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This had me on the edge of my seat. I consider myself to be pretty well-versed in True Crime so sometimes it is hard to keep me on the edge of my seat while reading.
The story kept me engaged and I thought the writing in this was excellent.
An absolutely fascinating story.

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for the ARC

I’ll be honest, when I read a summary of Chasing Evil and how the story was going to involve the topic of psychic powers, I was put off and not really interested.

One day the book arrived in the mail and I was surprised I was chosen to receive an early copy. I decided to give the story a chance…I was immediately captivated by the story and could not put it down. I finished it in one day!!! I can’t tell you how long it has been since I finished a book in a day!

A riveting part memoir and true crime book was an easy read for me. I felt all the emotions as I plowed through the novel. This book is more than fighting crime and seeking justice but also about how we all have a purpose in our lifetime and everyone’s journey looks different.

If you enjoy true crime, this book is for you! I highly recommend.

Thank you for your service Robert Hilland!

Chasing Evil: Shocking Crimes, Supernatural Forces, and an FBI Agent’s Search for Hope and Justice by John Edward and Robert Hilland was a fascinating and intense read. The mix of real-life investigation, personal struggle, and the unexpected presence of the supernatural pulled me in. The honesty and detail made the story feel raw and powerful, and I found myself thinking about it long after I put the book down. It’s a gripping blend of true crime and personal reflection that really stayed with me.

📚 E-ARC BOOK REVIEW 📚

Chasing Evil: Shocking Crimes, Supernatural Forces, and an FBI Agent's Search for Hope and Justice
By John Edward and Robert Hilland
Publication Date: September 2, 2025
Publisher: St. Martin's Press | St. Martin's Essentials

📚MY RATING: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Thank you to St. Martin's Press, St. Martin's Essentials, and NetGalley for this #gifted e-copy of this book in exchange for my honest review. I just love being a part of the SMP Early Readers program!

📚MY REVIEW:

When I heard about Chasing Evil from some trusted friends who absolutely RAVED about it on Bookstagram (thanks Lily and Beth!), I couldn't open up NetGalley fast enough and hit that request button! See, I'm not only true crime obsessed, but I've also been obsessed with psychic medium John Edward ever since I first watched his show, Crossing Over. And this book was the perfect marriage of both!

Though this book read like a riveting crime fiction thriller, it's non-fiction... part true crime, part memoir -- and all true. My heart pounded as I read and I was completely engrossed from start to finish. I didn't want to stop reading and finished it all in one day.

The primary focus of the book is the story of how Special Agent Bob Hilland, part of the FBI's Cold Cases Team, tracked down killer John Smith, whose two wives Janice and Fran had both inexplicably disappeared. It had always been believed that Smith was responsible for their disappearances and deaths -- but they just didn't have evidence to prove it. Hilland was a huge skeptic of up-and-coming psychic medium John Edward, but their meeting about a case changed everything. And their continued work together over the years - off the record - assisted Hilland with solving and obtaining closure in so many cases over the years. Though much of the book details the Smith case, it also contains stories about their work together in multiple cases and situations over more than twenty years.

I loved reading about the details of the incredible friendship developed between Hilland and Edward over the years. I loved reading about the stories of Edward -- time and time again -- proving to his biggest skeptics that he was the real deal and his connections to the spirits of those who've passed are genuine.

My only complaint is that I wanted more! I was absolutely riveted to these stories about using Edward's incredible connection to the other side to help guide Hilland's path in solving some of these cold cases.

This book was captivating, heart-pounding, fascinating, and at times emotional. If you're a fan of true crime reads, if you're fascinated with cold cases or forensic investigative work, or if you're a fan of psychics and connections to the spirits of those who've passed, you will absolutely love this book. And if you're a skeptic or non-believer about psychics and mediums, I think you should read this book too, and I'd love to hear your thoughts. This book will stay with me for quite some time, and it will remain an all-time favorite true crime read due to its unique perspective and eye-opening narrative. Watch for this one when it publishes September 2nd!

#ChasingEvil #JohnEdward #RobertHilland #StMartinsPress #StMartinsEssentials #truecrime #truecrimereads #memoir #nonfiction #FBI #coldcases #psychicmediums #bookreviews #bookrecs #booklover #bookaddict

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for an ARC ebook copy in exchange for an honest review.
I found this book to be annoying… requested it without honestly knowing that it involved the missing sister of a good friend. The FBI author does not bother to even mention the last victim’s family, who independently kept the NJ POLICE on this psycho’s case for years. Very sad that the FBI is taking credit for so much work they had little to no interest in… God bless Fran Smith and her family. They deserve much better.

