Writer's Detective Bureau

AI Bots and Ghost Guns

Adam talks about AI bots, the future of the Writer's Detective Bureau, and ghost guns.

Bunco Crimes, Investigator Associations, Retired Cops, and POVs

Adam talks about bunco crime investigations, the value of belonging to investigator associations, the trope of retired cops being forced back to work for one last case, and a different kind of POV. Submit a question: wri

Cybercrime, Trap and Trace, and Concealed Carry

Adam talks about cybercrime investigations, how wiretap investigations involve "trap and trace" and "pen registers" tools, and how undercover detectives conceal their firearms. Submit your own question to the podcast: wr

Core Character Question, Celebrities, and An Unnoticed Serial Killer

The Writer's Detective Bureau podcast is BACK and now ad-free! Adam has retired from law enforcement and is back answering writers' questions. Adam shares a core character question that he contemplated at the end of his

Alcoholic Beverage Control, Military Murder Investigations, and Tribal Police

Adam answers questions about: California's Alcoholic Beverage Control agency, who investigates murders involving the military, and the surprising limitation on Tribal Police law enforcement powers.

International Crime Rings, FBI Legal Attaches, INTERPOL, Proactive Investigations, and Transnational RICO Cases

In this episode, Adam answers questions about investigating international crime rings, FBI Legal Attaches, INTERPOL, the difference between reactive and proactive investigations, and where prosecutions might happen for t

DA Investigators, Warrantless Arrests in the Home, and Cover-Ups

Adam talks about a DA Investigator moving over to a police department as a detective, the legalities of making a warrantless arrest inside a suspect's home, and how to conduct a cover-up.

Threads App, Life Insurance Lookups, VINELink, Confidential Name Changes, Restraining Order Violations

Adam talks about the new THREADS app, whether detectives can find out if someone is listed as a beneficiary on a life insurance policy, victim notifications when an inmate is released from prison, confidential name chang

WGA Strike, Mini Rooms, AI, Phone Warrant in a Homicide, and California Crime Labs

In this episode, we dive into the ongoing WGA strike. We'll also explore the role of artificial intelligence in writing and storytelling, and how it's poised to change the way we create and consume content. Then, we'll a

Federal Inmate Escapes, Hawaiian Floaters, and a Foreign Leader Murder Suspect

This week we are talking about what happens when a federal inmate escapes from prison, a body in Hawaiian waters, who handles the investigation if a murder victim is found in a visiting world leader's hotel room.

Disaster Fraud, Moving to a New State, and Percipient Witnesses

This week, Adam answers questions about financial crimes, how a detective could go about becoming a police chief in another state, and he explains what it means to be a percipient witness.

Undercover FBI, Prisoner Release, Pyromania, and Gun Types

Adam answers questions about a fictional FBI undercover story involving a prisoner release, pyromania, and gun types.

Why Choose to be a Detective -and- Martial Arts in Law Enforcement

This week, we do a deep dive into why your character might want to be a police detective. Plus, I talk about police batons and martial arts in law enforcement. Transcript: writersdetective.com/129

US Marshal Task Forces, Warrant Time Restrictions, Good Faith

Interview with Matthew Gentile - Writer and Director of AMERICAN MURDERER

Adam interviews Matthew Gentile about writing and directing his new feature film, AMERICAN MURDERER. This true-crime inspired movie stars Tom Pelphrey, Ryan Phillippe, Idina Menzel, and Jackie Weaver. Watch it now on iTu

UK vs. US CSI, Lying about Immunity, Ring Doorbell Footage

The Writer's Detective Bureau is now also a video podcast on YouTube. In this episode, Adam talks about the differences between UK and US Crime Scene Investigation, the ramifications of a detective lying about immunity t

Exonerations, Getting SWAT to a Victim, and Legalities of Eavesdropping

Adam talks about exonerations after perjury, getting to a downed victim during a SWAT call, and the legalities of eavesdropping with a room bug.

Cold-ish Case, Civilians in LE, and Arrests Made Outside of Jurisdiction

Register for Adam's upcoming writing workshop on Detective Character Mindset & Motivation. writersdetective.com/workshop In this episode, Adam talks about a cold-ish case scenario, civilian jobs in law enforcement, and h

Sketching a Crime Scene, Immigration in 1995, and Trespassing to get the Scoop

Adam talks about sketching a crime scene, how immigration status violations were handled in California circa 1995, and what would happen if a journalist went trespassing to get the scoop on a major crime.

Inside Dispatch, Moving a Morgue, and Getting Investigative Help from Ma Bell

Adam talks about how 9-1-1 calls get dispatched over the police radio, what would happen if the morgue becomes unusable, and how detectives worked with the phone company on investigations in the 1950s and 60s. writersdet