About the author
Meet James Dain
James Dain writes character-driven thriller and suspense fiction. A member of Mystery Writers of America, his work has won multiple awards, including 'Best Novel' at the Los Angeles Neo-Noir Festival, and attained Best Seller status in several Amazon categories. He lives in Palm Springs, California, where he teaches college, hikes with his dog, and spends the winter snowboarding at Bear Mountain, where he is a Level II certified snowboard instructor.
— James Dain
Reader questions
What order should I read the Hard Knocks books in?+
Start with The Body in the Alley, then Everyone Dies in Youngstown, then Blood on the Mountain. Each one stands alone, so you can start anywhere.
How dark are the Twisted books?+
Every Twisted book carries a darkness rating from 1 to 5, so you know what you're walking into:
- Leaving Venice — Darkness 2/5. A Hitchcock-style short read.
- The Invisible Worm That Flies in the Night — Darkness 5/5. Disturbing subject matter, handled seriously. For mature readers.
- You Always Kill the One You Love — Darkness 4/5. An unreliable narrator. You'll be guessing what's real until the epilogue.
- Burning Mama — Darkness 5/5. Child abuse and revenge. The darkest story I've written.
Is there a thriller set at a ski resort?+
Yes — Blood on the Mountain, written by a working snowboard instructor.
Where can I get a free story?+
Right here — Leaving Venice is free when you join the newsletter.
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