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.

Raven Rollins sits down with thriller novelist and podcast host Marnie Vinge for a conversation about storytelling across mediums, including writing suspense fiction, podcasting, creativity, and the process behind crafting emotionally driven mysteries.

The discussion also explores Marnie’s novel “I Remember Everything,” the intersection of storytelling and atmosphere, and the unique challenges that come with building tension, character, and mystery in both audio and written formats.

Find Marnie's podcast "Eerie Okie" anywhere you get your podcasts.

Find Marnie's books anywhere you get your books.

(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.

In this installment of Cryptids Unscripted, folklorist Simon Vaughn joins Raven Rollins and guest Jean Gray for a conversation surrounding the legend of Mothman — one of America’s most infamous cryptids. From the origins of the sightings to the folklore and cultural fascination that followed, the group explores how the story of Mothman evolved into modern mythology.

Also joining the conversation is filmmaker and podcast host Jason Usry of Santa Maybe a Criminal, adding to the discussion surrounding folklore, storytelling, and the strange way certain legends continue to linger in the public imagination and media.

(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.

Raven sits down with USA Today bestselling author Shawn M. Warner for a conversation surrounding viral publishing success, storytelling, social media, and his breakout novel “Leigh Howard and the Ghosts of Simmons-Pierce Manor.”

After a chance encounter at a grocery store led to a viral TikTok video viewed by millions, Shawn and his novel quickly exploded into the spotlight, transforming the independently published ghost story into a chart-topping bestseller and introducing readers around the world to the haunting world of Leigh Howard.

Together, Raven and Shawn discuss the surreal experience of sudden viral attention, the realities of modern publishing and BookTok culture, and the process behind crafting a story that blends spooky atmosphere, mystery, humor, grief, and adventure. The conversation also explores Shawn’s writing journey, audience connection, and how social media has transformed the way stories find readers.

“Leigh Howard and the Ghosts of Simmons-Pierce Manor” follows a teenage girl whose life is shattered after the murder of her parents, leading her into a world of secrets, betrayal, organized crime, and the supernatural — including an unforgettable ghost companion with multiple personalities.

Find Shawn on TikTok @shawnwwrites.

(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 Rollins and her amateur-chef husband Rick sit down with author Karen Pierce for a conversation surrounding mystery fiction, literary inspiration, and the deliciously dark world behind her cookbook, “Recipes for Murder: 66 Dishes That Celebrate the Mysteries of Agatha Christie.”

A self-proclaimed foodie, amateur cook, and lifelong fan of Agatha Christie. Karen became increasingly fascinated by the recurring role food played within the mysteries — from elegant dinners and curious drinks to subtle culinary details hidden throughout the narratives inspiring the creation of “Recipes for Murder,” the first cookbook dedicated to exploring food and drink throughout Christie’s novels.

Together, Raven, Rick, and Karen discuss mystery storytelling, literary atmosphere, Christie’s enduring influence on the genre, and the fascinating relationship between food, setting, and narrative immersion. The conversation also features a little kitchen experimentation of their own, as Raven and Rick may have attempted a dish or two from the book themselves.

Get the cookbook wherever books are sold.

(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.

Raven Rollins sits down with former federal prosecutor, innocence advocate, law professor, and author Valena Beety for a conversation surrounding wrongful convictions, forensic junk science, systemic injustice, and the pursuit of reform within the American legal system.

As the founder of the West Virginia Innocence Project and author of “Manifesting Justice,” Valena discusses the real-world cases and legal failures that inspired her work, including the devastating impact faulty forensic techniques and unreliable expert testimony can have on innocent lives. The conversation explores everything from exonerations and prosecutorial responsibility to bite mark analysis and other forms of debunked forensic science that nevertheless shaped convictions for decades.

Together, Raven and Valena examine the intersection of advocacy, storytelling, and justice — and the responsibility that comes with bringing these deeply human stories to the public forefront.

“Manifesting Justice” is available in audiobook, hardcover, and Kindle formats.

(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.