crime writing | TH.Malcolm

Dead After Dark is a collection of essays and short dispatches exploring Southern noir, rural crime, and the moral gray spaces of the Appalachian South. These pieces examine power, silence, memory, and the stories we inherit—whether we want them or not.

Foggy Appalachian forest landscape illustrating the atmosphere of Southern noir crime fiction

The Landscape of Southern Noir: Why Place Matters in Crime Fiction

In Southern noir, landscape isn’t just scenery. It’s pressure. The roads, the hills, the woods, and the long distances between towns shape the choices people make. Geography becomes part of the story — sometimes quietly, sometimes violently.

TH.Malcolm

Mar 103 min read

Foggy woodland path in the Appalachian South typical of the landscapes featured in Southern noir crime fiction

What Is Southern Noir? Crime Fiction from the Dark Corners of the American South

Southern noir sits at the crossroads of crime fiction and regional storytelling. Instead of urban detectives and neon-lit streets, these stories unfold across rural communities where everyone knows everyone — and secrets rarely stay hidden for long.

TH.Malcolm

Mar 92 min read

We Don’t Call the Sheriff for That

Down home, we don’t call the sheriff for everything. Hell, we barely call him for anything.

TH.Malcolm

Feb 121 min read

WHAT AM I READING?

The Silence of the Lambs by Thomas Harris (1991)

WHAT AM I WORKING ON?

> Writing book 3 of the Cromartie trilogy (part of Nashville series)

> Writing Dannah Lynn book (The Emissary)

> Assessing six older books for scrubbing, editing, and publishing

Dead After Dark is a collection of essays and short dispatches exploring Southern noir, rural crime, and the moral gray spaces of the Appalachian South. These pieces examine power, silence, memory, and the stories we inherit—whether we want them or not.

The Landscape of Southern Noir: Why Place Matters in Crime Fiction

What Is Southern Noir? Crime Fiction from the Dark Corners of the American South

We Don’t Call the Sheriff for That

WHAT AM I READING?

The Silence of the Lambs by Thomas Harris (1991)

WHAT AM I WORKING ON?

> Writing book 3 of the Cromartie trilogy (part of Nashville series) > Writing Dannah Lynn book (The Emissary) > Assessing six older books for scrubbing, editing, and publishing

> Writing book 3 of the Cromartie trilogy (part of Nashville series)

> Writing Dannah Lynn book (The Emissary)

> Assessing six older books for scrubbing, editing, and publishing