Chris Sweeney is a nonfiction writer who lives in Somerville, Massachusetts. His first book, “The Feather Detective: Mystery, Mayhem, and the Magnificent Life of Roxie Laybourne,” tells the incredible true story of Roxie Laybourne, a scientist stationed within the Smithsonian who pioneered the field of forensic ornithology and studied feathers recovered from airplane crashes, murder scenes, poaching cases, and other calamities. It was named one of the best/don’t-miss books of summer 2025 by numerous outlets, including NPR, the Los Angeles Times, Elle, The Millions, and the New York Post. The Wall Street Journal raved that it’s a “biography that reads like a novel” while Publishers Weekly said the book “entrances.”
Sweeney has spent his career ping-ponging between narrative journalism and global-public-health-communications. His writing has appeared in a wide variety of publications, including Audubon, The Guardian, Boston Globe Magazine, The Week, Popular Science, Men’s Journal, and Wired. He spent some time living in Miami, where he worked as a staff writer for an alt weekly and he later worked as a staff writer and a senior editor at Boston Magazine. Sweeney has won numerous journalism awards, including once being named Magazine Writer of the Year by the City and Regional Magazine Association.
Over the years he has covered a range of amusing, unusual, and serious topics, though he most enjoys reporting on the intersection of wildlife and society. He has investigated the mysterious death of a Golden Eagle, profiled an Asiatic black bear that spent its entire life in captivity, and tracked the illegal coral trade. While he doesn’t have a favorite story, he sure did have fun riding along with one of North America’s highest-ranked competitive bagpipe bands.
Between journalism jobs, Sweeney has explored his interests in (and hopes for) global health. He has worked for Partners In Health (PIH), the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, and the AMR Action Fund.
When not working, Sweeney spends as much time as he can hanging out with his wife and their two young daughters. He likes running, reading, riding bikes, cooking gluten-free food, and listening to music.
Say hi to him: sweeney.b.chris AT gmail.com