Tucked away in a corner of Europe, a land-locked country is run by paranoid dictator Viktor Rachmanil who is in serious danger of losing his life...

Nelson K. Foley
Nelson K. Foley

Nelson K. Foley is in fact my real name, but among family, friends and acquaintances I am better known as Keith Foley. I put that down to my mother (but I have no evidence) who got confused when calling out a name, since my father was also 'Nelson'. What is also interesting is that my name honours a family naval lineage that goes back several generations of 'Nelson' and 'Nelson Trafalgar'. It also sounds better as an author name! 

For the lovers of literature, my family tree also includes Arthur Conan Doyle (Sherlock Holmes) who was married to my great grandfather's sister. They were all close friends.  

I am British by origin, with a background in scientific publishing, and a passion for culture, art and travel. I have lived in and near Amsterdam for more years than I can count. The intimacy of having lived in the city, crossed the bridges, and meandered along the canals was the foundation for the story in my first book, helped along with the support of many professional and amateur critics. 

My new book, 'Death by Placebo' is very different from 'The Bridge to Rembrandt'. It is a medical thriller about a dictator who needs a liver transplant, but doesn't trust his doctors, or even his family. The intrigue also takes us to the island in the bay of Naples once owned by my great grandfather and where Arthur Conan Doyle was also a visitor.  

Books

Death by Placebo

Tucked away in a corner of Europe, a land-locked country is run by paranoid dictator Viktor Rachmanil who is in serious danger of losing his life as his liver slowly fails. Only a transplant can save him. Rachmanil is willing to go to any lengths to make sure he has a new liver from the right donor. As he sets his team on a search for the donor,...

The Bridge to Rembrandt

An epic historical saga of time travel and distorted romance, transporting the reader to some of Amsterdam’s most memorable periods of history; wartime, riots, famine, and the plague.

Robert has his own personal medical challenge, diabetes. As you might expect his condition does not exactly sit well with several episodes of accidental...

Other Writing

Time Out - a tale about shenanigans in the TV world Short StoryWe all know

Short Story

We all know that the world of TV and media is full of sharks, right? Marta Packer works for one of these companies and is responsible for rounding up a mixed bag of ex-sporting legends for a new TV concept.

Who are these people and what will they be required to do?

And what happens when there are scavenging pirates from competing media companies with similar ideas?

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Praise

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 12 October 2021
Immobilised in hospital for over a month I was desperate for something unreal to distract me, and was sent this novel. The author’s name intrigued me as they are family names, so I made a start. Most time travel novels that I have read have been too far fetched, but this one resonated with my life. I travel virtually with an online company, and was hugely supported in hospital by the guide from Amsterdam. He too ran several businesses and was married. Then the novel really took over. Nelson took me to many of the places I had just visited online, so it was easy to imagine myself there. Crossing that bridge….oh yes…that was the catalyst in my life and in Robert’s so the time travelling was feasible in my pain addled mind.
This novel has been well researched and problems attacked head on, such as the lack of money, medicines or appropriate clothing. Most time travelling novels ignore these, to concentrate on the romantic side, so it was refreshing to read a novel that understood these problems and took place during known historical events. Even better, it was well written, so I didn’t discard it in frustration because of bad spelling and grammar. It took me several days to read as I was so ill, but the storyline was gripping enough to make me want to reach the end. Then I was disappointed. I wanted more, or a sequel. Nelson, you can’t leave us here, wanting more!

– Phoebe Cowan

Reading this book was the happy result of doing an alphabet reading challenge: I needed an "F" author. The book uses time travel and art history to explore the city of Amsterdam. Nicely done! This was a very enjoyable read. Recommended with 4 🌟 stars.

– Marianne Long

Nelson K. Foley’s “The Bridge to Rembrandt” is a masterful blend of historical fiction, time travel, and romance that immerses the reader in the rich tapestry of Amsterdam’s past. The novel follows Robert, a modern-day man grappling with diabetes, whose accidental time-travel adventures plunge him into some of the most turbulent periods in Dutch history.
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From the moment Robert finds himself whisked away from his contemporary life, the reader is drawn into a vividly detailed Amsterdam, teeming with life and shadowed by the specters of wartime, riots, famine, and the plague. Foley’s meticulous research and evocative descriptions bring each era to life, making the historical settings as much a character in the story as the people themselves.
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The heart of the novel lies in Robert’s recurring encounters with a mysterious woman and his entanglement with the legacy of Rembrandt van Rijn. Each time he travels back in time, Robert’s interactions with this enigmatic figure deepen, raising questions about fate, identity, and the nature of love. Is this woman the same person across different timelines, or is she a different incarnation of an eternal bond? Foley skillfully weaves these threads into a narrative that keeps the reader guessing and invested in Robert’s journey.
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Robert’s struggle with diabetes adds a layer of tension and urgency to the story. The precarious nature of his condition, especially in an era devoid of modern medical conveniences, highlights the stark differences between past and present. Foley does not shy away from depicting the harsh realities of historical life. “The Bridge to Rembrandt” is a captivating tale that not only entertains but also provokes thought about the nature of time, love, and human resilience.

– The Bookbuff

Latest Updates

It took a while, but the book is now published, and I hope you'll enjoy it. The blurb about the book is naturally dramatic, but there is more than just a story about a dictator...

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Keep an eye out for my next book, which is very different from 'The Bridge to Rembrandt'. I am now delving into the world of dictators, but the lead character in this story...

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