If you’ve ever picked up one of the Myrtle Beach Mystery novels, you already know the name Caleb Wygal. His stories follow bookstore owner Clark Thomas as he unravels crimes up and down the Grand Strand — blending local flavor, real landmarks, and a dash of Southern charm into page-turning mysteries that have captured readers near and far.
Caleb moved to Myrtle Beach in early 2019 when his wife began working at Dolce Lusso Salon in Market Common. At the time, he was a stay-at-home dad, juggling parenting, social-media work for small businesses, and writing as a hobby. Little did he know that those quiet afternoons driving along Ocean Boulevard with his son — classical music on the radio and the beach just outside the window — would spark the idea for an entire mystery series set right here on the coast.
“There are dozens of stories set in places like New York or Los Angeles, but none in Myrtle Beach,” Caleb recalls. “The mix of locals, tourists, history, and hidden corners makes it an ideal backdrop for mystery.”
Bringing the Grand Strand to Life
Caleb describes his books as “fast, fun, clean beach reads” filled with real businesses, restaurants, and landmarks that locals recognize instantly. “They’re classic mysteries with a modern Southern twist — kind of a mix between James Patterson and Agatha Christie,” he says.
What sets his writing apart is how deeply he weaves the Myrtle Beach community into every page. “I get the most appreciation from readers for the restaurants I include,” he says. “They’ll actually visit all of them. Capturing real places in fiction keeps them alive in readers’ minds.”
Market Common plays a recurring role in both his life and his fiction. “Because my wife works there, much of our lives revolve around that area,” Caleb says. “Being able to set my fifth book at Tidal Creek Brewhouse was special. I’ve also loved writing about Murrells Inlet, Barefoot Landing, and those hidden gems that only locals know.”
He researches each setting personally — often by walking the same routes as his characters. “I visit every location I write about, take photos, talk to locals, and pay attention to the small details that make a place feel real,” he says. “The best part is researching restaurants.”
Even when fiction demands flexibility, he keeps the spirit of the coast intact. “I might tweak a street layout or give a building a secret room that doesn’t exist,” he says, “but the essence of Myrtle Beach always shines through.”
The Life of a Local Writer
Caleb’s writing routine is as steady as the tides. “I’m a morning writer for sure,” he says. “We’ll take our son to school, my wife heads to work, and that gives me about five hours a day to write or handle the business side of being an author. I write until my brain turns to mush and then move on to something else.”
He laughs about how mentally exhausting it can be. “It took a while for us to realize that, even though I’m just sitting at a computer, using your brain to create every day is tiring.”
That dedication has paid off — his Myrtle Beach Mystery Series now spans several titles, each deepening the world of Clark Thomas and his coastal adventures. Of them all, Myrtle Beach Burns remains closest to his heart.
“It’s where I wrapped up a storyline I’d been building for years,” Caleb says. “It’s the only book that kept me awake at night because I was so invested in what I was putting the characters through.”
The messages he receives from readers remind him why he writes. “Some people tell me they never liked reading until they tried my series,” he says. “Others used my books to get through recovery in the hospital, and a few even said they used them to learn English. That means more to me than anything.”
Easter Eggs and Community Cameos
Caleb loves finding ways to involve readers in his fictional world. “My wife and I make cameos in most of the books,” he admits. “And in my private VIP reader group, I’ll sometimes post that the first person to comment gets written into the next story. It might be a small one-scene role — or that character could come back later, like the Myrtle Beach Police Chief.”
That connection with his community goes both ways. Locals often recognize their favorite restaurants or landmarks in his pages, and some even repay the favor. “There are a few coffee shops I’ve written about where, if the right person is working, I haven’t had to buy coffee in years,” he jokes.
Looking Ahead
While Myrtle Beach will always be his creative home, Caleb is expanding his horizons. His next novel, Death in Surfside, releases March 3, 2026, and takes readers into new territory — a high-tech mystery centered on OceanAi, a research firm developing drones equipped with artificial intelligence to map the ocean floor.
“I partnered with Professor Erin Hackett at Coastal Carolina’s Marine Science Lab to make the science feel real,” he explains. “It was one of the most fun projects I’ve written.”
He also hints at a new spinoff that blends espionage with coastal mystery — keeping Myrtle Beach at its core but adding a global twist. “This area has endless stories to tell,” he says. “I have no plans to stop writing about Clark Thomas, but I love exploring how far the Grand Strand’s spirit can reach.”
For aspiring local writers, Caleb offers simple advice:
“Start with what you know and what you like to read — but write it through the lens of what you feel.”
📚 Where to Find His Work
You can find Caleb’s Myrtle Beach Mystery Series at bookstores across the Grand Strand, online at CalebWygal.com, and through his Shopify store (calebwygal.myshopify.com).
He’s active on Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok under Caleb Wygal Author, where he shares behind-the-scenes glimpses, local features, and updates on upcoming releases.
✍️ Closing Note
From Ocean Boulevard to Murrells Inlet, Caleb Wygal’s mysteries don’t just entertain — they preserve the heartbeat of the Grand Strand. Each story captures the small moments, familiar places, and community spirit that make Myrtle Beach what it is.
Perhaps the Scoop on Myrtle might be in one of his future books? One could only hope.
Be sure to check out his books, follow his journey, and — when you spot him at a local event — tell him the Scoop sent you.
