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Sandman Slim #13
In the Devil Wind
Not yet published
Expected 17 Nov 26In this heart-pounding epilogue novel to the acclaimed, New York Times bestselling Sandman Slim series, James Stark once again finds himself between a rock and a hard place—except this time the rock is Heaven, and the hard place is Hell… A devil’s work is never done. James Stark, aka Sandman Slim, is trying to find his footing in a Heaven that’s anything but heavenly. And when God gets attacked and the angels and hellions start picking sides for a new war, the celestial realm is one spark away from an explosion. Stark just wants to be left alone to watch old movies, but when a madman named Dixie Midnight starts cutting a bloody path through the palace, he’s dragged back into the fray. Stark’s investigation uncovers a conspiracy that goes deeper than he could have ever imagined. And every new encounter leads to yet another mystery, another foe, and—at one point—a spell that is inexorably draining his very essence. Betrayed by those he should be able to trust, hunted by supposed friends and enemies alike—all while running out of time, because apparently there is nothing after the afterlife—Stark must navigate the treacherous corridors of Heaven and the backroads of Hell to solve a problem he only sort of understands. And he'd kill for a good apple fritter. Death is not the worst thing that can happen to Stark—dealing with bureaucratic assholes, renegade angels, and homicidal sociopaths is. Stark thought he was done with being the monster killer...done with being the monster. He was wrong. And that means Heaven must wait...
Audible Audio
Expected publication November 17, 2026
About the author
Richard Kadrey
147 books3,653 followersRichard Kadrey is a writer and freelance musician living in Pittsburgh, best known for his Sandman Slim novels. His work has been nominated for the Locus and BSFA awards. Kadrey's newest books are The Secrets of Insects, released in August 2023; The Dead Take the A Train (with Cassandra Khaw), released in September 2023; The Pale House Devil, released in September 2023.
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Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
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October 19, 2026Oh my bloody shrimping hell of the stinking fish, Jimmy is back!!!!
· Book 1: Sandman Slim ★★★★★
· Book 2: Kill the Dead ★★★★★
· Book 3: Aloha from Hell ★★★★
· Book 3.5: Devil in the Dollhouse ★★★★★
· Book 4: Devil Said Bang ★★★★
· Book 5: Kill City Blues ★★★★
· Book 6: The Getaway God ★★★★★
· Book 7: Killing Pretty ★★★★
· Book 9: The Kill Society ★★★★★
· Book 10: Hollywood Dead ★★★★★
· Book 11: Ballistic Kiss ★★★★
· Book 12: King Bullet ★★★★★
· Book 1: Sandman Slim ★★★★★
· Book 2: Kill the Dead ★★★★★
· Book 3: Aloha from Hell ★★★★
· Book 3.5: Devil in the Dollhouse ★★★★★
· Book 4: Devil Said Bang ★★★★
· Book 5: Kill City Blues ★★★★
· Book 6: The Getaway God ★★★★★
· Book 7: Killing Pretty ★★★★
· Book 9: The Kill Society ★★★★★
· Book 10: Hollywood Dead ★★★★★
· Book 11: Ballistic Kiss ★★★★
· Book 12: King Bullet ★★★★★
Review of advance copy received from Edelweiss+
In the fire of 2026, we are given a final final Sandman Slim.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Series Info/Source: This is the 13th book in the Sandman Slim series. I got an eGalley of this from NetGalley for Review
Thoughts: I was disappointed by how anti-climatic "King Bullet" (book 12) was and didn't think it was a great ending to this series. Imagine my delight when I saw a 13th Sandman Slim book pop up and I was able to get a copy for review. This book was wonderful and ended the series in a much better place than "King Bullet" did.
Stark aka Sandman Slim is in Heaven and is finding adjustment to Heavingly living rough. What Stark needs is a purpose, a job. When the opportunity to run his own theater is dangled in front of him, he jumps at the opportunity but first he has to help solve a mystery of disappearing angels. Stark quickly finds out that Dixie Midnight is carving a bloody path through Heaven. However, nothing is ever simple and the factions of Heaven are restless.
I've absolutely loved this series from the very first book and was a bit disappointed at how King Bullet ended it. Then I was leery about another Sandman Slim book. Would it suck? Would it be awesome? Thank goodness it was awesome. Stark has changed a lot since the first book and this book definitely humanizes him even further. He is depressed, he is stuck, and, yep, he is in Heaven. It was great to watch Stark find new purpose and kick a lot of butt. Stark is joined on this new journey by former friends and allies that he had lost and has encounters with former enemies he had already vanquised.
I loved how this story played out. It was fast-paced with plenty of unexpected twists and turns. I love Stark as a character; his obsession with obscure movies, and his bulldozer way of approaching problems is always highly entertaining. This was pure fun from the beginning to the end.
