Chandler & West: A Story of Los Angeles

“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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Read a sample chapter of “Chandler & West”

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

As announced in my last post, my next novel Chandler & West: A Story of Los Angeles is due to arrive in the first quarter of next year.

It’s a new crime novel about two of Los Angeles’ greatest writers under unusual conditions, while they toil to finish their novels (Raymond Chandler’s The Big Sleep, and Nathanael West’s The Day of the Locust).

I’ve now posted a sample chapter from the novel, available to read online. It gives a good taste of what the book’s about, especially as a snapshot of Raymond Chandler’s life around 1939.

If you’d like more information, please consider subscribing to my newsletter. Otherwise, keep watching this space for announcements as the release date approaches.


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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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