Issue 76: Raymond Chandler’s Unpublished “Nightmare”

Description Raymond Chandler’s Unseen Story Has Been Published At Last! Issue 76: Raymond Chandler, Matthew Sullivan, Susan Knight, Anthony Horowitz, Peter James . . . Dreams, nightmares, and the uncanny take center stage in this special collector’s issue of The Strand Magazine. From Poe to Stevenson to Shelley, authors have long turned dreamscapes into literary gold—and now Raymond Chandler joins their ranks with a newly discovered work. In the aptly titled “Nightmare,” Chandler—the legendary creator of Philip Marlowe—imagines himself on the wrong side of the law, awaiting execution in a prison cell. Unearthed from the archive of Chandler’s longtime secretary, authenticated, and published for the first time in our pages, this taut, chilling piece showcases his unmatched ability to conjure a world in just a few hundred words. “Nightmare” by Raymond Chandler (Jeffrey B. McKeever) Bringing Chandler’s vision to life, “Nightmare” appears alongside full-page oil paintings by Jeffrey B. McKeever, capturing its darkest and most arresting scenes. Commissioned for this issue, each illustration adds a layer of atmosphere to the text—blending noir storytelling with fine art. But the treasures don’t stop there. This issue features bold new fiction from both acclaimed and emerging voices. In “Howard’s Okay,” Matthew Sullivan delivers a surreal tale of escape tinged with eerie familiarity, while Susan Knight has Holmes and Watson unravelling a string of murders linked to a peculiar series of paintings in “The Case of the Fatal Flowers.” John M. Floyd’s “Reptiles” follows a teenager whose seemingly petty prank spirals into something far more dangerous. And in “No Doctor in the House” by Joseph Koenig, madness simmers in a remote California mountain town, where isolation and instability collide. ALSO . . . exclusive interviews with Anthony Horowitz—bestselling author of Moonflower Murders and creator of the beloved series Foyle’s War, whose brilliant storytelling continues to redefine the mystery genre—and Peter James, the UK’s #1 crime novelist and Queen Camilla’s favorite author, whose Grace series inspired the hit BritBox adaptation. Our review section returns with carefully curated picks across books and DVDs—highlighting the most compelling work in crime, suspense, and detective fiction today. A must-have for Chandler fans, collectors, and lovers of mystery alike, this issue captures everything The Strand stands for: rediscovered treasures, bold new fiction, fine art, and candid insights from the masters of crime writing.