Chasing Evil follows investigators tackling cold case crimes, initially drawing readers in with a gripping premise and engaging storytelling. The book promises a deep dive into solving mysteries but takes an unexpected turn, heavily leaning on tarot, psychics, and supernatural elements to crack cases.

While the start was compelling, the reliance on "beyond the grave" methods felt outrageous and unbelievable, detracting from the credibility of the investigations. I would have preferred a focus on forensics and sharp investigative skills, as the supernatural angle went too far over the top, making the resolutions feel unconvincing and far-fetched. One star.

I was invited to read a DRC from St. Martin's Press through NetGalley. This review is my own and reflects my honest thoughts and opinions.

Robert Hilland and John Edward give a unique perspective on true crime and the lengths investigators sometimes need to go in order to solve cases. Kudos to Hilland for putting aside his own personal bias against the supernatural for the sake of justice — not everyone is so open-minded. And John Edward is nothing short of amazing — his skills and the info he gives Hilland to help him solve murders gave me goosebumps! While it was interesting, I will say there could have been more drama in the writing (Paul Holes’ memoir does it a little bit better), but this was a fast-read that was compelling, eye-opening, and can make you believe in life after death…

**Thank you, NetGalley and publishers, for a DRC in exchange for an honest review.**

What do you get when you cross an analytic FBI agent working a cold case and a psychic who shies away from working with law enforcement, a great non-fiction read where fact is stranger than fiction. I remember several of the cases profiled in this book. It was a quick read but very fascinating. I may actually start believing in the spiritual unknown.

Thank you, NetGalley, for an advanced copy

I received a free copy of this book from St Martin’s Griffin and NetGalley in exchange for my honest review. I think it’s clear the opinions are entirely my own. This started off well and then devolved into pure, chest-thumping ego, reminiscent of Joe Kenda’s first Homicide Hunter book. If you’re looking for an ego-filled memoir of an FBI agent’s 25 year law enforcement career, along with his discovery of the usefulness of psychics and tuning into his own guides and intuition, you may enjoy this. I wanted and expected a book on the hunt for a serial killer, psychics included, as I am a believer in spirit guides and universal energy, not bits of that hunt interspersed with other cases, particularly Michael Vick. Now I can’t get The Lost Dogs by Jim Gorant and the Little Brown Dog out of my head. If you are sensitive to animal cruelty, skip chapter 23. I skipped most of it. Also, I encourage you to read Tremors in the Blood by Amit Katwala, as it has excellent detail on the garbage “science” behind the polygraph that Bob Hilland so loves. I lost all respect for Hilland with his enthusiasm for the polygraph.

In all fairness, if you read and enjoyed Kenda’s book, or are a fan of ego-filled and ego-fueled law enforcement memoirs, you will probably enjoy this. It was not for me.

I received an advance reading copy (arc) of this book from NetGalley.com and the publisher in exchange for a fair review. This book was cowritten by famed psychic John Edward and FBI agent Robert Hilland. Hilland wrote the majority of the book, telling his story while Edward actually wrote the very end. Hilland was a disbeliever in mediums. He was a man of facts until he decided to hunt down a killer by the name of John Smith. Smith had two wives who both mysteriously disappeared decades ago. He reluctantly sought help from John Edward, who insisted that no one find out that he was working with law enforcement. The two became friends and Edward went on to assist Hilland with several cases. I found the book to be a page-turner, and I couldn't wait to see what happened next. The accuracy of Edward's predictions was astounding. He would repeat what his guides told him, not always understanding their exact meanings. According to Hilland, eventually it would all make sense. John Smith was ultimately arrested and convicted of his first wife's murder. Smith is currently in prison and will be up for parole in 2029. He was never convicted in the death of his second wife. If you are interested in true crime, this one is a terrific read. Chilling in more ways than one.

This book was hard to read at times, but I highly recommend it. Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for the ARC.

2.5 stars. This book was all over the place.

I don’t think Hilland is a bad writer - I actually really enjoyed the setup at the beginning where it was set up to introduce the key players at each stop of the investigation. And it was interesting to read about how he grew to trust his intuition.

But then it completely changes into something else. There are chapters wholly unrelated to the Smith case. Which would’ve been fine except that’s definitely not how it was marketed or described. I personally hate when nonfiction books end on a cliffhanger with unsolved crimes, but I disliked the ending here because the ending was so anticlimactic!

Overall I think the structure could’ve benefited from some adjusted juxtaposition.

Thank you to NetGalley, Robert Hilland & John Edward, and St. Martin’s Essentials for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

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 invited to read this book but 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.

