“It’s apparent that the modern heir to Chandler, Woolrich, and Cain is Christopher Chambers, enough said.” —Strand Magazine
“Novels written from the perspective of homeless substance users don’t come along every day. When they do, it’s a good idea to pay attention.” —Washington City Paper
“[A] no-holds-barred crime novel . . . an exciting climax . . . a 21st-century twist on traditional hardboiled noir.” —Publishers Weekly
Washington DC’s notorious detective, former drug-addled street denizen Dickie Cornish, faces off with bloodthirsty cops and the justice department in the latest thrilling release by award-winning noir author Christopher Chambers.
In StreetWhys, underground detective Dickie Cornish faces a vindictive murder rap from his past if he doesn’t agree to help prove that the fentanyl ravaging the streets of DC is bankrolled by shadowy donors of a certain former president. Broke and desperate, Cornish soon finds himself on a collision course with shady public defenders and corrupt police officers, forcing him to use his street connections to flip their plan. Or die.
Chambers’s Dickie Cornish series has met with widespread critical acclaim. Publishers Weekly dubbed the series debut, Scavenger, “[A] no-holds-barred crime novel…a 21st-century twist on traditional hardboiled noir.” The Strand Magazine selected Standalone, the second book in the series, as one of the “Top 25 Mystery Novels of the Year,” adding “It’s apparent that the modern heir to Chandler, Woolrich, and Cain is Christopher Chambers, enough said.” And renowned crime author George Pelecanos raves that the series “really nails Washington, DC in the current environment.”
Chambers is an award winning author of mystery, noir, pulp, and graphic novels. He sits on the board of the Bouchercon World Mystery Writers Convention and is a judge for Mystery Writers of America’s Edgar Awards. He lives in Washington, DC.
ISBN: 978-1-953103-55-0; $16; April 15, 2025; 334 pages;
Three Rooms Press; Trade Paper Original
Order STREETWHYS now:
Past Praise for Christopher Chambers
“Gritty, raw, and lays bare the dirty consequences of political decisions on the lowest rungs of the population.” —Jay Wilburn, 10 Most Recommended Books this Month
“Christopher Chambers brings to life not only an unforgettable character but also the gritty DC streets he inhabits. … A deeply realistic noir mystery with a social conscience.” —Hill Rag Magazine
“[A] no-holds-barred crime novel . . . an exciting climax . . . a 21st-century twist on traditional hardboiled noir.” —Publishers Weekly
“A voice that is distinctive, expressive, and is unafraid to challenge readers who may find the street patois hard to interpret. That’s kind of the point. Dickie Cornish’s world is far from most readers’ lived experience, and it is his compelling voice and the dialogue of a vast cast of memorable street characters that helps immerse the intrepid armchair traveler in a world that’s mostly invisible but just around the corner and down the alley from DC’s halls of power.” —Reviewing the Evidence
About the Author
Critically-acclaimed, award-winning author Christopher Chambers is the creator of the Dickie Cornish detective series, including Scavenger, Standalone, and Streetwhys. His short fiction has appeared in numerous award-winning anthologies. He’s been nominated for a PEN/Malamud and is an accomplished pulp and graphic novel collaborative author. He sits on the Bouchercon World Mystery Writers Convention Board and is a judge for the Mystery Writers of America Edgars Awards. He lives in Washington, D.C. with his wife and German Shepherd, Max.
