"Henry has become a leading light in YA mystery." - Booklist
"April Henry’s crime dramas are consistently smart and satisfying.” - Kirkus
"Sure to delight fans of mystery, suspense, and a little horror."- School Library Journal
"Legendary mystery author Henry is back at it again" - Barnes & Noble blog
"Another one to add to the collection of Henry's fast-paced thrillers." - YALSA
"April Henry’s crime dramas are consistently smart and satisfying.” - Kirkus
"Sure to delight fans of mystery, suspense, and a little horror."- School Library Journal
"Legendary mystery author Henry is back at it again" - Barnes & Noble blog
"Another one to add to the collection of Henry's fast-paced thrillers." - YALSA
One-stop shopping for signed, personalized books
If you would like one of my books signed, and personalized, my neighborhood bookstore Annie Blooms now has a dedicated page: https://www.annieblooms.com/april-henry-signed-books.
A visit to one of my criminal relative's graves
When I realized I was going to be speaking in Greenwood, Arkansas but staying in Ft. Smith, I asked the school staff if there was any way we could visit my great-granduncle Shepherd Busby’s grave, which is in Ft. Smith. They not only obliged, but they also took me to the (reconstructed) gallows where he met his end in 1892.
Shepherd was married to my great-grandma’s sister, Mary Ann Bond, but he also married or lived with many other women. A former marshal who rode with Hangin’ Judge Parker, Shepherd himself ended up murdering the marshal who had been sent to arrest him for adultery. He was sentenced to death. The first hangman, George Maledon, known as “The Prince of Hangman,” refused to hang Shepherd because they had both fought in the Civil War. A second hangman was quickly found. (Maledon’s refusal was notable. He executed more men than any other executioner in U.S. history.)
Shepherd was married to my great-grandma’s sister, Mary Ann Bond, but he also married or lived with many other women. A former marshal who rode with Hangin’ Judge Parker, Shepherd himself ended up murdering the marshal who had been sent to arrest him for adultery. He was sentenced to death. The first hangman, George Maledon, known as “The Prince of Hangman,” refused to hang Shepherd because they had both fought in the Civil War. A second hangman was quickly found. (Maledon’s refusal was notable. He executed more men than any other executioner in U.S. history.)
School visits in Greenwood, Arkansas
School visits to Wyoming
Behold the amazing cover for my May 2025 book
What if you found evidence of a crime, but no one believed you?
Seventeen-year-old Willow always has a camera around her neck. She volunteers as a photographer at Finding Home animal shelter. When Willow stumbles upon a lost camera memory card, it’s filled with hundreds of photos of teenage girls. Some are smiling, others unaware, and a few seem terrified.
The police tell her taking photos in public isn’t a crime. But Willow can’t seem to let it go, especially after she finds her own photo on the card. Willow teams up with new volunteer Dare to figure out what happened to the girls. As their investigation heats up, so does the chemistry between them. But everyone around Willow has a secret: Finding Home’s owner, her own mom, and even Dare. When Willow learns that some of the girls on the camera card have gone missing, she realizes the unknown photographer might be a serial killer. Can Willow find him before he finds her?
When We Go Missing was very loosely inspired by two serial killers who preyed on girls they persuaded to "model" for them: the Dating Game Killer and the Beauty Queen Killer.
You can add it to your Goodreads Want to Read shelf, or preorder it at Indiebound, Barnes & Noble, Amazon, or, of course, your local bookstore.
Seventeen-year-old Willow always has a camera around her neck. She volunteers as a photographer at Finding Home animal shelter. When Willow stumbles upon a lost camera memory card, it’s filled with hundreds of photos of teenage girls. Some are smiling, others unaware, and a few seem terrified.
The police tell her taking photos in public isn’t a crime. But Willow can’t seem to let it go, especially after she finds her own photo on the card. Willow teams up with new volunteer Dare to figure out what happened to the girls. As their investigation heats up, so does the chemistry between them. But everyone around Willow has a secret: Finding Home’s owner, her own mom, and even Dare. When Willow learns that some of the girls on the camera card have gone missing, she realizes the unknown photographer might be a serial killer. Can Willow find him before he finds her?
When We Go Missing was very loosely inspired by two serial killers who preyed on girls they persuaded to "model" for them: the Dating Game Killer and the Beauty Queen Killer.
You can add it to your Goodreads Want to Read shelf, or preorder it at Indiebound, Barnes & Noble, Amazon, or, of course, your local bookstore.
