His mission is murder: Famed LAPD detective and ‘Harry Bosch’ adviser enjoys not-so-quiet retirement in the East Bay

For 28 years, Rick Jackson’s mission in life was investigating murders for the Los Angeles Police Department. He worked cases involving everyone from gang members, street hustlers, sex criminals and other cops to the rich and famous, including Doris Duke and O.J. Simpson.

Jackson has become well known in the world of fiction, too, lending his expertise to elite crime novelists to such an extent, he’s often called the “Godfather of L.A. Crime Writers.” Notably, he helps best-selling author...