True Crime Blog
The opening line of a story should grab a reader’s attention like a flash of lightning, the sound of tires squealing to a stop, the blast of an air horn, or the bugle of a bull elk rumbling through dark woods. A well-crafted opening line is a tease, a seduction, a baited hook that threatens…
Over the holiday weekend, I caught a bug and spent nearly a week inside, avoiding the cold snap of weather and partaking in an epic book binge. The days passed quickly as I blazed through five books in as many days. And with the holidays upon us and winter bearing down, I thought it would…
Whenever I find new authors I really enjoy, I share them with you. Recently I discovered Frank Zafiro, a prolific author who writes crime fiction. Like me, he’s a former cop, and his prose has an authenticity that many are lacking. He’s a gifted writer, and I think you will like his stories. So let’s…
The highly-anticipated book 7 in the Dickie Floyd series, THE PROGRAM, is now available! “Nothing less than brilliant storytelling.” “Outstanding! Very Highly Recommended.” “Few writers can take you into the minds of police and criminals. None do so as well as Danny R. Smith.” The wait is finally over! It’s been more than two and a…
Happy New Year, my friends. I have news about my plans for the new year and some details about the forthcoming new release of book 7 in the Dickie Floyd Detective series.
I HAVE A DEVIL INSIDE ME is the true story of a satanic murder that took place in Miami-Dade, Florida, in the year 2000.
Book clubs are not a thing of the past. In fact, they are all the rage for book lovers everywhere, especially given the technological advances that have made it possible to find, join, and even host one online. How to Find a Book Club In days past you were most likely to find a book…
What better way to return from a sabbatical than to bring you the latest news about what’s been going on with me, and throw in a few book reviews for good measure? The Latest News First, my apologies for ghosting you. There have been some struggles in my personal life this past year, and it…
Linda Healy was part of a law enforcement experiment: in 1974 the California Highway Patrol held its first academy class that included women. Her book, THE EXPERIMENT, chronicles her rise from a meter maid to being a commander in the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department. I am honored to share with you my interview of…
After the Badge by Danny R. Smith was first published in Mystery Readers Journal: The Journal of Mystery Readers International (Volume 37, Number 4 – Winter 2021). Unsolved murders can haunt those who’ve been tasked with solving them. Though I retired from L.A. Sheriff’s Homicide seventeen years ago, many of my unsolved cases trouble…