
For fans of historical fiction, true crime, and literary horror,
oklahoma’s number one best-selling book
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Inspiration
Moonlit Massacre, Cooper’s debut novel, draws inspiration from one of Oklahoma’s most notorious crimes as well as other unsolved murders in the same time frame to knit together a story of a community gripped with fear. Rather than focus on the assailants, Cooper explores a young city rocked by tragedy.
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Story
In the summer of 1978, six employees of a Sirloin Stockade buffet restaurant found themselves forced into a walk-in freezer during a robbery, then executed, leaving no witnesses. The shocking events and resulting nine-month, nationwide manhunt left a deep scar in the psyche of Oklahoma City residents and served as inspiration for a new novel coming this October by English Professor and Oklahoma City Councilmember James Cooper.
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Background
Moonlit Massacre presents a diverse Oklahoma landscape overlooked by national news, utilizing elements of true crime, literary horror, and historical fiction to focus on the inner lives of Oklahomans from marginalized backgrounds. To bring this story to life, Cooper dedicated years to researching Oklahoma history and the Stockade murders before completing a Creative Writing MFA at Oklahoma City University. Similar books include Berney’s November Road, Killers of the Flower Moon, Devil in the White City, the works of Stephen Graham Jones, and Jane Harper’s The Dry.
Reception
“Moonlit Massacre is a powerful, deeply-imagined meditation on violence, grief, race, and home. James Cooper has written a novel as engaging as it is thoughtful.”
Lou Berney, Edgar Award-winning author of November Road
“No one knows Oklahoma City or horror better than James Cooper. Moonlit Massacre, his terrific first novel, goes much harder than you might expect. Check it out!”
Raygun Busch, Chat Pile
“Riveting!”
Rilla Askew, American Book Award-winning author of The Hungry and the Haunted, describing Moonlit Massacre’s opening chapter after attending a public reading
“Cooper’s first major literary achievement is breathtaking! Horrific violence written with a mastery of style.
Moonlit Massacre earns literary and geographic kinship with In Cold Blood and No Country for Old Men. An Astonishing Achievement! An Obsessive Read!”
Betty Robbins, Professor Emerita, University of Oklahoma
“A haunting characterization of a dark chapter in Oklahoma City’s past.”
Jennifer Lynch, Historian, OK Historical Society

Design by David Woods
Cover art by Garrett Young
About the author
James Fennimore Cooper is Oklahoma City University’s English Artist in Residence, a former public school teacher, lifelong horror aficionado, and represents Oklahoma City’s Ward 2 on its City Council.

Upcoming events
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Available Now
Order Moonlit Massacre today!
The debut novel of Oklahoma City Universtiy's Artist in Resident, James Cooper.
Available October 17.
In store and online.
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Book Tour & Public Reading
Literati Press, Oklahoma City, October 17
Green Feather, Norman, Oklahoma, October 19
Second Story. Oklahoma City, November 9
Bookish Used Books, Oklahoma City, November 20
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Full Circle Bookstore
December 8, 3pm
50 Penn Place, 1900 Northwest Expressway,
Oklahoma City, OK 73118
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Recycled Books, Records, and CDs
January 4
200 N Locust St, Denton, TX 76201,
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