Trey Gowdy talks about his new novel and what he’s up to next

Trey Gowdy wrote a thriller. That is not the part that surprises us. The guy spent years prosecuting bad guys in South Carolina and grilling witnesses during the Benghazi hearings. He knows how to build a case and how to tell a story. What is surprising is that he bothered to write fiction at all. Most former members of Congress either go quiet or start a podcast to relive their glory days.

The novel gives us a chance to remember what Gowdy did well. He was never a bomb-thrower. He was the guy who showed up with the documents and the timeline and let the facts do the talking. That style made him a natural on Fox News, where he still works, and it makes his foray into fiction a little different from the usual political money grab. He isn't selling outrage. He's selling a good yarn with, we suspect, some sharp commentary tucked inside.

So what is he up to next? The story says he is still hosting *Sunday Night in America* and writing. That is fine with us. We need more conservative voices who can argue without shouting. It is easy to play to the base and fire up the crowd. It is harder to do the homework. Gowdy always did the homework.

We will take the novel for what it is: a reminder that conservatism can be smart and fun and readable. A smart thriller beats another recycling of talking points. If he wants to keep doing this, we will keep reading.