ARC Review: Unmasked

Unmasked: My Life Solving America’s Cold Cases by Paul Holes
Publication Date: 26 April 2022

True crime is a bit of a departure from my normal reading material, but reading Unmasked: My Life Solving America’s Cold Cases brought me right back to my late teens and early twenties, when I was obsessed with serial killers, crime scene investigations, and all manner of creepy stuff. It actually sparked a renewed interest in the genre for me, and I think I will be seeking out similar titles and maybe getting back into the gritty world of true crime.

This book was a fascinating look at the man who finally solved the case of the Golden State Killer, and who played a role in getting justice for so many other victims and their families. This book is so much more than just an accounting of the crimes. It’s more of a memoir, with Holes bringing us his personal journey and struggles as well, and showing us how his job greatly impacted his own life and relationships. That’s not something that you normally consider when reading a true crime story – how this hunt for justice affects not just the victim and their family and friends, but also what happens to the real people doing this often grisly work. Honestly, although I went into the book with a desire to know more about how Holes cracked this one case, I ended up more appreciative of the man himself, and everything he sacrificed to find justice for those who were taken so violently from their loved ones.

⭐⭐⭐⭐

Thank you to Celadon Books for providing a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.