Writers On The Beat: Crime Writers and Crime Fighters

Critically acclaimed author Isabella Maldonado stepped into the Interrogation Room to answer a few questions about her new release, DEATH BLOW. Isabella retired as a police captain, served as a hostage negotiator, and ended her career as the Commander of Special Investigations and Forensics. Her Detective Veranda Cruz series has been named a Best First Book and among the Best 25 Suspense Novels of 2018.

In addition to DEATH BLOW, Isabella and Writers On The Beat host Gavin Reese discussed her years-long process and effort to learn the craft of thriller and mystery writing, how writers can use local Citizens Police Academies to research and cultivate police relationships, and why "IGMO" remains among Isabella's favorite police jargon.

For a short time after the release of this podcast (4-Apr-2019), fans can subscribe to her newsletter for a chance to win one of two copies of DEATH BLOW:

isabellamaldonado.com

Isabella's works:

Gavin's works:

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International bestselling author Barry Eisler steps into the Interrogation Room to answer a few questions. Barry’s published works include 14 novels, 4 short stories, 2 essays. He spent three years in a covert position with the CIA’s Directorate of Operations, then worked as a technology lawyer and startup executive in Silicon Valley and Japan, earning his black belt at the Kodokan Judo Institute along the way.

Eisler’s award-winning thrillers have been included in numerous "Best Of" lists, including the #1 bestseller “The Detachment,” and have been translated into nearly twenty languages. When Barry’s not writing novels, he spends some of his time blogging about torture, civil liberties, and the rule of law.

In this episode, Barry and host Gavin Reese discussed Eisler's latest release, THE KILLER COLLECTIVE, the institutional chaos necessary in espionage and crime fiction, taking advice from your future self, and why Livia Lone should investigate his hypothetical murder.

Barry's works:

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Gavin's works:

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Retired Detective Sergeant and bestselling author Bruce Coffin stepped into the Interrogation Room to clear up a few things about his latest release, BEYOND THE TRUTH. Bruce spent 27 years in law enforcement and retired from the Portland (Maine) PD, where he last supervised all homicide and violent crime investigations. For the four years following 9/11, Bruce served in a counter-terrorism role with the FBI, and his efforts there earned him that agency’s Director’s Award, the highest possible commendation for a non-agent. Bruce is the author of three published novels in his Detective Sergeant John Byron series.

In this episode, Bruce and host Gavin Reese discussed "the first Portland," the weight and personal responsibility of homicide investigations, balancing reality with reader expectations, and how authentic writers bare their hearts and souls to the world.

Bruce's works:

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International bestseller Harlan Coben stopped into the Interrogation Room to clear up a few things about his new release, RUN AWAY. His fans have purchased more than 70 million copies of his novels in 43 countries and Harlan's created and executively produced television dramas for Netflix. He's earned critical acclaim in the US and Europe, and is the first author to have won the Edgar Award, the Shamus Award, and the Anthony Award.

In this episode, Harlan and host Gavin Reese discuss RUN AWAY, his writing process, avoiding modern distractions, improving craft, and his love of Spencer and Lieutenant Columbo.

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Former defense attorney and international bestseller Steve Berry stepped into the Interrogation Room to answer a few questions about his new release, THE MALTA EXCHANGE.  In addition to his four stand-alone novels, his wildly successful Cotton Malone series first published in 2006 and now includes 14 installments. His books are translated into 40 languages and Steve’s sold more than 23M copies in 51 countries. Prior to working as a published author, Steve spent three decades as a trial lawyer and 14 years as an elected official. He’s a member of the International Thriller Writer’s Association, and Steve and his wife created the nonprofit History Matters Foundation.

In this episode, Steve and host Gavin Reese discuss THE MALTA EXCHANGE, the realities of life as a defense attorney, the difference between "representing" and "defending" a client, their mutual love of history and preservation efforts, and what Steve goes through to produce his novels.

Steve's works:

https://www.amazon.com/Steve-Berry/e/B001H6W6DU

Gavin’s works:

www.amazon.com/Gavin-Reese/e/B072W5PPGS/

Gavin’s site:

https://gavinreese.com

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Kevin Deutsch is a staff writer for the Bronx Justice News, an investigative journalist, true crime author, and podcast host. Among others, he's worked for the Miami Herald, Newsday, The Riverdale Press, and the Daily News. His freelance work has graced the pages of Newsweek, the New York Times, and Columbia Journalism Review, and he's taught journalism at Queen's College and Hofstra University. He's written two nonfiction crime books on street gangs, the latest of which garnered substantial attention ("Pill City: How Two Honor Roll Students Foiled the Feds and Built a Drug Empire").

Kevin and host Gavin Reese discuss the relationship and commonalities between cops and reporters, the state of modern journalism, working in the shadows of your hero, and his love of Philip Marlowe and Raymond Chandler.

