COPS AND WRITERS

Technical consultant for crime and police procedure authors and screenwriters.

Welcome to my website. I’m a professional author and a police sergeant in one of the largest cities in the United States.  I believe I have a unique insight to help you write more authentic and accurate crime stories

Latest News And Releases

Featured in the Wall Street Journal!

The cover of the Wall Street Journal? Welcome to a special mid-month newsletter! Yup, the Wall Street Journal did a story about the Cops and Writers Facebook group that I founded and run for the last six years, that was on the front page of the digital and weekend...

$0.99 for the Kindle version of The Good Collar!

How do I celebrate St. Patrick’s Day? Well, I will be bartending on the big day. It will be a zoo, but hopefully fun! The author in me wanted to do something special, so I’m discounting my recent crime thriller, The Good Collar down to $0.99 (Kindle only) from March...

Critical praise for ‘The Good Collar’

The Good Collar has been out less than a month, but the reviews are coming in thick and fast, and they're all positive! Less than a month after launch, we've got an average of 4.8 stars on Amazon, and 4.7 stars average on Goodreads. I'm so glad that people have...

Celebrating with a prize draw!

"The Good Collar" is almost ready for release (if you've been following along in my newsletter), you'll see it's back from editing and about to go to proofreading, so to celebrate the imminent launch of my book (which you can pre-order here) I thought I'd do a little...

Announcing the availability of “The Good Collar” to Pre-order

I'm delighted to announce that "The Good Collar", my newest book available on pre-order now.Here's the blurb: What would you do if you lost the one you loved the most?How far would you go to quench your thirst for vengeance?In the gritty streets of Milwaukee, Sergeant...

New release alert – the Brew City Blues Boxed set

Michael Anderle and I are delighted to announce that the Brew City Blues Boxed set is now available exclusively on Amazon. Whether you buy your copy to keep, or read it through Kindle Unlimited, we're sure you'll enjoy it.The Brew City Blues Books 1-4 Army veteran...

Big News!

All the news and announcements recently... Welcome to a new feature on my site. I'll be sharing news, snippets and behind the scenes information - sometimes it will also be in my newsletter, but you may see it here first! Hollywood Patrick? I was approached by a...

Brew City Blues, Book 4 released today!

I'm delighted to announce that Book 4 of my Brew City Blues book was released today!Here's the cover and blurb. Honor and Valor By Patrick O'Donnell and Michael Anderle Officer Michael Collins has proven himself to be a valuable member of the district five late shift...

Cop Camp 2023

Cop Camp is now over and we’re working on putting together another event as it was very successful.

 

If you’d like to be kept informed about Cop Camp, please sign up for my newsletter

 

 

The Good Collar

By Patrick O’Donnell

 

What would you do if you lost the one you loved the most? How far would you go to quench your thirst for vengeance?

On the brink of losing his job, Quinn is unexpectedly appointed as the police chaplain—a role meant to save his pension but one that leads him into the orbit of George Thomas, a revered chaplain with a dark secret. Beneath George’s kind exterior lies a meticulous serial killer targeting criminals who slip through the cracks of the justice system.

Drawn into George’s shadowy world, Quinn learns the art of vigilantism, hunting down those who evade the law while pursuing the men responsible for Maggie’s death. As the line between justice and vengeance blurs, Quinn must confront his own morality and the true cost of retribution.

Will Michael Quinn survive his quest for revenge? Or will he perish attempting to administer it?

Fans of Dexter, Death Wish, John Wick, and The Equalizer will love the heart-pounding, page-turning excitement in the first book of the Michael Quinn Vigilante Justice Series, The Good Collar.

The Brew City Blues Boxed set

By Patrick O’Donnell and Michael Anderle

Officer Michael Collins has proven himself to be a valuable member of the district five late shift team and has finally been accepted by his colleagues.

He earned their respect with the quick thinking that saved a shooting victim’s life. However, just when he thought everything was running smoothly, Collins finds all aspects of his life veering wildly off course.

The specter of internal affairs is looming once again, and Collins is forced to defend himself against criminal allegations that could get him fired and sent to prison.

As if the threat of prison wasn’t enough complication, Collins is presented with a moral dilemma that no law enforcement officer ever wants to confront.

Add in the sudden and shocking death of one of their own and serious changes in his personal life, and Collins finds himself at the center of a perfect storm that threatens his happiness and career.

