{"id":8854,"date":"2026-08-11T06:12:23","date_gmt":"2026-08-11T06:12:23","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/josephrauch.com\/therauchreview\/?p=8854"},"modified":"2026-08-11T06:12:23","modified_gmt":"2026-08-11T06:12:23","slug":"blake-crouch","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/josephrauch.com\/therauchreview\/author-profiles\/blake-crouch\/","title":{"rendered":"Blake Crouch: Early Self-Publishing to Screenwriting Adaptations"},"content":{"rendered":"

Best-selling author and screenwriter Blake Crouch started writing from a young age, but his career hasn\u2019t taken a linear path. In a 2024 interview, Crouch described his writing career as \u201cserpentine<\/a>.\u201d<\/p>\n

From 2004 to 2010, he published his earliest works through traditional means: he worked with an agent and sold his manuscripts to a large publishing house, St. Martin\u2019s Press. However, his sales were never spectacular.<\/p>\n

When the Amazon Kindle emerged, allowing writers to self-publish their work on the platform, Crouch had a new way to share his stories with readers. He regained the rights to some of his traditionally-published books and re-released them as e-books on platforms like Kindle and Nook. He also self-published \u201cRun\u201d in 2011. After this period, Crouch\u2019s saw huge sales.<\/p>\n

Despite his \u201cserpentine\u201d career, Crouch has steadily showcased his skills as a writer in the crime, thriller, mystery and science fiction genres. His story begins well before his first book was published.<\/p>\n

Blake Crouch: A Brief Biography<\/h2>\n

Blake Crouch was born near Statesville, North Carolina on October 15, 1978. He attended North Iredell High School<\/a> and graduated from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill<\/a> with degrees in English and creative writing. Today, he lives in Colorado with his two children.<\/p>\n

While his writing career was gaining a foothold, Crouch spent several years working a series of odd jobs like bartending and bookselling. His first two books, \u201cDesert Places\u201d and \u201cLocked Doors\u201d, were self-published in 2004 and 2005, respectively, before being picked up by a traditional publisher. Yet, it was only once he self-published in 2011 that his career took off.<\/p>\n

Crouch is also a screenwriter, which invites him to be actively involved in the process for adapting the handful of his stories whose television rights have been sold. Additionally, he\u2019s published short stories in publications like Ellery Queen Mystery Magazine<\/a>, Alfred Hitchcock’s Mystery Magazine<\/a> and Cemetery Dance Publications<\/a>.<\/p>\n<\/div>

Blake Crouch\u2019s Books<\/h2>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>
\"Desert<\/a><\/span><\/div>
BUY NOW<\/span><\/a><\/div>
BUY NOW<\/span><\/a><\/div><\/div><\/div>
‘Andrew Z. Thomas\/Luther Kite series<\/a>‘<\/div><\/div>
<\/div>
CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform\/Kindle Direct Publishing<\/em>, 2011-2023<\/strong><\/div><\/div>
<\/div>

Within the Andrew Z. Thomas\/Luther Kite series, readers can find titles \u201cDesert Places,\u201d \u201cLocked Doors,\u201d \u201cBreak You\u201d and \u201cStirred.\u201d The series follows novelist Andrew Thomas as he\u2019s framed for murder in the first book. He\u2019s blackmailed to do as his adversary orders, otherwise risk being turned into the police. In later books, Thomas comes up against new and old antagonists, including the titular Luther Kite.<\/p>\n

Readers repeatedly call the series fast-paced, eerie and tense. It keeps readers on the edges of their seats. While reviewers say the first book relies on tropes of the horror and thriller genres, the later books take a more original approach.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>

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Reviews<\/p><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>

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\u2018Desert Places\u2019<\/p><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>

<\/div><\/div><\/div>
<\/div><\/div><\/span>
3.9 out of 5<\/div><\/span>
<\/div><\/div><\/div>
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Amazon<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div>

<\/div><\/div><\/span>
3.48 out of 5<\/div><\/span>
<\/div><\/div><\/div>
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StoryGraph<\/a><\/u><\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div>

<\/div><\/div><\/span>
3.73 out of 5<\/div><\/span>
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Goodreads<\/a><\/u><\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>

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\u2018Locked Doors\u2019<\/p><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>

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4.2 out of 5<\/div><\/span>
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Amazon<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div>

<\/div><\/div><\/span>
3.61 out of 5<\/div><\/span>
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StoryGraph<\/a><\/u><\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div>

<\/div><\/div><\/span>
3.94 out of 5<\/div><\/span>
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Goodreads<\/a><\/u><\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>

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\u2018Break You\u2019<\/p><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>

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3.8 out of 5<\/div><\/span>
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Amazon<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div>

<\/div><\/div><\/span>
3.26 out of 5<\/div><\/span>
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StoryGraph<\/a><\/u><\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div>