My Summary (5/5): Overall I absolutely loved this and am so happy to end this series in a better place than we were left after "King Bullet". I loved seeing Stark pick up the pieces, kick some butt, and be a general pain in the ass for powers that be. If you enjoyed the Sandman Slim series definitely pick this book up. It was super easy to fall back into this world and story and highly entertaining the whole way through. If you haven't read the Sandman Slim series and like dark humor, and gritty action in your urban fantasy reads, what are you waiting for?
Thoughts: I was disappointed by how anti-climatic "King Bullet" (book 12) was and didn't think it was a great ending to this series. Imagine my delight when I saw a 13th Sandman Slim book pop up and I was able to get a copy for review. This book was wonderful and ended the series in a much better place than "King Bullet" did.
Stark aka Sandman Slim is in Heaven and is finding adjustment to Heavingly living rough. What Stark needs is a purpose, a job. When the opportunity to run his own theater is dangled in front of him, he jumps at the opportunity but first he has to help solve a mystery of disappearing angels. Stark quickly finds out that Dixie Midnight is carving a bloody path through Heaven. However, nothing is ever simple and the factions of Heaven are restless.
I've absolutely loved this series from the very first book and was a bit disappointed at how King Bullet ended it. Then I was leery about another Sandman Slim book. Would it suck? Would it be awesome? Thank goodness it was awesome. Stark has changed a lot since the first book and this book definitely humanizes him even further. He is depressed, he is stuck, and, yep, he is in Heaven. It was great to watch Stark find new purpose and kick a lot of butt. Stark is joined on this new journey by former friends and allies that he had lost and has encounters with former enemies he had already vanquised.
I loved how this story played out. It was fast-paced with plenty of unexpected twists and turns. I love Stark as a character; his obsession with obscure movies, and his bulldozer way of approaching problems is always highly entertaining. This was pure fun from the beginning to the end.
My Summary (5/5): Overall I absolutely loved this and am so happy to end this series in a better place than we were left after "King Bullet". I loved seeing Stark pick up the pieces, kick some butt, and be a general pain in the ass for powers that be. If you enjoyed the Sandman Slim series definitely pick this book up. It was super easy to fall back into this world and story and highly entertaining the whole way through. If you haven't read the Sandman Slim series and like dark humor, and gritty action in your urban fantasy reads, what are you waiting for?
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Man, this is bittersweet. Richard Kadrey has announced that In the Devil Wind, the 13th novel in the Sandman Slim saga, will be the last.
I’ve been a fan of the Sandman Slim novels since the very first one. Richard Kadrey’s blend of hard-boiled noir, urban fantasy, horror, and (this next thing is important and I don’t think talked about enough) pitch-black comedy, hits every sweet spot my brain has.
I love Kadrey’s memorable characters, and his deep dive into both angelic and demonic lore. I love that Kadrey never treats James Stark, aka Sandman Slim, as a hero, as a traditional savior. He’s also not an unstoppable antihero. Stark is brutal, sarcastic, deeply, deeply damaged, and relentlessly driven. He gives unwavering support, through Los Angeles, heaven, and hell, to the people he considers his found family. He’s a deadly killer with a giant capacity for love, which gives the books surprising heart.
In the Devil Wind is a richly conceived, if uncharacteristically melancholy, conclusion to the Sandman Slim series. Instead of wrapping up the series with a big, neat bow, Kadrey embraces and amplifies the messy consequences of the choices Stark has made. There’s plenty of Kadrey’s trademark savage action, supernatural intrigue, and razor-sharp humor, but in addition there’s a deeper sense of reflection. Stark is forced to confront the steep cost of vengeance, loyalty, and ultimate survival. For me, this is the most human Stark has ever been, which is weird, considering Stark is dead and the entire novel is set in Heaven, Hell, and points in between.
Kadrey’s mythology, which he’s built up since 2009, has reached its most ambitious scope. It’s audacious, powerful, and most of all satisfying.
Stark is one of urban fantasy’s most unconventional heroes. Yeah, forget what I said earlier, Stark is a hero, in all his messy, conflicted glory.
In the Devil Wind released November 17, 2026, and is available for pre-order now.
Also, speaking of bittersweet…my next read is Petrified Dreams, the final Hap and Leonard novel from Joe R. Lansdale. Damn.
I’ve been a fan of the Sandman Slim novels since the very first one. Richard Kadrey’s blend of hard-boiled noir, urban fantasy, horror, and (this next thing is important and I don’t think talked about enough) pitch-black comedy, hits every sweet spot my brain has.