While trying to avoid being dragged into his partner’s personal business, the chance encounter with a ghost from his past throws Collins’ plans into jeopardy.

As his relationship is reaching the critical point where he and his girlfriend are considering spending the rest of their lives together, he is presented with a choice that has the potential to derail their future.

Can Collins stay the course long enough to weather the storm? Or will he be left clutching straws when his life falls apart?

 

 

Honor and Valor

Book 4 of the Brew City Blues series – out now!

By Patrick O’Donnell and Michael Anderle

Officer Michael Collins has proven himself to be a valuable member of the district five late shift team and has finally been accepted by his colleagues.

He earned their respect with the quick thinking that saved a shooting victim’s life. However, just when he thought everything was running smoothly, Collins finds all aspects of his life veering wildly off course.

The specter of internal affairs is looming once again, and Collins is forced to defend himself against criminal allegations that could get him fired and sent to prison.

As if the threat of prison wasn’t enough complication, Collins is presented with a moral dilemma that no law enforcement officer ever wants to confront.

Add in the sudden and shocking death of one of their own and serious changes in his personal life, and Collins finds himself at the center of a perfect storm that threatens his happiness and career.

While trying to avoid being dragged into his partner’s personal business, the chance encounter with a ghost from his past throws Collins’ plans into jeopardy.

As his relationship is reaching the critical point where he and his girlfriend are considering spending the rest of their lives together, he is presented with a choice that has the potential to derail their future.

Can Collins stay the course long enough to weather the storm? Or will he be left clutching straws when his life falls apart?

 

 

The Brew City Blues, With Michael Anderle

Title: Field Training - Brew City Blues

Subtitle: Brew City Blues

Release Date: 2022-11-18

Book Cover: Field Training - Brew City Blues
Field Training - Brew City Blues

Title: Probation - Brew City Blues

Subtitle: Brew City Blues

Release Date: 2022-12-30

Book Cover: Probation - Brew City Blues
Probation - Brew City Blues

Title: Choir Practice - Brew City Blues

Subtitle: Brew City Blues

Release Date: 2023-02-09

Book Cover: Choir Practice - Brew City Blues
Choir Practice - Brew City Blues

Title: Honor and Valor - Brew City Blues

Subtitle: Brew City Blues

Release Date: 2023-08-04

Book Cover: Honor and Valor - Brew City Blues
Honor and Valor - Brew City Blues

Officer Michael Collins passed probation and is now an official member of district five late shift.
But not everyone in this unbreakable group of cops is welcoming him with open arms.

Collins is still a rookie in the eyes of many of his peers. He is constantly trying to prove himself worthy. He is, however, gaining allies, including two new officers he bonded with and a few sergeants who have his back.

A new partner who is going through her own struggles and the ghost of a previous fling give Collins has a renewed optimism about his job and his shift.

That optimism could be misplaced…

Collins almost doesn’t survive his first New Year’s Eve on late shift in the most violent part of town.

The rookie cop comes within a few feet of becoming the victim of a blue-on-blue shooting and is pushed to breaking point during a hostage situation involving a small child held at gunpoint.

Off-duty, Collins’ love life is heating up with the nurse he has fallen for.

Their future is looking rosy until a mistimed gesture of affection that is misunderstood threatens to derail their newfound relationship.

Between the ghosts of his past, the nonstop pressure of his job, and the start—or maybe sudden end—of his love life, will Collins have what it takes to achieve balance and stay the course?

Or check out my policing guides

An essential reference for authors and screenwriters

Title: Cops and Writers - From the Academy to the Street

Subtitle: Information not available

Release Date: 2019-06-20

Book Cover: Cops and Writers - From the Academy to the Street
Cops and Writers - From the Academy to the Street

Title: Cops and Writers - Crime scenes and Investigations

Subtitle: Information not available

Release Date: 2020-10-28

Book Cover: Cops and Writers - Crime scenes and Investigations
Cops and Writers - Crime scenes and Investigations

A bit about me

Patrick O’Donnell is the product of two young Irish immigrants. He was born and spent his early childhood in the great city of Chicago.

 

He lives with his wife, kids, and 3 dogs. O’Donnell has published self-help books under different pen names and made Amazon’s “Best Sellers List.” Hobbies include physical fitness, travel, riding motorcycles, and shenanigans.