In this gripping episode, I sit down with journalist and true crime author Tony Adame, the mind behind Chase the Devil: Murder and Obsession on Florida’s Gulf Coast and the award-winning podcast The Sheriff: Murder, Lies & Revenge in Okaloosa County.

We dive into the real-life case that inspired his debut true crime book—a haunting story of manipulation, obsession, and murder set against the backdrop of coastal Florida. The story of Tonya Ethridge McKinley.

Tony shares what it was like to research such an emotionally complex story, how living on the Gulf Coast gave him a unique perspective, and what it takes to turn a criminal case into a compelling long-form narrative.

We also explore the psychological themes at play and how Tony’s background in journalism and podcasting shaped his voice as an author.

Find Chase the Devil anywhere books are sold or at:

Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Books-A-Million

Find Tony Adame's podcast, The Sheriff: Murder, Lies & Revenge in Okaloosa County, on all major podcast platforms.

Listen on Apple Podcasts, or Spotify.

Watch Tony on Cold Case Files (Intro with interview from Tony's sister, Renee) S2 E16: The Clock Strikes Murder. Find Cold Case Files on Hulu, A&E, or most streaming platforms.

(This episode originally aired on the podcast Sirens | Southern True Crime with Raven Rollins. It has been reformatted for use on this podcast.)

Find retail links to this storyteller's work, along with other books, podcasts, films, and music featured on the show at https://linktr.ee/DreadfullyYours.

Find Raven's books, audiobooks, and podcasts at www.RavenRollins.com.

Support the show by donating today.

Mentioned in this episode:

Allegedly Book Ad

Find Allegedly anywhere you get your books, or search for your favorite retailer at www.RavenRollins.com.

In this chapter, I’m joined by Rachel Corbett, journalist, academic, and author of The Monsters We Make, for a deeply thoughtful conversation about crime, memory, and the stories we tell ourselves about evil.

Rachel shares how her own childhood experiences—and the moments that shaped her understanding of violence and fear—ultimately led her down the path of researching crime, criminal behavior, and the FBI’s approach to criminal profiling. What began as personal curiosity evolved into years of research that challenge some of the most widely accepted assumptions in true crime.

We talk in depth about The Monsters We Make, including what inspired the book, how personal history intersects with academic inquiry, and why criminal profiling may not be the reliable investigative tool pop culture has led us to believe. Rachel breaks down how profiling gained its reputation, where it has fallen short, and why its perceived success often looks very different when examined closely.

This episode explores the tension between storytelling and science—and asks hard questions about how myths are created, repeated, and cemented in both law enforcement and media.

Find more about Rachel at https://www.rachel-corbett.com/.

(This episode originally aired on the podcast Sirens | Southern True Crime with Raven Rollins. It has been reformatted for use on this podcast.)

Find retail links to this storyteller's work, along with other books, podcasts, films, and music featured on the show at https://linktr.ee/DreadfullyYours.

Find Raven's books, audiobooks, and podcasts at www.RavenRollins.com.

Support the show by donating today.

Mentioned in this episode:

That Which Separates Man (Book)

Find That Which Separates Man in paperback and on Kindle Unlimited.

Raven sits down with former CIA analyst and bestselling espionage novelist David McCloskey, author of The Seventh Floor, Moscow X, and Damascus Station, for a fascinating conversation about the realities — and misconceptions — surrounding the CIA and modern intelligence work. A former analyst who worked at Langley and in field stations across the Middle East, McCloskey brings real-world experience into both his fiction and this discussion.

Together, Raven and David explore everything from the truth behind CIA “agents” and analysts to the controversy surrounding polygraphs, burnout inside the intelligence world, and how espionage fiction differs from Hollywood portrayals. They also dive into the craft of writing spy fiction, building realistic tension, and creating stories grounded in authentic tradecraft and emotional realism, as well as his books.

David McCloskey is also the co-host of the hit espionage podcast The Rest Is Classified.

Get The Seventh Floor on the Zon.

Find David McCloskey online:

Official Website

Instagram @mccloskeybooks

X/Twitter @mccloskeybooks

(This episode originally aired on the podcast Sirens | Southern True Crime with Raven Rollins. It has been reformatted for use on this podcast.)

Find retail links to this storyteller's work, along with other books, podcasts, films, and music featured on the show at https://linktr.ee/DreadfullyYours.

Find Raven's books, audiobooks, and podcasts at www.RavenRollins.com.

Support the show by donating today.

Mentioned in this episode:

I Crit You Not: An RPG Podcast

Listen to I Crit You Not anywhere you get your podcasts.