Wow, this is my first time reading a novel by this author and it did not disappoint! I felt that the writing was hauntingly beautiful and helped capture the dark and gritty atmosphere that is found in this novel.
.
The story follows multiple characters navigating the whiskey war in a small Texas town. Main characters include Texas ranger Amon Atkins and veteran Jesse, who must deal with the drama and corruption. Overall, really enjoyed this eARC and thankful I picked it up!

Hollow Out the Dark takes place in Depression-era Texas where Prohibition and bootlegging are prominent. The characters feel so real and their storylines are perfectly written. Wade's writing will transport you to a different time and place. This is gritty and atmospheric.

Wow. This book was fantastic! Southern noir that takes place in Depression-era Texas. The characters seem real, and I felt their emotions like they were my own. This is the first thing I’ve read by Wade, but I’ll certainly be back for more.

atmospherically dark but with hints of hope. a beautiful story with effctive characterization. would recommend.

Hollow Out the Dark is a story of betrayal and a story of regret. It is also a story of redemption. Disgraced Texas Ranger, Amon Atkins is sent to the tiny town of Nebat, Texas to investigate the murder of a known low-life. His superiors are hoping that tying the murder to the Fenley brothers will rid the city of crime that plagues their town due to the successful bootlegging business run by the brothers. Little does Atkins know, there are shadowy players involved looking to benefit from the Fenley brothers’ downfall.

Jesse Hollis is a decorated war hero tasked with caring for his brother’s widow and daughter. He gets caught up in the Fenley brothers’ web while trying to help a troubled, former war buddy; and it could cost him everything.

When the two men’s lives collide, we are taken on a brutal journey to uncover how they ended up in their current situation and just how similar they really are.

I will admit that I typically am not interested in the inner workings of rural Texas, or its bootlegging history; but James Wade made this world so compelling that this book was hard to put down. The reveals were interesting and sometimes shocking, and worked well in the context of the story. The plot was intriguing and Wade did a great job weaving the story together.

Unfortunately, the writing left much to be desired, even though the overall story was great. Most of the sentences were short and staccato. They felt choppy, even though the actual words had an elegance to them at times. The characters didn’t really have distinctive voices, so it was sometimes difficult to follow without constant narrative clues. Wade also used the word “and” in a way that felt excessive to the point of distraction.

I left this reading experience very conflicted, because although I enjoyed the story, the book would have benefited greatly from a stronger edit.

⭐️⭐️⭐️

Holy cow, can James Wade write atmosphere and spin a yarn. Every. Single. Time.

I’ll admit, I started reading Hollow Out the Dark with my eyes (digital ARC), and I became intimidated by the vocabulary. Author James Wade USES BIG WORDS, effectively, yes, but my retired brain – most recently regaled by picture book stories - stopped hard. So I decided to switch to reading with my ears, and from there, went back and forth between the digital copy & the audiobook. And next, I will get the hardcover copy and hopefully catch up with the author somewhere and get it autographed.

Why the additional hardcover format? Well, aside from being a book nerd, this is the kind of book that should be held in one’s hands, with the words on paper pages absorbed slowly and revisited often. There are so many noteworthy quotes, turns-of-phrases, and exquisitely written passages.

“Charity’s not just for folks who have plenty; just like courage ain’t just for them without fear.”

Not only does he use the most robust vocabulary, one of the stellar aspects of Wade’s writing is the way he has and translates deep and philosophical thoughts into the everyday characters who are also not so run-of-the-mill. True, there may be a Platonic Demiurge reference that might skate over a reader’s head, but whether I catch them all or not, this reader always finishes one of James Wade’s book feeling a little smarter, a little more thoughtful about the world.

Speaking of finishing, the final chapter and epilogue of Hollow Out the Dark need mentioning. I see what you did there, Mr. Wade. You provided closure and resolutions to all the loose ends that this reader needed tied — and one I’d forgotten was dangling loose! And you did it with panache, giving readers the satisfaction of a come-uppance or two sprinkled with a much-needed dose of hope to pull us out of the darkness. Bravo.

