On this edition of the Richard Crouse Show we meet Steve Ryan. He began his policing career at just eighteen years old. After nearly thirty years of policing — two thirds of that working as a detective — he retired and began a career with CP24 as a crime specialist. In his book, “The Ghosts That Haunt Me,” he reflects on just a few of the many cases that have greatly impacted him. He remembers six cases — seven people whose lives were senselessly taken — that he still thinks about nearly every day. While these stories are hard to tell, they were harder to live through.

We’ll also get to know Barbie Latza Nadeau. She has worked as the Rome bureau chief for Newsweek Magazine and currently holds that position for The Daily Beast. She is an on-air contributor for CNN and a writer for Scientific American. She is also a true crime novelist, with a new book, “The Godmother,” about the rise of women in the mafia. Publishers Weekly calls it “A must for true crime fans,” and it is a great read.

And finally, we’ll meet American film director, production designer, and screenwriter Catherine Hardwicke. Her directorial work includes “Thirteen,” ”Lords of Dogtown,” the megahit “Twilight,” “Miss Bala” and “Prisoner's Daughter” among many others. Today she’s here to talk about her latest film, Mafia Mamma, a movie I described as having the same kind of themes as “How Stella Got Her Groove Back” and “Eat, Pray, Love” only with 100% more gunplay and slapstick violence.