Mark Edward Jones, a retired higher education finance professional, has become an award-winning mystery, thriller, and paranormal fiction author. Born and raised in Duncan, Oklahoma, Mark developed a love for storytelling when younger. He attended the University of Oklahoma, earning bachelor’s and master’s degrees in political science/public administration.
Detective Henry Ike Pierce Series
After retiring in 2017, Mark embarked on a writing career. His debut novel, Peculiar Activities, was released in October 2021, the first book in his Detective Henry Ike Pierce series. This book won first place in the mystery category of the 2019 Oklahoma Writers Federation contest, setting the stage for his successful writing career.
The second book, Shadowed Souls, was released in 2022, and the third installment, Glass, is expected in 2025. Notably, the Glass manuscript won first place in the mystery category of the 2024 Oklahoma Writers Federation annual contest, marking his second first-place win in five years. He is using Henry Ike Pierce’s boss, Eddie Stone, as a character to kick off a new series in 2026. The first book is titled No Pain Wasted, telling Eddie’s story before working with Pierce.
Friday the 13th Series
In addition to his detective series, Mark is one of thirteen authors who release mystery, suspense, and horror stories each Friday the 13th. These stories form 13 chapters and 13,000 words and offer a variety of horror, paranormal, and suspense stories. Mark’s three stories offer successive snapshots of a wicked assassin and his odd family. His first story, A Gentleman from the Darkness, was released on May 13, 2022, followed by Hell is Empty in January 2023, and A Wicked Fate in October 2023. The Man in the Fedora, released in March, is an edited compilation of these stories about Karanosz Tasev, the Macedonian assassin. Dormer was released September 2024 and Dormer Christmas in December 2024.
Other Works
Mark’s versatility as an author is evident in his other works. His upcoming sci-fi/mystery novel, Tempus Mors, expected in 2026, has already won accolades. A draft won third place in the OKC Writers’ Group 2023 contest for Adult Book, and a short piece from this story, Don’t Forget Us, won first place in flash fiction and crème de la crème for the contest. The same piece won first place in the 2024 Southwest Writers Conference. His flash fiction piece, “Alone in Warsaw,” was included in the autumn 2019 U.K. publication Painted Words.
Personal Life and Interests
Mark and his wife, who will celebrate their forty-third anniversary in November 2024, have three grown children and their first grandson. Mark’s favorite reads are mystery, suspense, and international intrigue novels, with a particular interest in medieval murder mysteries. He enjoys music from Elvis, Chicago, Earth, Wind & Fire, and Boz Scaggs, among many others.
