Author Mary Donaldson-Evans is set to release her latest nonfiction book, *One Foot in the Grave, the Other on the Treadmill: Reflections from Over the … Read More ›
Author: Editor
Founded in September 2009, Lowestoft Chronicle is a quarterly online literary magazine publishing travel-related fiction, poetry, and creative non-fiction.
In a positive new review published in Indies Today, Nicky Flowers analyzes *Hessman’s Necklace*, the new mystery by author Nicholas Litchfield. Flowers describes the novel as “a snarky crime-noir with a decadent streak,” capturing the essence of its protagonist, Ray Stokes, whose “gruff, lecherous, and rude” personality embodies the gritty aesthetics of the genre.
Highlighting Litchfield’s skillful storytelling, the reviewer notes, “Ray doesn’t call the shots, but he’s still a bad guy—no question.” This nuanced portrayal invites readers to root for a character whose moral compass is as questionable as the schemes he undertakes. As Ray embarks on a dangerous mission to retrieve Hessman’s necklace, the dynamic between him and Merriam Woodcroft adds depth to the narrative, with Flowers remarking that “her character’s secrecy adds another layer to the mystery surrounding the necklace and the church’s dubious sanctum.”
“A feverish story that effectively turns neo-noir conventions on its head. Every detail seems relevant, and not a syllable seems wasted—a tough trick to pull off. It all results in an appealing tale that also upends stereotypical impressions of ’50s Americana,” notes prominent American book review magazine Kirkus Reviews.
Read Kirkus Reviews’ insightful assessment of Nicholas Litchfield’s mystery, Hessman’s Necklace, which cleverly twists neo-noir conventions while drawing readers into a gripping narrative of 1950s Americana. The review emphasizes Litchfield’s sharp prose and intricate storytelling, celebrating the novel’s engaging characters and vivid details.
Discover a review from Literary Titan that praises the novel Hessman’s Necklace. The review calls it: a swaggering, bourbon-soaked noir packed with crooked clergy, sultry dames, and one hell of a charming bastard. Like if Raymond Chandler and Tarantino shared a bottle. The 5-star review was published on July 1, 2025.
American magazine Kirkus Reviews adds: “Litchfield writes with sardonic vigor.”
“Fans of edge-of-the-seat thrillers filled with exotic settings, non-stop action, and a cast of ambitious artistes battling fears, egos, insecurities, and daily disasters, will relish Nicholas Litchfield’s pulse-pounding novel, When The Actor Inspired Chaos and Bloodshed,” writes Pam Norfolk in The Star, one of the most prominent regional newspapers in England. The Star, often known as the Sheffield Star, is a daily newspaper published in Sheffield, England, from Monday to Saturday each week. The first edition was published on 7 June 1887. Today it features a splendid review of When The Actor Inspired Chaos and Bloodshed, a Lowestoft Chronicle Press title scheduled for release on April 1st.
In a recent review published in *Indies Today*, Nicky Flowers offers an insightful analysis of *When The Actor Inspired Chaos and Bloodshed*, the latest release from Lowestoft Chronicle Press. Flowers describes the novel as a raw and unflinching exploration of the dangers inherent in Hollywood ambition. She writes, “With a steady hand, author Nicholas Litchfield peels back the curtain on cinematic glamour to reveal a gritty, behind-the-scenes look at the blood, sweat, and tears involved in making a movie that was doomed from its inception.”
On April 3, 2025, Literary Titan published an interview with Nicholas Litchfield titled “Chaos and Fury.” The Q&A explores the inspiration behind his novel *When The Actor Inspired Chaos and Bloodshed* and discusses themes such as obsession, power dynamics, and the interplay of fear and ambition within the story.
In her review for Reedsy Discovery, Karen Siddall writes about When the Actor Inspired Chaos and Bloodshed, Nicholas Litchfield’s “riveting story of a struggling Hollywood actor cast as the ‘career-making’ lead in a South American director’s upcoming action/adventure film.”
This review, originally published on April 1, 2025, is reprinted in the iReporter feature on the local news website Park Cities BubbleLife.
In a 5-star review posted on March 27, 2025, Literary Titan writes: “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.”
American magazine Kirkus Reviews adds: “Litchfield writes with sardonic vigor.”
Yesterday, the San Diego Book Review showcased a favorable review of the latest installment in the Lowestoft Chronicle Anthology Series, titled Unfamiliar Territory. This review comes from the reputable San Diego Book Review, which is licensed by the San Francisco Book Review—a publication that first launched in 2008 and is now part of the expanding City Book Review network.