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Dodging and Burning
A lurid crime scene photo of a beautiful woman arrives on mystery writer Bunny Prescott's doorstep with no return address—and it's not the first time she's seen it. The reemergence of the photo, taken fifty-five years earlier, sets her on a journey to reconstruct the vicious summer that changed her life.
In the summer of 1945, Ceola Bliss is a lonely twelve-year-old tomboy, mourning the loss of her brother, Robbie, who was declared missing in the Pacific. She tries to piece together his life by rereading his favorite pulp detective story “A Date with Death” and spending time with his best friend, Jay Greenwood, in Royal Oak, VA. One unforgettable August day, Jay leads Ceola and Bunny to a stretch of woods where he found a dead woman, but when they arrive, the body is gone. They soon discover a local woman named Lily Vellum is missing and begin to piece together the threads of her murder, starting with the photograph Jay took of her abandoned body.
As Ceola gets swept up playing girl detective, Bunny becomes increasingly skeptical of Jay, and begins her own investigation into the connection between Jay and Lily. She discovers a series of clues that place doubt on Jay’s story about the photograph. She journeys to Washington, D.C., where she is forced to confront the brutal truth about her dear friend—a discovery that triggers a series of events that will bring tragedy to Jay and decades of estrangement between her and Ceola.
In the summer of 1945, Ceola Bliss is a lonely twelve-year-old tomboy, mourning the loss of her brother, Robbie, who was declared missing in the Pacific. She tries to piece together his life by rereading his favorite pulp detective story “A Date with Death” and spending time with his best friend, Jay Greenwood, in Royal Oak, VA. One unforgettable August day, Jay leads Ceola and Bunny to a stretch of woods where he found a dead woman, but when they arrive, the body is gone. They soon discover a local woman named Lily Vellum is missing and begin to piece together the threads of her murder, starting with the photograph Jay took of her abandoned body.
As Ceola gets swept up playing girl detective, Bunny becomes increasingly skeptical of Jay, and begins her own investigation into the connection between Jay and Lily. She discovers a series of clues that place doubt on Jay’s story about the photograph. She journeys to Washington, D.C., where she is forced to confront the brutal truth about her dear friend—a discovery that triggers a series of events that will bring tragedy to Jay and decades of estrangement between her and Ceola.
288 pages, Kindle Edition
First published March 6, 2018
34 people are currently reading
1013 people want to read
About the author
John Copenhaver
10 books117 followersJohn Copenhaver’s historical crime novel, Dodging and Burning, won the 2019 Macavity Award for Best First Mystery Novel and garnered Anthony, Strand Critics, Barry, and Lambda Literary Award nominations. Copenhaver writes a crime fiction review column for Lambda Literary called “Blacklight,” cohosts on the House of Mystery Radio Show, and is the six-time recipient of Artist Fellowships from the D.C. Commission on the Arts and Humanities. He grew up in the mountains of southwestern Virginia and currently lives in Richmond, VA, with his husband, artist Jeffery Paul (Herrity).
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 72 reviews
July 16, 2018
It's hilarious that you can review your own book on Goodreads. I wonder if authors, many books in, will look back on their oeuvre and reassess it on social media.
Methinks, not. : )
Methinks, not. : )
April 10, 2018
I've had to sit with this one for a little bit before diving into my review. Full disclosure: I had the privilege of acquiring and editing this moving, mysterious, fantastic novel. To that end, I've had a lot to mull over since first reading it in one feverish evening over a year ago. Every draft has brought new wonder, and I consider myself more than lucky to have gotten to work with John in the final fine-tuning of his story.
On the surface, this is a mystery. Was there an abduction? A murder? Something deeper, more far-reaching? It's also a historical fiction novel, set in the precarious final months of World War II. It's a coming-of-age story for three friends in a small town, their lives indelibly intertwined, woven through the fabric of their hometown and the lives of their families, their friends, and soldiers they've never met on the European front. It's about love and friendship and, of course, photography. It's all of these things and more, beautifully set down by John Copenhaver, whose prose brings to life the passion youth and the heat of forgotten summers and the chill of snow-covered battlefields.
I'm gushing; I'll stop. Read DODGING AND BURNING. You'll love it.
