Reviews tagging 'Child abuse'

Unmasked: Crime Scenes, Cold Cases and My Hunt for the Golden State Killer by Paul Holes

20 reviews

taymar23's review against another edition

dark emotional reflective sad tense medium-paced

3.0

The book was good and I enjoyed learning more about Paul Holes, his life, and his work in law enforcement. It was a little more to do with his personal life than I expected it to be, in comparison - Chase Darkness with Me by Billy Jensen focuses a lot more on the crime aspect of Billy’s life. I’m not sure if it was me, but the descriptions of the crimes really made me uncomfortable.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Gun violence, Rape, Murder, Violence, Sexual violence, and Sexual assault

Moderate: Child abuse and Child death

Minor: Eating disorder

geekywoman14's review against another edition

dark emotional informative sad medium-paced

2.5

It's not a bad book, but it is a sad and heavy book, which is a strange though somehow appropriate mix of an autobiography and unsolved or cold cases accounting but just an overview of mostly the trauma. Definitely not for the faint of heart or someone wanting a deep dive into an individual story. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Rape, Hate crime, Violence, Physical abuse, Sexual assault, Death, Gore, Murder, Child death, Child abuse, Blood, Body horror, Domestic abuse, Gun violence, Injury/Injury detail, Kidnapping, Medical content, and Sexual violence

bekah1210's review against another edition

dark informative mysterious reflective sad medium-paced

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Violence, Torture, Rape, Sexual violence, and Sexual assault

Minor: Child death, Death, Kidnapping, Panic attacks/disorders, Stalking, Mental illness, and Child abuse

kkalicky94's review against another edition

dark emotional informative mysterious sad tense fast-paced

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Grief, Kidnapping, Murder, Stalking, Suicide, Pedophilia, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Child abuse, Child death, Death, Panic attacks/disorders, Torture, and Violence

amber_and_her_books's review against another edition

dark emotional informative inspiring sad tense fast-paced

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Murder, Child abuse, Rape, and Sexual violence

Moderate: Alcoholism

Minor: Drug abuse

motleybooksandtea's review against another edition

dark emotional informative medium-paced

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child death, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Injury/Injury detail, Torture, Child abuse, Medical content, and Murder

Moderate: Alcoholism, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Blood, and Body horror

Minor: Eating disorder

caseythereader's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional mysterious reflective sad tense fast-paced

3.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Child death, Cursing, Domestic abuse, Gore, Grief, Gun violence, Injury/Injury detail, Kidnapping, Medical content, Emotional abuse, Alcohol, Alcoholism, Blood, Body horror, Death of parent, Drug abuse, Mental illness, Misogyny, Murder, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Police brutality, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Stalking, Torture, Violence, Confinement, and Death

readingtomydogs's review against another edition

dark emotional reflective medium-paced

5.0

Unmasked was such an incredible book that gave wonderful insight into Paul Holes' decades of work as a crime scene investigator. He gave insight into the Golden State Killer case that no one else could provide. I could feel as if I was right there with him, following leads obsessively. His writing style is approachable and not too technical. He effortlessly explained his cases and how they were affecting his marriages and home life as well., rough as it may have been at times. A must-read for anyone interested in true crime and how investigations actually play out. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual violence, Child abuse, Murder, Rape, and Sexual assault

Moderate: Panic attacks/disorders, Torture, Violence, Gun violence, Blood, Gore, Kidnapping, and Stalking

Minor: Eating disorder and Alcohol

rocketcityreader's review against another edition

dark emotional informative mysterious slow-paced

2.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Rape, Child death, Sexual violence, Blood, Sexual content, Child abuse, Gore, and Sexual assault

savvyrosereads's review against another edition

dark emotional informative inspiring reflective sad tense medium-paced

4.5

Rating: 4.5/5 stars

Paul Holes is a former investigator for Contra Costa County, California, who retired in 2018 after a career spent investigating some of California’s most notorious crimes and criminals, including helping spearhead the decades-long hunt for the Golden State Killer. Part memoir and part true crime narrative, Unmasked explores Holes’ career and offers extraordinary insight into his mind, his life, and his work.

I was thrilled when Unmasked showed up unexpectedly at my door, and suffice to say I was NOT disappointed! Holes’ work, particularly his time spent hunting the Golden State Killer, is riveting, but it was his surprisingly raw and honest discussions about himself—including his marital strife, mental health challenges, and the toll that a life spent hunting monsters can take on the mind of an investigator—that really drew me in. I didn’t expect such frank conversations on personal topics, and they add a layer of humanity to the work that is particularly striking in a genre that can so easily become depersonalized and sensationalized. Instead of falling into that easy trap, Holes deftly weaves a narrative that is as compassionate and humane as it is gritty and eye-opening.

I will admit I was a bit disappointed that the book focused so much of its attention (75% or so) on the hunt for GSK, as I was equally interested in reading about some of Holes’ other prominent investigations. That said, the focus on GSK also makes Unmasked an exceptional companion to I’LL BE GONE IN THE DARK, and lends a structure to the book that helps it to feel almost novelistic (in the best way).

All in all, I deeply enjoyed this book and highly recommend seeking it out once it releases in April!

Recommended to anyone, but especially if you like: true crime; gritty memoirs; frank and unflinching personal narratives.

CW: Death; murder; physical and psychological torture; sexual assault/rape; suicidal thoughts and behavior.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Stalking, Blood, Child death, Kidnapping, Mental illness, Rape, Sexual assault, Suicidal thoughts, Violence, Child abuse, Gore, Grief, Gun violence, Misogyny, Sexism, Sexual violence, and Torture

Moderate: Domestic abuse