrigue, twists, and unforgettable characters, Crime Ink: Iconic is essential reading for crime fiction fans and anyone who craves representation in the stories they love.

Includes stories by:

Jeffrey Marks • Ann Aptaker • Ann McMan • Cheryl Head • Meredith Doench • Kelly J. Ford • Margot Douaihy • Christa Faust • Robyn Gigl • Greg Herren • Anne Laughlin • Kristen Lepionka • Katrina Carrasco • Mia Manansala • Renee James • Penny Mickelbury • Diana DiGangi • Baxter Clare Trautman • JM Redmann • Katherine V. Forrest • Stephanie Gayle• Marco Carocari • Jeffrey Round• David Pederson • Christopher Bollen • John Copenhaver

Edited by:

John Copenhaver • Salem West

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Lambda Literary Award-winning author, Ann Aptaker's Cantor Gold faces the questions of who are her real friends, and how far she would go to avenge their deaths.

Early November, 1958

New York City

Art thief and smuggler Cantor Gold's latest underworld caper begins when she arrives at big-time bookie Nick Fortunato's apartment to celebrate his birthday, a ritual the two friends have enjoyed for years. But Nick is missing, and there’s blood on the living room carpet. It’s not Nick’s blood, though. Nick’s death still awaits him. Despite crime lord Sig Loreale’s best plans to protect Nick, with whom Sig has financial dealings, a killer finds Nick hidden away in a cheap hotel owned by Loreale.

Among the players in this tale of friendship, betrayal, and the competition for power between the young and the aging, is the beautiful and possibly deadly Abbey O’Brien. She was Nick’s right hand in his bookie operation, and now that he’s dead, she stands to either gain big or lose even bigger.

The operatives and bettors in Nick’s bookmaking business have a stake in Nick’s death, too…and motives to either solve his murder or get him out of the way: there’s Freddie Holmes, who sizes you up before you’re allowed entry into the betting parlor; Mike Leandro, leader of the crew that takes phoned-in bets; Chickie D’Andrea, who posts the odds from every track and sporting event; Harry “Horsehide” Lanz, a major gambler and trackside aficionado; Sylvia Georgiadis, an aging grand dame of the gambling world; and others.

Assisting Cantor, as always, are her young Guy Friday Judson Zane; cabbie, sometime getaway driver and sometime friend with benefits Rosie Bliss; and Cantor’s criminal mentor Esther “Mom” Sheinbaum.

And always circling are the cops.

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In January 1959, Art Copleston was escorted out of his college accounting class by three police officers. In a motel room, blinds drawn, he sat in front of a state senator and the legal counsel for the Florida Legislative Investigation Committee, nicknamed the “Johns Committee.” His crime? Being a suspected homosexual. And the government of Florida would use any tactic at their disposal—legal or not—to get Copleston to admit it.

Using a secret trove of primary source documents that have been decoded and de-censored for the first time in history, journalist Robert Fieseler unravels the mystery of what actually happened behind the closed doors of an inquisition that held ordinary citizens ransom to its extraordinary powers.

The state of Florida would prefer that this history remain buried. But for nearly a decade, the Florida Legislature founded, funded, and supported the Johns Committee—an organization using the cover of communism to viciously attack members of the NAACP and queer professors and students. Spearheaded by Charley Johns, a multi-term politician in a gerrymandered legislature, the Committee was determined to eliminate any threats to the state's white, conservative regime.

Fieseler describes the heartbreaking ramifications for citizens of Florida whose lives were imperiled, profiling marginalized residents with compassion and a determination to bring their devasting experiences to light at last. A propulsive, human-centered drama, with fascinating insight into Florida politics, American Scare is a page-turning reckoning of our racist and homophobic past—and its chilling parallels to today.

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Set against the very real refugee crisis on the beautiful, sun-drenched Greek islands, Fire on the Island paints a nuanced and loving portrait of a community in crisis while shedding light on the challenges of life in contemporary Greece.

After a string of mysterious fires breaks out on a small Greek island, undercover FBI agent Nick Damigos arrives to investigate, showing up just in time to save a beloved truffle-sniffing dog from the most recent inferno. But as Nick searches for the arsonist responsible, he finds himself navigating a community rife with conflicts, some of which go back generations. As the threat of the next fire looms, Nick begins to uncover the villagers’ countless buried secrets. But Nick has secrets too, and as he falls for a young bartender who becomes his prime suspect, he becomes entrenched in the very mystery he’s trying to solve. With time running out to prevent catastrophe, will Nick expose the truth and save the village, or will the island be engulfed in a blaze of vengeance and heartbreak?

