John Fram Debuts Queer Detective Series Under Pen Name Jack Friday

John Fram, known for queer horror novels like The Bright Lands and No Road Home, will publish his first crime fiction novel, Killer Vibes, under the pen name Jack Friday on Minotaur Books next month. The book introduces Peter Key, a bisexual stoner who inherits a home and uncovers a suspicious death, becoming a detective. Fram chose an open pseudonym to set reader expectations and attract those intimidated by horror, citing John Banville's Benjamin Black as inspiration. He aims to subvert the straight white male detective trope with a queer, Southern protagonist. Fram discusses the tension of representing marginalized characters with nuance, drawing on his Texas roots and Larry McMurtry's influence. The series continues with Book Two, Big Cult Energy, due next summer, and Book Three in progress. Fram notes that writing mysteries has tightened his craft, freeing his horror writing for a new dark fantasy project.