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L. Wayne Hicks joins Tea, Tonic & Toxin to discuss The Rat Began to Gnaw the Rope, published in 1943 by C. W. Grafton (father of Sue Grafton).

L. Wayne Hicks is a freelance writer who covered real-life crimes for newspapers in Florida and Colorado. He has written profiles of many mystery writers including Sara Paretsky, Michael Connelly, John Dunning, Robert B. Parker, Donald J. Sobol, Stephen White, and C. W. Grafton.

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L. Wayne Hicks has been a lifelong fan of mysteries, beginning with The Hardy Boys and The Three Investigators books. As a newspaper reporter in Florida, he covered criminal trials and was nominated for a Pulitzer Prize for an investigative project that wound up helping to free a man wrongly convicted of murder after more than 20 years in prison.

He has interviewed and profiled such acclaimed mystery novelists as Jeffery Deaver, Michael Connelly, Ridley Pearson, John Dunning, Sara Paretsky, Stephen White, and Donald J. Sobol.

Hicks writes for various magazines and websites, including CrimeReads.com, where he profiled C.W. Grafton and explored the continuation of Robert B. Parker’s Spenser series.

Hicks’ first book, a nonfiction tale about the children’s television series Romper Room, will be published in 2026.

About The Rat Began to Gnaw the Rope

The Rat Began to Gnaw the Rope (1943) by C. W. Grafton (the father of Sue Grafton) is a classic in the mystery genre for its clever fusion of humor, small-town charm, and hardboiled crime elements. Featuring Gil Henry, an unassuming and resourceful lawyer, the novel showcases an unconventional hero who unravels a web of corruption and intrigue with sharp wit and determination. Grafton’s skillful storytelling and engaging prose set a high standard for blending humor with suspense.

Sue Grafton wrote the famous “alphabet series.” C.W. Grafton’s work also holds historical significance, reflecting a legacy of inventive storytelling in mystery fiction.

Discussion Questions for L. Wayne Hicks

1. You’ve profiled many mystery writers—from Sara Paretsky and Michael Connelly to John Dunning and now C. W. Grafton. What do you look for when deciding which authors to explore in depth?
2. You’ve covered both true crime and fictional crime throughout your career. How has reporting on real-life cases shaped the way you understand or interpret mystery fiction?
3. As a longtime journalist and storyteller, what draws you personally to the mystery genre—and what lessons from your reporting life do you bring to your literary profiles?

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