Death in a Domino by Roland Pertwee book cover image

Lowestoft Chronicle Editor reviews Death in a Domino for the Lancashire Post

“A powerful newspaper magnate’s dictatorial grip and clandestine scandals trigger murder at an elite dinner party in Death in a Domino, an intense post-war crime novel steeped in social intrigue, simmering resentments, and polished façades that conceal deeper desires and betrayals.

First published in 1932 by the London-based publisher William Heinemann as It Means Mischief, and in the US that same year as Death in a Domino, Roland Pertwee’s standalone mystery returns to print after more than ninety years lost to obscurity.”

Lowestoft Chronicle Editor reviews Death in a Domino for the Lancashire Post.

Book cover of Broken Kite by Timothy J. Lockhart

Lowestoft Chronicle Editor reviews Broken Kite by Timothy J. Lockhart for the Lancashire Post

“A missing-person case sweeps private investigator Wendy Lu into the murky underbelly of Virginia Beach, a city where the lost and desperate slip through the cracks and justice remains a rare commodity. In Broken Kite, Timothy J. Lockhart’s second Wendy Lu novel, he exposes the grim realities of human trafficking and the narrow margin between survival and ruin. Lockhart, both a lawyer and former Navy intelligence officer, brings the weight of lived experience to his fiction. Since his 2017 debut, Smith, he has earned a place among writers of lean and gritty mysteries with his stories marked by a tough procedural edge and emotional grit.”

Lowestoft Chronicle Editor reviews Broken Kite by Timothy J. Lockhart for the Lancashire Post.

Lowestoft Chronicle Editor reviews The Red Tassel by David Dodge for the Lancashire Post

“A globe-trotting private investigator unravels thieving, murder and local vendettas while protecting a flame-haired heiress in The Red Tassel, an atmospheric thriller set amid betrayal, violence and the chill of the Bolivian Andes. First published in hardcover by Random House in 1950 and quickly reissued as a Dell paperback, David Dodge’s third and final case for the hard-nosed Al Colby is now back in print.”

Lowestoft Chronicle Editor reviews The Red Tassel by David Dodgei for the Lancashire Post.

Tales of the Impossible by Bill Pronzini book cover image

Lowestoft Chronicle Editor reviews Tales of the Impossible by Bill Pronzini for the Lancashire Post

“Complex puzzles, strange disappearances, unconventional murder techniques and spectral encounters abound in Tales of the Impossible, a standout collection of hard-hitting crime stories by Mystery Writers of America Grand Master Bill Pronzini.

Across a literary career spanning more than fifty years, Pronzini has published ninety novels, four non-fiction books, twenty story collections, numerous anthologies, and scores of articles, essays, and reviews. And his work has been translated into nineteen languages and published in nearly thirty countries.”

Lowestoft Chronicle Editor reviews Tales of the Impossible by Bill Pronzini for the Lancashire Post.

Book cover image of Roadside Night by Erwin S. Nistler and Gerry P. Broderick

Lowestoft Chronicle Editor reviews Roadside Night for the Lancashire Post

“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.”

Lowestoft Chronicle Editor reviews Roadside Night for the Lancashire Post.

Book cover image of The Squeeze and —And the Girl Screamed by Gil Brewer

Lowestoft Chronicle Editor reviews Gil Brewer’s Novels The Squeeze and And the Girl Screamed for the Lancashire Post

“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.”

Lowestoft Chronicle Editor reviews Gil Brewer’s The Squeeze/ —And the Girl Screamed for the Lancashire Post.

Book cover image of The Face of Evil by John McPartland

Lowestoft Chronicle Editor reviews John McPartland’s Novel The Face of Evil for the Lancashire Post

“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.

Originally published as a Gold Medal Books paperback original in 1954, John McPartland’s hard-hitting standalone novel of redemption has resurfaced this month as part of Stark House’s Black Gat mass market editions, having been long out of print.”

Lowestoft Chronicle Editor reviews John McPartland’s The Face of Evil for the Lancashire Post.

4-Star Review of Hessman’s Necklace in Indies Today

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.”

Kirkus Reviews Praises Hessman’s Necklace

“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.