I love a true crime book or podcast or documentary. This book about Bob Hilland's case includes a psychic. This book was so interesting. Hilland's obsession with this cold case took over his whole career at a point. One doesn't often get to read about the behind-the-scenes of this type of case.

What an absolutely enjoyable ride. I cannot believe how far this went, the twists and turns are amazing for both the Robert Hilland and John Edward. I'm very spiritual so Robert Hilland's experiences are amazing to me. I've been on a similar, can I say that when wow what differences our paths are, journey as him. So I understand the questioning and then believing and then questioning everything. Gahhhh amazing!

Robert Hilland really takes us through this story and is able to explain not only what he believed but why he was adamantly against spirituality. John Edward's and spirit guides help couldn't have been anything at all though. He had a choice and he is so determined to get to the truth that he decided to believe. I had so many chills while reading this. So much spoke to me. And I've believed in energy for over 30 years. I know what John Edwards does because I can do it, and still, they make it feel so easy and relatable.

Robert Hilland talks about the veil, listens as John Edward gives him information from his spirit guides. They talk about smudging and protecting yourself from evil, and how John sees the things his spirit guides send him. All of this information, and how it is brought about at the end, is just fabulous. I know I'm doing a bit of a fan girl here, but I loved this book. Every time Robert's faith is moved, mine was too.

There are some moments. 911 was a bad moment. Seeing that from his point of view. We all remember where we were when that happened. That was a deeply disturbing chapter, but it helps see Robert and his team and what they did during the attack and the years after.

Michael Vick threw me. That information and that entire case, I completely stayed away from due to the nature of it. Wow, that was a lot. There's a lot in this that is very heavy. The water-ski incident that Robert didn't agree with. Finding out dark information that people on all sides of Robert were fighting against him, against justice and positive outcomes. It's a lot to deal with. But the ending! So, so worth it. Worth all the tears shed reading and knowing what Robert went through to get to the truth.

There were some references that were a bit dated. Like Archie Bunker and Barney Fife. I know that this spanned so many years for the both of them, but does anyone know who Archie Bunker is anymore? As someone that does, I wonder if this will connect with a younger crowd.

Remarkable book.

I decided to listen to this one on audio. That was not the way to go with this book. It had the potential for being a great audio listen, instead it fell flat for me.

I can and do appreciate Bob's hard work and dedication to this country as an FBI agent, but I don't feel there was anything in the pages of this book that stood out to make his career any different than any other FBI or cop out there. This book is mostly about his journey with a psychic who supposedly helps him solve cases over the course of his FBI career. Maybe that's why this book wasn't for me. I don't believe in psychic powers and that's just my personal opinion. Don't come for me. We do not have to agree on that point.

Thank you to Netgalley and St. Martin's Press for this ARC. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

5 stars!!! Really enjoyed this book! I always find it interesting how law enforcement works, and was very drawn in with the use of a psychic.

I tried but I just can't do this. I love true crime so I thought this could be a unique and interesting angle, and that is true, but I just couldn't find the believability.

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for an eARC copy of Chasing Evil by Robert Hilland; John Edward.

If you like watching true crime documentaries, you will love reading Chasing Evil. Robert Hilland does an amazing job illustrating his journey with his time in the FBI and his building friendship with clairvoyant John Edward. There are several cases missing, including a very detailed account about his experience during 9/11 which will certainly take you back to when and where you were at the time it happened. It reads a lot like a first person novel, and honestly I had to pace the book out so I wouldn't devour it in one day and understand each moment and thought along the way. True crime readers will love this for sure.

“The world needs this good soldier on the side of honor to keep fighting.”

If you have ANY hesitation if clairvoyants exist then read this book. Woah. John and his ability to hear the dead was instrumental to many cold cases being solved. What an incredible man.

