Novels

Complete list of novels by Nicholas Litchfield.

Book cover, Hessman's Necklace

HESSMAN’S NECKLACE

“Combines the impeccable plotting of The Maltese Falcon with the canny post-modernism of Chinatown. Suspenseful, savvy and self-referential, Nicholas Litchfield’s Hessman’s Necklace soon will be added to the canon of enduring noir novels.”
LAURENCE KLAVAN, Edgar Award winner, librettist of Bed and Sofa

“A cracking great read!”
— JAMES R BENN, author of The Phantom Patrol

“An engaging romp through a time of stylish noir, the late 1950s. This gripping story is well worth the read.”
— MARK JACOBS, author of A Handful of Kings and Silent Light

“Nicholas Litchfield brings his noir characters to life with Chandleresque dialogue and Dashiell Hammett twists. A fun, fast, five-star read.”
MICKEY J. CORRIGAN, author of What I Did for Love and Project XX

“Crackling dialogue and a depraved cast of characters make this a noir thriller you can’t put down.”
ART BELL, author of What She’s Hiding 

“A fast-paced enjoyable read. I won’t give it away here, but trust me, the ending is fraught with suspense and surprises.”
— ROBERT GARNER McBREARTY, author of A Night at the Y and The Problem You Have

WHEN THE ACTOR INSPIRED CHAOS AND BLOODSHED

When The Actor Inspired Chaos and Bloodshed offers a suspense-filled and yet humorous look at the stressful demands of film-making through the lens of fame-hungry artistes, zealous directors, and everyone caught in the crossfire. It’s a red-hot treat for book lovers looking for a refreshingly different take on the international thriller. Pulsating with danger and menace, and infused with sharp-edged English humour, this excellently exotic adventure is the literary equivalent of a made-for-Hollywood big screen delight!”
—Pam Norfolk, YORKSHIRE EVENING POST

“What I really loved is how the book swings between outrageous comedy and deeper, sometimes bleak reflection. Dominic is a washed-up actor carrying guilt, shame, and a streak of self-loathing that sneaks in unexpectedly, like when he reflects on a disturbing sexual encounter with a woman he barely knows, and it genuinely shakes him. These moments add surprising weight to a book that could’ve easily stayed surface-level chaos. And the writing pops. It’s fast, visceral, sometimes poetic, sometimes grotesque, always alive.”
—LITERARY TITAN

“Litchfield’s entertaining and gritty novel reads like a 1970s car-chase shot with a handheld camera, full of jolts and scrapes and Technicolor chaos.”
— ADAM BERLIN, author of Belmondo Style and All Around They’re Taking Down the Lights

“A cinematic page-turner about Hollywood gone by, movie-making, and a throwback to a golden era of hard-boiled stories of noir and shadows, questionable morals, devious sins, and the unforgettable characters that made that world their own.”
— CHRISTOPHER COSMOS, bestselling author of Once We Were Here and Young Conquerors

“Lifelike scenes unfold with such intensity and pulse-pounding momentum that the story feels like it is playing out on a giant movie screen before your eyes. Boasting a plot that is daring and unpredictable, When The Actor Inspired Chaos and Bloodshed defies convention, takes bold risks, and entertains from pulpy start to finish.”
—Nicky Flowers, INDIES TODAY

“Litchfield’s intense and topical drama sizzles like charred meat over hot coals, eventually erupting into a massive blaze of mesmerising chaos. Amidst the thrills and spills, readers encounter a cast of well-defined characters whose actions and voices manage to rise above the risible film script.”
—THE STAR (SHEFFIELD STAR)

“Litchfield holds nothing back in this edgy romp…. Ceaseless action and witty dialogue whip the reader through Dominic’s crazy life at a cyclone pace in this unrelenting peek into filmmaking hell.”
—LINDA BOROFF, screenwriter of Murder in Fashion 

“Fast-paced, violent and horrifying. It’s a made-for-Hollywood novel that testifies to the author’s ability to keep readers on the edge of their seats.“
—MARY DONALDSON-EVANS, author of Madame Bovary at the Movies

“[A] riveting story. The plot is well-paced, with an absolute gem of an opening that guaranteed my continued reading. Dominic is an engaging character, and I couldn’t look away as he immediately began making a series of unfortunate behavioral choices and what he experienced once on set. The behind-the-scenes glimpses of film creation were interesting, and the discussions around the practical aspects, especially the safety concerns for those involved, were fascinating.”
—Karen Siddall, PARK CITIES BUBBLELIFE

“Litchfield writes with sardonic vigor.”
— KIRKUS REVIEWS

“A refreshingly different take on international thrillers. Litchfield makes the most of his South American setting in this cinematic page-turner that will keep you engrossed to the very end.”
TIMOTHY J. LOCKHART, author of Smith and Pirates

“Take ambition, greed, and a dash of corruption and mix them thoroughly on a movie set. Place it in a hot climate until boiling, and you will have the recipe for Nicholas Litchfield’s entertaining novel.”
— SHELDON RUSSELL, author of the Hook Runyan Mystery Series

SWAMPJACK VIRUS

“A fast-paced, well-plotted and gripping 21st century espionage thriller…Litchfield paints a pitch perfect portrait of a delightfully offbeat US spy who bucks the trend by coming out of the heat and into the cold. Swampjack Virus, with its ironic undertones, charismatic cast and nail-biting suspense, takes us on a high-speed, rollercoaster journey from the opulent colonial lake houses in New York State to the slate-grey industrial towns and bleak back lanes of England. Don’t miss the all-action adventure…”
— PAM NORFOLK, Lancashire Evening Post

“Bond fans take notice: With Swampjack Virus, Nicholas Litchfield has penned a fast-paced spy-guy thriller filled to the brim with suspense and old-school intrigue. Swampjack Virus will leave readers shaken, stirred…and thirsty for more.”
— MATTHEW P. MAYO, Spur Award-winning author of Tucker’s Reckoning

Swampjack Virus possesses all the qualities of a classic thriller. It is taut, intense and engaging from start to finish. Litchfield gives us a tale well worth our time.”
— MICHAEL C. KEITH, author of The Next Better Place

Recent Anthologies

Unfamiliar Territory edited by Nicholas Litchfield

Unfamiliar Territory

A Place to Pause edited by Nicholas Litchfield

A Place To Pause

An Adventurous Spirit edited by Nicholas Litchfield

An Adventurous Spirit