This was one of the best true crime books I’ve read. Bob Hilland is the type of law enforcement officer that every case deserves. He really put his heart and soul into these cases, and opened up his mind to accept the supernatural assistance in order to make that happen. I have great respect for both him and John Edward. I was familiar with John Edward’s name before this book, but had never seen a show or read a book by him. Definitely a fascinating gift he shares. There are some heartbreaking stories described in this book, not the least is Bob’s experiences during 9/11. Excellent book and I very much appreciate the advance copy from the authors and St Martins Press.

Bob Hilland is a retired FBI agent who used Psychic John Edward’s help to solve cases for 25 years. One such case is the famous John Smith case.
This was an interesting story that had me glued to the pages.
Thanks NetGalley and St. Martins Press for letting me read this great ARC that will be released September 2, 2025.

⭐⭐⭐

Pre-Read Notes:

I like true crime books and I expect to like this one. The author is a small town detective whose work with medium informants have proven fruitful. That's not usually my sort of fare unless I'm reading *fiction*, but I really like how this story is being narrated. "Here's a medium," he asserts, but does not try to convince me on the off-chance I'm a skeptic. Which I am. But I respect integrity lol.

"Quotation"

Final Review

(thoughts & recs) I merely liked this one, as it's not about what I thought, really. I was mostly there for that first case about Smith. However, at about 200 pages, the writers leaves off that case without really resolving it for us. The last 150 pages of the book are about his psychic informant, his own supposed developing psychic skill, and unrelated cases. I think the last 150 pages should be cut and the first case given a stronger ending. I would have loved it then!

I recommend this to fans of true crime and supernatural overlap and psychic detectives.

My Favorite Things:

✔️ "I wanted to help these women. Louise was alive, and maybe it was because that do-gooder manager at the photo studio stuck her poster in the window. She might have been his next victim. And what about this Diane he was about to marry? I had to get this guy." p90 He writes this immediately after denying that he sees himself as a hero, butttttt he sort of does. Or at least he wrote the book as though he thought he was. No judgement. A hero's quest is a hero's quest.

✔️ This is a riveting case, honestly. I'm about halfway through and I'm hooked.

✔️ The whole psychic aspect of this case is fun...until I remember I'm reading nonfiction and then it's meh. Supposedly this psychic predicted 9-11 but I mean...what good did that do if so?

Notes:

1. content notes - police, criminal justice system, DV, psychics, interrogation, polygraphs, police procedures, animal cruelty, animal death, murder, serial killer


Thank you to the author John Edward and ghostwriter Robert Hilland, St. Martin's Essentials, and NetGalley for an accessible digital arc of CHASING EVIL. All views are mine.

Sadly I could not get into this one and I struggled with believe ability and embellishment. I will not be sharing a review of this one on my socials. It was not for me, but may be for others.

This was so interesting and informative, if you're a skeptic or not, it draws you in and will leave you with goosebumps in many of the stories. Each and every one of these cases hit hard. I would have liked to have seen better transitions between stories, as we just kinda jump from one to the next, but for as real as it's written I can slightly look past that.

Just as an FYI there is a section about 9/11 that has some harsh, real, visuals. My heart aches every time I see anything with 9/11 so just prepare yourself if you're like me otherwise you may also randomly cry in the middle of work while reading.

Thank you to St. Martin's Essentials, St. Martin's Early Readers and Netgalley for access to an e-arc in exchange for an honest review.
2 likes

Wow, I really liked this book! I requested this ARC because I thought it would be great for research for future books. I write speculative thrillers, so this was right up my alley as far as background. I’m so glad I got it! Not only was it great for giving perspective on essentially turning a staunch nonbeliever into a believer, but it was also great for giving both sides of the coin in such a situation. I personally don’t know whether I’m a believer or not, but this book sure did give a great argument for it! What I really liked about it was that it was written in. It was written in more of a narrative form than the average true crime books. I honestly kept forgetting I wasn’t reading an actual thriller from 1st person. It was that entertaining. Really well written and I was invested from the very beginning. I would absolutely buy more from this author!

Huge thanks to St. Martin's Press | St. Martin's Essentials and NetGalley for sending me this ARC for review! All of my reviews are given honestly!

Chasing Evil is cleverly written true crime that presents like the a psychological thriller serial. The main characters are clearly identified from the beginning; then much like the center relationship of Hilland and Edward, each chapter presents the supporting detectives, witnesses, etc. to unfold the latest details and discoveries.
When one's goals are just and sincere, alignment, and even collegial friendship, can emerge. Chasing Evil presents a forging of minds hunting justice for victims, while engaging in cat/ mouse games with the culprit. There's a catch for the alleged perp - they don't realize that two minds have unlikely united to solve cold cases.
While reading this book that will hold you as captive as the crimes did the authors, you'll become immersed in the lives of their lives, their families, their partners and also invested in justice being served to the victims' loved ones.