James Irwin is a writer the Los Angeles Times has called “witty and ingenious.” Others have written: “Consistently fun dialogue”; “At times the humor is dark”; “There is a menacing quality”; “Deep and compelling”; “Taut, fast-paced, full of intrigue and surprise”; and “Intelligent and entertaining.” His novels learn toward character-driven suspense and literary thrillers.
Novels
| Lucky Guy Thriller about good and bad luck, and mostly bad choices, published 2026. Tense and darkly comic. Available on Amazon in paperback, hardcover, and large print editions. EBook currently only available from Amazon, as purchase and also via Kindle Unlimited. Click here for more information. |  |
Tajna Circle Series
| Nina’s Friends An international murder mystery, published 2025. Atmospheric and twisty. Book one of the Tajna Circle Series. Available from Amazon, Barnes & Noble Online, Apple Books, and Kobo. Paperback also available direct from the distributor at 35% less than standard retail. New: now available in Large Print Edition. Click here for more information. |  |
| Bent City Russian agents versus corrupt law enforcement over the fate of a missing woman. Coming in 2027. Book two of the Tajna Circle Series. Click here for more information. |  |
Anthologies Etc.
| My short story Timothy the Artist is included in Bay to Ocean Journal 2024: Best Writing from the Eastern Shore Writers Association. Paperback only, available from Amazon. |  |
“I moved across the country, married, raised kids, taught college, and worked in business,” Irwin said. “The desire to tell stories never left me, however, and it eventually became a need rather than just a desire. So now, many years later, I’m returning to an artistic life, and becoming the kind of person I used to be.” From the profile: Wayne Writer Comes ‘Full Circle’ in Publishing Debut Novel
Selected relevant posts from my Substack:
- Reprint: Wayne Writer Comes ‘Full Circle’ In Publishing Debut Novel: “Nina’s Friends” is described as an international suspense thriller, set during the early months of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine
- Five key novels (for me): Some books that impacted me personally and informed my writing
- Getting the most out of a writers conference: Including (note to self) things I still need to do better, or remember to do at all
- Battling the ‘tyranny of the personal brand’ as an author: These days you have to market yourself; the trick is doing it on your terms
- A writing life, interrupted: I returned to the writing world after decades away. Boy howdy have things changed.