Authors Blogs
Welcome to my author’s blog on my new website, williamoakeswrites.com. We created it to support the release of my first novel Chasing Evil and share some thoughts from time to time.
The characters in the book are a combination of many of the people I met and worked with during my career, as well as people I covered while I was a broadcast and later newspaper reporter and columnist. Old friends and acquaintances who recognize their names or descriptions will hopefully view kindly my borrowing something from them.
The book deals with the human desire to be evil. Something I’ve never understood while also being fascinated with its long presence in the human condition. Hope you enjoy the journey that my main character Conor Cavanaugh makes as he battles with his personal confrontation with evil.
William Oakes
Chasing Evil is my first novel and if she were around one of my first elementary school teachers Miss Furr wouldn’t be surprised that I’ve written a book of fiction. She once wrote on my report card that my parents should encourage me to tell the truth during personal story time. Apparently, my personal stories were too much to believe.
As for my novel, it is the result of about 18 months of writing and rewriting. It fulfills a lifelong dream of writing a book and turned out to be more challenging than I thought.
During that more than a year and a half, I made an effort to learn how some of my favorite authors write their novels and how they ventured into book publishing. Insights from Craig Johnson (whom I got to meet and talk to twice), David Baldacci, Jack Carr, John Sandford, C.J. Box and Brad Thor among many, were immensely helpful.
About The Book
Chasing Evil
Chasing Evil is an enthralling thriller that examines how one crime transforms the lives of a family, a community, and a lawman. As a violent crime disrupts a small Indiana town, the impact of that crime will span decades and will change lives, careers, and leave questions. The novel’s main character is Conor Cavanaugh, an experienced detective who is drawn once again to a case that is tied to his childhood and his father’s run-in with some killers who escaped.
As the story unfolds, the past collides with the present. Old evidence resurfaces, political pressure mounts, and a dangerous predator continues to move unseen. This is not just a hunt for criminals, it is a fight against memory, grief, and the long shadow of Evil. Written with realism and emotional depth, Chasing Evil shows how some crimes never truly end.
book trailer
William Oakes
William Oakes is a debut novelist with a lifelong passion for storytelling and truth-seeking. Raised in a small town in Central Indiana, he built a successful career in journalism, spending ten years as a broadcast reporter, newspaper journalist, and political columnist. His work included investigative reporting and coverage of crime, courts, and government—experiences that now shape the realism and depth of his fiction.
After earning his degree from Purdue University and raising a family with his wife, Fran, William transitioned into public relations and marketing before retiring. Retirement gave him the time to return fully to creative writing, resulting in his first novel, Chasing Evil. With compelling characters and more mysteries ahead, William Oakes is just getting started—and his stories are far from finished.
Your Comments are Welcomed
who should read this book
This book is for readers who appreciate serious and realistic crime fiction. If you enjoy stories involving investigations, complicated characters, and the impact of violence, Chasing Evil will engage you. It will captivate fans of police procedurals, cold-case mysteries, and psychological thrillers.
It will also appeal to readers who seek stories about family, loss, and justice, rather than merely stories about breathless action. The novel examines the effects of crime on victims, on law enforcement, and on communities over time. It is for readers who appreciate stories of morally ambiguous characters and real crime. It will particularly appeal to those who enjoy authors who build tension and authenticity over time.
What Kept The Readers Hooked?
The gradual turn to the truth, the heartfelt burden of unspoken justice, and the villain that never really went away keep the readers glued.
The novel balances personal interests with a sense of unstopping anxiety, and each discovery comes out as a life-threatening victory. The past will not remain buried, nor can the reader.
testimonial
A dark, intense story that feels frighteningly real. The characters stayed with me long after I finished reading. Chasing Evil isn’t just a thriller; it’s a reminder that some crimes never let go.
I couldn’t put this book down. The investigation feels authentic, and the emotional impact is powerful. This is the kind of crime novel that makes you uneasy in the best way.
Raw, disturbing, and deeply human. The author captures how violence echoes through families and time. Chasing Evil is gripping without being flashy, just honest and haunting.
Here's What I've Been Thinking
Authors Blogs
William Oakes grew up in a small town in Central Indiana, the son of a plumber and a devoted housewife. While completing his degree at Purdue University, he married his high school sweetheart, Fran.