Synopsis:
In the summer of 1998, FBI agent Bob Hilland reluctantly picked up the phone to call the famous psychic John Edward. Bob didn’t expect much from the call, but he was working on an unsolvable cold case and had nowhere else to turn. What Bob never imagined was that the call would lead to a shattering of all his preconceived notions, a huge break in the cold case, and an unlikely crime-solving partnership that spanned twenty-five years.

I remember the victim that was identified due to the serial number on her breast implants and the Connectiut woman shoved into the wall in the science lab (both discussed in the book). I just finished a book about the wrongfully convicted so this one, with a kick ass and take names cop that was not willing to sacrifice or give up, was SO refreshing. Ahh there are good people out there just doing the right thing, even when it’s difficult. An utterly engrossing and captivating read!

“Does anyone care about these victims anymore? Someone had to.”

Thank you to St. Martins Press, Netgalley, and @PsychicMediumJE for the complimentary ARC.

Lots of suspense and thrills in some places and a bit flat in others. Thank you to Netgalley for the opportunity to read this book

This was a well written book that kept me reading into the wee hours of the night. If I could give it more stars I gladly would.

4.5 stars - This book is a fascinating look at how true crime intersects with the world of psychics. It's written from FBI Agent Robert Hilland's POV, and details his quest to solve a cold case (with the help of psychic John Edward). It feels a little misleading that Edward gets a writing credit on this since his only direct perspective comes in the afterword. However, this reads like a fast-paced thriller in many parts, and I especially liked that it covered several different cases in Hilland's career. There's also an interesting throughline of how the battle of good vs. evil takes place in our world, and I loved hearing about how Edward's guides helped provide him with information that was crucial to the investigations. I do wish there had been more of a POV directly from Edward since I used to watch him on TV back in the day, but I still found this to be quite a compelling read.

"Real cops don't use psychics."

FBI Agent John Hilland spent his career chasing evil. Completely desperate to solve a cold case he picked up the phone and called psychic medium, John Edward. Hilland, a sceptic began a twenty-five-year relationship with John that has led to this book. This book, the story of a career really is written by the two men with Natasha Stoynoff and published by St. Martin's Essentials.
I received an advanced reader's copy through NetGalley and this is my own opinion.
My father was a law officer, so I've had a life-long fascination with true stories like this. I will admit that I teared up just reading the prologue.
Agent Hilland is open and quite frank in his retelling of the cases he worked on, solving murders and bringing criminals to justice. John Edward who has a connection to the "spirit world' was able to give valuable information to Hilland over the years but did not want his name to be connected to the investigations. Now that the FBI agent has retired this book reflects on their incredible partnership of sorts.
I found the stories to be fascinating. I don't agree altogether with John's beliefs, but I do acknowledge that there are entities that are involved in the powerful "search for hope and justice". I give this book a solid 4 rating.
This is definitely a book for those who want to read about true crime and investigations, supernatural connections and these two well know men. Thank you, St. Martin's, and NetGalley for this opportunity to read this book.

For all the true crime lovers out there, this is a must-read. Robert "Bob" Hilland, at one time an FBI Agent in the Cold Case Unit, is trying to prove the guilt of John Smith, whose first two wives, Janice and Fran, both went missing. Smith says they got fed up with him and left, but Hilland doesn't believe him. Looking into John Smith's eyes is like looking into the eyes of Evil, and Hilland won't stop until Smith is behind bars for life. When things look bleak, Hilland and another officer go to see John Edward, (now) world-renowned psychic medium. John Edward quickly proves to Bob that he's the real deal and they will form an unlikely friendship and bond over the next couple of decades.

The story deviates from John Smith for a while as Hilland changes offices and other things begin to happen. It does get back to the main story by the end, which wasn't the ending I expected, but true life isn't always wrapped up in a bow, so you can't expect it to be.

All in all, this is a great true crime story that reads more like a novel than a documentary. If you like true crime, serial killers, crime stories, or the use of psychics in police work, then this is the book for you!