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Step into the glow of lavender twilight with Alfred P. Doblin’s unforgettable collection, Tales of the Lavender Twilight. In this debut, Doblin opens doors to the rich, poignant, and often hilarious lives of late-middle-aged gay men—and one very sophisticated Cocker Spaniel—as they seek love, redefine family, and gracefully navigate the complexities of life’s next chapters.

From a bittersweet gathering in a West Village gay dive bar to the quirks of a Catskill town brimming with out-of-work actors, Doblin’s eleven tales journey coast-to-coast, capturing moments of humor, heartbreak, and unexpected resilience. Follow a hopeful dog in search of a new home, a sharp-tongued theater critic who stirs up old wounds, LGBTQ youths rediscovering a legacy, and an unforgettable Thanksgiving celebration where gratitude and community collide.

With warmth, wit, and compassion, Tales of the Lavender Twilight celebrates lives lived boldly, refusing to be defined by a world too focused on youth. These stories are a vibrant tribute to the endurance of spirit, love, and identity.

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Sometimes You Have to Get Lost to Find Yourself

Mark Anello thought he had it all figured out, but life had other plans. At 34, the suburban math teacher is unceremoniously dumped by his stand-up comedian boyfriend, leaving him feeling stuck and uninspired in Los Angeles. Desperate for a change, Mark flees to San Francisco, where he encounters Alessandro, a charming but disillusioned Italian tourist trapped in a loveless relationship. Their connection is immediate, and after months of long-distance emails, Mark follows his heart to Rome.

But love doesn’t come easy. After three passionate summers together, Mark begins to sense Alessandro slipping away, embarking on new adventures while Mark is left to question everything. Left high and dry in a foreign country, heartbroken and alone, Mark stumbles into a new world—a seductive, high-stakes scene of neo-Bohemians, aristocrats, and avant-garde artists. Yet beneath the glamorous surface lurks a darker reality: a dangerous web of drugs, lust, and even murder in the elite European art circles.

On the brink of destruction, Mark must navigate his way through the chaos to discover a new sense of self. As the world begins to heal from a global pandemic, he returns home transformed—armed with the hard-earned wisdom to embrace love on his own terms, let go of what no longer serves him, and face the future with clarity and compassion.

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In the suburbs of New Jersey, where temple gossip flows like Manischewitz wine, eleven-year-old Andy becomes entangled in a whirlwind of maternal quirks and religious intrigue. His mother’s bizarre obsession with Rabbi Landy transforms their once-quiet life above a candy store into a tale of surprises.

Andy’s world features a colorful cast: a fiery sister, an invisible brother, a precociously sexual savant best friend with green teeth, and a foul-mouthed neighbor who rivals the 50-Foot Woman. As he navigates from confusion to understanding, his journey is filled with humor and heartfelt moments.

When forced into yeshiva with the rabbi’s insufferable sons, Andy becomes drawn to his magnetic Talmud teacher, Rabbi Loobling. His exploration of faith, desire, and family secrets unfolds from the streets of the Garden State to the halls of college, revealing the complex adults around him.

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Thirst dives into the lives of Neil Graham, a country club bartender, and Ranger Melusky, a sexy and charming small-town auto mechanic who’s irresistible but complicated. A chance encounter leaves Neil captivated by Ranger’s rough charm, but there’s a catch—Ranger only lets his true self emerge after a few too many drinks. Neil wants something real, and he hopes Ranger might, too, despite his struggle with identity and acceptance.

When an accident with his truck forces Ranger to sober up, he decides to cut ties with his old life, including Neil, and takes a misguided plunge into marriage. Heartbroken, Neil seeks a new purpose. He quits the country club bar and concentrates on repairing the fractured relationship between his father and grandfather—two men divided by secrets and pride.

Just as Neil finds his footing, Ranger returns, ready and anxious to rekindle the flame they once shared. Now, both men must confront their fears and decide: Is the love they left behind worth the struggle? Or will the road ahead only lead to another crash?

Thirst is a powerful story of love, self-acceptance, and the winding paths that bring us back to what matters most.

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