On the surface, this is a mystery. Was there an abduction? A murder? Something deeper, more far-reaching? It's also a historical fiction novel, set in the precarious final months of World War II. It's a coming-of-age story for three friends in a small town, their lives indelibly intertwined, woven through the fabric of their hometown and the lives of their families, their friends, and soldiers they've never met on the European front. It's about love and friendship and, of course, photography. It's all of these things and more, beautifully set down by John Copenhaver, whose prose brings to life the passion youth and the heat of forgotten summers and the chill of snow-covered battlefields.
I'm gushing; I'll stop. Read DODGING AND BURNING. You'll love it.
June 25, 2018
I received John Copenhaver's debut novel in my March PageHabit box. I have to admit I was disappointed at first. Dodging and Burning flew under my radar. I had never heard of John Copenhaver. But here I had this book gathering dust on my shelves. That is until Amberly from The Life of a Book Addict picked this book for me. YAY! Thanks so much Amberly!!!
Dodging and Burning is not merely a mystery. It is a bildungroman that highlights social convention and women's roles. It is an historical fiction set during World War II that instead of focusing on the atrocities of war, deals instead with social constructs and attitudes towards LBGTQ+ communities. The book is structured as a story within a story each unfolding as Dodging and Burning culminates in its surprisingly satisfying twist. I have a sincere appreciation for Dodging and Burning and will be returning to Copenhaver's work in the future.
Dodging and Burning is not merely a mystery. It is a bildungroman that highlights social convention and women's roles. It is an historical fiction set during World War II that instead of focusing on the atrocities of war, deals instead with social constructs and attitudes towards LBGTQ+ communities. The book is structured as a story within a story each unfolding as Dodging and Burning culminates in its surprisingly satisfying twist. I have a sincere appreciation for Dodging and Burning and will be returning to Copenhaver's work in the future.
May 23, 2024
Originally posted to my Facebook page on May 23, 2018.
What can I say about Dodging and Burning by John Copenhaver?
On the surface, this is a mystery. Was there an abduction? A murder? Something deeper, more far-reaching?
It's also a historical fiction novel, set in the precarious final months of World War II.
This is a sad but compelling, well written, and complex novel.
A powerfully moving story about loves, lies, and secrets.
Its twisted road will drive readers to an ending that was hopeful and tragic, making clear only that war is hell, society can be worse, and survival within those constructs might not mean the same thing to everyone.
A perfect book discussion group book!
What can I say about Dodging and Burning by John Copenhaver?
On the surface, this is a mystery. Was there an abduction? A murder? Something deeper, more far-reaching?
It's also a historical fiction novel, set in the precarious final months of World War II.
This is a sad but compelling, well written, and complex novel.
A powerfully moving story about loves, lies, and secrets.
Its twisted road will drive readers to an ending that was hopeful and tragic, making clear only that war is hell, society can be worse, and survival within those constructs might not mean the same thing to everyone.
A perfect book discussion group book!
July 4, 2021
“As we reached the top, the shape of the hills past the carnival, past the river, drew me in. They felt nearer to me, like I could just reach out and touch them, as if from this viewpoint I could understand them better. Maybe that’s why I didn’t react when Jay reached across me and placed his hand over my heart, pressing the light fabric of my dress against my skin. He leaned into me and kissed me. It was a long, motionless kiss, lips against lips, warm but not rude, not forceful. When he released me, he looked pained, his complexion flat and bloodless.
“You smell like him,” he said.”
................
This was the bit I stopped reading at by the way. Just some context for you: Jay kisses Ceola. Ceola is TWELVE and Jay is EIGHTEEN. Jay was also in a gay relationship with Ceola's now-dead eighteen year old brother. WHY IS THIS OKAY? I get this was set in WW2 or whatever or maybe there was some deep metaphorical emotional bullshit about it because he was in love with her brother and wanted to pretend she was him, but this is just so wrong on so many levels.
Ceola enjoyed it, of course she did, she's just about to start puberty and he is good-looking. But as a grown-ass man Jay should know how wrong this is. I know laws and legislations didn't exist but all you need is a moral conscience to know that you shouldn't kiss a fucking twelve year old.
And this isn't the first time shit like this has happened. At the start where Robbie is discovering his sexuality and the shop owner literally kisses him like that's a normal thing to do. YOU'RE AN ADULT, GET TF AWAY FROM HIM. This book made me uncomfortable and I sincerely regret reading it.
