A crucifixion is a historical event, a religious symbol, and also a legal sentence carried out by real people. That’s the doorway we walk through with author Daniel Grace, a Chianti Classico winemaker who wrote a dark, modern literary thriller rooted in an ancient act of capital punishment.

We talk about his debut novel, In The Wake Of Golgotha, and why he chose to reimagine Judas Iscariot and Pontius Pilate not as flat villains, but as human beings trapped in the aftermath of judgment. Daniel shares the research that surprised him most: how little we truly know about these figures, how “convenient narratives” harden into cultural memory, and why the question of who is responsible still haunts modern true crime conversations.

From there, we draw sharp parallels between ancient Jerusalem and present-day New York City, between crucifixion and the death penalty, and between courtroom procedure and the spiritual rituals that surround an execution. We also explore the uncomfortable “middle hands” of justice, the people tasked with carrying out a sentence, and how juries weigh guilt when addiction, trauma, and desperation are part of the story. If you’re interested in capital crime cases, jury psychology, crime and punishment, redemption, and the overlap between faith and violence, this bonus conversation goes straight to the hard questions.

Subscribe to Murder Police Podcast, share this episode with a friend who loves thoughtful true crime, and leave us a review with your take: can any sentence ever truly fit the worst crimes?

Order your copy of In The Wake of Golgotha today!

https://www.amazon.com/Wake-Golgotha-Daniel-Grace/dp/B0FY3WCZWR/

David's book, True Crime and Consequences is FINALLY available!

This book explores the intricate and often controversial relationship between the true crime community and law enforcement. For amateur sleuths, true crime fans, and social media detectives and cops everywhere.

http://truecrimeconsequences.com/

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0FBQ4BT5Q

Do you have your copy of David's book True Crime and Consequences? Get your copy today at https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0FBQ4BT5Q.

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