How a Writer Turns Crime into TV Drama

A journalist discovered the spark for his newest book while on a television set, where a talk about an obscure London incident opened up a deeper look into the city’s shadowy money routes. He spent months digging into records and talking to people close to the case, then persuaded the relatives that a careful, respectful narrative could uncover hidden truths. His earlier work has peeled back layers of influence—from Irish paramilitaries to the family linked with a national drug crisis—showing his knack for exposing power structures.The result of one such investigation was a book that led to a significant settlement and later inspired a Netflix series, proving his stories can move beyond paper into real change. Keefe usually starts with a magazine piece, expands it into a book, and then works on turning the material into a television show. Hollywood appreciates his talent for cutting dense information into gripping scenes that keep viewers hooked. Although he finds the freedom needed for scripts less natural than factual reporting, he keeps moving between journalism and screenwriting, continually turning nonfiction into compelling TV projects.