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Nicholas Litchfield

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From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Nicholas Litchfield
Born
England
OccupationAuthor, editor, critic
NationalityBritish (British-born), American
Alma materAnglia Ruskin University
University of Brighton
GenreCrime fiction, mystery fiction
Notable worksHessman’s Necklace
When The Actor Inspired Chaos and Bloodshed
Swampjack Virus
Website
nicholaslitchfield.com

Nicholas Litchfield is a British-born author, editor, and critic known for his work in crime and mystery fiction.[1][2][3] He is the founding editor of the Lowestoft Chronicle, an online literary magazine established in 2009 and based in Boston, Massachusetts.[4] Inspired by the English town of Lowestoft, the magazine publishes international fiction, poetry, and creative nonfiction, and is known for its annual anthologies.[5] Litchfield's novels and critical work have been praised in multiple independent outlets.

Early life

[edit]

Born in England, Litchfield started writing for newspapers at age fifteen.[6] Between 1992 and 1996, he was a regular contributor to The Citizen, a group of weekly regional newspapers distributed throughout Bedfordshire and Buckinghamshire. He earned his B.A. in English at Anglia Ruskin University in Cambridge, and his Master's degree in library science at the University of Brighton in East Sussex. Afterward, he worked as a researcher for the BBC in London and, later, as a librarian in Norfolk and other parts of the U.K. He has since worked in various cities around the world.[7]

Career

[edit]

Litchfield reviews crime and thriller fiction for Publishers Weekly and other outlets and has contributed essays to thirty anthologies of mid-century crime fiction, as well as to publications such as Colorado Review, The Virginian-Pilot, and The Daily Press. His editorial projects and critical writing have been favorably covered by respected sources such as Booklist,[8][9] Bookgasm,[10][11][12] Crime Time,[13][14][15] Midwest Book Review,[16][17][18] the Lancashire Post,[19][20] and Film International[21]. Notable authors including Martin Edwards[22][23] and James Reasoner[24][25][26] have commended his work.

Novels

[edit]

Litchfield's debut novel, Swampjack Virus (2013), was praised by the Lancashire Post for its “ironic undertones, charismatic cast, and nail-biting suspense.”[27] His second novel, When The Actor Inspired Chaos and Bloodshed (2025), set in 1990s Uruguay, received attention from Kirkus Reviews, which highlighted its “sardonic vigor” and described it as “a pulpy, imperfect sendup of moviemaking.”[28] The Yorkshire Evening Post called it “an intense and topical drama... erupting into a massive blaze of mesmerising chaos.”[29]

Other reviewers, including Literary Titan and Indies Today, praised the novel's bold risks and unconventional characters,[30][31] while a Reedsy Discovery review noted its strong structure and wit, alongside its polarizing style.[32] Novelist Adam Berlin likened its grittiness to “a 1970s car-chase shot with a handheld camera, full of jolts and scrapes and Technicolor chaos.”[33] The novel was recognized as a 2026 Notable in the Indies Today Awards, an annual distinction for books that have made a significant impression on reviewers and readers.[34] Litchfield has credited international bestselling author George Powers Cockcroft (Luke Rhinehart) with feedback that influenced the book's development.[35][36]

His most recent novel, Hessman’s Necklace (2025), has been described by Kirkus Reviews as “a feverish story that effectively turns neo-noir conventions on its head.”[37] The Sheffield Star and Literary Titan praised its swift pace and inventive take on noir.[38][39] Reviews in Indies Today and Reedsy Discovery highlighted its “punchy storytelling” and well-drawn characters, while also observing its deep immersion in genre tropes.[40][41] Edgar Award-winner Laurence Klavan described it as a blend of “the impeccable plotting of The Maltese Falcon with the canny post-modernism of Chinatown.”[42] In 2026, Hessman’s Necklace was named a Finalist in the Suspense category of the Next Generation Indie Book Awards,[43] and was also a Finalist in the Mystery/Suspense: Hard-Boiled/Crime category of The 2026 American Fiction Awards.[44]

According to Litchfield, Hessman’s Necklace began as a short story in 2016, which he expanded into a novelette that was accepted for publication, but he withdrew it in order to further expand it into a novel.[45] He has cited the influence of Dashiell Hammett, John D. MacDonald, and F. Scott Fitzgerald on the novel's stylized prose and character-driven dialogue, aiming to balance homage to classic noir with originality and literary flair, while maintaining a brisk, suspenseful tone.[46] The book has been included in a curated list of “Best Mystery & Crime Books” for 2025.[47] Both Hessman’s Necklace and When the Actor Inspired Chaos and Bloodshed received the Literary Titan Gold Book Award in the Fiction category,[48][49] recognizing notable works as selected by the Literary Titan book review website.

