There is some editing still to be done for this book (I hope!) before publication, but as far as the story itself, I really enjoyed it. It combines true crime with the paranormal in a very interesting way. I found myself wanting to stop reading and google all the people in this book to make sure they were real because this reads like fiction. I liked seeing the evolution of the relationship between Bob and John over the years. Overall: great book!

This is my favorite book so far this year. I was interested in it because I enjoyed John Edward’s show. I was quickly pulled in by the cold case, Robert Hilland’s career and the friendship between the two men.
Although they have very different careers, both are fascinating and they work so well together.
Fans of true crime will find a captivating murder investigation and fans of John will get to know him and his gift a little better.

My 3 star review might be more a result of my own expectations not being met, rather than the story itself. I thought it was going to be a taut drama of psychic and agent working together to bring an evil serial killer to justice. That was partly true, but unfortunately that particular case dragged on over many years to a rather unsettled conclusion while the two justice seekers continued on with other cases. The result was more like a true crime tv series than a satisfying movie.
If that is what you are looking for, you will enjoy the narrative of cases which combine dogged police work with assistance from The Other Side. If, on the other hand, you like a story with a clear beginning and end, you might find yourself left unsatisfied as I was.

I really enjoyed this book. I appreciate the use of psychics in the work of law enforcement. However, I would hate to hear the number of cases that would go unsolved if the psychic was not used in cases since the investigators don't seem to be very useful on their own in this regard. It was interesting hearing about the different types of cases this investigator worked on. The use of simultaneous witness interviews was a new tactic on me. I hadn't heard of that one before. Thanks for that.
Thank you to Netgalley for sharing this ARC with me.

I received a free copy of, Chasing Evil, by Robert Hilland, John Edward, from the publisher and Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. I remember John Edward from his show, Crossing Over, in the early 2000's. This book is about a FBI agent who contacts John Edward about a cold case, and John Edward does provide hep on the case. This book is not for everyone, bit I found it interesting.

I went into this book thinking it would be your standard FBI anthology but was hooked by the personal touch and themes of belief and the power of intuition. I would recommend to any of my true crime friends. Thanks for the advanced copy!

I enjoy true crime and really wanted to like this one. The John Edwards name is capitalized on but he really is not the key player. This could have been an okay read if the main author had pumped the brakes on his ego. Especially in the beginning of the book, he was busy letting the reader know how wonderful and talented he was. He was the most intuitive, he was the most skeptical, he had the neatest desk, he was the best father. He was the MIDAS of the FBI and when he went rogue it was ALWAYS taking the high road. He just was not at all believable as a narrator and I was often rolling my eyes and skimming past his stage setting of readers' perceptions of him. It really good have been a good book if Hilland could get out of his own way. The second half of the book was rather tedious. There were strange flaws throughout that were just careless. July 1999--described as being unseasonally cold spring day. Even in Ohio, July is not spring. It is an ARC so typos were expected but not errors that cause the reader to have go back to reread--in my case I eventually stopped going back because I just didn't care enough anymore. I don't recommend this one.

This was an interesting book. I am somewhat skeptical about psychics, but it is hard to deny that John Edward seemed to know things that he couldn’t and shouldn’t have known, and that knowledge helped Hilland solve cases. I enjoyed reading about the investigations; how they pieced together the evidence, convinced people to talk, etc.

As John Edward would say, "Cool."
I've been a fan of John's for decades, and now I'm a fan of Bob.

While the book is about the Smith murders in that that story is the beginning of his relationship with John and it weaves throughout, it reads more like a memoir --Bob ties in cases and experiences where he relied on John Edward for a team assist from the other side. Bob is taking you on the journey through his career that highlights a major lesson he needed (still needs?) to learn in his life about balance. One that likely speaks to many of us. His personal relationships suffer from his drive to solve that ONE case and his other justice crusades.

It was a very enjoyable page turner.

I've noticed a couple books recently where younger reviewers have issues with the way a story was told --finding it not what THEY wanted to read, not politically correct, and a number of other complaints. So they don't finish the book and/or give it a low rating. It strikes me that somewhere along the way we've lost the art of communication --of sitting back and listening to someone tell their story. As if a story isn't good enough unless it's 100% politically correct and fits into their box of what is acceptable. Life isn't like that. Humans are not perfect and always PC.
And it's dangerous for society to close off to the stories you don't like. To narrow your view. And that's the end of my preaching for today.

