Unmasked: My Life Solving America’s Cold Cases

Paul Holes is best known as the detective who solved the famous cold case of the Golden State Killer. In Unmasked, he describes not only his career investigating California’s toughest unsolved murder cases, but also the toll dedication to his career had on his marriages and family life. This memoir details grisly cases as well as Holes’ ascent through the ranks of criminal investigation. But it also depicts a sensitive and often lonely man whose sole purpose is to help families move on from losing their loved ones to horrible murders.

Unmasked is a fascinating behind-the-scenes look at how obsessed Holes became with solving cases. It is also sobering, considering that his sole focus on his work created emotional detachment with his family and a crippling anxiety. It was fascinating to follow Holes as he spent years digging in the weeds to uncover clues that would reveal the identities of killers. He is highly intelligent yet socially awkward and comes to terms with his appearance of emotional detachment from his work. In truth, Holes is painstakingly committed to helping victims’ families find closure, and their pain causes him unspeakable grief. This is a must read for true crime fans!