Anyways, the plot was slow, characters sucked (the only one I liked was Robbie who died, Bunny was an annoying piece of shit and the others were irrelevent). The writing style was also not good at all and it was all too slow and the POV's were of the two most boring characters.
This book was a huge waste of my time so thanks for that.
“You smell like him,” he said.”
................
This was the bit I stopped reading at by the way. Just some context for you: Jay kisses Ceola. Ceola is TWELVE and Jay is EIGHTEEN. Jay was also in a gay relationship with Ceola's now-dead eighteen year old brother. WHY IS THIS OKAY? I get this was set in WW2 or whatever or maybe there was some deep metaphorical emotional bullshit about it because he was in love with her brother and wanted to pretend she was him, but this is just so wrong on so many levels.
Ceola enjoyed it, of course she did, she's just about to start puberty and he is good-looking. But as a grown-ass man Jay should know how wrong this is. I know laws and legislations didn't exist but all you need is a moral conscience to know that you shouldn't kiss a fucking twelve year old.
And this isn't the first time shit like this has happened. At the start where Robbie is discovering his sexuality and the shop owner literally kisses him like that's a normal thing to do. YOU'RE AN ADULT, GET TF AWAY FROM HIM. This book made me uncomfortable and I sincerely regret reading it.
Anyways, the plot was slow, characters sucked (the only one I liked was Robbie who died, Bunny was an annoying piece of shit and the others were irrelevent). The writing style was also not good at all and it was all too slow and the POV's were of the two most boring characters.
This book was a huge waste of my time so thanks for that.
April 10, 2018
A well-written mystery that paints a fascinating picture of small town life in the 1940s. Copenhaver skillfully balances the novel’s alternating perspectives. The reader is compelled forward not just by the central mystery, but also by the deep characterization.
August 1, 2018
http://arianafae.com/2018/08/dodging-...
When I began reading John Copenhaver’s DODGING AND BURNING, his language and the way he started the story to me were reminiscent of To Kill A Mockingbird. And like To Kill A Mockingbird this story is about love, family, friendships, and coming of age.
Copenhaver’s writing is beautiful, descriptive and lush, and like the cicadas you hear in the hot summer months, his words slowly lull and hypnotise you. He introduces you to two vastly different characters, Bunny and Ceola, who tells their story from their point of view. These are a couple of my favorite passages that encapsulated who Bunny and Ceola are:
He (Jay Greenwood) smiled and said, “ You’re beautiful. You shouldn’t need validation from me or the camera. “
“Pretty girls need the most validation,” I (Bunny) said. “They’ve been told they’re pretty so often, it has lost its meaning.”
I (Ceola) knew what she (Bunny) was thinking- Ceola is such a tomboy Look at those dirty cheeks. That grass-stained sailor’s middy. That sloppy ponytail. I wasn’t a bit interested being girly, but all the same, she made me feel dumpy.
Through these two girls, we are drawn into their world, seeing how their lives became intertwined and changed because of the two boys in their life, Jay and Robbie, World War II, a murder mystery, and the tragic secrets hidden. Copenhaver also touches on the trauma soldiers faced during and after the war, and the difficulties homosexuals faced in that era. My favorite chapters were told by Ceola, and how she tried to reconnect with her brother Robbie who dies in action during the war, it was heart rendering.
I enjoyed reading DODGING AND BURNING although it was heartbreaking to read at times. The ending was unexpected, tragic, and bittersweet with a twist I did not see coming. I have to applaud Copenhaver on his storytelling skills.
When I began reading John Copenhaver’s DODGING AND BURNING, his language and the way he started the story to me were reminiscent of To Kill A Mockingbird. And like To Kill A Mockingbird this story is about love, family, friendships, and coming of age.
Copenhaver’s writing is beautiful, descriptive and lush, and like the cicadas you hear in the hot summer months, his words slowly lull and hypnotise you. He introduces you to two vastly different characters, Bunny and Ceola, who tells their story from their point of view. These are a couple of my favorite passages that encapsulated who Bunny and Ceola are:
He (Jay Greenwood) smiled and said, “ You’re beautiful. You shouldn’t need validation from me or the camera. “
“Pretty girls need the most validation,” I (Bunny) said. “They’ve been told they’re pretty so often, it has lost its meaning.”
