Landis Wade
Mystery & Thriller Author
Recovering Trial Lawyer
WadeScripts Newsletter
WadeScripts is where I share reading, writing and life stuff, and what comes next. Join today and get the first six chapters of my upcoming book, Deadly Gold Rush (scheduled for release March 3, 2026) absolutely free!
Murder, mines, and missing millions — retirement just got interesting at the Independence Retirement Community.
Deadly Gold Rush
Book Two in the Indie Retirement Mystery Series
Murder, mines, and missing millions — retirement just got interesting.
When a shady real estate developer is found murdered beneath Harriet Keaton’s family home—shot, stabbed, and surrounded by rare 1830s gold coins—her estranged twin brother Joey is the prime suspect. He insists he’s innocent…but won’t name the real culprit.
With Joey refusing to talk and millions missing from the retirement accounts, the future of the Independence Retirement Community is suddenly on the line. Now, whip-smart Harriet and her sleuthing partners—Craig Travail (savvy lawyer, reluctant romantic) and Yeager Alexander (conspiracy theorist, resident rabble-rouser)—must dig into the past to solve the crime.
Their best lead? A decades-old memoir from Harriet’s treasure-obsessed father and whispers of a long-lost gold hoard.
But treasure has a way of attracting trouble. As fortunes vanish and suspects multiply, the trio must untangle two decades of betrayal—before the killer strikes again.
Murder, mayhem, and the Carolina gold rush: welcome back to the Indie, where retirement is anything but quiet.
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(coming March 3, 2026)
Deadly Declarations
Book One in the Indie Retirement Mystery Series
An unlikely trio of retirees try to solve the 250 year-old mystery of the controversial and long-vanished Mecklenburg Declaration of Independence. That is, if they don’t die trying.
A mysterious death and an equally mysterious handwritten will open a door to the past
A story mixing history, mystery, humor, courtroom drama, and suspense
Can three retirees rise to the challenge of solving a mystery that has evaded historians for more than two centuries that–if solved–would change U.S. history?
A historical cover-up and “One of the greatest curiosities and one of the deepest mysteries that ever occurred to me,” said John Adams, second President of the United States.
“Spurious” and an “apocryphal gospel” said Thomas Jefferson, principal author of the Declaration of Independence.
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Enjoy These Samples
Winner: Mystery
Winner: Cozy Mystery
Winner: Historical
Silver: Mystery
Bronze: Legal Thriller
Finalist: Mystery
Finalist: Thriller/Adventure
Finalist: Historical Fiction
Finalist: Mystery/Suspense
Finalist: Legal Thriller
“Deadly Declarations is a fine example of how historical precedents can neatly weave into modern times to create a dilemma that is captivatingly contemporary.” – Midwest Book Review
“Cozy mystery fans will revel in this delightful mix of history, courtroom drama and engaging characters.” – BookLife Reviews
“This book is exemplary in its structure, organization, pacing, and in character appeal (or interest) and development. All main characters (including antagonists) are unique and fully fleshed out with compelling, layered motivations and traits.” – 30th Annual Writer’s Digest Self-Published Book Awards
“A page-turning tale that takes an unexpected journey through law, history, and retiree living.” – Kirkus Reviews
Death by Podcasting
by Sarah Archer and Landis Wade
Engaging characters enliven this brisk and entertaining mystery. — Kirkus Reviews
Podcast co-hosts Raspy Fuse and Salty Remarks receive an anonymous text: one of the three author guests you plan to interview Tuesday night intends to kill you both. Is it egotistical poet William Z. Wisp, sexy romance author Della Molasses, or tightly wound thriller writer Edwin Nocturne want to kill them?
Raspy and Salty must unravel the plot before it’s too late, but if they can’t, their sense of humor and wordplay will be all they have to avoid death by podcasting.
This clever, comedic mystery will keep you guessing until the final revelation.
Jenifer Ruff, USA Today bestselling thriller and mystery author
A unique cocktail that’s pure fun from start to finish.
Bobby Nash, award-winning author of the Snow thriller series
If you binged “Only Murders in the Building” and are feeling withdrawal pangs, you need “Death by Podcasting.”
Nora Gaskin, award-winning author of The Worst Thing
The Write Quotes Series
These eight writing books share quotes from 500+ author interviews about writing, the writing life, publishing, and book marketing. Available in print and eBook. The eBook for Book 1 is free. Learn more.
