H. Lee Jones

Lee Jones received his Ph.D. from UCLA back when fish still ruled the sea. A career environmental scientist and research biologist with a lifelong passion for all things Darwinian, Dr. Jones decided mid-career to test-drive his other passion—writing fiction. Yes, like dear Uncle Bob and half his bowling league, he dreamed of someday writing a novel. Crimes of Endearment, his first novel, proved far more ambitious and personally rewarding than he could have ever imagined back when “someday” seemed as elusive as a Himalayan snowcock.

Crimes of Endearment is a coming-of-age psychological drama about a deeply troubled child who finds solace in the world of nature, immersing herself in the competitive sport of birding. As she matures, her expert knowledge of birds draws her into both a notorious crime and a conservation mystery—all while her own life slowly unravels. Written with the same precision and attention to detail that define his scientific work, Crimes of Endearment recently earned a Starred Review from Kirkus Reviews, a distinction awarded to books of exceptional merit.

In his other career, Dr. Jones wrote Birds of Belize, the definitive field guide to the avifauna of his adopted country, and co-authored the landmark two-volume Birds of California’s Channel Islands, a comprehensive work on the islands’ avifauna, ecology, and ornithological history.