I (Ceola) knew what she (Bunny) was thinking- Ceola is such a tomboy Look at those dirty cheeks. That grass-stained sailor’s middy. That sloppy ponytail. I wasn’t a bit interested being girly, but all the same, she made me feel dumpy.
Through these two girls, we are drawn into their world, seeing how their lives became intertwined and changed because of the two boys in their life, Jay and Robbie, World War II, a murder mystery, and the tragic secrets hidden. Copenhaver also touches on the trauma soldiers faced during and after the war, and the difficulties homosexuals faced in that era. My favorite chapters were told by Ceola, and how she tried to reconnect with her brother Robbie who dies in action during the war, it was heart rendering.
I enjoyed reading DODGING AND BURNING although it was heartbreaking to read at times. The ending was unexpected, tragic, and bittersweet with a twist I did not see coming. I have to applaud Copenhaver on his storytelling skills.
Want to read
March 29, 201931st Annual Lambda Literary Award Finalist
Wow. A list price $27.55, but it is a good deal for $22.55 at the moment. As a kindle edition.
I don't remember EVER to purchase an ebook under 300 pages for over 20€. It has to be VERY good. By all respect, why a kindle edition is more expansive than a hardcover?!
Wow. A list price $27.55, but it is a good deal for $22.55 at the moment. As a kindle edition.
I don't remember EVER to purchase an ebook under 300 pages for over 20€. It has to be VERY good. By all respect, why a kindle edition is more expansive than a hardcover?!
January 24, 2019
Sometimes it is incredibly hard to write these without spoilers... particularly for a mystery.
So, I kind of love this and was kind of incredibly irritated by this. There’s a theme here that has been regaining popularity over the last couple years in thrillers and mysteries. It’s one that often makes me angry. I am sort of disappointed to see it here... but not near as much as I would be normally. The author just does such a good job of making it natural. If there weren’t a larger body of literature doing it wrong, this novel wouldn’t make me pause.
Anyway, hopefully that’s vague enough. Otherwise, it’s quite a fascinating mystery and definitely turns the murder mystery form on its head. Parts of the solution seem incredibly obvious from the start, but I think they are supposed to. As modern readers we probably have an innate cultural understanding that the protagonists do not.
All in all, I’m truly impressed with the author’s skill. The plot mixes in all sorts of things that I don’t like in my reading, yet I found myself engrossed.
So, I kind of love this and was kind of incredibly irritated by this. There’s a theme here that has been regaining popularity over the last couple years in thrillers and mysteries. It’s one that often makes me angry. I am sort of disappointed to see it here... but not near as much as I would be normally. The author just does such a good job of making it natural. If there weren’t a larger body of literature doing it wrong, this novel wouldn’t make me pause.
Anyway, hopefully that’s vague enough. Otherwise, it’s quite a fascinating mystery and definitely turns the murder mystery form on its head. Parts of the solution seem incredibly obvious from the start, but I think they are supposed to. As modern readers we probably have an innate cultural understanding that the protagonists do not.
All in all, I’m truly impressed with the author’s skill. The plot mixes in all sorts of things that I don’t like in my reading, yet I found myself engrossed.
May 13, 2018
A powerfully moving story about loves, lies, and secrets in post-WWII America. What seems acceptable today was not the case in 1943. Two men in love, parents sending a son to war to conceal what can’t be hidden. And hope that lasts a lifetime for a missing brother.
This story is about more than I can attempt to convey in a review, a weight I expect could take days to set in. Its twisted road will drive readers to an ending that was hopeful and tragic, making clear only that war is hell, society can be worse, and survival within those constructs might not mean the same thing to everyone.
This story is about more than I can attempt to convey in a review, a weight I expect could take days to set in. Its twisted road will drive readers to an ending that was hopeful and tragic, making clear only that war is hell, society can be worse, and survival within those constructs might not mean the same thing to everyone.
March 20, 2018
This is a sad but compelling, well written, and complex novel. It was not at all the story I thought it was going to be when I began reading it. I thought it was a World War II-era mystery, but it was much more than that. It was also a coming-of-age story, an exploration of the trauma caused by war on soldiers and their families, and an exploration of the difficulties facing homosexuals during that era. All these themes are interwoven with the murder mystery, which includes a tragic and emotional twist at the end.