Girl Forgotten wins an Oregon Spirt award
Girl Forgotten has been won the OCTE's Oregon Spirit Book Award! Many thanks to the Oregon Council of Teachers of English who put in long hours to read and recognize Oregon authors and illustrators.
I won an Edgar!
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On May 1, I attended the Edgar Awards, which are like the mystery version of the Oscars. The event is hosted by the Mystery Writers of America, and the judges are your peers - other mystery writers. And my book, Girl Forgotten, won!
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What the TSA really cares about
On my way home, my suitcase got pulled aside for further inspection by the TSA. Not because of the handcuffs in my carry-on (I demonstrated how to get out of them at a meeting with my publisher) but because of the unusual shape and size of the bust of Edgar Allan Poe. They even swabbed him for explosive residue!
Girl Forgotten named Maine's North Star Award finalist!
Kirkus love Stay Dead!
A page-turning cat-and-mouse survival story.
A teenager’s survival skills are put to the test—along with her relationships with the people she relies on the most.
First, Milan’s senator father died in a tragic car accident; Milan escaped with a broken leg. Later, the private plane Milan and her mother were in went down after a bomb exploded in the cargo hold, leaving the 16-year-old stranded in the Cascade Mountains in Oregon. While her mother lay dying in the snow following the crash, she told Milan that whoever killed her father and blew up the plane would now be hunting for her, and that the only person she should trust is Brent Kirkby, Milan’s godfather and the founder of the renewable power company where Milan’s dad was CEO. Milan ends up being thrown into a deadly plot she never could have imagined. Alongside Milan’s third-person perspective, Henry provides two additional views of the events: one from Lenny, the killer assigned to silence Milan’s parents and anyone in their vicinity, and Janie, a dairy farmer who’s allowed fracking on her land in exchange for the money she needs to support her family. The three plotlines blend seamlessly, with the dramatic initial setup drawing readers into this fast-paced thriller.
—Kirkus
A teenager’s survival skills are put to the test—along with her relationships with the people she relies on the most.
First, Milan’s senator father died in a tragic car accident; Milan escaped with a broken leg. Later, the private plane Milan and her mother were in went down after a bomb exploded in the cargo hold, leaving the 16-year-old stranded in the Cascade Mountains in Oregon. While her mother lay dying in the snow following the crash, she told Milan that whoever killed her father and blew up the plane would now be hunting for her, and that the only person she should trust is Brent Kirkby, Milan’s godfather and the founder of the renewable power company where Milan’s dad was CEO. Milan ends up being thrown into a deadly plot she never could have imagined. Alongside Milan’s third-person perspective, Henry provides two additional views of the events: one from Lenny, the killer assigned to silence Milan’s parents and anyone in their vicinity, and Janie, a dairy farmer who’s allowed fracking on her land in exchange for the money she needs to support her family. The three plotlines blend seamlessly, with the dramatic initial setup drawing readers into this fast-paced thriller.
—Kirkus
Ideas for school visits (one tongue-in-cheek)
TV interview in Washington State
First review for Stay Dead
Sometimes, the only way to live is to make sure the world thinks you’re dead . . .
In the aftermath of a car accident that claimed the life of her senator father, sixteen-year-old Milan finds herself adrift, expelled from her third boarding school. Milan’s mother, who has assumed the senate seat, diverts her private plane to pick up her daughter. But on their way home, a bomb rips off a wing and the plane crashes in the mountains. In her final moments, Milan’s mother entrusts her with a key. She reveals it will unlock the evidence that so many people have already died for—including Milan’s father. The only way Milan can survive, her mom tells her, is to let everyone believe she died with the other passengers.
Milan is forced to navigate a perilous descent in freezing conditions while outwitting everything from a drone to wild animals. With relentless assassins on her trail, she must untangle the web of deceit and save herself and countless others. Will she piece together the truth in time?\
"When the senator’s plane goes down, Milan miraculously escapes, going on a multiday survival trek through snowy, dangerous woods…. Milan is in a race against time and terror to get to her parents’ one trusted friend before she ends up dead, too. Milan’s trek through the freezing woods shows she’s clever, and readers will be intrigued and thrilled to see how it all turns out."
