May | 2025 | topshelfmerricklibrary

“James Wade’s newest novel, Hollow Out the Dark, is a masterpiece of atmospheric crime fiction; a worthy successor to the likes of William Gay and Cormac McCarthy. Set in East Texas, it is an epic, and age-old, story of greed and generational betrayal—where vengeance is swift and forgiveness a long time coming.” Kathleen Kent, NYT bestselling author of Black Wolf

I was thrilled to welcome back four-time guest James Wade of the podcast to talk about his gripping new release, Hollow Out the Dark – a Depression-era gothic crime thriller wrapped in a whiskey war. It’s edge-of-your-seat storytelling at its finest.
We dive into the novel’s powerful themes of brotherhood, its echoes of Cain and Abel, James’s thoughtful use of epigraphs, his unique writing process, and his uncanny ability to craft complex, unforgettable villains. We even get a sneak peek at his upcoming summer 2025 release.
We packed a lot into this episode, so don’t miss it.
Thanks for joining me once again, James!

James Wade recommends: Turtle House by Amanda Churchill; Orbital by Samantha Harvey; the work of Lauren Groff; the work of Robert Gwaltney.

Place your hold here for all James Wade titles.