Nicholas Litchfield’s Hessman’s Necklace is a gritty and fast-paced noir thriller set in 1950s America. The novel follows Ray Stokes, a rakish fixer with a thirst for danger, who is sent on a mission by his powerful boss to retrieve a legendary, long-lost necklace. His target? A sultry secretary in Boston and her corrupt lover, a reverend with a taste for contraband and secrets. The story winds through back alleys, smoky bars, and seedy motel rooms, all drenched in bourbon, betrayal, and lust. At its heart, this is a story of greed and moral decay disguised as a treasure hunt, and it plays out like a vintage film noir flick brought to life in brutal, unflinching detail.

What struck me most was the prose. It’s bold, lush, and rich with attitude. Litchfield doesn’t hold back. His writing practically swaggers across the page. There’s an almost hypnotic rhythm to it. Some of it is gloriously over the top: the metaphors, the bravado, the sexual tension. At times, I laughted, not because it was funny, but because it was so brazenly confident. And it works. The characters are larger than life, especially Ray Stokes, who’s every bit the cocky anti-hero, full of flaws and swagger, but weirdly easy to root for even when he’s being a jerk. I didn’t always like him, but I always wanted to see what he’d do next.

This isn’t a quiet, introspective read. It’s brash. It leans hard into noir tropes: femmes fatales, crooked men of the cloth, cynical quips, and backroom deals. But somehow it doesn’t feel tired. There’s a knowing wink in the storytelling, as if the author is in on the joke, and that self-awareness kept things sharp and fresh. The mystery is tight and satisfying, but it’s the mood that really sells it. Litchfield paints the era vividly, full of cigarette smoke and greasy diners and nights that never quite end.

Hessman’s Necklace is a love letter to pulp fiction fans, noir junkies, and readers who like their stories hot-blooded and full of bite. If you want to step into a world of shadows and sin with a smirking guide at your side, this book delivers. I’d recommend it to anyone who enjoys Raymond Chandler, James M. Cain, or even Tarantino at his most playful. It’s a wild, messy, full-throttle ride, and I had a good time reading it.

Pages: 160 | ASIN: B0DXDFQR4W