Michael Angel Nava (born September 16, 1954 in Stockton, California) is an American attorney and writer. He has worked on the staff for the California Supreme Court, and ran for a Superior Court position in 2010. He authored an eight-volume mystery series featuring Henry Rios, an openly gay protagonist who is a criminal defense lawyer. His novels have received six Lambda Literary Awards and critical acclaim in the LGBT and Latino communities.

Books published in order by series

Henry Rios novels[2]

  • The Little Death (1986)
  • Goldenboy (1988)
  • Howtown (1990)
  • The Hidden Law (1992)
  • The Death of Friends (1996)
  • The Burning Plain (1997)
  • Rag and Bone (2001)
  • Lay Your Sleeping Head (2016)
  • Carved in Bone (2019)

The Children of Eve

  • The City of Palaces (2014)[17]

Other works

  • Created Equal: Why Gay Rights Matter to America (1994) – co-author
  • Finale: Short Stories of Mystery and Suspense (1997) – editor
  • Hometowns: Gay Men Write About Where They Belong (1991) – “Gardenland”
  • A Member of the Family: Gay Men Write About Their Families (1994) – “Abuelo”