Thank you to @StMartinsPress for a digital copy for review consideration. All opinions are honest and my own.

My thanks to NetGalley and St Martin's Press for allowing me to read an early digital ARC of this book by Retired FBI Agent Robert Hilland and psychic John Edward.

A Surprising Journey
If you've read many of my reviews, you know that I seldom read a synopsis before starting a book. I enjoy surprises, and the book blurb often reveals more than I'd like to know. Generally, I begin with an understanding of the genre, the title, and not much else.
When I picked up Chasing Evil, I initially felt it had a slow start and wondered if it was the type of book I’d appreciate. However, as I continued reading, it quickly drew me in.

A Captivating Cold Case
The story unfolds in 1998, centering on Robert Hillard, an FBI agent who becomes engrossed in a cold case he is determined to solve. But after a dry spell, Hillard felt his resolve wasn't enough to advance the case. He needed help. He reluctantly agrees to meet with psychic John Edward. And at this point, he was willing to at least hear what Edward had to offer. However, it is clear that this act is one of desperation, given Hillard's skepticism.

Dynamic Developments
The narrative doesn't solely focus on this single cold case. It also explores other cases in which Hillard becomes involved. Without delving too deeply into his relationship with John Edward, I can say that their friendship extends beyond the typical dynamic of a psychic and an FBI agent.

Organizational Challenges
My concerns with this fast-paced book stem from the feeling that better organization might have enhanced the reading experience. The transition from being focused on one case to others was jarring and disrupted the flow. Additionally, the beginning of the book could have been more engaging to hook readers sooner.

Final Thoughts
All in all, Chasing Evil is a book that will linger in my mind for some time to come. It provides much to ponder, regardless of whether you are a believer or a skeptic regarding psychics. This book offers an intriguing exploration of its themes and characters, leaving a lasting impression.

Many thanks to NetGalley and St Martin's Press | St Martin's Essentials for gifting me a physical and digital ARC of this non-fiction book by Retired FBI Agent Robert Hilland and psychic John Edward. All opinions expressed in this review are my own - 4.5 stars!

In 1998, FBI Agent Hilland was obsessed with a cold case that he couldn't solve and had nowhere else to turn, when he kept getting pulled to call the famous psychic. What Bob never imagined was that the call would lead to a shattering of all his preconceived notions, a huge break in the cold case, and an unlikely crime-solving partnership that spanned twenty-five years.

While this book centers on the investigation of the murders by John Smith, what fascinated me most was the struggle between good and evil in the world, as well as the discussion between science and psychic abilities. The book says that John Edward predicted everything from 9-11 to helping to solve multiple crimes around the world - I don't have enough knowledge to refute that but it made for interesting reading. It was also personally interesting to me because John Smith lived in the same county I used to in Ohio, and much was mentioned about the area. This book will definitely make you think a bit differently!

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press as well as the authors for this ARC in exchange for my honest review.
#NetGalley #St.Martin’sPress #RobertHilland #JohnEdward #ChasingEvil #FBI #TrueCrime #Nonfiction #Horror #BookReview

Title: Chasing Evil
Author: Robert Hilland with John Edward
Format: eBook
Publisher: St. Martin’s Press
Publication Date: September 2, 2025
Themes: Nonfiction, true crime. Memoir, paranormal
Trigger Warnings: violence, murder, criminal justice, police procedures, animal cruelty/death, serial murder

This was an interesting read. I don’t normally gravitate towards true crime but this was so interesting. Robert Hilland is a retired FBI agent who is focused on finding and apprehending a serial killer. When he reluctantly calls famous psychic, John Edward, he isn’t expecting to be blind-sided by radical change in his personal and professional beliefs. Hilland and Edward join forces to investigate the John Smith murders, a cold case that holds personal as well as professional interest for Hilland.