Interviews

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Litchfield has interviewed many authors, including Don Winslow,[50] Jay Parini,[51] Jim Daniels,[52] James Reasoner,[53][54] Sheldon Russell,[55][56][57] Franz Wisner,[58] James R. Benn,[59] Abby Frucht,[60] Mark Jacobs,[61], Dietrich Kalteis,[62] and Matthew P. Mayo.[63][64]

Bibliography

[edit]

Novels

[edit]
  • Hessman’s Necklace (2025)
  • When The Actor Inspired Chaos and Bloodshed (2025)
  • Swampjack Virus (2013)

Anthologies edited

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  • Unfamiliar Territory (2025)
  • A Place To Pause (2024)
  • An Adventurous Spirit (2022)
  • The Vicarious Traveler (2019)
  • Steadfast Trekkers (2018)
  • Invigorating Passages (2018)
  • Grand Departures (2016)
  • Other Places (2015)
  • Somewhere, Sometime… (2014)
  • Intrepid Travelers (2013)
  • Far-flung and Foreign (2012)
  • Lowestoft Chronicle 2011 Anthology (2011)

References

[edit]
  1. ↑ Norfolk, Pam (2025-06-17). "Hessman's Necklace by Nicholas Litchfield: Witty, gritty and packed with old-fashioned charm – book review –". The Star. Retrieved 25 October 2025.
  2. ↑ Norfolk, Pam (2025-02-10). "When The Actor Inspired Chaos and Bloodshed by Nicholas Litchfield: pulsating with danger and menace, and infused with sharp-edged English humour – book review –". Burnley Express. Retrieved 25 October 2025.
  3. ↑ Litchfield, Nicholas (2021-05-02). "Norfolk writer's latest novel an engaging dive into politics, sex scandal". The Virginian-Pilot. Retrieved 1 November 2025.
  4. ↑ "Esteemed Literary Anthology Series Features the Joys of Travel". PRLog (Press release). 2019-11-09. Retrieved 1 November 2025.
  5. ↑ Norfolk, Pam (2013-05-30). "Book review: Intrepid Travelers: Lowestoft Chronicle's 2013 Anthology Edited by Nicholas Litchfield". Blackpool Gazette. Retrieved 25 October 2025.
  6. ↑ Litchfield, Nicholas. "Fading Ink". nicholaslitchfield.com. Retrieved 4 August 2026.
  7. ↑ Litchfield, Nicholas. "About". nicholaslitchfield.com. Retrieved 4 August 2026.
  8. ↑ Fletcher, Courtney (2024-03-01). "Nobody Lives Forever / Tomorrow's Another Day". Booklist. Retrieved 10 October 2025.
  9. ↑ Lukowsky, Wes (2019-05-01). "Borrow the Night / The Fifth Caller". Booklist. Retrieved 10 October 2025.
  10. ↑ Cranis, Alan (2020-05-13). "The Tooth and the Nail / The Wife of the Red-Haired Man". Bookgasm. Archived from the original on 2020-05-13. Retrieved 6 November 2025.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link)
  11. ↑ Cranis, Alan (2020-06-05). "A Rage at Sea / A Party Every Night". Bookgasm. Archived from the original on 2020-06-05. Retrieved 6 November 2025.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link)
  12. ↑ Cranis, Alan (2020-10-04). "Footsteps in the Night / Beat Back the Tide". Bookgasm. Archived from the original on 2020-10-04. Retrieved 6 November 2025.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link)
  13. ↑ Burke, Paul (2020-05-30). "A Rage at Sea (1953) and A Party Every Night (1956): Two novels by Frederick Lorenz". Crime Time. Retrieved 1 November 2025.
  14. ↑ Burke, Paul (2022-09-01). "The Review Show August '22". Crime Time FM (Podcast). Retrieved 1 November 2025.,
  15. ↑ Burke, Paul (2026-07-06). "Pulp to Picture: Badge of Evil". Crime Time. Retrieved 4 August 2026.
