Chicago Night: The 13th Jack Nightingale Supernatural Thriller

by Stephen Leather

Eddie “Lucky” Brennan is a professional killer. A gun for hire who has been leaving bodies across Chicago for more than a century.

Lucky’s long life isn’t an accident. It’s payment. Saved from death by a demon from Hell, he has spent the last hundred years repaying the debt, with murders.

Now the body count is rising, and the demon’s ambitions have grown. This time, it isn’t just about murder. It’s about turning Chicago into the first foothold of Hell on Earth.

Jack Nightingale is sent to stop the killings. But to bring down Lucky, he’ll have to confront the demon behind him - and risk far more than his life.

Because in the Windy City, there are worse things than dying.





PRAISE FOR THE JACK NIGHTINGALE SERIES

'Written with panache, and a fine ear for dialogue, Leather manages the collision between the real and the occult with exceptional skill' Daily Mail.

'Another great thriller from Stephen Leather but this time with a devilish twist!' James Herbert, on Nightfall

‘A stunning masterclass in darkness from a ferocious talent who excels in putting the devil in the details’ Daily Record.

'A wicked read’ Anthony Horowitz

276 pages, Kindle Edition

Published March 31, 2026

About the author

Stephen Leather was a journalist for more than ten years on newspapers such as The Times, the Daily Mail and the South China Morning Post in Hong Kong. His bestsellers have been translated into more than ten languages. He has also written for television shows such as London's Burning, The Knock and the BBC's Murder in Mind series. For much of 2011 his self-published eBooks - including The Bestseller, The Basement, Once Bitten and Dreamer's Cat - dominated the UK eBook bestseller lists and sold more than half a million copies. The Basement topped the Kindle charts in the UK and the US, and in total he has sold more than two million eBooks. His bestselling book The Chinaman was filmed as The Foreigner, starring Jackie Chan and Pierce Brosnan and grossing more than $100 million.

Reviews

[Tony Dure]

A good book to read for fans of Jack Nightingale

I have to say, this was not: the standard I expected.

It was like a cowboy book, rather then one of nightingales tasks.

I feel this was a filling before a much better book in the future

It was mentioned that Jack is near his death.

I feel that Jack will meet his end, but if he keeps his soul is, a fleeting end if needs be

I still feel that Jack is going out with a fantastic end and keeping his soul

I don't recognise the reviews I read before, this was not as brilliant as the last book, prosperpine was overfriendly
And did nothing in the story, other to turn up and give him everything Jack needed. It didn't make sense

It seemed to me :why?

I have been a fan since volume number 1, l have the whole collection and every short story

Sorry but this was not the book l was getting excited about

Tony Dure

[Tors]

I’m conflicted with this book. On one hand I enjoyed the premise enough though I thought there could have been more characters development to give the antagonist more of a motive especially towards the end. But on the other it’s a shame bc I strongly believe this book was either written with the help of AI or run through AI to pad out the length. The reason I don’t think it was entirely written by AI is bc the parts of it I enjoyed had such human creativity I can’t help but want to believe they were written by a person and not a machine. The parts that were however were so pointless and added nothing to the story that I found myself rolling my eyes when it was obviously generative AI as it was needless repetitive and not this but THIS

That is all to say I had no idea this was part of a series so I will be interested to go back to an early book and am willing to reevaluate my assessment if this has always been the author’s way of writing.

Also Nightingale is so obviously John Constantine dressed down to a guy without any power is very funny to me.

[Nick Brett]

The latest in this brilliant supernatural series. Jack Nightingale is asked to investigate an apparent invincible hitman in Chicago. Obviously something (or someone) is involved in the background and Nightingale is clearly told to get out of the city and not get involved. But Jack is…….Jack.

Chicago features as almost a character in this, both as a background and through its history. As usual Nightingale seems to take on too much but plotting is as excellent as you would expect and there are the usual twists, turns and familiar characters.

Another page turner.

[Mrs A. J. Turbfield]

Good reading

Another great episode of this enthralling series, each one reminding how fickle life is.
Beautifully crafted and exciting, paced enough to keep the reader I retested I what comes next.

[Mrs B S Bairstow/ Mr A Bairstow]

Brilliant !

The best yet. I expected a great read, but this was better than previous tales. Thoroughly recommended. I normally read for a while when I go to bed…. With this one, I couldn’t put it down.

[dale newton]

Glad Jack is back!
It was a welcome return and an excellent book, I was really hoping that this book would be Jacks return to England and a reunion with Jenny, but even though it wasn’t, there was a small hint by Mrs Steadman that this may happen in the next book. Fingers crossed.

[Karen Campbell]

This has to be the best Jack Nightingale story ever . Totally gripping and I read it in one sitting .. Excellent !

[Jason Ticehurst]

glad he’s back

Excellent read as always , leaves you waiting for yet more , Stephen leather never disappoints, will now go back and read them all again

[Ian Pickford]

A refreshing cleanse to all those densely plotted, inward looking contrived doorstops. Accessible. Enjoyable. Good fun.

[Samantha And]

brilliant.

Another great story from Stephen Leathers amazing imagination. From start to finish it builds to the grand finale. Can’t wait for the next one .

[Darren Earley]

Another fantastic Jack Nightingale story

[Myke]

Jacks getting tired now, run of the mill Jack Nightingale story. He pops to a shop, speaks to some demons, outsmarts a contract and moves on

[Frank Emerson]

Another excellent full length Nightingale tale.