—Booklist
In the aftermath of a car accident that claimed the life of her senator father, sixteen-year-old Milan finds herself adrift, expelled from her third boarding school. Milan’s mother, who has assumed the senate seat, diverts her private plane to pick up her daughter. But on their way home, a bomb rips off a wing and the plane crashes in the mountains. In her final moments, Milan’s mother entrusts her with a key. She reveals it will unlock the evidence that so many people have already died for—including Milan’s father. The only way Milan can survive, her mom tells her, is to let everyone believe she died with the other passengers.
Milan is forced to navigate a perilous descent in freezing conditions while outwitting everything from a drone to wild animals. With relentless assassins on her trail, she must untangle the web of deceit and save herself and countless others. Will she piece together the truth in time?\
"When the senator’s plane goes down, Milan miraculously escapes, going on a multiday survival trek through snowy, dangerous woods…. Milan is in a race against time and terror to get to her parents’ one trusted friend before she ends up dead, too. Milan’s trek through the freezing woods shows she’s clever, and readers will be intrigued and thrilled to see how it all turns out."
—Booklist
Girl Forgotten is racking up wards
My 2023 release, Girl Forgotten, has already appeared on some award lists:
- JLG Gold Standard Selection
- 2023-2024 Tome Student Literacy Society It List
- Arizona Grand Canyon Reader Award list
- Delaware Diamonds Award finalist
- Oregon Book Award finalist
I love to do school visits
I have already visited two dozen schools this school year, and would love to add your school to the list! School visits are a great way to get students interested in reading and writing. For the 2022-23 school year, I visited 39 schools and spoke to thousands of students (and dozens of teachers and librarians).
I love to visit schools and share with students the joys of reading, writing, and research. I also talk about the vital importance of tenacity.
To learn more, check out my school visit page. I book all my speaking engagements through TheBookingBiz.com.
I also love to go to teen book cons, literacy conferences, and to programs at libraries and for librarians.
I love to visit schools and share with students the joys of reading, writing, and research. I also talk about the vital importance of tenacity.
To learn more, check out my school visit page. I book all my speaking engagements through TheBookingBiz.com.
I also love to go to teen book cons, literacy conferences, and to programs at libraries and for librarians.
How to feel like a rock star
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School visits in Quad Cities, Iowa
School visits in Nashua, New Hampshire
Celebrating my 29th and 30th books!
This summer I finished final edits on my May 2024 book, Stay Dead. It's about Milan, who is the only survivor of a plane crash meant to hide evidence of bigger crimes. The only way she can stay alive is to stay dead.
A few weeks later, I turned the first draft of my 2025 book, When We Were Missing, into my editor. That book, which will be my 30th, is about a girl who finds a camera card filled with photos of hundreds of teen girls.
Wanting to do something fun to celebrate, I dyed my hair purple with Overtone, which will eventually wash out. I'm also thinking of trying blue. And it certainly beats the last time I finished a project, when I "treated" myself by deep-cleaning the kitchen.
A few weeks later, I turned the first draft of my 2025 book, When We Were Missing, into my editor. That book, which will be my 30th, is about a girl who finds a camera card filled with photos of hundreds of teen girls.
Wanting to do something fun to celebrate, I dyed my hair purple with Overtone, which will eventually wash out. I'm also thinking of trying blue. And it certainly beats the last time I finished a project, when I "treated" myself by deep-cleaning the kitchen.
School visits in El Paso, Texas
School visits in Arkansas
School visits in Beaverton, Oregon
School visits in Orland Park, Illinois
Six District Compact Reading & Writing Festival
Ohio school visits
Texas Library Association Conference
School visits in St. Louis
Missouri Association of School Librarians (MASL) Conference
Library and school events in the greater Omaha area
Signed books make great gifts!
Want to buy a signed book with a personal dedication for yourself or someone else? Just contact my local bookstore: AnnieBlooms.com. They'll contact me and I'll come down to sign. They have a a special page just for ordering my books: https://www.annieblooms.com/april-henry-signed-books
Taking my Brazilian jiujitsu on the road
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I love to do Brazilian jujitsu (think wrestling plus chokes plus joint locks) and try to roll at a local school whenever I do school visits. Every school has its own special way of doing things - and with luck I can pick up a trick or two to try at my regular schools in Portland.
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The things I do for research!
Best Note Ever from a Middle School Teacher
Just wanted to let you know for a 3rd year in a row you are making my life easy – and creating a bunch of new readers. I am still lucky enough to teach an advanced reading class along with my Intensive class and across the board your books are the motivators. Here is one of the book projects done by one of my 7th graders! I can’t keep enough copies of your books on my shelf. |
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