I am a huge true-crime TV watcher, but haven't read many books on the topic. I don't think I've ever read a book written about, or by, a psychic. I have always been very skeptical of the people who claim to be able to receive messages from 'the other side.' That being said, I had heard of John Edward before, and did find him to be the most plausible, or at least the best prepared, of the mediums I'd seen on TV.

This book was incredibly engaging, right from the start. Bob Hilland is a dedicated civil servant, almost to a fault, and vowed to do what it took to solve the mysteries that obsessed him, even if it meant calling a renowned psychic to help him out. As it happened, Bob and John became very close, and worked together to solve crimes, and bring justice to victims and their families.

Chasing Evil is a great read, with a career-worth of adventure, trauma, and hope to keep me turning the page. I never came to a chapter that made me wonder if I should continue on to the next one.

Thanks to NetGalley for allowing me to read an advance copy! I'm glad I made the request, and I'd recommend this book to any True Crime aficianado.

I enjoyed the investigative aspects of this book, but the psychic's part raised many questions: if the "guides" know where bodies are, why must they string it out so long? Just give the coordinates and disposition. What's the need for holding out? If they can turn a light on and off on demand for this agent, why didn't they do that all the time? Why doesn't he get them to solve the most significant crimes? Like, tell us who the Zodiac is? The supernatural guides had all the answers but only for these cases. It just all felt cartoonish. Maybe that's because the writer didn't include any significant false starts or errors, but Edwards has made mistakes in his readings. This book makes him sound infallible, too good to be true. You also have to wonder, with all these cases solved thanks largely to Edwards, why the FBI doesn't include more psychics for crime fighting. I had hoped the agent, who supposedly started off as a skeptic, would assess Edwards before trusting him so quickly. It's the typical formula: a die-hard skeptic is won over by some psychic readings and becomes a believer. But I wonder what his colleagues and other investigators on these cases will say about how the cases were solved (not to mention the ethical issues of case-sharing). I suspect there's more to the stories than offered here. The forensics started off well, but then it became "call the psychic" for every tough case.

This was about more than a true crime story. It’s about an FBI agent’s meeting a psychic who takes him beyond his skepticism to becoming a believer. As they continue to get to know and trust each other, and work together on some cases, a beautiful thing happens. It’s a pleasure to read about this kind of thing, especially for those who have painful questions about what’s really “out there”.

This was a very interesting story! I was vaguely familiar with John Edward, but didn't have a lot of information on him or his work. This was a fascinating peek into the long-term hunt for a serial killer, as well as into a number of other cases, from the dual perspective of an FBI agent and a psychic. I found the storytelling style very easy to fall into and enjoyed the marrying of the scientific and the spiritual as the men worked together.

The author, an ex-FBI agent from NYC, presents an intriguing journey through the cases he worked on, culminating in what he considers the defining case of his career—one that continues to resonate with him. The exploration of the spiritual guidance he received throughout these investigations adds an intriguing layer to the narrative. I found myself deeply engrossed in the story, reflecting quietly after finishing the book to organize my thoughts.

The question remains: were Edward's insights a product of a genuine connection to "the Other Side," or are they grounded in practical, real-world deductions? Could Bob have independently solved these cases without the psychic assistance? Ultimately, readers will form their own opinions on this matter, shaped by their individual life experiences and beliefs about spirituality.

While I’m still navigating my own stance on the topic of psychics, I find the exploration of such themes especially captivating. In "Chasing Evil," we follow an FBI agent who turns to a well-known psychic for assistance in solving complex cases, particularly one involving the troubling disappearance of several women, including two wives linked to the main suspect.

As the narrative progresses into the second half, particularly with the account of his 911 experience, the story begins to lose some of the tension that initially held my attention. Although engaging throughout, I felt a reduction in the story's depth as the case of John Smith unfolded, which I acknowledge is a minor complaint.