I could not put this book down.

The cases, written with such clarity and detail, are fascinating on their own. But Bob provides so much more to each of these cases, these stories, these victims. Honestly, he gives victims an opportunity to have their stories, otherwise forgotten, told.

Then the added layer of his work with John Edwards takes every case to the next level with so many connections between people and cases. I was truly enthralled by their dynamic and teamwork.

This is a book that has left a lasting impression on me, for sure. I highly recommend it to anyone who is interested in true crime stories and to anyone who, like me, questions the possibility of spirits and a higher power. I'm a true skeptic and the has definitely given me pause and much to consider.

What an interesting read! The author did a fantastic job presenting his research about the use of a physic to help solve crimes. You always hear if this in the news but ive always been a skeptical. This informative non-fiction piece made me change my mind.

Chasing Evil

By John Edward and Robert Hilland

I was given this book by NetGally in exchange for a fair and honest review.

True Crime is a genre I have been reading for years, but I had stopped for awhile because too many were about the same crimes. So many stories that should be told but it seems those fall by the wayside while others have many books written on the same story. The genre had become to formulated and boring because how many ways can you rehash the same thing without any new insights.

This book was different, and for me timely. I had just watched a crime episode that involved the story that is the basis of the book. I initially wanted to read it because of the involvement of John Edward. I watched some of his shows years ago and he always amazed me.

In this book it shows how a skeptical FBI agent became a believer and learned to accept help from the “other side”. It shows how some times an unsolved crime grabs hold of you and takes over your life in an effort to solve it.

If you are looking for a different true crime book give this one a try. It has renewed my interest in true crime stories that are just that little bit outside the box.

Thanks for the ARC to NetGalley and the publisher! I enjoyed this book and it was a quick read. I love true crime so this was right up my alley, However, I’m thinking I’m more like Alex and I struggle with the physic and guides. It’s so hard to read and not believe though because of all the details over and over they were able to provide for the various cases. Great read!

I couldn’t put this book down, this book was so interesting and makes you wonder are there spirits out there we cannot see? I vaguely remember John Edward and his psychic abilities. This book felt like a movie and it’s definitely a five star read.
This is true crime book and we’re introduced to Robert Hilland’s and his extensive FBI career. In the beginning, we read as Hilland was a skeptic and felt that psychics were frauds and he was determined to show that John Edwards was another fraud. After meeting John he’s blown away he’s told things that no way he could know. As the two begin working together on cases, they find themselves forging a professional bond that leads to a true friendship: Hilland worked on extremely tough cases in the US and internationally. Many of his FBI cases made headline news. He has come face to face with evil and with Johns help they slowly learn how to rely on each other and trust their skills, ultimately finding not only justice for the crimes they solved, but resolution and healing in their own lives. This is a must read!

Synopsis: Hilland, an FBI agent and former psychic skeptic, describes how he began using the services of medium John Edward to solve crimes and connect with his life’s purpose.

Review: I chose to review this book because I’m interested in both true crime and psychic phenomena. Specifically, I wanted to know what caused Hilland to move from skeptic to believer. (I, personally, believe in the possibility of psychic phenomena but think it’s a field riddled with pretenders. I’ve never watched any of John Edward’s television programs.) Unfortunately, the book offers little in the way of concrete evidence. All the reader has is Hilland’s word for it, and his desire to write a book gives him an agenda and, thereby, undermines his claims.

Nevertheless, Hilland’s accounts of the crimes he has worked on should interest true crime aficionados. The first half of the book gives a detailed account of Hilland’s attempt to bring a serial killer to justice. The second half breezes more quickly through several other cases, including the Michael Vick dog fighting conviction, in which Hilland uses Edward’s insights.

Note: While Edward is credited as an author of this book, it is told primarily from Hilland’s perspective. Edward adds brief contributions at the beginning and end.

An interesting exploration of the use of metaphysical practices in true crime. I loved that these were actually real stories, and as a longtime X-Files fan who wants to believe, this was an enjoyable read.

If you liked The X-Files, watch shows like The Why Files, enjoy specials on the history of Göbekli Tepe or the search for Noah’s Ark in Turkey, or simply believe there’s potential for the world to include more than meets the eye (and the laboratory), then you’ll enjoy this read.

