Narrow the Road

A Novel

By: James Wade

Narrated by: Roger Clark

In this gripping coming-of-age odyssey, a young man’s quest to reunite his family takes him on a life-altering journey through the wilds of 1930s East Texas, where both danger and opportunity grow as thick as the pines.

With his father missing and his mother gravely ill, William Carter is struggling to keep his family’s cotton farm afloat in the face of drought and foreclosure. As his options wane, William receives a mysterious letter that claims to know his father’s whereabouts.

Together with his best friend Ollie, a mortician in training, William sets out to find his father and bring him home to set things right. But before the boys can complete their quest, they must navigate the labyrinth of the Big Thicket, some of the country’s most uncharted, untamed land. Along the way they encounter eccentric backwoods characters of every order, running afoul of murderers, bootleggers, and even the legendary Bonnie and Clyde.

From award-winning author James Wade, Narrow the Road is a riveting exploration of a young man’s hard-won coming-of-age and the courageous ways a person can forge a singular path in the face of overwhelming adversity. Alive with grit and tenderness, this is an unforgettable story of the power of friendship to sustain us through loss, betrayal, and devastating consequence.

©2025 James Wade (P)2025 Blackstone Publishing

Critic reviews

2025 Garden & Gun magazine pick

2025 Texas Highways magazine pick

Great Coming of Age Story

I loved this book. It kind of reminded me of Huckleberry Finn. The pace of the story keeps you reading/listening.

Great story.

I love everything except for the mispronounced town names, but most people would never know.

I couldn’t put it down- deep and compelling tale of a journey through parts of Texas all too familiar…

Such a textural story- Mr. Wade’s depth of character and atmospheric description makes the journey so palpable for the reader. I can even smell the smells- Highly recommend.