The book tackles significant and heavy subjects, such as violence against women and the heart-wrenching topics of missing and deceased children, along with a vivid portrayal of a 911 experience. These themes, while difficult, are addressed in a pacey manner that keeps the reader engaged.

For fans of true crime, I believe "Chasing Evil" offers a compelling read. It successfully combines elements of true crime with the supernatural, creating a captivating dynamic between skeptical FBI agent Bob Hilland and psychic medium John Edward. Their unexpected partnership adds an interesting twist as they work together to bring closure to cold cases.

Overall, this book not only highlights the potential power of unlikely connections but also encourages readers to maintain an open mind, making it a thought-provoking and worthwhile read.

I would recommend this book to library patrons interested in true crime and psychics. This would be a great book for people interested in learning how and when law enforcement consults psychics and whether it helps solve cases or not.

5 stars. This book read like a movie to me. This was a real life cat and mouse chase, the battle between good and evil. I’ve hardly been able to put it down, it was beyond gripping.

The author, an ex FBI agent from NYC, takes you through the cases he worked on, as well as ‘the case’ of his career, the one he couldn’t shake. The incredible spiritual guidance he had behind the scenes was fascinating. What a story. It honestly blew me away. I finished the book and sat in silence for a moment to gather my thoughts.

Thanks to Netgalley for the opportunity to review this arc. I wish the author every success with this incredible book.

Chasing Evil was a page turning account of Bob Hilland's dogged pursuit of justice for the vulnerable. Woven in these stories was his relationship with a psychic, John Edward, who provided insights that proved to be invaluable in cracking numerous cases.

Were Edward's insights based on an ability to reach "the Other Side" or well-founded assumptions based in the real world? Could Bob have solved these cases on his own without help? The reader will ultimately have to make that decision but much of that will be based on their own lived experiences and spiritual beliefs.

This was a fun read that touched on real cases, some of which I was familiar with, and was well worth the time.

“Chasing Evil” is a captivating true crime story based on cases from Robert Hilland’s FBI career and his collaboration with psychic John Edward. In the beginning, Hilland was a skeptic and felt that psychics were frauds. But as the two worked together on cases, they forged a professional on personal bond. As most true crime stories, the subject matter can be dark, but this book was fast-paced and kept my attention from start to finish. No matter whether you are a believer or a skeptic, “Chasing Evil” is a must-read for true crime lovers.

An excellent read for any and all readers! Author comes at you with both barrels and knocks you out of your shoes! Great job fleshing out all the characters. I give this book FIVE stars! Definitely recommend!

4.5 Stars

***CALLING ALL TRUE CRIME ADDICTS!!***

A non fiction book about an FBI agent and a psychic working together? Yes please!!!

This book definitely caught my attention! John Edwards (the medium) sounded familiar and sure enough, I looked him up and it is the guy I was thinking of. That made me want to read this one even more!

Chasing Evil is an incredibly fascinating and gut wrenching book. The subject matter can be a little heavy at times, of course as should be expected with this kind of book, but it’s also very intriguing. I’m not sure if I believe there’s any psychics out there that are the real deal, but it’s an enjoyable and thought provoking read no matter where your opinion lands when it comes to psychics.

I absolutely loved this entertaining true crime read. It was 100% up my alley! I definitely recommend it to all true crime buffs who find psychics fascinating as well. I really think you’ll love Chasing Evil too!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing a free ebook copy in exchange for an honest review. This book will be released September 2, 2025.

This was an intriguing book that followed the work of FBI Agent Bob Hilland and the relationship developed with and helped gained from psychic John Edward. I have always been fascinated by true crime and psychics so this was a great read for me. It was amazing to hear how John Edward helped Bob Hilland with so many cases. How spot on Edward was with his information was surprising and very interesting. The story did drag a little bit for me in the middle, but overall kept my attention. I loved how it was not only a book about the cases, but also a story about self discovery and friendship. Definitely recommend to anyone who has an interest in true crime and wants something different and captivating!

“Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for an ARC in exchange for my honest review”

Blog Post goes live September 2nd
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Amazon and B&N reviews will go up after publication

**TL;DR**: A fascinating chronicle of an FBI agent and a psychic working together.
**Source**: NetGalley, thank you so much to the publisher!

**Plot**: This was pretty well paced, though I think they reached a bit fill in the end.
**Characters**: Interesting! They felt fairly well represented with what we got.
**Readability:** This one is an easy read, everything is approachable if heavy.

**Thoughts**:

I’m not entirely sure where I swing on the topic of psychics, but I find reading about them fascinating. In Chasing Evil we do just that, following an FBI agent who ends up asking for a receiving quite a bit of help from a popular, well known psychic to solve cases. The primary case is one of a man who is linked to the disappearance of several women, including two wives. Robert Hilland and John Edwards work together to try and find and put the man away.

The second half of this, starting with his story of his 911 experience is a good indicator of the story loosing a little bit of the tension and tightness that carried it through. While the book continued to be engaging and fascinating, we lost a lot of the meat of the story where the case of John Smith fizzled out. That’s really my only complaint, and it’s a weak one I’ll happily admit.

The topics touched on are heavy. We have violence against women, missing and deceased children, an on site 911 experience with details of that event, etc. It’s a lot to take in. But it’s pacey, it’s fast and it will keep you reading. I enjoyed it, and for fans of true crime I think it’ll be a fun read.

Wasn’t quite sure what to expect going into this book. I never knew how much John Edward was involved in helping the FBI with finding victims. It’s sad what happens when Bob is so focused on finding Fran, he loses what’s in front of him. I admire him for continuing to try to find her. Also hearing the stories that he was able to help in. Great book all around. I’m glad he was able to get Micheal Vick. He is a POS.

An excellent read for any and all readers! Author comes at you with both barrels and knocks you out of your shoes! Great job fleshing out all the characters. I give this book FIVE stars! Definitely recommend!

Chasing Evil is such an exciting read. The lively relationship between a skeptical Bob Hilland, FBI Agent and psychic medium John Edward is a page turner. They develop an unforeseen partnership to bring closure to cold cases.

If you like true crime shows or documentaries this book is right down your alley. You won’t regret spending the weekend doing a deep dive into this book.

-NetGallery, thank you for the ARC.

Chasing Evil: Shocking Crimes, Supernatural Forces, and an FBI Agent's Search for Hope and Justice is a fascinating journey through some of the most notable crimes, and how an FBI agent works with a psychic medium to help him solves cases. This book reads like a true crime tv show ( Dateline and 20/20 fans would approve)! Shout out to NetGalley for providing me with this eARC.

Although I've enjoyed John Edward's previous books, I didn't have high hopes going into this book as I was unfamiliar with Bob Hilland..
Was I in for a surprise! "Chasing Evil" is a book I will never forget. It has a combination of outstanding writing and a riveting, haunting story that reaches far above and beyond the usual true crime book. While the subject matter was very disturbing at times, the overall message of this book is about hope, change (for the better), and good vs. evil . "Chasing Evil" would make for an excellent film.

A true page-turner, "Chasing Evil" is an incredible, powerful book that is truly original in what it covers. I highly, highly recommend it.

I don't usually read Non Fiction, but this book intrigued me. It did not disappoint! I am always up for a book on serial killers, and it was refreshing to read about them from an FBI standpoint...and throw in a psychic medium...fabulous. 5 stars!

A skeptic and a psychic join forces to solve cold cases. Sounds like the premise of a goofy sitcom, so you can imagine how delighted I was to find out this book! Utterly fascinating (and occasionally deeply unsettling). I loved reading about Hilland and Edward's relationship and the way they helped others come to, if not peace, then at least terms with the violence of the old cases that had never been solved. Highly recommend for fans of true crime!