📖 Overview
Michael Nava is an American author and attorney known primarily for his groundbreaking Henry Rios mystery series featuring a gay Latino criminal defense lawyer as the protagonist. The seven-book series, published between 1986-2001, earned multiple Lambda Literary Awards and was among the first crime fiction works to feature an openly gay detective character.
Beyond his fiction writing, Nava has worked as a prosecutor in Los Angeles and San Francisco and served as a staff attorney for the California Supreme Court. His legal background informs the procedural authenticity found throughout his novels.
In addition to the Rios series, Nava has written historical fiction including The City of Palaces, set during the Mexican Revolution. His work consistently explores themes of Latino identity, social justice, and LGBTQ+ experiences within the framework of both crime and literary fiction.
Nava's contributions to mystery fiction have been recognized with the Bill Whitehead Award for Lifetime Achievement in LGBT literature. He continues to write and publish, having revived the Henry Rios series in 2019 with Carved in Bone after an 18-year hiatus.
👀 Reviews
Readers praise Nava's detailed legal procedural elements and authentic portrayal of gay and Latino experiences in the 1980s-90s. Many note the complex characterization of Henry Rios, with one Goodreads reviewer calling him "a fully realized character who happens to be gay rather than a gay character who happens to solve mysteries."
Readers highlight Nava's prose style and depth of social commentary. One Amazon reviewer notes: "The writing is sharp and unflinching, bringing both the courtroom drama and personal struggles to life."
Common criticisms include slow pacing in some books and occasionally dense legal explanations. Some readers mention finding the earlier books in the series dated in their portrayal of the AIDS crisis.
Ratings across platforms:
- Goodreads: Average 4.1/5 across all books (2,500+ ratings)
- Amazon: 4.3/5 average (500+ reviews)
- LibraryThing: 4.0/5 average
- Most reviewed title: "Goldenboy" with 1,200+ Goodreads ratings
The 2019 series revival "Carved in Bone" maintains similar rating averages to the original series.
📚 Books by Michael Nava
The Henry Rios Mystery Series:
The Little Death (1986) - Gay Latino criminal defense lawyer Henry Rios investigates the murder of a wealthy heir while confronting homophobia in 1980s Los Angeles.
Goldenboy (1988) - Rios defends a young man accused of killing his lover while uncovering corruption in Southern California's political circles.
How Town (1990) - A case involving the death of a prosecutor leads Rios through San Francisco's gay community during the height of the AIDS crisis.
The Hidden Law (1992) - Rios investigates the murder of his brother-in-law while dealing with his sister's drug addiction and family secrets.
The Death of Friends (1996) - The murder of a closeted judge forces Rios to confront both professional ethics and his own mortality.
The Burning Plain (1997) - Rios searches for a serial killer targeting gay men while struggling with his sobriety and a new relationship.
Rag and Bone (2001) - Rios investigates the death of his sister while exploring his Mexican-American heritage and family history.
Lay Your Sleeping Head (2016) - A reimagining of The Little Death that expands the original story with new material.
Carved in Bone (2019) - Set in 1984, Rios investigates the death of a young gay man while confronting the emerging AIDS epidemic.
Stand-alone Works: The City of Palaces (2014) - A historical novel set during the Mexican Revolution, following a wealthy family's experiences during social upheaval.
Goldenboy (1988) - Rios defends a young man accused of killing his lover while uncovering corruption in Southern California's political circles.
How Town (1990) - A case involving the death of a prosecutor leads Rios through San Francisco's gay community during the height of the AIDS crisis.
The Hidden Law (1992) - Rios investigates the murder of his brother-in-law while dealing with his sister's drug addiction and family secrets.
The Death of Friends (1996) - The murder of a closeted judge forces Rios to confront both professional ethics and his own mortality.
The Burning Plain (1997) - Rios searches for a serial killer targeting gay men while struggling with his sobriety and a new relationship.
Rag and Bone (2001) - Rios investigates the death of his sister while exploring his Mexican-American heritage and family history.
Lay Your Sleeping Head (2016) - A reimagining of The Little Death that expands the original story with new material.
Carved in Bone (2019) - Set in 1984, Rios investigates the death of a young gay man while confronting the emerging AIDS epidemic.
Stand-alone Works: The City of Palaces (2014) - A historical novel set during the Mexican Revolution, following a wealthy family's experiences during social upheaval.
👥 Similar authors
Joseph Hansen writes mystery novels featuring an openly gay insurance investigator named Dave Brandstetter in Los Angeles. His work deals with similar themes of LGBTQ+ identity and social justice that appear in Nava's Henry Rios series.
Katherine V. Forrest created the Kate Delafield detective series about a lesbian LAPD homicide detective investigating crimes in California. Her mysteries incorporate elements of police procedure while exploring discrimination and LGBTQ+ experiences in law enforcement.
Josh Lanyon writes mystery series featuring gay male protagonists who solve crimes while navigating personal relationships. The mysteries contain elements of romance and explore themes of identity and acceptance in ways that parallel Nava's work.
John Morgan Wilson authored the Benjamin Justice mystery series about a disgraced gay journalist solving crimes in Los Angeles. His protagonist deals with personal demons and societal prejudice while investigating murders in the LGBTQ+ community.
Richard Stevenson created the Donald Strachey series about a gay private investigator working in Albany, New York. The books combine traditional detective fiction with exploration of LGBTQ+ issues and discrimination in ways similar to Nava's Henry Rios novels.
Katherine V. Forrest created the Kate Delafield detective series about a lesbian LAPD homicide detective investigating crimes in California. Her mysteries incorporate elements of police procedure while exploring discrimination and LGBTQ+ experiences in law enforcement.
Josh Lanyon writes mystery series featuring gay male protagonists who solve crimes while navigating personal relationships. The mysteries contain elements of romance and explore themes of identity and acceptance in ways that parallel Nava's work.
John Morgan Wilson authored the Benjamin Justice mystery series about a disgraced gay journalist solving crimes in Los Angeles. His protagonist deals with personal demons and societal prejudice while investigating murders in the LGBTQ+ community.
Richard Stevenson created the Donald Strachey series about a gay private investigator working in Albany, New York. The books combine traditional detective fiction with exploration of LGBTQ+ issues and discrimination in ways similar to Nava's Henry Rios novels.