Wonderful book. I didn't particularly read it for the true crime information but more on how John Edward participated in the story. The book is well organized and follows Agent Hilland in several high profile cases as well as a few not so well known that he was involved in solving. It is a page turner and hard to put down once you get started. Having watched John Edward on TV and having read one of his books, I immediately requested the ARC.(Advanced Reader Copy).. I am a believer in 'holes in the floor of Heaven' whereas loved ones can communicate with us and that special people like him can communicate with them. The collaboration and unlikely friendship between the FBI Agent and John Edward should be legendary but until now, no one knew. Read the book cover for further detail, it gives a nice synopsis of content as I don't do book reports or spoilers. Great book to read for some understanding of how they worked together. I was provided this book at my request but was under no obligation to write a review. The opinions expressed are my own. Many thanks to the authors, publisher and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this book.

The minute I saw John Edward as the author of this book, I knew I had to read it, as I've been an admirer for many years. I received a complimentary copy from NetGalley in exchange for a fair and honest review.
Ex-FBI Agent, Robert Hilland begins his story as a young man full of passion for his job, and an undying determination to get the bad guys off the street. It's a suspected serial kiiller, John Smith, who sets Bob on a quest that takes him into renowned psychic, John Edward's office. A skeptic, he's sure it's a waste of time. But that one meeting changes the trajectory of Bob Hilland's life forever.
The story consists of various high-profile cases Bob worked on throughout the years and the close friendship he established with John Edward. They became brothers in every sense of the word.
Bob came to rely heavily on John's communication with his spirit guides to help solve hard cases. The theme throughout this true telling is good vs evil. I found the entire process fascinating, especially how John Edward worked with his guides to help Bob with the battle to bring justice and conquer evil. I am a true believer in psychic abilities. I also believe we all have the potential. We simply don't know how to or wish to develop it. I loved this quote from the book: "...the universe has a justice system more profound and enlightened than we'll ever have on earth." And this one: "I truly believe that every struggle serves a purpose and gives us an opportunity to adapt, transform and evolve." I'll leave you with this quote that I believe 100%! "Life lessons are challenging, difficult and overwhelming. It takes fortitude and focus to navigate them"
If you are a fan of true crime stories, or a believer in psychic abilities, you will, without a doubt, enjoy this book. It's well-written and captivating!

This book was everything I thought it would be. I am a big fan of John Edwards and his gifted abilities so when I saw this book I knew I had to read it. Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an ARC of this great book.

The book was well written and the story telling easy to follow. The events, crimes, victims and criminals themselves were detailed and captivating. Bob Hilland was very relatable, he never sugar coated any events even when it came to his own faults and vulnerabilities. I related to his honesty when he talked about his marriage and prioritizing cases over family and the consequences.

John as usual was simply incredible and it is wonderful he could help Bob solve so many cases. There couldn’t be a more perfect duo fighting crime. Bob’s early skepticism made it all the more real. Their friendship a gift to each other.

Get your copy publication day. Don’t miss this one.

This was really a great book that I found captivating and interesting to read as a mix of biography, true crime, and the infusion/questions of a psychic medium. If you enjoy true crime documentaries, this book honestly reads like a 20/20 special and I'm all for it.
I had to keep reminding myself this was actually a true crime/biography and not a fictional thriller, following an FBI agent through cases and quest to find the truth alongside with psychic medium John Edward. The book follows several notable cases and harrowing situations this agent experienced over the decades, and is really hard to put down once it gets going.
Skeptic or follower, you'll enjoy the infusion of psychics (the main one being famous John Edward) which makes this life/career story of originally skeptical law enforcement professional as he builds his relationships, career path, personal life, and path to discovering important life lessons as well. Keep reminding yourself these situations actually happened, because they can be hard to imagine to be true at times!
I found the layout was fantastic; the author starting chapters with lists of important people and places really helped and the chronological order and setting the scene.
Reading this was like watching a documentary and after a bit of a slow start, I found it hard to put down!
A mix of biography, psychic readings, metaphysical, true crime murders, investigations, mystery, and self discovery.
Now, if you're a big skeptic and hate the idea of psychics and mediums you might think this is hokey and bad, but at the same time the agent explains his original attitude with the same impression and how it changed and evolved, and at no point does it seem like an infomercial about the power of psychics.

I'll round this up to 5 stars, because I just couldn't put it down by the end, and truly felt like I was watching a documentary film with how it set up each crime and story and I love that 🤩