February 22, 2018
This book is so complex, I don't even know where to begin. It's a coming of age story of two very different women; it's a gorgeous portrayal of the 1940s; it's a psychological detective story; and a deep investigation into the nature of guilt and how we express it, all wrapped inside a page-turning mystery.
The voices of the characters are rich with longing and emotion, and the mystery kept me guessing till the shocking ending.
I absolutely love this book and I'd recommend it to anyone!
The voices of the characters are rich with longing and emotion, and the mystery kept me guessing till the shocking ending.
I absolutely love this book and I'd recommend it to anyone!
July 6, 2024
I'm not a big mystery reader besides a bit of Sherlock Holmes and Agatha Christie, and I've never been that intrigued by the genre. This book might have converted me. I'm worried though that I've started with a impressive one as it's mystery, literary, historical fiction, war story, and light romance all rolled into one.
P.S. Despite some of the reviews- there's a clear solution and ending.
P.S. Despite some of the reviews- there's a clear solution and ending.
June 6, 2019
I probably wouldn't have read this if it hadn't been nominated for an Anthony. I would have missed a very good book and an author to watch. Excellent.
May 14, 2018
It seems fitting that I would finish this novel the same day I went and watched Sunset Blvd in theaters. I have seen the films many times but upon this watching, I was blown away to realize that the storytelling device used in the movie is similar to that of the film. Instead of having the dead person narrate the story, we instead get Bunny and Ceole, two of the man characters involved in the mystery of the tale.
Copenhaver does a wonderful job of weaving a story told between two vastly different points of views that help the reader piece the story together. The age difference between the two and the understanding of Jay, really help the reader understand the world of these characters and develop trust with them. The growth and development of all the characters, even the supporting roles are characters that are imperfect. There are a lot of gray in this world where the characters are constantly trying to decide what is actually good and what is bad.
Copenhaver handles the LGBTQ+ aspect of this story with care but is not afraid to shy away from the ugly truth. He paints a depiction of the world for those who strayed away from the norm with true colors.
I can't even begin to say how much I loved this book. The characters felt like friends and the journey I went on with them was quite the ride. Copenhaver is a wonderful writer and I want more from him. I felt almost like I could have been watching an old black and white film, like "The Best Years of Our Lives" which depicts the truth about life after the war. Dodging and Burning takes place just at the height and makes me want to go watch some old war films. Please do yourself a favor and go read this book!
Copenhaver does a wonderful job of weaving a story told between two vastly different points of views that help the reader piece the story together. The age difference between the two and the understanding of Jay, really help the reader understand the world of these characters and develop trust with them. The growth and development of all the characters, even the supporting roles are characters that are imperfect. There are a lot of gray in this world where the characters are constantly trying to decide what is actually good and what is bad.
Copenhaver handles the LGBTQ+ aspect of this story with care but is not afraid to shy away from the ugly truth. He paints a depiction of the world for those who strayed away from the norm with true colors.
I can't even begin to say how much I loved this book. The characters felt like friends and the journey I went on with them was quite the ride. Copenhaver is a wonderful writer and I want more from him. I felt almost like I could have been watching an old black and white film, like "The Best Years of Our Lives" which depicts the truth about life after the war. Dodging and Burning takes place just at the height and makes me want to go watch some old war films. Please do yourself a favor and go read this book!
January 6, 2018
See my MysteryPeople review! And interview!
May 16, 2018
Dodging and Burning is a beautifully written, intricately plotted novel. Set in post-World War II rural Virginia and Washington, DC, it tells a story of self discovery and acceptance as Ceola and Bunny are drawn into Jay's secret, which he desperately wants to share with both of them. It reminds us that, in the not-so-distant past, being gay was a crime and coming out could result in death. I can't even imagine what it must have been like to be a gay soldier or sailor during WWII.
June 23, 2018
I wanted to like this book, but I just didn't...liked the gay content and the period details, but wound
up sort of wishing I had not bothered to finish it. Perhaps because the story is built on a bunch of lies to the two female characters. They may be justified in terms of the era, but I didn't like all the manipulation we were put through as readers. Meh.
up sort of wishing I had not bothered to finish it. Perhaps because the story is built on a bunch of lies to the two female characters. They may be justified in terms of the era, but I didn't like all the manipulation we were put through as readers. Meh.
