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Reviews tagging 'Child death'
Nieuchwytni. Jak rozwiązywałem sprawy z Archiwum X by Paul Holes
43 reviews
soobooksalot's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
informative
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
fast-paced
5.0
True Crime fans - Unmasked is a must-add to your TBR!
Author Paul Holes is a former criminalist with the Contra Costa County Sheriff's Office who specialized in solving cold cases.
Thank you to Celadon Books for my gifted copy for review!
Unmasked: My Life Solving America's Cold Cases is Holes' documentation of his personal life and history, as well as the dark work on some of his most famous and frustrating cases.
Holes takes us through his investigation techniques, but also himself. An introvert by nature, diagnosed with Generalized Anxiety Disorder when the term was even less understood in the 80s, and prone to panic attacks, he made use of perceived weaknesses as strengths.
His ability to read people, situations and adapt to his surroundings brought professional successes, even when struggling with his personal life and relationships.
Among his many case files, the book is dotted with his obsessive investigation into the Golden State Killer (previously known as the East Area Rapist) - a case which remained unsolved for decades and was the subject of Michelle McNamara's famous book I'll Be Gone In The Dark. (It's not per se necessary to read her book before Unmasked, but I do definitely recommend.)
This book will undoubtedly be in my top reads of the year - fascinating throughout. Recommended.
For release on April 26.
Author Paul Holes is a former criminalist with the Contra Costa County Sheriff's Office who specialized in solving cold cases.
Thank you to Celadon Books for my gifted copy for review!
Unmasked: My Life Solving America's Cold Cases is Holes' documentation of his personal life and history, as well as the dark work on some of his most famous and frustrating cases.
Holes takes us through his investigation techniques, but also himself. An introvert by nature, diagnosed with Generalized Anxiety Disorder when the term was even less understood in the 80s, and prone to panic attacks, he made use of perceived weaknesses as strengths.
His ability to read people, situations and adapt to his surroundings brought professional successes, even when struggling with his personal life and relationships.
Among his many case files, the book is dotted with his obsessive investigation into the Golden State Killer (previously known as the East Area Rapist) - a case which remained unsolved for decades and was the subject of Michelle McNamara's famous book I'll Be Gone In The Dark. (It's not per se necessary to read her book before Unmasked, but I do definitely recommend.)
This book will undoubtedly be in my top reads of the year - fascinating throughout. Recommended.
For release on April 26.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Child death, Death, Gun violence, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Rape, Torture, Violence, Blood, Kidnapping, Grief, Death of parent, Murder, and Injury/Injury detail
rocketcityreader's review against another edition
dark
emotional
informative
mysterious
slow-paced
2.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse, Child death, Gore, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, and Blood
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.
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.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse, Child death, Death, Gore, Gun violence, Mental illness, Misogyny, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Torture, Violence, Blood, Kidnapping, Grief, and Stalking
Moderate: Domestic abuse