Synopses & Reviews
Jim Nisbet is a cult favorite in Europe and it's easy to see why. He's "a lot more than just good . . . his style has overtones of Walker Percy's smooth southern satin, but his characters--losers, grifters, con men--hark back to the days of James M. Cain's twisted images of morality," writes the Toronto Globe-Mail. In the tradition of Jim Thompson and Damon Runyon, Jim Nisbet is too good to miss and Windward Passage is a masterpiece that raises the bar even for a master like Nisbet. In the parallel near-future, a ship named for a jellyfish sinks into the Caribbean with its captain chained to the mast. Left behind is a logbook missing ten pages, presidential DNA hidden in a brick of smuggled cocaine, and a nearly- completed novel. Tipsy, the dead sailor's sister, and Red Means, his erstwhile employer, travel from San Francisco to the Caribbean and back as they attempt to unravel a mystery that rapidly widens from death at sea to international conspiracy. With verve and humor to match the Illuminati Trilogy, Nisbet has fashioned an engaging facsimile of our modern world, albeit with snappier dialogue, amped-up technology, and even more clearly stated political prejudices. "Neither Norman Mailer nor Truman Capote has in their writing been able to produce such an intensity as Nisbet has achieved," writes Germany's Die Welt. Pick up Windward Passageand see why.
Review
Praise for Windward Passage"Jim Nisbet -- whose pen is mightier than a million swords -- does it again with Windward Passage. This is a book that should not be missed." -Michael Connelly
"Jim Nisbet is a cult favorite in Europe and its easy to see why. In the tradition of Jim Thompson and Damon Runyon, Nisbet is too good to miss and Windward Passage is a masterpiece that raises the bar even for such a master storyteller." - San Francisco Chronicle
"Sure, Nisbet breaks all the rules, but thats really the whole point. His novels are the literary equivalent of road trips, and a good road trip follows no map." -Booklist
"Nisbet pushes the boundaries of fiction with brave experimental forays...Fans of Nisbets previous work will find this a welcome addition to an already impressive collection of gritty and adventurous work." -- ForeWord Reviews
"This is a gripping conspiracy thriller...Fast-paced throughout...Timely yet eerie in many ways, fans will enjoy this strange but exhilarating tale as political bias trumps over logic, fairness and common good in Jim Nisbets strong suspense." -Harriet Klausner, Midwest Book Review
"In Windward Passage, his tenth book, [Nisbet] pulls out all the stops, combining his long-standing noir sensibilities with an off-the-wall post-modern disposition and cultural critique...With his ear to the ground, Nesbit updates the traditional noir narrative, combining it with a sea adventure story, conundrums, a dash of cyberpunk, and a sprinkling of literary concerns... So hats off not only to Nisbet, but to Overlook Press. Because this is Nisbet at his wildest and weirdest...an entertaining, insightful and highly recommended adventure." -- CrimeTime Blog (UK)
"Jim Nisbets power of suggestion . . . seduces the imagination without churning the stomach."-Wichita Times-Record
"Nisbets prose drives and sparkles as it takes the reader into a world without morality or ethics."-San Antonio Express-News
Timely yet eerie in many ways, fans will enjoy this strange but exhilarating tale as political bias trumps over logic, fairness and common good in Jim Nisbets strong suspense." - The Mystery Gazette
Synopsis
In the parallel near-future, a ship and its captain sink to the ocean floor. The dead sailor's employer, along with his sister, travel from San Francisco to the Caribbean as they attempt to unravel a mystery that rapidly widens from death at sea to international conspiracy.
About the Author
Jim Nisbet is the author of twelve novels and five books of poetry. He has been nominated for the Pushcart Prize three times, shortlisted for the Hammett Prize, and published in ten languages. He lives in San Francisco, California.