ABOUT THE NARRATOR: I believe this is the third of Wade’s books Roger Clark has narrated, and he’s truly a master of Southern fiction diction. His distinct delivery is the perfect complement to Wade’s exceptional writing. Clark’s pacing made it easy to listen at regular speed; his delivery is nearly flawless. My one small quibble, and I recall it from another Texas-set book as well, is how mispronounces the Brazos River. It’s the only hint that he’s not Texan, and that’s impressive since he’s not one.

Hollow Out the Dark is an example of literary fiction at its finest, and Wade’s breadth of knowledge and storytelling skills shine. This novel secures his title as the Southern Gothic Demiurge.

I've been a longtime fan of James Wade's books and jumped at the opportunity to read his most recent, HOLLOW OUT THE DARK. This novel is set during the Depression and Prohibition eras of American history. Bootlegging, violence, gang wars, corrupt politicians and police, and scarcity are all central to this novel. 
Writing/Plot: 
Wade's distinctive writing style is the appeal in any of his novels. His writing is descriptive and visual to the point where I can imagine the feel of the red clay under my own shoes. 
"The woods were still save a lingering gust of wind somewhere in the treetops. Subtle and soundless, the swaying of the pine like maladaptive kelp. The leaden sky bereft of clouds. An eerie and unmoving calm."
I mean, come on! There are only 26 letters in the alphabet. But Wade puts those letters together into words in such an original way that is just Chef's Kiss. 
Melancholy, truth, and death permeate this story, with no need to mollify the readers. But there is a bit of hope in the epilogues if you are one of those readers who need a happy ending. 
HOLLOW OUT THE DARK follows Texas Ranger Amon Atkins and WWI veteran\reluctant bootlegger Jesse Cole on their separate journeys. Amon is trying to solve a murder; Jesse is trying to protect his friend and family. Both arcs, for me, result in a crisis of personal beliefs and morals. I love this quote from Jesse, and think it could also apply to Amon: 
"Some folks have to be watched over, Danny told his little brother, when Jesse asked him why he'd done it. Other have to do the watching."
Both Amon and Jesse fit the bill of protectors in this novel. 
What strikes me about both characters is their connection to the women in their lives. Amon's wife and son follow him on his different assignments. Cora has supported him throughout his career. We can see the love these two characters have for each other and their son. There is one very moving scene between the three characters that I don't want to spoil, but let's just say that I found myself with a twig or something in my eye while walking on the treadmill! Jesse, on the other hand, is torn between protecting his brother's family, Eliza and Sarah, while fighting his feelings for his first love, Adaline. The juxtaposition of the relationships is noticeable and speaks volumes to the characters' motivation. 
Characters: 
There are A LOT of characters in this book! And a lot of characters that I would not want to hang out with in any way, shape, or form. Most of the Fenley gang. I did gravitate towards the women in the novel and would have appreciated some of the story from their POV's, especially that of Adaline. She has some secrets that were not yet discovered by the end of the novel that I'm still wondering about days later.  
Narration:
I both read and listened to HOLLOW OUT THE DARK. The transition from reading to listening was very seamless. Mr. Clark's narration captivates and enhances Wade's storytelling. The POV switches were easy to follow, with Jesse's and Amon's voices distinct. The production was smooth and enjoyable, with no quality issues with the recording. Clark's voice, speaking patterns, and enthusiasm while narrating are a perfect match for your southern gothic listening needs. 
With Wade's characteristic writing style and Clark's narration, I can easily imagine an old man, sitting on a porch, telling this story to his grandkids. Or anyone else who will listen. It's a bit of a stroll between Amon and Jesse's POV switches, but it's well-written and original. I recommend this to any readers interested in descriptive writing and southern gothic storytelling.

"If darkness is all there is, then you carve out whatever little part of it belongs to you. Hollow out your own place and do anything you have to do to protect it, to protect yourself. Just survive."

Hollow out the Dark by James Wade is an intriguing glance at the human condition during prohibition. The need to survive (physically, emotionally, and financially) during dark economic times will push people to their own personal precipices. When you are poor and/or marginalized to begin with, the times become even darker.