May 1, 2018
Finally! A legitimate mystery book for the Page Habit "Mystery" subscription! The writing reminded me of a grown-up Nancy Drew/Hardy Boys/Trixie Belden sort of thing -- really good, with the "twists" not being super unbelievable, and the action not being outrageous. A quick read, easy to get sucked in but equally easy to put down. Perfect for a traveling weekend.
January 16, 2024
This is a bit of a hybrid book- a mystery, a coming of age story and a story within a story. It is set during the last 2 years of World War II in a small Virginia town, and told through the eyes of 12 year old Ceola who is very much adrift after her brother has been killed in the Pacific. Her parents are devastated and her home is now a miserable place to live, as her mother is sad and angry and her father is mostly in a drunken stupor. She spends her days with her brother's best friend trying to solve the mystery of a young woman's death. There are many layers to this story and it is a compelling read, but I think one or 2 less layers would have made this story much better. I think I know how it ended, but I am meeting the author tonight, so I will find out if I got it. Dodging and burning is a photographic term and pictures and how we see things are a very large part of this story. A worthwhile read, compelling enough to read on a plane or a beach.
May 8, 2018
Gonna read again!
Great read. 📕 this went to quickly! So, in case I missed something_ gonna re-read!! True to life!! Will be hoping for another authored book!
Great read. 📕 this went to quickly! So, in case I missed something_ gonna re-read!! True to life!! Will be hoping for another authored book!
May 6, 2018
Absolutely definitely worth the read!
April 12, 2018
This is a well written novel. Also very sad. Nothing uplifting about this story. The characters caused me to love some and hate others. Takes place in 1940's So is also historical fiction. Find it weighing heavy on me as I just finished it. Thanks to Goodreads.
April 15, 2018
Ooooooo....this was a good mystery!
June 26, 2018
Copenhaver’s debut novel gives readers a gorgeous, critical look at the LGBTQ community in post-WWII society, revolving around a murder. In Royal Oak, VA, three friends - Jay Greenwood, Bunny Prescott, and Ceola Bliss - spend the summer of 1945 trying to solve the apparent murder of a young woman who Jay photographed. As they investigate, it becomes clear that there is layer upon layer of deceit involving Jay, the woman in the photo, and Ceola’s brother, who had gone missing in action in the Pacific theater two years earlier. As events unfold, Jay’s wartime traumas surface, Ceola struggles to understand the beloved brother she thought she knew, and Bunny sets into motion a chain of reactions that will have ramifications for them all for decades.
Dodging and Burning has some absolutely lovely writing, filled with deep imagery and complex, living characters. The society is richly depicted, from the salt of the earth working poor to the upper middle class people of the town to the gay and lesbian people in the DC underground. The way the LGBTQ community was portrayed in the novel mirrors social mores of the time, which makes for some really intense and upsetting scenes. There is a lot of excellent, much-needed social commentary woven throughout. One character speaks for the LGBTQ community when he says, “If you’re afraid for long enough, you grow numb to it” (289). Another character later on summed up much of mainstream society when he said, “You’ve been blind from the beginning. When you look at Cee or me or anyone, all you see is what you want” (312). The final few pages were an absolute gutpunch, one which was vital. This is a book that must be read and discussed with as many people as possible. Very highly recommended.
Dodging and Burning has some absolutely lovely writing, filled with deep imagery and complex, living characters. The society is richly depicted, from the salt of the earth working poor to the upper middle class people of the town to the gay and lesbian people in the DC underground. The way the LGBTQ community was portrayed in the novel mirrors social mores of the time, which makes for some really intense and upsetting scenes. There is a lot of excellent, much-needed social commentary woven throughout. One character speaks for the LGBTQ community when he says, “If you’re afraid for long enough, you grow numb to it” (289). Another character later on summed up much of mainstream society when he said, “You’ve been blind from the beginning. When you look at Cee or me or anyone, all you see is what you want” (312). The final few pages were an absolute gutpunch, one which was vital. This is a book that must be read and discussed with as many people as possible. Very highly recommended.
