I’ve written since I was a boy growing up in Leeds. It all really began with a three-paragraph school essay telling a tale of bomb disposal when I was 11. Like a lightbulb switching on, it brought the revelation that I enjoyed telling stories. Along the way came diversions into teenage poetry, and my other great love, music, as both a bassist and then a singer-songwriter-guitarist.
At 21, I moved to the US, and spent the next 30 years there, returning to England in 2005, and finally full circle to Leeds. I’ve made a living as a writer since 1994, initially as a music journalist, specialising in world and roots music. These days there’s far less of that, but I still produce a few articles and several reviews a year. I authored The NPR Casual Listener’s Guide to World Music, a volume that’s now long out of date.
My first novel, The Broken Token, came out in 2010, featuring Richard Nottingham, Constable of Leeds in the 1730s (there was a real Richard Nottingham, and that was his post, although it was probably largely ceremonial). There have been five more books in the series, and a sixth, Free From All Danger, appeared in 2017. Cold Cruel Winter was named one of the Best Mysteries of the Year by Library Journal. The audio version of The Broken Token was one of the Independent on Sunday’s Audiobooks on the Year.
Emerald City and West Seattle Blues, the first two books featuring Seattle music journalist Laura Benton, are available on ebook and audiobook.
The Crooked Spire is set in Chesterfield in 1361. The other two in the series are The Saltergate Psalter and The Holywell Dead.
My Victorian series is set in Leeds in the 1890s and features Detective Inspector Tom Harper. Gods of Gold is the first volume, followed by Two Bronze Pennies, Skin Like Silver, The Iron Water, and On Copper Street. The 11th and final book in the sweries, Rusted Souls, will be published in September 2023.
The Simon Westow series featires a thief-taker in 1820s Leeds, in a time before any police force. He would find and return stolen items – for a fee – along with his young assistant, Jane, who was once a street child and who can follow without being seen and is deadly in a fight The sixth book in the series, The Scream of Sins, will appear in March 2024.
Dark Briggate Blues is a 1950s noir, with enquiry agent Dan Markham, also takes place in Leeds, as does The New Eastgate Swing, the second volume to feature Markham.
I’m also the author of Solid Air – The Life of John Martyn, a biography of a man whose music I’ve loved since the 1970s.
Chris Nickson 
I loved listening to The Broken Token. It’s a shame I cannot listen to the rest. Please don’t tempt the visual challenged with such a wonderful mystery and then pull the plug on our listening pleasure,
Becky, thanks and I’m so glad you liked it. Unfortunately, The Broken Token is the only book in the series where I have the audio rights. The rest sit with the publisher. They’ve had an offer from Audible, but it would mean me giving up the rights for 10 years and I’d have no choice over the reader, no input as to how well it’s done. Much as I’d love to have the rest out on audio, without real quality control I just can’t let it happen. These books are my lifeblood. I do have a very, very different book out on audio, though, Emerald City. Doesn’t help, I know, I’m sorry. I realise it seems as if I’m the one pulling the plug. The company that did The Broken Token would gladly do more, but the publisher won’t agree.
I’m currently listening to the audiobook of The Broken Token. I’m really enjoying it. Steven Pacey does a wonderful job bringing Chris Nickson’s words, characters, and story to life. Sad that it is the only audiobook for the Richard Nottingham series. It would be a worthy project to record the entire series with Steven Pacey. I would definitely listen to all of them.
No plans for more audiobooks in the series, I’m afraid. Different publishers to The Broken Token, all weird and complex. Sorry…
Thanks Chris. Delighted to have discovered your blog. Lots to explore! Regards from Thom at the immortal jukebox (plugged in now)
🙂
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I loved the audio version of The Broken Token, I love audio books as I work on the farm. I didn’t understand the complexity of audio publishing. Keep writing your great books set in Leeds. I grew up in Bramley before eventually settling in Canada. Leeds has been fertile ground for producing good writers.
Thank you, so glad you enjoyed it – and Canada, especially farming Canada, is so very different from Bramley!
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Hi Chris
Just read “Dark Briggate Blues” and loved it. It’s the first book by you I have read. I liked it for the characters, pace of story and 1950s Leeds setting and atmosphere. I’m not a native, but have lived in Leeds since 1974 so recognise the places mentioned and can imagine what they were like in the 50s. Where do you research for this period and the settings for earlier period novels?
Jane
Hi Jane,
Thank you so much, I’m so pleased to liked the book. After 45 years I’m sure you know the place very well indeed. Most of the research is from reading. I was born in 1954, but obviously I didn’t remember anything of that time. However, it hadn’t changed that much by the 1960s. For earlier periods it’s read, read, read, and walk, feel the place. Not foolproof, but it’s something…And thank you again, I hope you’ll try some of the others (I’m proud of them).
Chris
Chris I was thrilled by your Leeds books
I am a native of Leeds and have researched my family far back to the 1700s in Leeds.
I once fancied writing about my Grandad’s GT.grandfather who was Edward Cooke one of the first Registrar’s for Kirkgate and East Leeds. His house is still standing in Richmond hill. Edward was also a musician and a parish clerk for Mill Hill Chapel he also manufactured organs and had a music shop where Clinton’s Cards is at the junction of Albion Street.
Interestingly Sedgwick is one of my ancestors too.
Best wishes. Sue
You managed further back in Leeds than me, that’s great. If I were you, I’d write about Edward Cooke. After all, of you don’t who will, and the knowledge and your discoveries might well get lost. Is the Sedgwick in your family tree the one who’s commemorated in Holy Trinity church.
And thank you, I’m so pleased you like the books. Chris
I just finished Rusted Souls, and it touched me deeply, about aging and growing old. Sorry that the Tom Harper series is over, but nice to know what happened to all the characters. I enjoyed reading your books.
Thank you so much. I think they deserved that section. Besdies, I want to know what happened to them.
I live in Scotland and have yet to find any of your novels on the shelves of bookshops up here (I don’t buy books online). Am in Leeds this week and wondering if you know of any bookshops where I might find any of your work?
Hi Simon, WAterstones in the city centre might have one or two, but not the recent ones that I saw last week. Truman Books in the suburb of Farsley is your best bet. Either one, if you order via them, might have the next day. And thank you – enjoy Leeds.