Send a text

Today’s show will be especially helpful for you writers out there, or if you are curious to see what makes a full-time thriller author tick. On the show today, we have award-winning and bestselling author Nick Petrie, who just released his 9th book in the Peter Ash series, The Dark Time.

His first novel, The Drifter, won the ITW Thriller and Barry Awards and was nominated for Edgar, Anthony, and Hammett Awards. He won the 2016 Literary Award from the Wisconsin Library Association and was named one of Apple’s 10 Writers to Read in 2017. Apple Books named Light It Up the Best Thriller of 2018. Both Light It Up and The Wild One were shortlisted for the Barry Award.

Lee Child, author of the Jack Reacher novels, said. “Lots of characters get compared to my own Jack Reacher, but Petrie's Peter Ash is the real deal.”

Nick is the quindecennial blue-collar author. He has an impeccable work ethic forged with years of working as a carpenter and other trades, which has paved his way to becoming a full-time, bestselling author.

Please enjoy my conversation with one of the nicest guys I know in the business, Nick Petrie.

In today’s episode, we discuss:

· What has changed in the publishing business in the last two years since he released his last book?

• Luck finds people who show up for work every day.

· Artificial Intelligence and the publishing business.

· Best marketing practices for authors.

· How his former professions and life experiences have helped him in his writing career.

· Pros and cons of writing in a series.

· His advice for new or newer authors looking to break through.

All of this and more on today’s episode of the Cops and Writers podcast.

Visit Nick's website to learn more about him and his books.

Check out my newest book! Police Stories: The Rookie Years - True Crime, Chaos & Life as a Big City Cop!

My first week as a rookie cop, I had to decide whether to pull the trigger on a man running at me with a butcher knife. He'd just killed his brother over the last hot dog.

That was my introduction to policing in Milwaukee.

From Wall Street Journal-featured author Patrick O'Donnell comes a memoir of rookie years on Milwaukee's streets.

Support the show

Send a text

In this episode of the Cops and Writers Podcast bonus series, retired Milwaukee Police Sergeant Patrick O'Donnell reads Chapter 14, "Scooby-Doo Where Are You?" from his upcoming book:

Police Stories: The Rookie Years - True Crime, Chaos, & Life as a Big City Cop

You've probably seen it in movies or TV shows: a cop arrives at a crime scene, a victim is barely clinging to life, and with their final breath, they reveal who killed them. Case closed. Roll credits.

Reality is messier.

This is a short chapter, but one of the most unforgettable stories in the book. It's about a dying man's last words—and how Patrick can never watch Scooby-Doo the same way again.

Jimmy T was one of the genuinely nice cops on the late shift. Five-foot-nine, built like a prizefighter, always had a smile on his face. When he shook Patrick's hand and introduced himself, nobody had ever been that nice to the FNG before. He called Patrick "Paddy" from that night on.

They were working plainclothes backup in an unmarked Crown Vic when they heard twenty gunshots ring out. They found a man lying in the middle of the street, steam rising from multiple bullet holes in his chest. The paramedic shook his head 'no'—this guy wasn't going to make it.

Patrick needed a dying declaration: "You're going to die. Who killed you?"

The man's last words: "Scooby-Doo, Scooby-Doo, shot me!"

To this day, Patrick can't watch Scooby-Doo without thinking of that night.

All stories are real. Names and locations have been changed where necessary.

🎧 This episode includes:

• Plainclothes park operation - people getting robbed after hours
• Twenty gunshots rang out.
• Steam rising from the bullet holes - "extra eerie with the streetlights and flashing red and blue lights."
• The victim to the female cop: "Am I going to die?"
• The dying man's last words: "Scooby-Doo, Scooby-Doo, shot me!"
• Scooby-Doo was a local drug dealer's street name
• Working with homicide until 4:00 p.m. - looking for Scooby
• "To this day, I can't watch Scooby-Doo without thinking of that night"

📘 About the Book:
Police Stories: The Rookie Years - True Crime, Chaos, & Life as a Big City Cop is a true crime memoir chronicling Patrick O'Donnell's early career as a big city cop during Milwaukee's crack wars in the 1990s.

Book Launch: TUESDAY, March 17, 2026 (St. Patrick's Day!)
Book Update: Pre-orders are LIVE on Amazon. The book is currently a #1 New Release in Biographies of Law Enforcement. This is the last bonus chapter episode before launch!

🔗 Pre-order now for $3.99 (price goes up after launch): Search "Police Stories Patrick O'Donnell" on Amazon or check the link below.

📧 Contact Patrick:
Email: sarge@copsandwriters.com
Website: copsandwriters.com
Facebook Group: Cops and Writers

👍 If this story stuck with you:
Subscribe, leave a review, and share with someone who thinks dying declarations are just like in the movies.

🎙️ The book launches NEXT TUESDAY, March 17th. This is the last bonus chapter before launch. Thank you for listening to these snippets from the book.

Support the show

Send a text

Welcome everyone, to the conclusion of my interview with Professor and El Paso County Sheriff’s Department Investigator Jennifer Bucholtz.

Jennifer Bucholtz is a former U.S. Army Counterintelligence Agent, and a decorated veteran of the Iraq and Afghanistan wars. She holds a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice from Northern Arizona University, a master’s degree in criminal justice from the City University of New York’s John Jay College of Criminal Justice, and a master’s degree in forensic science from National University. Ms. Bucholtz has an extensive background in U.S. military and Department of Defense counterintelligence operations.

Ms. Bucholtz is currently an adjunct faculty member at AMU and teaches courses in criminal justice and forensic sciences. Additionally, she is a cold case investigator for her local sheriff’s office, host of AMU’s investigative podcast “Break The Case,” and founder of the 501(c)3 nonprofit, Break The Case.

Please enjoy this eye-opening and fascinating interview with someone who has done so many incredible things and continues to serve her community.

In today’s episode, we discuss:

· Meeting Lt. Joe Kenda.

· Why is she so interested in cold cases?

· The Steven Avery case.

· The Rebecca Gould murder. Was her killer a serial killer? All the missteps of the original detectives and how she overcame those errors.

· Why does she still communicate with her murderer?

· Her company, Break The Case.org.

· The Debbie Sue Williamson case.

· What is her criteria for taking a case?

· Forensic and investigative science has never been better. Why are clearances not keeping up with the science?

· What’s in the future of cold cases? DNA keeps getting better, and perhaps using AI as a tool, not a replacement for humans.

All of this and more on today’s episode of the Cops and Writers podcast.

Visit Break the Case!

Visit the Cops & Writers Website!

Check out my newest book! Police Stories: The Rookie Years - True Crime, Chaos & Life as a Big City Cop!

My first week as a rookie cop, I had to decide whether to pull the trigger on a man running at me with a butcher knife. He'd just killed his brother over the last hot dog.

That was my introduction to policing in Milwaukee.

From Wall Street Journal-featured author Patrick O'Donnell comes a memoir of rookie years on Milwaukee's streets.

Support the show