Lancashire Post book review by Nicholas Litchfield: A newly minted partner at a prestigious law firm must fight for his reputation and freedom when he stands trial for his wife’s murder in Call the Witness, a taut 1960s crime novel steeped in small-town suspicion, legal intrigue, and simmering class tensions.
Litchfield Reviews Call the Witness by Edna Sherry for the Lancashire Post Read More »
Jack Webb isn’t a name that gets tossed around much these days, but back in the Fifties and early Sixties, he was a reliable source for sharp, fast-moving crime fiction. A Los Angeles native with a background as varied as his plots—aviary specialist, ad man, Army lieutenant—Webb hit his stride with a memorable run of novels featuring the unconventional team of Father Joseph Shanley and Detective Sergeant Sammy Golden. But his talents didn’t start or end with that duo.
This month, Stark House Press brings Webb back into the spotlight with a new double-novel collection: One For My Dame and The Deadly Combo. These are two of his best standalones, out of print for decades and ripe for rediscovery.
Jack Webb Double: One For My Dame & The Deadly Combo Read More »
As the author of the introduction to this new double volume from Stark House Press, I am pleased to see William Ard’s legacy continue to thrive. Ard, a Brooklyn native, distinguished himself through a prolific output of character-driven mysteries and westerns, publishing more than three dozen books under various pseudonyms. Though his career was cut short, his ability to blend hard-edged suspense with emotional depth has ensured a dedicated following and critical praise over the decades.
With the arrival of Shakedown / The Blonde and Johnny Malloy, readers are treated to a pair of novels that showcase Ard’s versatility and skill. In my introductory essay, “Ben Kerr and the Two Johnnies,” I trace Ard’s journey through the genre and examine the qualities that make his protagonists so enduring.
William Ard’s Shakedown and The Blonde and Johnny Malloy Read More »
In the 4-star review of the novel ‘Hessman’s Necklace,’ Rachel Deeming for Reedsy Discovery, a platform dedicated to reviewing new independent books, writes: “I had high hopes for Hessman’s Necklace from the outset and I wasn’t disappointed. It was fast-paced, descriptive, with a tight plot and convincingly drawn characters throughout. The beginning of the book and the way we meet [Ray] is comic and there is a wryness of humour throughout which permeates the text; however, as Ray gets deeper into his mission, it is clear that this is no simple task and that he is going to have to have his wits about him and Litchfield infuses the book with more tension and less humour, leading convincingly to a surprising climax. I would recommend – good story, well delivered.”
Reedsy Discovery Reviews ‘Hessman’s Necklace’ Read More »
Lancashire Post book review by Nicholas Litchfield: In this moody, hard-edged noir – teeming with deception and sexual tension – a battle-weary ex-Marine is drawn by a beguiling stranger into a spiral of robbery and murder along the California coast where each shadow harbours treachery
and every promise comes at a price.
Lancashire Post book review by Nicholas Litchfield: In two tumultuous stories set in 1950s Florida, a jobless accountant burdened by debt becomes entangled with a seductive femme fatale in a plan to steal her family’s fortune… and a former cop finds himself the prime suspect in a murder he witnessed and must track down the real killer to prove his innocence. The Squeeze and —And the Girl Screamed are notable works by the late American author Gil Brewer, a master of gripping crime thrillers.
I am grateful to share that my noir novel, **Hessman’s Necklace**, has received the Literary Titan Gold Book Award in the Fiction category. Literary Titan conducts impartial evaluations through a team of editors, writers, and educators who review a broad range of books and engage with authors via thoughtful interviews. Being recognized with this award by Literary Titan is an encouraging experience for me.
Hessman’s Necklace Honored With Literary Titan Gold Book Award for Fiction Read More »
Lancashire Post book review by Nicholas Litchfield: A rugged Chicago fixer wrestles with his moral compass as he attempts to tarnish the reputation of a local attorney in The Face of Evil, a gritty 1950s pulp fiction tale, steeped in extortion, corruption, and counter-blackmail.
Litchfield Reviews The Face of Evil by John McPartland for the Lancashire Post Read More »
My latest review for the Colorado Review centers on Robert Garner McBrearty’s new collection of short stories, *The Problem You Have*. Here’s a glimpse of what I wrote:
“In this highly engaging collection of short stories, award-winning author Robert Garner McBrearty captivates readers with tales of inner struggle and pivotal moments in life. McBrearty, whose acclaimed narratives have appeared in the prestigious Pushcart Prize anthology and have been widely published in literary journals like the North American Review, StoryQuarterly, and the Missouri Review, has previously authored four story collections and a novella titled *The Western Lonesome Society*. His latest work features fifteen stories, some of which are previously unpublished, presenting a diverse array of characters who find themselves at significant crossroads in their lives.”
Yesterday, Literary Titan published a new interview with me titled “Gritty Environments,” which delves into the background of my novel, Hessman’s Necklace. In this Q&A, I discuss the early versions of the story, including a pivotal graphic scene of violence that required significant rethinking. Additionally, I explore themes of homage and originality, as well as the influence of writers like Dashiell Hammett, John D. MacDonald, and F. Scott Fitzgerald in shaping dialogue, characters, and literary style.
Literary Titan Interview Read More »