I love Kadrey’s memorable characters, and his deep dive into both angelic and demonic lore. I love that Kadrey never treats James Stark, aka Sandman Slim, as a hero, as a traditional savior. He’s also not an unstoppable antihero. Stark is brutal, sarcastic, deeply, deeply damaged, and relentlessly driven. He gives unwavering support, through Los Angeles, heaven, and hell, to the people he considers his found family. He’s a deadly killer with a giant capacity for love, which gives the books surprising heart.
In the Devil Wind is a richly conceived, if uncharacteristically melancholy, conclusion to the Sandman Slim series. Instead of wrapping up the series with a big, neat bow, Kadrey embraces and amplifies the messy consequences of the choices Stark has made. There’s plenty of Kadrey’s trademark savage action, supernatural intrigue, and razor-sharp humor, but in addition there’s a deeper sense of reflection. Stark is forced to confront the steep cost of vengeance, loyalty, and ultimate survival. For me, this is the most human Stark has ever been, which is weird, considering Stark is dead and the entire novel is set in Heaven, Hell, and points in between.
Kadrey’s mythology, which he’s built up since 2009, has reached its most ambitious scope. It’s audacious, powerful, and most of all satisfying.
Stark is one of urban fantasy’s most unconventional heroes. Yeah, forget what I said earlier, Stark is a hero, in all his messy, conflicted glory.
In the Devil Wind released November 17, 2026, and is available for pre-order now.
Also, speaking of bittersweet…my next read is Petrified Dreams, the final Hap and Leonard novel from Joe R. Lansdale. Damn.
Review of advance copy received from Edelweiss+
To say I was excited to see a new Sandman Slim novel would be an understatement. As a long time fan of the series, I could not hit the download button fast enough. However, on reflection, I was a little worried. Sure, I loved the series, but let's be honest, the last few in the series felt a little phoned in; still a lot of fun, but lacking...something.
After a gap of several years, would this new Stark be refreshed, or a zombie dry-humping the cash cow?
Happily, it's most definately the former. This is Stark and Kadrey firing on all cylinders, determined to go out in a blaze of glory, and boy howdy do they ever.
I haven't had this much fun with a Sandman novel since The Kill Society. Kadrey says this is *really* the final Sandman book, and as much as this one whetted my appetite for more, this is a fantastic high point to go out on.
After a gap of several years, would this new Stark be refreshed, or a zombie dry-humping the cash cow?
Happily, it's most definately the former. This is Stark and Kadrey firing on all cylinders, determined to go out in a blaze of glory, and boy howdy do they ever.
I haven't had this much fun with a Sandman novel since The Kill Society. Kadrey says this is *really* the final Sandman book, and as much as this one whetted my appetite for more, this is a fantastic high point to go out on.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
(5.0 Stars)
Thank you #NetGalley for making this book available to read and review, and of course to Richard Kadrey for writing it in the first place.
This book was a hell of a way to end a series! It was like returning to an old friend... sure, an old friend who is always bringing the drama and the crazy, but a good friend nonetheless. The audiobook was expertly narrated by Macleod Andrews and the pacing was ideal.
Kadrey has a way of bringing back characters in a way that feels organic and unforced. His story is simultaneously new and familiar. And if you have read the other books in the series you will absolutely love this one!
Thank you #NetGalley for making this book available to read and review, and of course to Richard Kadrey for writing it in the first place.
This book was a hell of a way to end a series! It was like returning to an old friend... sure, an old friend who is always bringing the drama and the crazy, but a good friend nonetheless. The audiobook was expertly narrated by Macleod Andrews and the pacing was ideal.
Kadrey has a way of bringing back characters in a way that feels organic and unforced. His story is simultaneously new and familiar. And if you have read the other books in the series you will absolutely love this one!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
In the Devil Wind
By Richard Kadrey
Pub Date: Nov 17 2026
This is the third and final book i will read in the Sandman Slim series. I really wanted to like this series but I'm beginning to think that urban fantasy just isn't for me.
Thank you to NetGalley and Harper Voyager for the opportunity to read this book early in return for my honest review.
By Richard Kadrey
Pub Date: Nov 17 2026
This is the third and final book i will read in the Sandman Slim series. I really wanted to like this series but I'm beginning to think that urban fantasy just isn't for me.
Thank you to NetGalley and Harper Voyager for the opportunity to read this book early in return for my honest review.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
The final, final book in the Sandman Slim series. Another adventure for Stark in Heaven/Hell. We don't get an lot of our favorite characters as Stark is dead now and they are not. But it was a satisfying story and a satisfying end. Thanks to Netgalley for the free ebook. This is one of my favorite series and anxiously await the audiobook as they are amazingly read by McLeod Andrews.
Review of advance copy received from Edelweiss+
Good conclusion to the series, eventful and with Stark connecting with some old friends and still getting in a bunch of trouble. I'll miss it but I'm also looking forward to Richard Kadrey's next book...
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews