Paul HolesRezensionen

This was interesting to read. Paul describes the toll that solving these cold cases took on his home life. I think it would have been better if I read a paper copy of this book instead of listening to the audiobook. I think that many of the time jumps and skips were probably formatted in the book (correct me if I'm wrong) but were not easy to tell from the audiobook. Some of the skips left me a bit like 'how did we get here?'

4 Stars

Content: Paul deals with a lot of horrific crimes, some of which are described more than others. If you are sensitive to violence of any kind, just skip this one.

I received this book from Bookish First and the publisher for a review. This review is my own opinion.
This is the true story of Paul Holes as he takes us through the various cases of his career including Laci and Connor Peterson, Jaycee Dugard, and the evolution of the Golden State Killer.
Paul touches on each of these cases a little bit but the majority of the book is about his chasing the Golden State Killer for over twenty years. He became obsessed with this case when he found a file drawer full of cold case files attributed to a single rapist. Originally known as the East Area Rapist (EAR) and Night Stalker, the moniker of Golden State Killer was given by Michelle McNamara, author of I’ll Be Gone in the Dark: One Woman’s Obsessive Search for the Golden State Killer. There is one chapter devoted to her when she and Paul worked together briefly before she tragically passed away in her sleep. After her death, her husband, the actor Patton Oswalt, ensured that her book was completed.
Paul discloses that every time he would get called to a scene and begin investigating a case, he would jump in wholeheartedly. This hurt his family life and ultimately his first marriage. He ended up meeting and marrying another woman who understood his fascination as she was in the same field, but his obsession wore on that marriage as well.
There is a lot of talk about DNA in this book and the evolution of different types of DNA testing on previously unusable samples. He also talks about using DNA samples from relatives to identify the suspect.

While most of the book is about Holes' career, his involvement in catching serial killers, rapists, and his work on the Golden State Killer case, he also includes his personal life here and discusses the toll his work took on his relationships.

If you have an interest in true crime, you know Holes has become an in-demand speaker and podcaster with an amazing memory for facts. Here he goes over his methods of processing a crime scene with an attention to detail and overlooked clues.

It's hard for me to not give a memoir 5 stars, but I think that having read a few books by John Douglas, the writing style is what brings this down a star.

I have admired Paul Holes since reading I'll Be Gone In The Dark right after the capture of the GSK, and the way he remembered Michelle McNamara in this was very, very sweet, I think she would have liked that.

I feel like the first half of this was a little slow, and then the second half was so fast paced it felt like sprinting to the end of a marathon. This is why I came up with 4 stars. Definitely worth a read though!

A very interesting inside look at what it’s like to be a cold case investigator and forensic specialist on notable crimes such as the Laci Peterson and Jaycee Dugard cases, and identifying The Golden State Killer. Paul Holes presents an honest and humble snapshot of his life, warts and all. I was amazed at how much he sacrificed of his own life in order to do the job - and how it seems not to have been a choice but something he was driven/born to do. True crime enthusiasts will not be disappointed by the details and the mysteries (and miseries) contained within.

I like reading true crime books. What I really loved about this book seeing the various crimes featured in this book from Paul's perspective. The way that he assessed each case with his scientific and analytical mind was very intriguing. I think a lot like him and thought about pursuing forensic science as a career.

So many true crime books focus on the crimes and not so much on the details on how the cases are solved. Getting to see this side of things was interesting. I flew through this book as I could not read it fast enough. It must not have been easy to share personal details about your personal life but Paul did. With these insights, into his life, it brought me closer to him as a person. Thank goodness for people like Paul who dedicate their lives to solving the "cold" cases, so that the victims get justice. Fans of true crime books will want to pick up a copy of this book to read for themselves.

I liked this book. My only problem was the jumping back and forth threw me a few times.

5/5 stars. This was such a great retelling of the last as well as a gathering of stories from multiple points of view.

I have mixed feelings about this book. I listened to it, expecting a true crime story, and to some degree I got that, especially the chapters about thea apprehension of the Golden State Killer.

I wasn't expecting a memoir, despite the title, but even if I hadn't anticipated it, I wouldn't have enjoyed the autobiographical nature of the story simply because I found the author incredibly egotistical and self-congratulatory. And I didn't like Mr. Holes. He was an alcoholic, workaholic mess who spent little to no time with his family, and the end of the book doesn't bode well for his marriage.

It got 2.5 stars from me because it wasn't a total wash. I did learn something about DNA typing as used in police forces, and some of the true crime information was interesting. Not a thoroughly bad book, but I wouldn't recommend the book to anyone.½

Extremely focused criminalist pursues East Area Rapist (later Golden State Killer) at the expense of his marriages. Other cases as well.

This is a detailed account of criminologist Paul Holes’ investigation into finding the identity of the Golden State Killer, along with solving several other high-profile cold cases. Because of his background as a forensic scientist he doesn’t gloss over the lab work that goes on behind the scenes and, for me, that's the most fascinating part of the book. Overall, this is a well-written memoir (his co-author is a Pulitzer Prize finalist) that isn’t lurid or graphic in any way or targeted just toward true crime junkies.½

Mr. Holes was one of the foremost criminologists and DNA experts in the country until his retirement in 2020. This book is a memoir of some of the cold cases that he solved, including The Golden State Killer. The book was sufficient, but when you have read Ann Rule, nothing can compare. Mr. Holes, while admiringly very concerned about justice for the families of the murdered, meanwhile ignored his own racking up 2 ex wives and 6 children, 4 of which he has little or no contact. I listed to this on audio from the library and it was read by the author--always a mistake IMHO. 8 hrs 45 min (288 pages)

Paul Holes is one of America's most celebrated Criminologists responsible for solving some of the most famous cold cases in modern times. As a young Criminologist, Holes comes across the files for the East Area Rapist(EAR), a man who struck fear into the heart of Sacramento as people wondered when he would attack next.

Paul has worked on this case on and off throughout his career. He revisits crime scenes, talks to victims, and has pieces of evidence DNA tested. It is thanks to this DNA testing that it becomes known that Sacramento was not this rapist's only area of attack. During his time working on what will become known as The Golden State Killer case, Holes not only loses himself to the case; he loses his first wife and the chance to bond with his children. He comes to regret not giving his family more attention.

Twenty-four years go by and Holes retires with his second wife and children. One week into his retirement, his colleagues collect DNA from the main suspect in the GSK case. When tests come back as a match, Paul returns to his office to finally cast his eyes on the man he has spent his life looking for...Joseph J. DeAngelo Jr, an old man who was once a police officer and used his training to keep himself from being caught.

I knew that when this book came out that I would be reading it. I am a huge true crime fan and found myself reading everything I could about the Golden State Killer. Holes worked with Michelle McNamara on her investigation for the book I'll Be Gone in the Dark and developed a true friendship with her. If there were anything I could change about this audiobook it would be not having Holes narrate simply because he has a habit of over-enunciating his letter t sounds and it made my eye twitch every time I heard it. All in all, this was a book well worth my reading time.

The topic was one of spectacular and peculiar cases of serial killing and single murders cases in California. I was interested due my interest in solving jigsaw puzzles to solving a case, the author did an exceptional job outlining the evolution of DNA testing and how far this has come. The book was a little choppy about cases and details of each murder described - this is why I gave it a 3 star. I think adding more of profiler's details may have helped as well as collaborating with other team experts would have given a fuller picture of the murders he described. Overall, for his first book I think he should write more and home in on details of crime sites he evaluates. Mr. Holes also included alot of detail of the personal toll it took on he and his family, this was interesting to hear and I totally understand why it would.

In Unmasked, Paul Holes reflects on his life and distinguished career in criminology, from high school until retirement. Although known best for his identification of the Golden State Killer, Mr. Holes was instrumental in the conviction of many violent criminals, and the closure of a variety of cold cases. He describes his commitment to protect the public and find justice and closure for victims and their families. His near-obsessive dedication, unbreakable determination, thirst for knowledge, and gift for investigation and analytical thinking were instrumental in his work. The forensic science is fascinating, especially the evolution of the use of DNA evidence. Those considering a career in forensics and criminology should read this book, as the author reveals the grisly reality of these violent crimes and the hard work it takes to solve them. He also describes his frustration with how interdepartmental politics often created barriers to cooperation and investigation.
Mr. Holes is honest about the toll his career and calling took on his personal life and mental health. Not everyone can handle intense proximity to darkness and evil for such a prolonged time. His work shines light on the support needed for those who work to apprehend and convict violent killers. Unmasked is not for the faint of heart. There are graphic descriptions of the crimes; reading about those committed against children is especially disturbing. Thank you to BookishFirst and Celadon Books for an advance reader copy of this gripping, fascinating and terrifying book. #unmaskedbook #celadonreads #bookishfirst

Those have read the McNamara novel on the Golden State Killer need to read this one! This is a deep dive into the life of Paul Holes- some of the cases he has worked and the time and years he put in to be determined to solve the GSK case. This novel really gives a good look into the life of a detective and cold cases. How slow the system is and really can be to solve crimes, and how easily cases do go cold because of the lag of labs or evidence or other facilities refusal to share or cooperate together to get the bottom of cases. The was a fascinating read and I thoroughly enjoyed reading this and how he used outside of the box thinking to often solve cases. It is nothing like what's dramatized on the tv shows. True crime fans- pick this one up! Thank you to Celadon Books for the free arc!

I really liked this book! I had no idea who Paul Holes was when I picked up this book but it didn’t take long before I was captivated by this book. It is still kind of amazing to me that the same person would have been a part of so many high-profile cases. This was the kind of book that I would think about when I wasn’t reading so I can understand why Mr. Holes had a hard time getting these cases out of his head. I am so glad that I decided to give this book a try.

Paul Holes is credited with helping to catch the Golden State Killer. One might say that he was almost obsessed with finding who was responsible for these rapes and murders and sometimes pursued leads against the directions of his superiors. A lot of this book is dedicated to detailing these crimes and what went into breaking the case. I found all of this to be very interesting since I knew little about these crimes. He was also a part of the investigation of the Laci Peterson and Jaycee Dugard cases which were well-known. Those aren’t the only cases covered in the book and many of the others were not only eye-opening but heart-breaking. I should also note that Paul Holes worked in the crime lab so science plays a role in this book and I really liked seeing how forensics helps to solve cases.

We also get to see Mr. Holes’s personal life and how his job impacted his family life. I was impressed that he shared so many personal details in this book. He gave so much to his job that there was often not much left to share with his wife and children. He acknowledges his obsession with finding these criminals and how it took over his life. I also appreciated his candor when discussing the obstacles he faced when trying to work with other municipalities in trying to solve cases.

I would highly recommend this book to others. It was the kind of book that made me think and also appreciate the people who put so much of themselves out there to help make the world a safer place.

I received an advanced review copy of this book from Celadon Books.

This was such a fascinating memoir, perfect for lovers of true crime! Thanks to @bookishfirst and @celadonbooks for an early copy!
*
In his memoir, Paul Holes tells about how he got involved in criminology, and his fascination with and work on cold cases. This was absolutely fascinating. It does a really great job of blending the background on the cases with Paul's personal story, and showing how he managed a career in such a field (and ultimately the price he paid for having a career in such a field.)*I really liked how it intertwined anecdotes of cases that he successfully solved immediately, with the cold cases he later cracked, with the cases that were ultimately never solved. It showed that he was a real person, not a superhero able to solve any case that came his way.
*
It was also a really great look at how DNA testing has changed over time, and how law enforcement has been able to change their approach to have more success in solving cases.
*
I loved how this incorporated some very well-known cases, including the Golden State Killer (I'd read Michelle McNamara's book, and this continues her story wonderfully), Laci Peterson, and Jacee Dugard. There's so much he has been involved in, and it was so exciting to see how these famous cases were handled.
*
I'd definitely recommend to any fan of true crime! You get so much out of this book!

What a fascinating book. Exciting, thrilling, and scary if you live in the very area author Paul Holes writes about. He is a natural investigator, criminologist, groundbreaker and crime solver. He is bursting with intelligence and ingenuity, and you can feel his passion for his work, his dedication to the victims, his at times Don Quixote-like quest for the truth and justice. And you can see and feel through his own words how this passion and determination became an obsession and harmed nearly everything in his life: his work standing and work relationships, his family and personal relationships, and his own mental health and well-being. He recognizes it and makes some adjustments but it appears even after his retirement from Bay Area law enforcement his quest continues. He just can’t help it.

When I told my co-workers in the early 1990s that I was buying a home in Antioch they raised their eyebrows and one asked if I had bought a gun. After reading this book I understand why. I came into town the back way on the tree-lined streets where orchards had been, but it turns out the roads I took to go shopping or the neighborhoods on the other side of town that did seem a little seamy were a lot more dangerous. As in, “Antioch a Bay Area suburb. Antioch had a seedy reputation, fueled mostly by crime-infested neighborhoods and street gangs.” Author Paul Holes has lots of stories about lots of Bay Area suburbs like Antioch, and they are riveting. He tells the story of his entry into crime-solving and the world he found himself in. It’s a fast-paced book full of facts I knew and other little bits that had me wide-eyed. He tells of the successes and of many frustrating failures to catch the criminal. Of his frustration and disappointment and refusal to do anything but continue to revisit those crimes over and over to look for any little thing that might have been missed or come to light.

And with the Golden State Killer he succeeded. Amazing – and sobering – to realize just how unglamourous this work is, how much attention to detail, patience, perseverance it takes. And how much luck.

Thanks to Celadon Books for providing an advance copy of Unmasked: My Life Solving America's Cold Cases for my honest review. I could not put it down. While I was aware of many of the cases detailed in the book, Holes provides a unique viewpoint, an insider look at what it’s like on the law enforcement side and what can be happening in our neighborhoods all around us. Unmasked is well written, smoothly laid out so the chronology flows and the timelines are easy to keep track of. Holes is relentless, brave, admirable. And often a sad figure because of how his obsession with crime-solving has affected the rest of his life. I recommend Unmasked without hesitation. All opinions are my own.
@CeladonBooks #UnmaskedBook #CeladonReads

Paul Holes is a retired cold case investigator who has worked some of the most notorious cases in the country, including the Golden State Killer, Laci Pederson, and Jaycee Dugard. Unmasked is the story of how he unraveled the mysteries surrounding several murders as well as the emotional toll it took on his life and relationships.

I didn't expect to be so drawn into this book. It's a tough read--Holes pulls no punches with the graphic nature of his work, so if you are squeamish about reading of the trauma inflicted on others, this might not be the book for you. But I was pulled into it immediately when I got the opportunity to check out the first look on BookishFirst. Listening to Holes describe his passion for solving these cases, for bringing justice to those who no longer had a voice, even while it destroyed his marriage, was heartbreaking. I had to learn more.

Sadly, humanity has no shortage of evil--history books are littered with both brutal rulers and the average people committing horrific acts. But we seldom think about the men and women behind the scenes who work tirelessly to bring them to justice (unless, of course, you watch a lot of Bones and Law and Order and the like). You don't often stop to think what it must do to the family relationships of men like Holes, who investigates terrible homicides during the day only to have to go home to the dinner table and pretend all is normal. This narrative was so compelling I finished it in a day. Not only was it fascinating to learn some behind the scenes information of how these crimes were solved, but it was also interesting to hear the human story of Paul Holes himself.

I'd highly recommend this for anyone with an interest in true crime out there--but it's not for the faint of heart.

Special thanks to Celadon Books for giving me a copy of this ARC in exchange for a review through BookishFirst.

Unmasked: My Life Solving America’s Cold Cases by Paul Holes is a 2022 Celadon Books publication.

I may be the only true crime fan that has never gotten into podcasts. But even you aren't aware of Paul's wildly popular True Crime podcasts, you may still recognize him from his many appearances on true crime television shows. You might also be familiar with his name in connection with to the East Area Rapist/Golden State Killer case- which was the case for me.

While this is a memoir- it might be better described as a 'true crime' memoir as, for the most part, the book is focused on his career path, the cases he worked and the outcomes, but does delve into personal life, as well.

The main criminal case the book is centered around is the East Area Rapist/Golden State Killer case, but he tells of many other cases he helped to solve and described how his career started, how he got bitten by the 'cold case' bug and why he often had to work those cases 'off the clock'.

Unlike some of his crime solving buddies, Paul is not an amateur sleuth. He has a background in criminology, having worked in the Sheriff's department in Contra Costa. But, it is his work on cold cases that he seems the most proud of.

If not for Paul’s dedication, and near obsession with cold cases, many of these cases would still be sitting in an unsolved folder somewhere, I’m sure. Now, though, many families finally got the answers they deserved, justice was served, and some people were exonerated from suspicion.

That said, I admit I do have some misgivings, if that is the right word, about the 'obsessive' mentality of folks like Billy Jensen, Michelle McNamara, and Paul Holes. On one hand, I greatly admire their tenacious dedication, but on the other, I see a lot of collateral damage.

