By Coral Gables Gazette staff
When former FBI Special Agent Robert Hilland picked up the phone in 1998 to consult psychic medium John Edward on a serial killer case, he expected little. Instead, the call sparked a 25–year partnership that blurred the lines between investigation and intuition. That unlikely story takes center stage on Thursday, September 4, when Books & Books presents Chasing Evil: Shocking Crimes, Supernatural Forces, and an FBI Agent’s Search for Hope and Justice at Coral Gables Congregational United Church of Christ.
An unlikely collaboration
The evening pairs Edward, one of the world’s best–known psychics and a New York Times bestselling author, with Hilland, a veteran FBI agent whose career spanned three decades. Their partnership began with the notorious John Smith serial killer case, when Hilland, skeptical but desperate, asked Edward for help. The information Edward provided led to a break in the investigation — and to further collaborations on cases ranging from missing weapons in Guyana to the fallout of 9/11.
Over the years, Edward’s input has intersected with Hilland’s fieldwork in startling ways: assisting at Ground Zero, working alongside military interrogations, even helping secure a confession from NFL quarterback Michael Vick in a dogfighting case. In Chasing Evil, the two recount the extraordinary turns of a professional relationship that defied conventional boundaries.
John Edward’s reach
Edward has connected audiences to “Other Side” energies for nearly four decades. His television programs Crossing Over with John Edward (Syfy, 2000) and John Edward Cross Country (WE, 2006) helped shape the psychic media genre. He is the author of multiple bestsellers, from One Last Time to Infinite Quest, and has built a global following through his digital platform Evolve, which streams metaphysical content to more than a million subscribers. Edward continues to tour internationally, offering readings and teaching about intuition.
At the Coral Gables event, Edward will take questions from the audience and conduct a limited number of live readings, a feature that has long been part of his public appearances.
Hilland’s record
Robert Hilland’s career reflects three decades of frontline law enforcement. Before joining the FBI, he served as a police officer, later handling some of the Bureau’s most challenging assignments. His television appearances on 20/20, Cold Case Files, and On the Case with Paula Zahn brought national attention to his work. Today, he trains government agencies and mentors younger investigators, continuing to apply lessons drawn from cases that tested both procedure and imagination.
A story of justice and the unexpected
Together, Edward and Hilland frame Chasing Evil as both a true crime narrative and a meditation on finding help in unforeseen places. The book, published by St. Martin’s Essentials ($32), combines Hilland’s investigative detail with Edward’s account of working across the boundary between intuition and law enforcement. The Coral Gables appearance offers audiences not only the chance to hear their story firsthand but also to witness their dialogue in real time.
If you go…
- What: Chasing Evil: An Evening with John Edward & Robert Hilland
- When: Thursday, September 4, 7 p.m.
- Where: Coral Gables Congregational United Church of Christ, 3010 De Soto Blvd., Coral Gables, FL 33134
- Presented by: Books & Books
- Tickets: Admission includes one signed copy of Chasing Evil ($32 + tax) and entry for one person
- Format: Conversation, Q&A, and live audience readings
Author: Coral Gables Gazette News Staff
Originally established in 1996 and relaunched as a digital publication in February 2025, the Coral Gables Gazette is an independent local news organization dedicated to factual, objective and accountable community journalism. Our newsroom reports on the people, policies, institutions and events shaping Coral Gables, Florida, providing residents with timely, informative coverage of the issues affecting their community. Our reporting includes City Hall, local government, municipal elections, public spending, real estate development, business, education, arts and culture, and neighborhood affairs throughout the City Beautiful. We follow City Commission decisions, examine public records and report on the businesses, organizations and individuals contributing to Coral Gables. We believe informed residents are essential to a healthy, engaged community. Stories published under the Coral Gables Gazette News Staff byline are prepared or compiled by the publication's editorial team. We strive for accuracy, fairness, transparency and clear distinctions between news reporting, opinion and advertising. Readers are encouraged to submit news tips, corrections, editorial inquiries and story suggestions through our Contact page and learn more about our standards through our Editorial Policy.
