A review by soobooksalot
Unmasked: My Life Solving America's Cold Cases by Paul Holes

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.

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