When it came to Paul's personal life, he was not as heroic, in my opinion. With memoirs it can be hard to keep an unbiased view or maintain neutrality if one disagrees with the writer's perspective, though I really did try to talk myself down and keep it in perspective.

In this case, Paul's work/family balance was hard for me to fully accept and speaks to the 'obsessiveness' he seems to deliberately chose over his loved ones. He also blames the wrong entity for all the evil in this world, and I felt offended by his critical views on faith and God.

I also grew weary of the dissection of his first marriage, which basically felt like defensive grievance airing, with one instance in particular resulting in a hard eye roll on my part. I think I would have preferred hearing more about his current wife, who works in the same profession, and appears to be a much better match for him.

All that said, most people are going to buy this book for the true crime stories, and on that front, Holes delivers wholeheartedly.

Despite my reservations in some cases, and my concern about glorifying and monetizing this manic lifestyle, I am glad we have people like Paul who are willing to go the extra mile, and I’m glad to see that his hard work has morphed into a second career for him.

There is no question that many of us breathe a little easier now that a truly horrifying monster has been identified and is off the streets, and that the victims and their families can finally stop looking over their shoulders, and will get some long overdue justice. For that peace of mind, we can thank Paul and his partners in crime, so to speak, and of course I have utmost respect the people who sacrificed much, and who refused to give up on these cold cases.

Overall, a very interesting glimpse into the life of a cold case investigator. The cases highlighted are well-chosen and have all the elements true crime fanatics want to read and hear about. If you are a fan of Paul’s podcasts, and of the true crime genre, you won’t want to miss this book.

4 stars

Listening to this book was definitely different for me with all the different voices. The story of the crimes and investigations was interesting and would have kept me reading. What made this book unique for me was knowing some of the victims were telling their stories. As difficult as that was to listen to, I could not stop. They deserve to be heard. I had chills more than once and tears stained my face. I wasn’t expecting to hear from them. I appreciated the end of the book, when we got to hear an update from them.
I found the investigation to be very interesting. These crimes were committed in the seventies and eighties. DNA evidence was just beginning to be widely used. I found it fascinating to hear how genealogy played a part in discovering who the Golden State Killer was. I appreciate the law enforcement members who worked so long on this case. It was easy to feel their frustration as time went on. I didn’t know very much about this criminal. Yes, I know his name. I prefer not to use it. I found the book to be gripping. I wI’ll be recommending it to my friends who like crime books.

I read this from start to finish in one day. Like most of America, I am completely enthralled with the dark parts of history, namely the crime and the murders - especially those that remain unsolved. Paul Holes uses his memoir to write not just about his life, but mainly his fascinating career solving cold cases. He writes about his involvement in the following cases: Lacie Peterson, Jaycee Dugard, and the Golden State Killer. There are lots of other cold cases peppered throughout - but those were some of the notorious cases he worked on during his career. The one he obsesses over the most (causing strains in family life) is of course The Golden State Killer. His insight and behind the scenes knowledge of these infamous cases will keep readers on edge. At times a little braggy, but how can you not be when you have a career like his under your belt. A perfect book for those interested in cold cases and forensics.

I finished I'll Be Gone in the Dark two months prior to DeAngelo actually getting arrested. I remember following the news coverage, and wondering how they managed to do that and how much work actually went into this case. Evil Has a Name offers a ton of fascinating information on that front.

Incredibly interesting work if you’re interested in the procedurals, especially when it comes to DNA testing and genealogical testing. It also has a very strong emotional side, with interviews of victims, detectives, and scientists – all the people, for whom finally putting the Golden State Killer behind bars was something they never thought was possible.

Couldn’t put this one down.

Closing the story of "I'll Be Gone in the Dark: One Woman's Obsessive Search for the Golden State Killer" (Feb. 2018)
Review of the Audible Studios audiobook (Nov. 2018)

Michelle McNamara's posthumous I'll Be Gone In the Dark was released only 2 months before the arrest of the Golden State Killer whom she had been obsessively researching and investigating for several years. Her mutual respect with detective Paul Holes was evident in that book. In Evil Has a Name, Holes closes off the story with the ancestral DNA and genealogy analysis that finally helped to identify the serial assaulter & murderer after 30-40 years. The final chapters are the main new elements here, as the earlier parts repeat the history of the crimes.