Wide Open Empty

by Sean Patrick Little

Collin Croy was supposed to leave Avalon for good, supposed to be a big NFL star. When that plan collapses, he returns defeated to the dusty farming town where he grew up, surrounded by endless wheat fields that offer no escape.

His homecoming is not a happy one. He finds his father dead, and the death is ruled a suicide and accepted too quickly for Croy’s tastes. He cannot believe his father was the type of man who would give in to sadness.

With no suspects and no clear motive, Croy has to piece together what happened to his father, and he finds that the tiny town he left years ago has changed. There is a darkness just below the sleepy small town facade.

The prairie offers plenty of land where people intent on doing harm can hide.

You can’t go home again.

Genres: Mystery

300 pages, Kindle Edition

Published June 30, 2026

About the author

​Sean Patrick Little is a writer, speaker, editor, educator, and general literary dude from Sun Prairie, Wisconsin.

He is the author of the best-selling Survivor Journals series and the critically praised Abe & Duff mystery series. He has also authored one book in the Shelby Ree mystery series, a space opera called Strange Angels​, and is always at work on the next project.

He holds a BA in Broadcast Journalism from UW-Whitewater, a BFA in Fiction Writing from Winona State University, and a master's in Education from St. Mary's University of Minnesota. He has been a teacher, a painter, a paint salesman, and a Dean of Education. He regularly teaches writing and publishing seminars whenever asked.

Little is a member of the Wisconsin Writer's Association, the Authors Guild, the Mystery Writers of America, and Sisters in Crime.

And if any of those groups ever find out, they'll be very upset.

Reviews

[Jim Thomsen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Terrific Small-Town American Thriller

An appealingly flawed hero, a rural setting rendered in richly authentic detail, and a character-driven crime plot unpacked with perfect pacing and first-rate storycraft. What’s not to love about WIDE OPEN EMPTY? Sean Patrick Little is a talent sorely in need of discovery — what he delivers here as every bit as competent and compelling as a Big New York-published crime novel. Highly recommended.

[Patrick Nance · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is another very readable book from Little. He does a great job setting the world and the scenes within. Great character development and fun story with some twists. I was a little disappointed with the big reveal and didn't really feel it fit. Also, to nit pick... As someone who loves Broncos and the Carolina Panthers.. Collin could not have ridden the pine for the Panthers in or around 1992 as they did not yet exist. And 90s Broncos were all 2 door and thus having 3 girls in the back of a police issue Bronco with a cage would not be possible and certainly never would they be able to duck to the floor board of one to hide...

[Kat · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sean Little has used his newest book as a showcase for his artful descriptive skills. As the book began, I was sufficiently mesmerized by his ability to develop a "sense of place" that I was marginally disappointed when the dead body showed up. Throughout the book I was consistently able to form a detailed visualization of the people, places and events taking place in the pages...all of this without burdening the flow of the plot!! A couple of vividly described fight scenes kept me from being too complacent, but all turned out well in the end. I look forward to a sequel (hint hint) so don't keep Croy on the back burner too long, Sean!!

My only question here, is what is WITH all of those "C" names? Connor, Colin, Cassidy, Cash, Cookie, Croy...and even the bad guy, Chuck!! I was super thankful to finally meet HEATHER!!!! (KIDDING HERE...I AM A FAN!!)

[Madeline Robinson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fantastic work as always from Sean Patrick Little. I was hooked from the first chapter. The flow of the book is an easy read and just when you think you know what’s coming, BAM, plot twist! Well developed characters and a beautifully written ending to tie everything together. Highly recommend!!!

[JC · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.25 🌟 I found this book to be enjoyable. It is the first book I've read by this author and it was a pretty good introduction to him. While I found many of the character and situational details engrossing, I expected to find similar descriptions of the area where this takes place. In the acknowledgements the author describes being captivated by this area the writing doesn't seem to capture this and every character seems to hate the area. I recently finished Pickard County Atlas and I found it to do a better job of describing the Great Plains and the way it affects those living there. But, all that being said - this is still a riveting book.

[Marney · Rating 5 out of 5]

It seems Sean Little can turn out a terrific story in whatever genre he chooses! I really enjoyed this one, the characters have depth and are relatable, the setting is described thoroughly enough to get a good feel for it, without taking too much time away from the plot, which was well thought out and well written. I love that the ending wraps up all the loose ends while still leaving open the possibility of further installments. If this book becomes a series I am here for it. Excellent.

[Dana Scott · Rating 5 out of 5]

Over the years Sean has turned into one of my favorite authors. I began reading his books because they were based in Wisconsin and he’s a writer from my home town. This book took place outside of Wisconsin but to me it didn’t matter one bit. I loved it. I hope to hear more about these characters I grew close with through this book. Please tell me there will be another one? 🤞

[Jeff · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sean Patrick Little’s WIDE OPEN EMPTY is, hands-down, one of my favorite reads this year. This crime novel of the modern (read 1996) rural west (southeastern Colorado), for one thing, hits my sweet spot: a past when phones were but a glimmer in Apple’s eye. Who knew that the American west of thirty years ago could be so distant and yet so current, with meth labs and sex trafficking? Also, get this: Little writes a story that grabs you and doesn’t let go till the very end, akin to Elmore Leonard’s crime novels of the seventies. I kid you not. Get this book (I read the paperback edition, not Kindle) you will not be sorry.

[Tracey Phillips · Rating 5 out of 5]

A beautiful tale of homecoming, suspense and redemption. Collin Croy is a character I could get behind. With his heart on his sleeve, and his dreams crushed, Croy returns home to find his father murdered. I wept with him, I rooted for him and fought with him all the way to finding justice. If you enjoy S.A. Cosby, you'll love Sean Patrick Little's latest, Wide Open Empty.

[Sean Little · Rating 5 out of 5]

I wrote it, so I'm biased.