  16. ↑ "The Deadly Combo / One for My Dame". Midwest Book Review. 2026-04-06. Retrieved 4 August 2026.
  17. ↑ "Death in a Lighthouse / Murder Money". Midwest Book Review. 2025-10-21. Retrieved 6 November 2025.
  18. ↑ "A Rage at Sea / A Party Every Night". Midwest Book Review. 2021-02-21. Retrieved 6 November 2025.,
  19. ↑ Norfolk, Pam (2018-06-26). "Book review: Portrait in Smoke and The Longest Second by Bill S. Ballinger". Lancashire Post. Retrieved 25 October 2025.
  20. ↑ Norfolk, Pam (2019-07-03). "Borrow the Night and The Fifth Caller By Helen Nielsen: A superior pair of unique tales which richly deserve a revival - book review -". Lancashire Post. Archived from the original on 2019-07-03. Retrieved 5 November 2025.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link)
  21. ↑ Morrison, James (2026-07-19). "A Touch of the Poetry: Orson Welles and Badge of Evil". Film International. Retrieved 4 August 2026.
  22. ↑ Edwards, Martin (2020-03-13). "Forgotten Book – The Tooth and the Nail". Do You Write Under Your Own Name?. Retrieved 1 November 2025.
  23. ↑ Edwards, Martin (2020-03-27). "Forgotten Book – Stairway to an Empty Room". Do You Write Under Your Own Name?. Retrieved 1 November 2025.
  24. ↑ Reasoner, James (2025-09-03). "Review: Shakedown – William Ard writing as Ben Kerr". Rough Edges. Retrieved 5 November 2025.
  25. ↑ Reasoner, James (2025-10-22). "Review: The Deadly Combo – Jack Webb". Rough Edges. Retrieved 5 November 2025.
  26. ↑ Reasoner, James (2013-03-01). "New Interview". Rough Edges. Retrieved 14 February 2026.
  27. ↑ Norfolk, Pam (2013-10-22). "BOOK REVIEW - Swampjack Virus by Nicholas Litchfield". Lancashire Evening Post. Retrieved 25 October 2025.
  28. ↑ "When The Actor Inspired Chaos and Bloodshed". Kirkus Reviews. 2025-04-01. Retrieved 1 November 2025.
  29. ↑ Norfolk, Pam (2025-02-10). "When The Actor Inspired Chaos and Bloodshed by Nicholas Litchfield: pulsating with danger and menace, and infused with sharp-edged English humour – book review –". Yorkshire Evening Post. Retrieved 25 October 2025.
  30. ↑ "When The Actor Inspired Chaos and Bloodshed". Literary Titan. 2025-03-27. Retrieved 1 November 2025.
  31. ↑ Flowers, Nicky (2025-04-07). "When The Actor Inspired Chaos and Bloodshed by Nicholas Litchfield". Indies Today. Retrieved 6 November 2025.
  32. ↑ Siddall, Karen (2025-04-01). "When The Actor Inspired Chaos and Bloodshed by Nicholas Litchfield". Reedsy Discovery. Retrieved 6 November 2025.
  33. ↑ Berlin, Adam (2025). "Blurb". Lowestoft Chronicle. Retrieved 14 February 2026.
  34. ↑ "2025/2026 Indies Today Awards Contest Results". Indies Today. 2026-02-10. Retrieved 14 February 2026.
  35. ↑ "Chaos and Fury". Literary Titan. 2025-04-03. Retrieved 1 November 2025.
  36. ↑ Litchfield, Nicholas (1 April 2025). "Afterword: Not The Dice Man's Cup of Tea". When The Actor Inspired Chaos and Bloodshed. Cambridge: Lowestoft Chronicle Press. pp. 208–16. ISBN 978-1-7323328-6-7. Retrieved 14 February 2026.
  37. ↑ "Hessman's Necklace". Kirkus Reviews. 2025-06-30. Retrieved 1 November 2025.
  38. ↑ Norfolk, Pam (2025-06-17). "Hessman's Necklace by Nicholas Litchfield: Witty, gritty and packed with old-fashioned charm – book review –". The Star. Retrieved 25 October 2025.
  39. ↑ "Hessman's Necklace". Literary Titan. 2025-07-01. Retrieved 1 November 2025.