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3.66 out of 5<\/div><\/span>
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Goodreads<\/a><\/u><\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>

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\u2018Stirred\u2019<\/p><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>

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4.1 out of 5<\/div><\/span>
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Amazon<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div>

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3.93 out of 5<\/div><\/span>
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StoryGraph<\/a><\/u><\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div>

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4.06 out of 5<\/div><\/span>
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Goodreads<\/a><\/u><\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>

\"Abandon,<\/a><\/span><\/div>
BUY NOW<\/span><\/a><\/div>
BUY NOW<\/span><\/a><\/div><\/div><\/div>
‘Abandon<\/a>‘<\/div><\/div>
<\/div>
Ballantine Books<\/em>, 2023<\/strong><\/div><\/div>
<\/div>

In a small gold-mining town in the late 19th century, the residents suddenly vanished. Their belongings and homes stayed put, but no bones or other remains were found. 116 years later, a history professor and his journalist daughter trek to the abandoned town hoping to find answers. All they know are the legends and that a previous expedition was never heard from again. \u201cAbandon\u201d is told through two narratives in different timelines as readers piece together what exactly happened to this mysterious small town.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>

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Reviews<\/p><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>

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4.0 out of 5<\/div><\/span>
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Amazon<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div>

<\/div><\/div><\/span>
3.36 out of 5<\/div><\/span>
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StoryGraph<\/a><\/u><\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div>

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3.62 out of 5<\/div><\/span>
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Goodreads<\/a><\/u><\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>

\"Snowbound,<\/a><\/span><\/div>
BUY NOW<\/span><\/a><\/div>
BUY NOW<\/span><\/a><\/div><\/div><\/div>
‘Snowbound<\/a>‘<\/div><\/div>
<\/div>
CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform<\/em>, 2013<\/strong><\/div><\/div>
<\/div>

When Will and Devlin suddenly lose their wife and mother, Will immediately is under suspicion by local authorities. The two flee, but are soon tracked down by an FBI agent, but not to arrest Will. Rather, he informs the two that their case is one among many. This is how Crouch\u2019s crime thriller \u201cSnowbound\u201d begins, keeping readers hooked from page one.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>

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Reviews<\/p><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>

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4.1 out of 5<\/div><\/span>
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Amazon<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div>

<\/div><\/div><\/span>
3.38 out of 5<\/div><\/span>
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StoryGraph<\/a><\/u><\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div>

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3.74 out of 5<\/div><\/span>
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<\/div>

Goodreads<\/a><\/u><\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>

\"Run,<\/a><\/span><\/div>
BUY NOW<\/span><\/a><\/div>
BUY NOW<\/span><\/a><\/div><\/div><\/div>
‘Run<\/a>‘<\/div><\/div>
<\/div>
Ballantine Books<\/em>, 2024<\/strong><\/div><\/div>
<\/div>

In another demonstration of his skills in the thriller genre, Crouch\u2019s \u201cRun\u201d describes five days during which a spree of murders occur across the country. At the start of the novel, narrator Jack Colclough reads his name on the list of those to be killed. He doesn\u2019t know why the murders are happening. His only option is to run and hide.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>

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Reviews<\/p><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>

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<\/div><\/div><\/span>
4.2 out of 5<\/div><\/span>
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Amazon<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div>

<\/div><\/div><\/span>
3.61 out of 5<\/div><\/span>
<\/div><\/div><\/div>
<\/div>

StoryGraph<\/a><\/u><\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div>

<\/div><\/div><\/span>
3.77 out of 5<\/div><\/span>
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<\/div>

Goodreads<\/a><\/u><\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>

\"Dark<\/a><\/span><\/div>
BUY NOW<\/span><\/a><\/div>
BUY NOW<\/span><\/a><\/div><\/div><\/div>
‘Dark Matter<\/a>‘<\/div><\/div>
<\/div>
Ballantine Books<\/em>, 2017<\/strong><\/div><\/div>
<\/div>

As one of Crouch\u2019s most well-known books, \u201cDark Matter\u201d is a science-fiction thriller that follows one man as his reality is flipped upside down. Jason Dessen is walking home one evening when a masked assailant knocks him unconscious. When Jason wakes, he\u2019s strapped to a gurney and told \u201cwelcome back.\u201d In this new reality, he isn\u2019t married to his wife, his son was never born and he is a renowned scientist. The story follows Jason as he tries to determine what is real through a mind-bending and terrifying journey.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>

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Reviews<\/p><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>

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4.4 out of 5<\/div><\/span>
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Amazon<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div>

<\/div><\/div><\/span>
4.08 out of 5<\/div><\/span>
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StoryGraph<\/a><\/u><\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div>

<\/div><\/div><\/span>
4.13 out of 5<\/div><\/span>
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Goodreads<\/a><\/u><\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>

