The Washington Times ran my
On Crime column about retired FBI agent Jerri Williams and her book about FBI
myths and misconceptions.
Legendary FBI
agent Joe Pistone once told me that “Donnie Brasco,” the film made about his
six years undercover with the Bonanno Cosa Nostra crime family, was about 80%
accurate.
“For Hollywood, that’s good,”
Mr. Pistone said.
Retired FBI
agent Jerri
Williams’ book, “FBI
Myths and Misconceptions” points out the many errors about the FBI
in novels, TV and movies.
I knew Ms. Williams
back when she was the spokesperson for the FBI
in Philadelphia.
Her job then was educating the media and the public about the FBI.
I reached out and asked her why she wrote the book.
“In January 2016, I started a
podcast “FBI
Retired Case File Review,” which features interviews with retired agents.
During many of the episodes, my former colleagues and I often made comments
regarding cliches and misconceptions we saw and heard about the FBI
in books, TV, and movies,” Ms. Williams
replied.
“Episodes 50 and 100 focused
exclusively on what authors and screenwriters sometimes get wrong. As a crime
novelist myself, I know that when writers are crafting their books and scripts,
the most important thing is the story. However, I was hoping to show writers
how to keep the story as true to life as possible and honor the agents who do
the job.
“One day it hit me. Those two
shows were the foundation for a really cool book debunking FBI
myths and misconceptions for those who read, watch, and write crime dramas
about the FBI
or want to become an FBI
agent. There’s a lot out there, and the book has led to me starting a new
career as a technical consultant for TV.”
You can read the rest of the
column below or via the below link:
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