Announcements

“Chandler & West” released

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Cover of "Chandler & West: A Los Angeles Story"

The day has arrived—my new novel Chandler & West: A Story of Los Angeles is now available.

As I’ve written previously, this is a passion project, a novel about two writers I’ve read and admired and studied for years now. My book centers on a fictional meeting of hard-boiled writer Raymond Chandler, banging out the manuscript to his debut The Big Sleep, and Nathanael West, himself working on his opus The Day of the Locust.

Chandler & West is also a love letter to Los Angeles, especially the L.A. during the Golden Age of Hollywood.

Pre-release sales have been better than expected. They’re so good, yesterday I noticed the book sitting at #37 on Amazon’s U.S. Biographical Literary Fiction best sellers chart:

Screenshot of "Chandler & West" at #37 on Amazon's Biographical Literary Fiction bestseller chart.

The Kindle edition is available at a special limited-time price of $2.99, which will go up later this month. A paperback edition is also available. And, Kindle Unlimited subscribers may read it for free.

You can learn more about the novel on Amazon, or by reading its page here on my web site. There’s a sample chapter available as well.

Exciting times—this book took quite a while to finish, and I’m relieved to finally have it out there.


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“Chandler & West” pre-order now available

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Front and back covers of "Chandler & West: A Story of Los Angeles" by Jim Nelson

It’s here—the Kindle and paperback editions of my latest novel, Chandler & West: A Story of Los Angeles, may now be reserved on Amazon.

The Kindle edition is available at a special limited-time price of $2.99, which will go up after the book has been released. If you order now, it will appear on your Kindle reader the day of its release (February 9th, 2026).

This is my latest passion project, a novel about two writers I’ve read and studied for many years now. It centers on a fictional meeting of hard-boiled writer Raymond Chandler, banging out the manuscript to his debut The Big Sleep, and Nathanael West, himself working on his own magnum opus The Day of the Locust. Together, they scour the landscape of Los Angeles, 1939, which was a rich and dynamic time in the history of the city.

You can learn more about the novel on Amazon, or by reading its page here on my web site. There’s a sample chapter available for reading as well.

Kindle edition of "Chandler & West: A Story of Los Angeles"

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Take a peek at a proof copy of “Chandler & West”

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Some exciting news—here’s the proof copy of the paperback for Chandler & West, my upcoming novel.

If you haven’t been following along, Chandler & West is a new novel about two of Los Angeles’ greatest writers—Raymond Chandler and Nathanael West—and set in 1939 Hollywood.

More details here, and a sample chapter to read.

Keep checking back, I’ll be announcing the final release date shortly.


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Coming soon: “Chandler & West”

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Front and back cover of "Chandler & West: A Story of Los Angeles"

I’m proud to announce my next upcoming book, Chandler & West: A Story of Los Angeles. It’s a new crime novel about two of Los Angeles’ greatest writers, set in the Golden Age of Hollywood.

This book has been a true labor of love, in terms of research and preparation, but also in the writing. Getting this book over the goal line has meant dealing with numerous hurdles, but the moment has finally arrived.

I anticipate to release Kindle and paperback editions in the first quarter of 2026.

If you’re interested in learning more, I encourage you to sign up for my newsletter. (You’ll be able to download a free book in the process!) I’m sharing sneak previews and sample chapters with newsletter subscribers, as well as a chance to sign up for Advance Review Copies (ARCs) of the book prior to its release.

Keep watching this space for more information on my latest endeavor.

Tablet showing cover of "Chandler & West: A Story of Los Angeles"

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“According to Cain” named the scariest winter game of them all

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Cover image for "According to Cain" by Jim Nelson

I’m exaggerating, of course.

I only learned of this review today: My interactive fiction According to Cain placed #1 on Winter is Coming‘s “The 10 scariest free interactive fiction games to enjoy this winter” (which, alas, was last winter).

The review in full:

A brilliant oddity, According to Cain puts you in the shoes of a detective who has to go back and solve humanity’s first murder. It prizes observation and forces you to turn your brain on, which is true of all the best interactive fiction. It’s sharp as a slayer’s knife and gorgeously rendered. Go ahead and play it first. Or last if you’re the kind of person who likes to save the best for that one final plunge into the darkness of a long winter’s night.

Published on December 28, 2024, this is like finding a nice unopened Christmas present overlooked until the end of the next summer. Thanks, Winter is Coming. Ho-ho-ho!

Follow this link for more information on Cain, including how to download it or play it in your browser, if you’ve not already.


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“A Man Named Baskerville” audiobook available at Apple Books

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Audiobook cover of "A Man Named Baskerville" by Jim Nelson

I recently learned that the audiobook version of A Man Named Baskerville is now available on Apple Books. This is great news—if you’re an Apple or iPhone user, it’s now even easier to listen to the audiobook on your device, as the player is already installed and ready to go. I also see that Apple is offering it for a substantial discount over the Amazon USA sale price, so that’s a nice bonus.

The audiobook is narrated by Michael Langan, a respected voice talent who brings his skills in producing Received Pronunciation voice-overs. This is especially important for Baskerville, as the main character’s ability to shapeshift among the upper-classes rests on his 19th century posh British accent.

If you’re not familiar with the book, A Man Named Baskerville is my retelling of the classic Sherlock Holmes mystery. The novel’s antagonist recounts his life story for the reader, from growing up on the streets of the Brazilian coast, to the jungles of the Amazon and the beaches of Costa Rica. He winds up honing his skills as a con man and murderer in Victorian England, where he encounters Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Watson during Jack the Ripper’s Autumn of Terror.

Learn more here, which includes a sample of the praise the book’s received from reviewers.

If you’d like to preview the audiobook, you can find previews available at Amazon, Audible, and Apple Books. Remember, Amazon Prime members have special perks with Audible, and may be able to listen for free.


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Entire Bridge Daughter series now available on Kobo

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Hagar's Mother by Jim Nelson

Following up on earlier announcements, the final two books in the Bridge Daughter Cycle—Hagar’s Mother and Stranger Son—are now available for purchase on Kobo. This completes putting my back catalog up on that site. As before, all these books remain available on Amazon.

(The only book not available on Kobo yet is A Man Named Baskerville. Some time after my next book is published, I’ll probably move it over to Kobo as well.)

The entire Bridge Daughter Cycle is here on Kobo.

For more on why I’m going this route with Kobo, check out “Kobo & Me” and “Going Wide,” where I discuss the options I weighed and why I finally decided to spread my wings.

Stranger Son by Jim Nelson

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