Mark Edward Jones

Mark Edward Jones, a retired higher education finance professional, has become an award-winning author of mystery, thriller, and paranormal genres. Born and raised in Duncan, Oklahoma, Mark developed a love for storytelling when he was younger. He attended the University of Oklahoma, earning bachelor’s and master’s degrees in political science and public administration.

Detective Henry Ike Pierce Series

Mark’s debut novel, Peculiar Activities, launched the Detective Henry Ike Pierce series and won first place in the mystery category at the 2019 Oklahoma Writers Federation contest. The second installment, Shadowed Souls, followed Henry from Virginia to Hawaii as his investigations expanded beyond the world introduced in the first novel.

New editions of Peculiar Activities and Shadowed Souls, with new covers, are in development. The third novel, Glass, will continue the series. Its manuscript won first place in the mystery category at the 2024 Oklahoma Writers Federation annual contest, marking Mark’s second first-place win in five years.

The same fictional world also includes a series centered on Eddie Stone, Henry Ike Pierce’s boss. No Pain Wastedexplores Eddie’s earlier story, followed by The Costa Dossier.

Paranormal Short Stories

Transmission 13 won first place in the 2026 Spring Bookfest to be followed by Echo 13 in 2027. Mark’s first three short stories offer successive snapshots of an evil assassin and his odd family. His first story, A Gentleman from the Darkness, was released in May 2022, followed by Hell is Empty in January 2023 and A Wicked Fate in October 2023. Dormer was released in September 2024 and won first place in the mystery/supernatural category of the 2024 Fall Bookfest. A Dormer Christmas was released in December 2024, winning 2nd place in the 2025 Spring Bookfest. This was followed by She Watches in March 2025, with print and audio books incorporating both Dormer stories.

Other Works

Mark’s upcoming sci-fi/mystery novel, Tempus Mors, expected in 2028, has already won accolades, with a draft winning third place in the OKC Writers’ Group 2023 contest for Adult Book and a short piece, "Don’t Forget Us," won first place in flash fiction and crème de la crème of the contest. This same piece won first place in the 2024 Southwest Writers conference and was a finalist at the 2024 WriterCon. Another flash fiction piece, “Alone in Warsaw,” was chosen as first place winner at the 2025 Southwest Writers conference. “Crimson and Cream Memories” was published in the April 22, 2025 issue of Killer Nashville Magazine.

Personal Life and Interests

Mark and his wife, who will celebrate their forty-fifth anniversary in November 2026, have three grown children, and a grandson. Mark’s favorite reads are mystery, suspense, and international intrigue novels.