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32 ratings | 15 reviews | avg rating:4.97

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Hugh Lessig

Goodreads Author

Born

in Bethlehem, Pa., The United States

Website

https://www.hughlessig.com

Twitter

https://x.com/HughLessig

Genre

Mystery, Thriller, Suspense

Member Since

July 2022

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I grew up in a slate quarry town in Pennsylvania, but I've called Virginia home since 1997. I spent 30-plus years as newspaper reporter. I've covered everything from small city council meetings, where it was just me and them, to the earthquake relief effort in Haiti, where I was embedded with the Navy on the USS Bataan.

I began writing crime short stories around 2005, and was fortunate to land a few in places like Thuglit, Shotgun Honey and Plots With Guns. Those online markets were gold for writers just starting out. (Seriously, check out the table of contents for any Thuglit issue. A bunch of those writers are famous today.)

My debut novel, FADEAWAY JOE, came out in August 2023 from Crooked Lane Books. It's about an aging criminal battlin ...more

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Hugh Lessig’s books

Average rating: 3.84 · 204 ratings · 61 reviews · 1 distinct work • Similar authors

Fadeaway Joe

3.84 avg rating — 204 ratings

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2 posts
Hugh Lessig's Blog: Between The Lines

Your Man in Nashville

Bouchercon is biggest gathering of mystery writers and readers you're likely to see. It is held in a different city each year, and 2024 has brought us to Nashville.

There is something special about bonding with other writers. Sharing tips, complaints, stories of success, boosting each other to keep going. Writing tends to be a lonely business, and writers themselves tend to be introverts. Which is Read more of this blog post »

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Published on August 30, 2024 07:14 • Tags: beat-readers, bouchercon-2024, fadeaway-joe

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Hugh is Currently Reading

Hugh Lessig is currently reading

A Cop's Life: True Stories from Behind the Badge

by Randy Sutton

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Jun 27, 2026 06:19AM

Hugh Lessig is currently reading

Prodigal

by Bobby Mathews (Goodreads Author)

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Mar 19, 2026 08:05PM

Hugh Lessig is currently reading

Mere Smoke: Vintage Noir Pulp Fiction (Noir Mysteries Featuring The Smoke Book 1)

by Jonathan Call

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Mar 06, 2026 04:34PM

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Hugh’s Recent Updates

Hugh Lessig rated a book it was amazing Hard Mountain Clay by C.W. Blackwell (Goodreads Author)	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
Oct 07, 2026 03:28PM · 2 likes · like · preview book See a Problem? We’d love your help. Let us know what’s wrong with this preview of Hard Mountain Clay by C.W. Blackwell. Problem: Details (if other): Thanks for telling us about the problem. Not the book you’re looking for? Preview — Hard Mountain Clay by C.W. Blackwell <iframe sandbox id="wrongBookKindlePreviewScreen">
Hugh Lessig rated a book it was amazing Murder is Personal: A Jake Powell Mystery (Jake Powell Mysteries, #1) by B.J. Condike (Goodreads Author)	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
You will end up rooting for Jake Powell, a wise-cracking rapscallion who has had any number of jobs. He's not really a private investigator, but he's worked for one, and in "Murder is Personal," Jake does his fair share of sleuthing. He's not perfect ...more
Sep 10, 2026 05:07PM · like · see review · preview book See a Problem? We’d love your help. Let us know what’s wrong with this preview of Murder is Personal by B.J. Condike. Problem: Details (if other): Thanks for telling us about the problem. Not the book you’re looking for? Preview — Murder is Personal by B.J. Condike <iframe sandbox id="wrongBookKindlePreviewScreen">
Hugh Lessig is currently reading A Cop's Life: True Stories from Behind the Badge by Randy Sutton	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
Jun 27, 2026 06:19AM · like
Hugh Lessig rated a book it was amazing In My DNA: My Career Investigating Your Worst Nightmares by Lindsey Wade	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
Realistic and a Great Read This book grabs you from the start and doesn't let go. A gripping account that will leave you wanting more. ...more
Jun 26, 2026 07:44AM · like · see review
Hugh Lessig is currently reading Prodigal by Bobby Mathews (Goodreads Author)	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
Mar 19, 2026 08:05PM · like
Hugh Lessig is currently reading Mere Smoke: Vintage Noir Pulp Fiction (Noir Mysteries Featuring The Smoke Book 1) by Jonathan Call	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
Mar 06, 2026 04:34PM · like · preview book See a Problem? We’d love your help. Let us know what’s wrong with this preview of Mere Smoke by Jonathan Call. Problem: Details (if other): Thanks for telling us about the problem. Not the book you’re looking for? Preview — Mere Smoke by Jonathan Call <iframe sandbox id="wrongBookKindlePreviewScreen">
Hugh Lessig is currently reading Edge of Defiance (Edge of Collapse, #5) by Kyla Stone (Goodreads Author)	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
Mar 06, 2026 04:32PM · like · preview book See a Problem? We’d love your help. Let us know what’s wrong with this preview of Edge of Defiance by Kyla Stone. Problem: Details (if other): Thanks for telling us about the problem. Not the book you’re looking for? Preview — Edge of Defiance by Kyla Stone <iframe sandbox id="wrongBookKindlePreviewScreen">
Hugh Lessig is currently reading In My DNA: My Career Investigating Your Worst Nightmares by Lindsey Wade	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
Jan 30, 2026 05:06PM · like
Hugh Lessig is currently reading A Police Chief's Journey: Diaries of an Extraordinary Career and Stories from Virginia's Small Towns by Chief AJ Panebianco	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
Jan 30, 2026 07:17AM · like
Hugh Lessig is currently reading The City (The Labyrinth #1) by S.C. Mendes (Goodreads Author)	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
Jan 05, 2026 11:57AM · like