The Christmas Courtroom Trilogy
The Christmas Courtroom Trilogy started as a family Christmas gift and finished up with The Christmas Redemption, which won the 2018 Holiday category of the 12th Annual National Indie Excellence Awards and was the 2018 Holiday category Honorable Mention in the 10th Annual Readers’ Favorite Awards.
Available in Individual Print and E-books
The Trilogy is also available on Audiobooks
The books are wonderfully narrated by Bill A. Jones, best known as an actor for his humorous role as news anchor “Rod Remington” on Fox TV’s Glee. He also has appeared on Comedy Central’s Workaholics, The King Of Queens, CSI New York, Everybody Hates Chris, General Hospital, Days of Our Lives, and many other shows, has done voiceover work for such clients as The Disney Channel, Warner Brothers, and The Fox Movie Channel, and was named one of LA’s Best Concert/Cabaret Artists.
Audiobook Samples
About Landis Wade
Landis Wade is a recovering trial lawyer who writes mysteries and legal thrillers with amateur sleuths and underdog attorneys.
His Christmas Courtroom Trilogy has been called a cross between My Cousin Vinny and Miracle on 34th Street.
His Indie Retirement Mystery series involves humor, good puzzles, and engaging retirees who solve mysteries with a historic component. Deadly Declarations, book 1 in the series, won ten awards, including Winner in the 2022 American Fiction Awards in the Cozy Mystery category, and Winner in the Mystery category in the 17th Annual National Indie Excellence Awards. Next in the series is Deadly Gold Rush. His love of history led to this series.
Landis also founded the popular Charlotte Readers Podcast where he interviewed more than 500 authors, and compiled The Write Quotes series–8 books that feature inspirational and practical quotes from those authors. While podcasting, he co-wrote a novella with podcast co-host Sarah Archer titled Death by Podcasting, a comedic mystery about the danger of podcasting with author guests.
The Charlotte Writers Club awarded Landis their 2025 Adelia Kimball Founders Award for service to the club and the literary community. He lives in North Carolina, where he grew up, went to school, practiced law, and learned to write. He enjoys travel, playing golf, reading, and spending time in the mountains and at the beach.
Founder/Co-Host: Charlotte Readers Podcast
Landis founded and co-hosted the popular and award-winning Charlotte Readers Podcast (picked Best Podcast 2019 by Queen City Nerve) where he and his co-hosts Hannah Larrew and Sarah Archer interviewed more than 500 authors. The podcast wrapped with its 400th episode, but all back episodes can be accessed HERE and on the podcast platforms of your choice. The podcast features authors who read from and talk about their books. In the final two years of the podcast, the hosts shared book recommendations and their expertise on writing and the business of writing.
Praise for the Podcast
“In a short amount of time, Charlotte Readers Podcast has made itself into a hub of the North Carolina literary scene. Landis Wade is a perceptive, sympathetic host and the show has quickly become essential listening.”
Gavin Edwards
Author of Kindness and Wonder, Why Mr. Rogers Matters More Now Than Ever (Harper Collins) and New York Times-bestselling author of ten books (including The Tao of Bill Murray and The World According to Tom Hanks).
“Landis Wade is one of those rare interviewers who reads your book, asks exceptionally intelligent and original questions, listens to your answers, and then asks follow-up questions. We authors are lucky to have Landis; people who love books are lucky to have Landis; Charlotte is lucky to have Landis.”
Judy Goldman
Author of Together: A Memoir of a Marriage and a Medical Mishap,(Nan A. Talese/Knopf Doubleday) and three other books.
“Charlotte Readers Podcast is as good as it gets, and Landis Wade is smart, funny and engaging, an absolutely great host. I’m a fan, and I’m hurrying to finish another book so I can visit the show again.”
Martin Clark
Author of The Substitution Order (Alfred A. Knopf Publishing) and four other novels.
Speaker & Moderator
Landis enjoys speaking and moderating conversations about books (his and others), how writers write, and the craft and business of writing, for book clubs, literary organizations, radio and podcasts and at classes and festivals. His journey from trial lawyer to author has been marked by curiosity and the desire to learn. Landis conducted and facilitated more than 500 interviews, discussions, and presentations with Charlotte Readers Podcast, Charlotte Writers’ Club, public libraries, the North Carolina Humanities Council, and various writing groups.
Landis is available to speak to or moderate a discussion for your club, group or organization, whether it be about books (his or others), writing, podcasting, or his interesting path as a recovering trial lawyer.