"Local journalism is the future." -- Kevin Deutsch

Kevin's published works:

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Gavin’s works:

www.amazon.com/Gavin-Reese/e/B072W5PPGS/

Gavin’s site:

https://gavinreese.com

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Judge Charles Gardner stepped into the Interrogation Room to clear a few things up about the 2015 Dannemora prison escape.  Over the course of 25 years with New York Department of Corrections, Charles gained experience through stints in several Medium and Maximum security prisons, including the famed Sing-Sing and the Clinton Correctional Facility, more commonly known by the name of its location: Dannemora. He served on DOC’s emergency response team; known as CERT, spelled C-E-R-T, that specialty unit functions as the corrections equivalent of SWAT.

In June 2015, two convicted murders escaped from the DOC facility in Dannemora, and a massive, prolonged manhunt ensued and captured international attention. Just last month, Charles released his true crime book, entitled DANNEMORA, which details the relevant history of both escapees, the desperate, 24-7 search to recover them, and the myriad of factors that allowed this terrifying crime to have occurred at all. 

Living in the upstate New York area where he was raised, the Dannemora convicts escaped in his "backyard," and 23 days later, one was dead and the other captured and recovered in his "front yard." He made the decision to write this True Crime account when he believed impossible administrative rules made this dangerous escape both possible and eventual.

Charlie's work:

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Gavin's works:

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International bestseller James Rollins stopped into the Interrogation Room to answer a few questions. Prior to writing full-time, James ran a successful veterinary practice. Readers across the world have since purchased millions of his works in 40 languages, and his novels include several stand-alones; fourteen installments of the popular Sigma Force series; the off-shoot Tucker Wayne series; the Order of the Sanguines series; the Jake Ransom middle grade series; and the blockbuster movie novelization of “Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull.” 

In this episode, James and host Gavin Reese talk about Jim's new release, CRUCIBLE, and the relationships it explores between 15th/16th century witch persecution and the imminent existence of self-aware artificial super intelligence. The conversation also included his craft of writing cross-genre bestsellers, how underrated Michael Crichton's work is, and why Sherlock Holmes would be his chosen homicide detective. 

James also explained his philanthropic efforts to help veterans in crisis, as well as how he and other authors are helping vets to write and publish their stories through the following organizations:

James's site:

jamesrollins.com

Gavin’s works:

www.amazon.com/Gavin-Reese/e/B072W5PPGS/

Gavin’s site:

https://gavinreese.com

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International bestsellers Douglas Preston and Lincoln Child stepped into the Interrogation Room to help clear a few things up about their latest release, VERSES FOR THE DEAD.  As long-lived co-authors, they've released dozens of novels and sold more than 15M books in North America alone under their last names, PRESTON & CHILD. Readers can find a wealth of personal information on their website, prestonchild.com. Both writers have backgrounds in editing and professional literary education, and their wildly successful Pendergast series is translated into seven languages and sold all over the globe.

In this episode, host Gavin Reese and The Dynamic Duo discussed the craft of surprise endings, the dynamics of a successful coauthor relationship, and how they would staff each other's murder investigations.

Preston & Child's website:

Gavin’s works:

www.amazon.com/Gavin-Reese/e/B072W5PPGS/

Gavin’s site:

https://gavinreese.com

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International bestsellers Gary Grossman and Ed Fuller combined forces to write an geopolitical espionage thriller based on Ed Fuller's real life experiences. Their book, RED HOTEL, takes readers across the globe for a realistic ride-along as its protagonist, Dan Reilly, tries to get ahead of global terror threats. 

Prior to this effort, Gary earned multiple Emmys in television production and wrote a bestselling series of international political thrillers. He’s also penned two nonfiction books, has worked for NBC News and the Boston Herald American, and is a member of the International Thriller Writers Association and the Military Writers Society of America.

Ed is the bestselling nonfiction author of YOU CAN’T LEAD WITH YOUR FEET ON THE DESK. He serves as president of a global business consulting consortium and as a director of the Federal Bureau of Investigators National Academy Associates Foundation. He spent 40 years with Marriot, 22 of which were as president and managing director of Marriot International. During that tenure, he oversaw the creation of that firm’s Global Security Strategy. Additionally, Ed served as in the US Army as a Captain and earned commendation medals and a Bronze Star.

In this episode, Ed, Gary, and host Gavin Reese discuss co-authoring, fictionalizing real life experiences, and the time that Ed had to negotiate with drug lords to release his kidnapped coworkers.

Buy RED HOTEL:

 https://www.amazon.com/RED-Hotel-Ed-Fuller/dp/0825308909/

Gavin’s works:

www.amazon.com/Gavin-Reese/e/B072W5PPGS/

Gavin’s site:

https://gavinreese.com

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