This literary showpiece is primarily about two men in a small east Texas town that is in throes of prohibition and the dark consequences of greed, hate, and corruption. In 1932, the bitter January cold is a major backdrop, with Wade’s lyrical prose breathing life into the bone-chilling weather that grips the entire novel. Amon Atkins is a Texas Ranger called to Enoch, Texas, to investigate a murder. Jesse Cole was a soldier during WWI and has since married his late brother’s wife as a means to protect and provide for her and his niece. While these men are on two different paths and barely interact with each other, they are both embroiled in the escalating nefarious events. One is on the outside as law enforcement, and one is reluctantly on the inside. Both are in the crosshairs of evil.

Hollow out the Dark captures the stark emotional reality of duty, fear, regret, immorality, and murder. Bootlegging was a lucrative business during prohibition, and evading the revenuers was a full-time job. With factories and other businesses closing their doors, the poorest of the poor must take what jobs they can get, even if those jobs cost them their integrity, family, and life. Squirrel and Frog Fenley may be the bootleggers in charge of the local operations, but they are not the only ones pulling the strings.

Evil lurks in the hollow, and both Amon and Jesse are on their own dangerous journeys to find the truth, protect their loved ones, confront their past, and stay alive. When this leg of their journey is complete, they both come face to face with their fate.

James Wade infuses Hollow out the Dark with memorable characters (all of them) and a melancholy plot that pulls no punches and sugarcoats nothing. As the bitter cold snaps branches and darkens the land and human hearts, the people left standing are faced with reality, revenge, promises, and hope.

Wade never disappoints and once again delivers a fantastic literary fiction that will keep you riveted all the way to the last page and then looking for more.

"There's nothing worse than regretting what you've done, except the guilt of no doing anything at all."

This is a dark and gritty crime novel set during Prohibition. There are flashes of Ron Rash in the sparkling language and the plot would fit a David Joy or Michael Farris Smith novel.

Gritty, genuine, historical crime fiction set in Depression-Era East Texas.

Hollow Out the Dark by James Wade is a complex and compelling crime fiction novel set during the Depression, near the end of Prohibition, in sparsely populated deep East Texas. With its genuine characters, desperate storylines, and atmospheric setting, readers will feel transported almost 100 years into the past.

I was immediately absorbed by this story and one of the first aspects that made this happen for me was that every character read like they were a real person, many of whom felt familiar and personally known. Their words, the cadence of the language, the small bits of humor, and the fears all combined to create a feeling that these were genuine people. For the most part these are sturdy people, toughened by life and circumstance. The men are hard, products of short childhoods and early responsibility. You had to be tough to last into adulthood and tougher still to stick around long enough to get old. Or someone really had to be looking out for you.

The author gives us some truly evil characters, and the good guys are forced to choose between compromising their integrity and ideals or risking everything or everyone they love: impossible situations with impossible choices. But how far will good men go to protect those they love or do what needs doing? And at what cost?

The action takes place in an atmospheric rural setting and small town in East Texas, small because most of the population is spread out over the surrounding farmed as well as unfarmable land. While everyone knows everyone else and their business, neighbors aren’t right next door, making it the perfect location for bootlegging and other activities that don’t suffer an audience well. The Depression comes alive in this story and just when you think the hard times can’t get any harder, they do. The plot twists were sudden and often shocking.

I recommend HOLLOW OUT THE DARK for readers of historical crime fiction, especially those who would enjoy an East Texas or Depression Era setting.

An intense journey through the past with a character that it was easy to like - Jesse was easy to attach to and root for, even when he was making mistakes or questionable decisions. It was a complicated time and despite the fact that I generally don't read a lot of historical fiction, I was totally gripped in this story.

This book is about a whiskey war in Texas in 1932. It has a very high body count. Maybe my capacity to be interested in the doings of lowlifes has been exceeded, but I just didn’t care what happened to any of these people. There was a lot of lyrical language that seemed wasted on a bunch of awful, corrupt and violent people.

I enjoyed the author’s “Beasts of the Earth”, but could not finish his “River, Sing Out”. This book fell in the middle. At least I managed to finish this book, although I did consider stopping several times.

I received a free copy of this book from the publisher.

Hollow Out the Dark by author James Wade is yet another example of how this author “paints” his stories with poetic prose. His landscape is the blank page, and oh how he can fill it!

Wade is the only author I’ve read where the storyline is actually second to the telling of it. If you’ve ever read anything by this author, I’m sure you know what I mean.