September 11, 2023
This book was terribly slow and quite boring in most parts, which was disappointing. It definitely felt like it was drug out to hit a certain word or page count. I didn’t care for many of the characters. While I understand that it was a different time and the characters were written to have homophobic views because that’s how society was at the time, it really made me hate the characters, especially Bunny. The side story of Sheila that Robbie wrote was also completely unnecessary and was just annoying every time a ‘chapter’ of that came up. The story was already choppy enough switching between Bunny and Ceola’s POV. Also, writing them as if Ceola was talking to Robbie in present day 2000, while the chapters took place in 1945, made it more confusing, and references were made that were post 1945 so it made it weird to hear them brought up in those moments.
Only giving two stars instead of one because the way everything came together at the end and the general concept of the book. Truly a heartbreaking tale. The execution just really lacked, otherwise this could have been such a beautiful story.
Only giving two stars instead of one because the way everything came together at the end and the general concept of the book. Truly a heartbreaking tale. The execution just really lacked, otherwise this could have been such a beautiful story.
February 20, 2021
“Dodging and Burning” is an exceptional read, especially considering that it was John Copenhaver’s first novel. I marveled at how well-structured it is. Two women who shared a series of tragedies in small-town Virginia during World War II reflect on those events 55 years later in alternating chapters. As one mystery is solved, more mysteries develop, right up to the last page. Interspersed with those chapters is an old-fashioned detective-magazine mystery that ties into the plot. To give away more would ruin your pleasure in reading it. I chose this book for two reasons: 1. John Copenhaver was one of two authors who interviewed me about my own first book recently on the House of Mystery Radio Show, and I was intrigued when I checked out his own work. And my friend and Associated Press reviewer Oline Cogdill praised the book in this back-cover blurb: “The intricate plot melds a coming-of-age story, a coming-out tale, and a mystery with realistic characters who want to be accepted for themselves.” On the cover, Oline writes: “A riveting debut.” I agree.
September 7, 2018
Set in the latter days of WW2 in a small mid-American town, the novel is told, in alternate chapters, by 12 year-old Ceola and 18 year-old Bunny. Their common fascination is with Jay, who has returned from the war permanently injured. Ceola's brother - and Jay's contemporary - is Robbie who has been listed as MIA. This has had the effect of emotionally shutting down Cee's parents. As the novel moves forward, Jay is gradually revealed to play the role of puppet-master; guiding and cajoling both Cee and Bunny to partake in the solving of a murder, but also, with the ulterior motive of revealing to these two smitten young women his true nature.
Copenhaver manages to keep the multiple strands of his novel firmly Reader-centred, a masterly achievement. This is a novel about truth, written with clear-eyed empathy and sensitivity, with an ending that is visceral in its impact (I had a lump in my throat). Thoroughly recommended.
Copenhaver manages to keep the multiple strands of his novel firmly Reader-centred, a masterly achievement. This is a novel about truth, written with clear-eyed empathy and sensitivity, with an ending that is visceral in its impact (I had a lump in my throat). Thoroughly recommended.
April 24, 2018
This book about the prejudice towards the LGBT community during WW II is compelling and heart wrenching. It is a mystery that had me guessing all the way to the end — like the last two pages of the book! I appreciate the author wrapped it up in a neat bow for the reader. I don’t know if I could process having to piece it all together on my own. The only issue I had with this piece is the relationship Jay had with his dead lover’s sister. When he kissed her I knew it is because he desperately missed Robbie, however one of the stereotypes of the gays is that they are child molesters which is not true! The author made her 12. If he wanted to give an accurate representation of the gay community he should have made he an adult for that kiss or just left it out entirely. Other than that this is a fantastic read!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 7, 2019
I really do not know what to make of this book. In one sense, I think it would have helped had I read a synopsis ahead of time. I never read anything about a book before I read it, as I don't want any spoilers of any kind. In this instance, perhaps knowing more about the story would have led to less disappointment. To me, it really isn't that much of a mystery/crime fiction per se. I would label it more historical fiction. The mystery was all a hoax, and much of the story not all that surprising. However, the story was well written and compelling, dealing with homosexuality in the 1940s, both societal and in the military. Copenhaver is a very skilled writer. His prose is poetic. However, most of this story is told to the reader. There is very little dialogue. I find myself feeling a bit cheated and disappointed about the mystery itself.
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