\"Recursion,<\/a><\/span><\/div>
BUY NOW<\/span><\/a><\/div>
BUY NOW<\/span><\/a><\/div><\/div><\/div>
‘Recursion<\/a>‘<\/div><\/div>
<\/div>
Ballantine Books<\/em>, 2020<\/strong><\/div><\/div>
<\/div>

Barry Sutton is an investigator who\u2019s looking into False Memory Syndrome. This mysterious ailment implants false memories into individuals and ultimately drives them mad. Neuroscientist Helena Smith in creating a technology that would allow people to preserve their memories and reexperience them. As Barry learns more, he uncovers a devastating truth that threatens their minds and pasts.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>

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Reviews<\/p><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>

<\/div><\/div><\/div>
<\/div><\/div><\/span>
4.4 out of 5<\/div><\/span>
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Amazon<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div>

<\/div><\/div><\/span>
4.15 out of 5<\/div><\/span>
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StoryGraph<\/a><\/u><\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div>

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4.16 out of 5<\/div><\/span>
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Goodreads<\/a><\/u><\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>

\"Upgrade,<\/a><\/span><\/div>
BUY NOW<\/span><\/a><\/div>
BUY NOW<\/span><\/a><\/div><\/div><\/div>
‘Upgrade<\/a>‘<\/div><\/div>
<\/div>
Ballantine Books<\/em>, 2023<\/strong><\/div><\/div>
<\/div>

One day, Logan Ramsay suddenly finds himself able to concentrate better, read faster and require less sleep. These new skills grow more intense. Soon, Logan learns that his genome has been hacked and he is the first of many to experience an \u201cupgrade.\u201d His new abilities make him the only one who can stop such an invasion on humanity, but doing so will cost him.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>

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Reviews<\/p><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>

<\/div><\/div><\/div>
<\/div><\/div><\/span>
4.2 out of 5<\/div><\/span>
<\/div><\/div><\/div>
<\/div>

Amazon<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div>

<\/div><\/div><\/span>
3.73 out of 5<\/div><\/span>
<\/div><\/div><\/div>
<\/div>

StoryGraph<\/a><\/u><\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div>

<\/div><\/div><\/span>
3.81 out of 5<\/div><\/span>
<\/div><\/div><\/div>
<\/div>

Goodreads<\/a><\/u><\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>

\"Wayward<\/a><\/span><\/div>
BUY NOW<\/span><\/a><\/div>
BUY NOW<\/span><\/a><\/div><\/div><\/div>
‘Wayward Pines’ Trilogy<\/a><\/div><\/div>
<\/div>
Ballantine Books<\/em>, 2022<\/strong><\/div><\/div>
<\/div>

In \u201cPines,\u201d the first book in the trilogy, Secret Service agent Ethan Burke arrives in a small Idaho town looking for two missing federal agents. An accident puts him in the hospital and he wakes without a phone or ID. Everyone around him is friendly, but something feels wrong. As Ethan digs deeper, he uncovers unsettling truths about this small town and begins to wonder if he\u2019ll ever escape.<\/p>\n

The following two books in the series follow Ethan and the town of Wayward Pines. This trilogy is one of Crouch\u2019s most well-known series of books and was adapted into a TV show.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>

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Reviews<\/p><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>

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‘Pines’<\/p><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>

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4.2 out of 5<\/div><\/span>
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Amazon<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div>

<\/div><\/div><\/span>
3.81 out of 5<\/div><\/span>
<\/div><\/div><\/div>
<\/div>

StoryGraph<\/a><\/u><\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div>

<\/div><\/div><\/span>
3.92 out of 5<\/div><\/span>
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<\/div>

Goodreads<\/a><\/u><\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>

<\/div><\/div><\/div>

‘Wayward’<\/p><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>

<\/div><\/div><\/div>
<\/div><\/div><\/span>
4.4 out of 5<\/div><\/span>
<\/div><\/div><\/div>
<\/div>

Amazon<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div>

<\/div><\/div><\/span>
4.04 out of 5<\/div><\/span>
<\/div><\/div><\/div>
<\/div>

StoryGraph<\/a><\/u><\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div>

<\/div><\/div><\/span>
4.16 out of 5<\/div><\/span>
<\/div><\/div><\/div>
<\/div>

Goodreads<\/a><\/u><\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>

<\/div><\/div><\/div>

‘The Last Town’<\/p><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>

<\/div><\/div><\/div>
<\/div><\/div><\/span>
4.4 out of 5<\/div><\/span>
<\/div><\/div><\/div>
<\/div>

Amazon<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div>

<\/div><\/div><\/span>
3.94 out of 5<\/div><\/span>
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StoryGraph<\/a><\/u><\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div>

<\/div><\/div><\/span>
4.09 out of 5<\/div><\/span>
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Goodreads<\/a><\/u><\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>

Awards<\/h2>\n