This story is set in and around the East Texas town of Enoch in 1932. That would put it about fifteen years after the end of World War I, over a decade into the Prohibition era, and several years into the Great Depression. All three of those impact the storyline.

This book is actually two parallel storylines that eventually come together. The first of these tells the path of Jesse Cole, a war hero who came back to find his only brother dead, and then he “did the right thing” and married his brother’s widow to help raise his niece.

The second storyline follows the path of Texas Ranger Amon Atkins. After committing a career-altering act during a traffic stop that resulted in the death of his partner and severe injury to a politician’s son, Amon is sent alone to Enoch to investigate a murder.

Both storylines quickly become entangled in a local bootlegging war, and the casualties are piling up.

The storylines seem somewhat complex when explaining them, but they don’t seem that way when reading them. Something else I want to mention: I typically have a hard time remembering who characters are if there are more than just a few. This book has about a dozen prominent characters, and I had no trouble remembering each one. I don’t know how Wade pulled that off, but he did well.

The real joy in James Wade novels is not really the story, but the reading. Some folks say it’s not about the destination but the journey. That’s certainly true in these books. I’m a slow reader to begin with, but I read Wade stories even slower so I can savor the words that make the sentences that make the paragraphs that make the chapters that make the story. That is my joy!

As an example, consider the way this author describes headlights being seen in the distance: “Headlights coming down off Harmatia Hill like synchronized souls falling from grace, burning the dark there before them and then gone into the trees, and the curtain of night again drawing shut.” I wouldn’t gush so much about Wade’s writing if that was a one-off. No, the entire book reads like that. I’m not kidding.

When I read one of Wade’s novels, I feel like I’m in the presence of literary brilliance. I’ve often considered how anyone could combine words the way he does to make these passages flow together. But most times I just read and enjoy.

The pacing is somewhat slow, but I consider that appropriate for the story. The story arcs are quite good; the main characters change significantly during the course of the story. The organization is also quite good, with the chapters somewhat alternating (all in third person narrative) between the two main characters.

Depending on where you read this review, you will likely see a 5-star rating. However, if you read this on my blog, you will note it only has a 4.5-star rating. I want to explain that after all the gushing above. I did not really care for the way the storylines came to a close. I would never have expected that, but that is just my opinion. But the reader is not left hanging, so there is satiety in that.

Despite my picky half-star deduction, this is still an exceptional story. The joy is in the reading. You need to prepare your world to be colored as only James Wade can do.

This story drew me in from the start. It is told through multiple POVs and through that, we get such an expansive and detailed view as to what life was like for these characters and what survival meant to/for them.

I would definitely recommend this book for people looking for a fast plot while not losing the characters and great writing!

James Wade brings another terrific story to life.

One thing you can always count on in a novel from James Wade is the extreme contrast of characters. The villains are truly despicable people with little or no moral restraint. The heroes, while flawed in many ways, hold decency and integrity in the depths of their hearts, even if they’re sometimes forced by circumstances to walk on the dark side to accomplish a greater good. That contrast plays out so well in the characters of Jesse and Hollis and Moss – the “good” guys who are up against Squirrel, Frog, Blackwell, and Preston.

When those characters clash, it’s in the most heart-stopping scenes that make a reader anxious to get to the end of the action, but a little afraid of what’s to come. Those encounters don’t always end in a typical the-good-guys-win scenario, so we’re never sure what the author is going to throw at us.

Wade throws plenty. He doesn’t hold back when it comes to presenting the harsh reality of a hard life in a hard place at a hard time in history. That reality is not always pleasant to read about, but even the scenes that depict the worst of humanity are written in a style that makes it hard to look away.

In contrast with that are the scenes drawn for us with exquisite descriptions and a narrative that can be enjoyed and savored. I often reread sections just to absorb the depth and beauty of the writing.

For example, here’s a tender love scene between Jesse and Adaline, “They hold one another, and more, and afterward they bathe in the cool water and dry on the rocks like lizards. They tell each other secrets and make promises they can’t hope to keep, but such is their youth and their love and the warmth of the moment.”