  40. ↑ Flowers, Nicky (2025-07-03). "Hessman's Necklace by Nicholas Litchfield". Indies Today. Retrieved 5 November 2025.
  41. ↑ Deeming, Rachel (2025-08-18). "Hessman's Necklace by Nicholas Litchfield". Reedsy Discovery. Retrieved 6 November 2025.
  42. ↑ Klavan, Laurence (2025). "Blurb". Lowestoft Chronicle. Retrieved 1 November 2025.
  43. ↑ "2026 Next Generation Indie Book Awards Winners & Finalists". Next Generation Indie Book Awards. Independent Book Publishing Professionals Group. Retrieved 15 May 2026.
  44. ↑ "The 2026 American Fiction Awards". AmericanBookFest.com. American Book Fest. Retrieved 4 August 2026.
  45. ↑ Litchfield, Nicholas (30 June 2025). "Afterword". Hessman's Necklace. Cambridge, MA: Lowestoft Chronicle Press. pp. 157–8. ISBN 978-1-7323328-5-0. Retrieved 14 February 2026.
  46. ↑ "Gritty Environments". Literary Titan. 2025-07-12. Retrieved 6 November 2025.
  47. ↑ Cobcroft, Lorraine (2025-11-02). "Best Mystery & Crime Books". Reedsy Discovery. Retrieved 5 November 2025.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: deprecated archival service (link)
  48. ↑ "Literary Titan Gold Book Award - Fiction (12)". Literary Titan. 2025-04-04. Retrieved 5 November 2025.
  49. ↑ "Literary Titan Gold Book Award - Fiction (16)". Literary Titan. 2025-08-01. Retrieved 6 November 2025.
  50. ↑ Litchfield, Nicholas (2024-02-12). "Iliad on the Strip: PW Talks with Don Winslow". Publishers Weekly. Retrieved 6 November 2025.
  51. ↑ Litchfield, Nicholas (2014-06-01). "A Conversation with Jay Parini". Lowestoft Chronicle. Retrieved 6 November 2025.
  52. ↑ Litchfield, Nicholas (2024-03-01). "A Conversation with Jim Daniels". Lowestoft Chronicle. Retrieved 4 August 2026.
  53. ↑ Litchfield, Nicholas (2012-12-01). "A Conversation with James Reasoner". Lowestoft Chronicle. Retrieved 4 August 2026.
  54. ↑ Litchfield, Nicholas (2013-03-01). "Spurs, Stetsons and Stagecoaches: James Reasoner on Writing Westerns". Lowestoft Chronicle. Retrieved 4 August 2026.
  55. ↑ Litchfield, Nicholas (2014-06-01). "A Conversation with Sheldon Russell". Lowestoft Chronicle. Retrieved 4 August 2026.
  56. ↑ Litchfield, Nicholas (2018-03-01). "The Return of the Railroad Bull: A Conversation with Sheldon Russell". Lowestoft Chronicle. Retrieved 4 August 2026.
  57. ↑ Litchfield, Nicholas (2020-03-01). "The Woodcutter: A Conversation with Sheldon Russell". Lowestoft Chronicle. Retrieved 4 August 2026.
  58. ↑ Litchfield, Nicholas (2012-09-01). "A Conversation with Franz Wisner". Lowestoft Chronicle. Retrieved 1 November 2025.
  59. ↑ Litchfield, Nicholas (2016-12-01). "A Conversation with James R. Benn". Lowestoft Chronicle. Retrieved 1 November 2025.
  60. ↑ Litchfield, Nicholas (2013-06-01). "A Conversation with Abby Frucht". Lowestoft Chronicle. Retrieved 1 November 2025.
  61. ↑ Litchfield, Nicholas (2022-09-19). "A Conversation with Novelist Mark Jacobs (Paraguay)". Peace Corps Worldwide. Retrieved 1 November 2025.
  62. ↑ Litchfield, Nicholas (2017-12-01). "A Conversation with Dietrich Kalteis". Lowestoft Chronicle. Retrieved 1 November 2025.
  63. ↑ Litchfield, Nicholas (2013-12-01). "A Conversation with Matthew P. Mayo". Lowestoft Chronicle. Retrieved 4 August 2026.
  64. ↑ Litchfield, Nicholas (2018-12-01). "A Conversation with Matthew P. Mayo by Nicholas Litchfield". Lowestoft Chronicle. Retrieved 4 August 2026.
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