This is definitely a one of a kind book. A true crime/paranormal case? It was interesting and real. I cried for the victims as well as the police. The supernatural spin was something I’d never read before and it provided some very interesting perspectives on the main case as well as some others, even though I’m still not a believer. I am, however, a respecter of those who do believe. I also find it fun and interesting. This book was a cinematic read and would be an interesting documentary. It read like a novel. I would recommend this to any lover of true crime or of supernatural horror.

If Criminal Minds and Ghost Hunters joined forces, this book would be the result. Robert Hilland is a former FBI agent, and this is his account of the cases he pursued and largely solved with the help of psychic John Edwards. At first, I was a bit put off by the “hard-boiled detective fiction” style and odd pop culture references to pre-1990s TV and film. But the writing grew on me as I became engrossed in the details surrounding the hunt for serial killer James Smith. The first part of the novel focuses on this case and the initial involvement of John Edwards in helping Bob Hilland find bodies and build a case against Smith. It was pretty riveting! I finished it in a day!

The second half of the book primarily lists a bunch of unrelated other cases on which Hilland and Edwards collaborated. The end of the book slowly evolves from a true crime expose to an advertisement for the supernatural. The combination of these two realities resulted in a relatively anti-climactic finale for this otherwise interesting memoir.

So, four stars for the first half and three for the last, resulting in 3.5 stars rounded up.

Thank you to St. Martin’s Press and NetGalley for the advance copy in exchange for an honest review.

Taken as a whole, the subject-matter was fascinating. FBI agent and a psychic team up and work cases together. I found all the times these two collaborated to be the gem of this book.

However, the organization was discombobulated. I didn’t get the sense that this book really understood what it wanted to be. Was it about the Smith cold case? Was it about Hilland’s family life or Hilland finding himself? Was it about the many other cases mentioned? Smoother transitions and stronger direction could’ve helped the reading experience. Also, cleaning up the repetition and making it all more succinct would’ve packed a more powerful punch.

I did find the writing itself easy to read, yet it lacked a depth I wanted. It felt surface-level, and it left me with a lot of questions like, ‘why was Hilland so obsessed with the Smith case’ and ‘how did the case go from “don’t let this take too much of your time” to “FBI agents from all over the country are helping you.”’ I also struggled with the obvious bias. This was not a true crime book that explored possibilities; it was written from one perspective with no exploration of a different side.

All in all, while it left me with the more questions than answers, I did enjoy seeing how a psychic could help law enforcement. I wanted a bit more direction and resolution, but I still flipped the pages out of interest. Fans of law enforcement memoirs, creative problem solving approaches, and true crime may find this interesting.

Obama fan of true crime and this book drew me right bin.The two point of views how they drew together.kept me turning the pages.#NetGalley # st.martins

Chasing Evil is a true crime story that explores an unlikely and secret partnership between retired FBI agent Robert “Bob” Hilland, a polygraph lie detection specialist, and psychic John Edwards. What begins as a request for help on a single cold case blossoms into a collaboration that spans over 25 years, bridging the seemingly impossible gap between forensic science and the supernatural.
It was fascinating to see how the two worked together, with Edwards's "psychic visions" offering guidance on some of the FBI's most difficult cases. The accuracy of his contributions was truly unbelievable, and I was amazed by how many investigations he was quietly involved with. While this book might not be for readers who are skeptical of psychic abilities, I was completely engrossed.
The subject matter, as with most true crime, can be dark, but the story is told at a fast pace that kept me hooked from start to finish. The professional and personal bond that forms between Hilland and Edwards adds a compelling layer to the narrative, making this a memorable read.
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Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for the opportunity to read this ARC in exchange for my honest review.

I couldn't resist this one after watching a few Netflix true crime shows, especially because of the paranormal elements. The work of J Edward gives us goosebumps. The horror of the truth behind crimes and the details made this a nonstop read that blew my mind in several moments. Deboired this one. Must be awesome as an audiobook as well, adding it to my wishlist. From crimes years back to warnings that help the inspector remain safe, 9/11, and other crimes even in international waters.