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librarymouse's review against another edition
4.5
Graphic: Child death, Mental illness, Murder, Stalking, Confinement, Violence, Death, Domestic abuse, Grief, and Physical abuse
gimmiiie's review against another edition
5.0
This is a heavy, real, and informative book. Paul Holes is honest, real, and personable. I have been a fan of Paul Holes and his work to bring justice to victims. Reading his experiences and struggles with mental illness.
Graphic: Rape, Murder, and Racism
Moderate: Violence, Body horror, Grief, Addiction, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Hate crime, Medical content, Torture, Suicide, Blood, Injury/Injury detail, Medical trauma, Child death, Death, Gore, Gun violence, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, and Sexual assault
sky_maris's review against another edition
4.0
Graphic: Alcoholism, Grief, Murder, and Panic attacks/disorders
Moderate: Kidnapping, Child death, Violence, Death, Gun violence, Injury/Injury detail, Medical content, Mental illness, Murder, Pedophilia, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, and Stalking
ame_lepage's review against another edition
3.75
I would like to say first that this book has many trigger warnings: very graphic rape and murder scenes, portrayal of depression and PTSD, and just mental health issues in general. I sometimes had a hard time getting through some parts.
This memoir was eye-opening in many ways. I've always been a fan of true crime and getting a behind-the-scenes perspective was interesting. Paul Holes' story is fascinating and I'm glad that I discovered his story.
The end really allowed us to see the deep connexion between Paul and the victims. You could see how emotionally involved he was in the different cases and I honestly teared up a little.
However, I do think that the book ended up being a little bit repetitive. He talks a lot about different cases that he delt with throughout his career, but at the end, they were pretty similar.
The ending was filled with scientific terms that kept me from fully understanding the Golden State Killer case's conclusion. The writer did overall a good job at making the science palatable. But she kind of dropped the ball at the end.
Overall, I'm glad I read this. It's not the best memoir that I have ever read, but it certainly was interesting.
Graphic: Panic attacks/disorders, Grief, Blood, Mental illness, Murder, Violence, Body horror, Gore, Rape, Torture, Sexual violence, Sexual assault, Death, and Child death
Moderate: Alcoholism and Alcohol
kkalicky94's review against another edition
5.0
Graphic: Grief, Kidnapping, Murder, Stalking, Suicide, Pedophilia, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Child abuse, Child death, Death, Panic attacks/disorders, Torture, and Violence
fanchera's review against another edition
5.0
Graphic: Injury/Injury detail, Pedophilia, Rape, Child death, Death, Violence, Murder, and Grief
Moderate: Torture and Suicide
caseythereader's review against another edition
3.75
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
soobooksalot's review against another edition
5.0
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.
Moderate: Grief, Mental illness, Blood, Death, Gun violence, Injury/Injury detail, Death of parent, Murder, Rape, Torture, Violence, Child death, Kidnapping, and Panic attacks/disorders
savvyrosereads's review against another edition
4.5
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.
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