Where to Start Reading Dana J. Summers
If you are diving into the novels of Dana J. Summers, the best place to start is with his debut suspense novel, Drawn and Buried (2017). Not only did this book win the Florida Writers Association’s Royal Palm Literary Award and the Mystery Writers of America’s Sleuthfest Freddie Award, but it also introduces his most iconic protagonist, Tim Ryder. Ryder is an cynical, irreverent, and somewhat clairvoyant editorial cartoonist whose fictional struggles draw directly from Summers' own real-life experience receiving a death threat during his early career. Starting here gives you the perfect introduction to Summers' trademark blend of dark Orlando atmosphere, dry humor, and fast-paced tension.
After reading his debut, you can move through his standalone thrillers. While characters do not cross over between his other suspense works, reading them in publication order lets you experience his evolution as a novelist. His follow-up books, such as The Dark and the Dead and Downhill Fast, offer different flavors of Florida noir, shifting focus from cartoonists to trauma survivors and aging hitmen.
Dana J. Summers Novels in Publication Order
Summers' books are primarily written as standalone thrillers. Here is the chronological publication list of his adult suspense novels and his middle-grade work:
- Drawn and Buried (2017) – Introduces Tim Ryder, an editorial cartoonist who becomes target number one when a murderer begins executing people based on the dark events depicted in his daily drawings.
- The Dark and the Dead (2018) – Focuses on Haley McGlinn, a survivor of a serial killer who lives in constant terror of the dark. When a copycat killer strikes, she must confront her past and determine if the only person she trusts is actually the killer.
- Downhill Fast (2019) – A high-octane suspense novel about Lou Braga, an aging hitman who is slowly losing his edge and finds himself in a desperate race against time.
- Hell's Heart (2023) – A gritty Florida noir crime novel set in the small town of Oakley, centering on local cop Jake Long and the efforts surrounding Guy Fowler, a man convicted of a double homicide who claims he is innocent.
- Simon Crumb and the Ghost of Blaine Street (2023) – A departure into middle-grade fiction, telling the story of a young skeptic who enters a haunted house on a dare and discovers that ghosts are very real.
Upcoming and Forthcoming Works
In addition to his published novels, Summers has worked on other literary projects recognized by regional writer associations:
- Dirty Hazel and the Cat Woman (Forthcoming / Unpublished) – A humorous caper novel featuring Cat Cavendish, a novice scammer from a family of con artists, and Hazel Pinkwater, a senior citizen who views herself as an action-movie hero. This unpublished manuscript won recognition as a runner-up for Published Book of the Year by the Florida Writers Association in 2022.
What to Know Before You Start: The Comic Strip Connection
Long before he wrote suspense novels, Dana J. Summers built a legendary career as a syndicated editorial cartoonist and comic strip creator. Understanding this background helps readers appreciate the unique tone of his books, which frequently feature sharp, concise dialogue and satirical undertones. His major comic creations include:
- The Middletons (Co-created with Ralph Dunagin, debuted November 3, 1986) – A daily syndicated comic strip focusing on the humorous struggles of a suburban family.
- Bound and Gagged (Debuted March 30, 1992) – A solo daily comic strip known for its quick-witted, stand-alone visual gags and physical humor.
If you enjoy the fast-paced, dialogue-heavy style of his suspense thrillers, looking up his classic comic strips offers a lighter, humorous counterpart to his dark mysteries.