Another example is this poignant presentation of the thoughts of a dying man, “He listened to the bird song and dreamed of the spring to come. Of honeysuckle and clover and rich fragrant pine, of Maypops and azaleas, monarchs and hummingbirds and whitetail bucks, their antlers rendered in velvet; and all the world awakening at once, reborn and full from the cold and the dark and manifested in such color and wonder and soul-aching beauty and he knew he could stay there, in that soft, bright tomorrow, if only he kept closed his eyes.”

A stream of consciousness that reads as if we’re inside that person’s head, seeing all those things with their eyes and hearing with their ears. Bringing a reader that deeply into a story, into a character, is not easily achieved, and this writer is always in awe of an author who can do that.

Wade is the best at atmospheric crime fiction and you won’t be disappointed if you grab his latest release.

This is the first James Wade novel for me. I received the advanced reader's copy from the publisher, Blackstone Publishing through NetGalley. This is my own personal and unsolicited opinion about the story.
This is an intense story. James Wade is possibly the only author that I have read to date that reminds me of John Steinbeck. You would have to favor Steinbeck's incredible writing and read the sentences that Woods has woven together to understand my reaction. (Now I predominantly read Christian fiction these days so be aware that this work is much grittier and darker than my normal content.)
To me there are two main characters here. Jesse Cole, a World War I veteran, has returned to his hometown and settles into a quiet life caring for family during depression time. His best friend, a needy sort, crosses paths with "Frog and Squirrel" Finley which leads to all kinds of trouble.
Texas Ranger, Amon Atkins is assigned to the area to investigate the Finley brothers for suspicion of murder.
This is one intense story. The descriptive writing caused me to feel the heaviness of the depression that darkened the land, it's people. Jesse, Amon and Moss are The main characters to me. I won't forget them for a time. Just like Tom Joad or George and Lennie. (Steinbeck) I don't want to talk about their stories and introduce spoilers. Just know, in my opinion, this is raw. It is not romance; it is not warm and fuzzy. This is war, yet not War as Jesse has already been through. There is defeat with one hope. There is evil, despair, sparks of beauty and reality with terrible secrets. Note: Explicit language, (possible triggers) graphic violence, mental depression, suicide and murder.

Haunting and surprising. I recommend this one. It has a lot of interesting twists and turns.
Lots of trauma and heartbreak.
Any Whiskey enthusiast will like it.

James Wade's Hollow Out the Dark is a gritty and atmospheric Southern noir that immerses readers in the lawless world of Prohibition-era Texas. The novel follows Jesse Cole, a war veteran returning home to a small town engulfed in a violent whiskey war.
Wade's prose is evocative and poetic, painting a vivid picture of the desolate landscape and the morally ambiguous characters who inhabit it. The story is driven by a sense of impending doom, as the tensions between rival bootleggers and corrupt lawmen escalate.
At the heart of the novel is a complex exploration of morality and the choices that must be made in desperate times. Jesse Cole, a character haunted by his wartime experiences, finds himself caught between his desire for redemption and the harsh realities of his surroundings.
While Hollow Out the Dark is a dark and violent novel, it also offers moments of tenderness and humanity. Wade's characters are flawed and complex, making their struggles and choices all the more compelling.
For fans of Southern Gothic fiction and gritty crime dramas, Hollow Out the Dark is a must-read. Wade's masterful storytelling and unflinching portrayal of the human condition make this novel a standout in the genre.

Dark, dark, dark, story set in rural Texas during the prohibition. The bad guys are bad and the good guys are sometimes worse. Hard to find a hero in this riveting tale as men struggle to survive and uphold their honor. A super read if you enjoy noir and grim stories in gritty settings.

"If the world was a good place, it wouldn't need good men."

In a rural Texas town during the Great Depression era, Jesse Cole, an ever the optimist war veteran, is married to his late brother’s wife and living each day just trying to get by. He lives by a seemingly set code until he is forced to bend his own morals to protect the people he loves.

Wade does it again from his unbelievably real characters to the twists and turns you never see coming. I absolutely love the writing and felt as though I was right there with the characters.

This story is heartbreaking and dark, but in the best way. Wade leaves no stone unturned and will have you coming back to passages over and over again.

Thanks to Blackstone Publishing and James Wade for the ARC, and NetGalley for the audiobook ARC!