John Peyton Cooke

State: Texas

Born March 7, 1967, in Amarillo, Texas, and raised in Laramie, Wyoming, John Peyton Cooke is an American novelist and short-story writer known for psychologically rich thrillers and crime fiction featuring gay protagonists. His debut novel Out for Blood (1991), a vampire-themed thriller, was reissued in 2019, and his chilling Torsos—a fictionalized account of the 1930s Cleveland Torso Murders—was nominated for the Lambda Literary Award in 1993. His short story "After You’ve Gone" was selected for The Best American Mystery Stories 2003 Amazon. Cooke’s work spans crime, horror, suspense, and dark fantasy, often blending genre conventions with LGBT themes. He has published multiple novels—including The Chimney Sweeper and Haven—as well as numerous short stories in anthologies and genre magazines.

Genres: Horror, Mystery, Paranormal, Thriller

Audiences: Adult