A new crime novel about
two of Los Angeles’ greatest writers
in the Golden Age of Hollywood
Now available
Read for free with Kindle Unlimited
“[Raymond Chandler] was
the major social historian of Los Angeles,
along with Nathanael West.” – S. J. Perelman
Los Angeles, 1939. Two writers struggle to finish books destined to become American masterpieces: Raymond Chandler and his debut novel, The Big Sleep, and Nathanael West with his tour de force, The Day of the Locust.
What Chandler and West don’t know is that they will come together around the Hollywood murder of a gorgeous aspiring actress. The pair find themselves entangled with a sex magick cult, gambling rackets, rocket scientists, pornographers, Big Oil, bad cops, and Nazis vying for control of the movie industry—all while war in Europe looms.
Fighting writer’s block and alcoholism, the two novelists piece together the true story hidden behind Tinseltown’s shimmering facade. Chandler & West is a roller-coaster ride across a corrupt and idealistic Los Angeles at the glamorous heights of the Golden Age of Hollywood.
Praise for Chandler & West
“By bringing together two writers whose own work helped define the mythic and cynical visions of the city, Nelson constructs a fictional origin story for L.A. noir itself—one where the boundaries between art, crime and Hollywood spectacle blur into a single narrative about the city’s enduring allure and moral ambiguity.” – Literary Los Angeles
“In many ways the story is a standard crime mystery and it matches the Hollywood theme, feeling like a movie of that era. The story is told in an interesting way using two protagonists, sometimes together and sometimes separately. I think this works well and adds another layer to the story with some extra suspense when the two characters are not aware of what each other knows.” – Robert Ancell
“This was a fun read that definitely helped me flesh out Chandler & West as people, beyond the names on book spines. It’s a satisfying detective story in its own right, mashing up Hollywood, City Hall, and Nazis in a way that gels in the end. … I definitely plan on keeping up with Nelson’s future work.” – Evan Beach
“Nelson does a brilliant job of capturing the distinct voices of Chandler and West: one drowning in whiskey and self-doubt, the other with that sharp, satirical eye for Hollywood’s absurdity. … If you like your mysteries moody, character-driven, and rich with historical texture, this one’s a real find.” – Cyrus
About the characters
Even if you’re unfamiliar with the names Chandler and West, you probably know something about their work.
Raymond Chandler wrote some of greatest hard-boiled private eye novels in American literature (The Big Sleep, The Long Goodbye), as well as crafted screenplays for classic film noir (Double Indemnity, Strangers on a Train).
Nathanael West also wrote screenplays, but is better remembered for his scalding satires (Miss Lonelyhearts, A Cool Million). His final novel, The Day of the Locust, is often named the greatest Hollywood novel of all time.
Chandler & West is a fictional account of these two greats coming together in 1939 Los Angeles, each with their own agendas, each battling all-too-similar personal demons.
“No one tells a hard-boiled tale like Jim Nelson.” – Instant City
“A damn good writer.” – FanFiAddict
Where to read more
- Chandler & West @ Amazon (Kindle, paperback)
- Read a sample chapter in your browser
- Chandler & West @ Goodreads
- Read about Chandler’s The Little Sister and West’s The Day of the Locust
- Follow more about Chandler & West on my blog