
Unmasked
My Life Solving America's Cold Cases
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Narrated by:
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Paul Holes
About this listen
2022 Audible.com Best of the Year, Long-listed
2022 Hudson Booksellers Best of the Year, Long-listed
2022 Amazon.com Best Books of the Year, Long-listed
This program is read by the author.
From the detective who found the Golden State Killer, a memoir of investigating America’s toughest cold cases and the rewards–and toll–of a life solving crime.
I order another bourbon, neat. This is the drink that will flip the switch. I don’t even know how I got here, to this place, to this point. Something is happening to me lately. I’m drinking too much. My sheets are soaking wet when I wake up from nightmares of decaying corpses. I order another drink and swig it, trying to forget about the latest case I can’t shake.
Crime solving for me is more complex than the challenge of the hunt, or the process of piecing together a scientific puzzle. The thought of good people suffering drives me, for better or worse, to the point of obsession. People always ask how I am able to detach from the horrors of my work. Part of it is an innate capacity to compartmentalize; the rest is experience and exposure, and I’ve had plenty of both. But I have always taken pride in the fact that I can keep my feelings locked up to get the job done. It’s only been recently that it feels like all that suppressed darkness is beginning to seep out.
When I look back at my long career, there is a lot I am proud of. I have caught some of the most notorious killers of the twenty-first century and brought justice and closure for their victims and families. I want to tell you about a lifetime solving these cold cases, from Laci Peterson to Jaycee Dugard to the Pittsburg homicides to, yes, my twenty-year-long hunt for the Golden State Killer.
But a deeper question eats at me as I ask myself, at what cost? I have sacrificed relationships, joy—even fatherhood—because the pursuit of evil always came first. Did I make the right choice? It’s something I grapple with every day. Yet as I stand in the spot where a young girl took her last breath, as I look into the eyes of her family, I know that, for me, there has never been a choice. “I don’t know if I can solve your case,” I whisper. “But I promise I will do my best.”
It is a promise I know I can keep.
A Macmillan Audio production from Celadon Books
©2022 Paul Holes (P)2022 Macmillan AudioListeners also enjoyed...
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Critic reviews
"[Paul Holes's] memoir grabs its reader in a stranglehold and proves more fascinating than fiction and darker than any noir narrative."
—Los Angeles Magazine
"Fans of true crime will love every page of Unmasked. It is a wildly engaging and painfully honest read that will appeal to anyone curious about the lives of those who pursue justice for voiceless victims."
—San Francisco Chronicle
"An exceptional memoir... his unflinching look at the emotional toll the more than 27 years he spent working in Contra Costa County in the San Francisco Bay Area took on him and his family distinguishes this from similar true crime narratives."
—Publishers Weekly, starred review
Featured Article: Best of the Year—The 10 Best True Crime Listens of 2022
While humans have devoured crime stories since Cain and Abel, the line between sensitive reporting and vulturous rubbernecking has been crossed, and then deliberately redrawn, time and again. In a year when true crime TV again made headlines for centering perpetrators and disregarding survivors, these 10 outstanding listens quietly went in a different direction, setting a new standard of excellence for riveting storytelling with a heart of justice.
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Story
Edward Rulloff was a brilliant yet utterly amoral murderer—some have called him a “Victorian-era Hannibal Lecter”—whose crimes spanned decades and whose victims were chosen out of revenge, out of envy, and sometimes out of necessity.
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PLEASE STOP The Politicizing of Everything
- By Anonymous on 10-15-22
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I'll Be Gone in the Dark
- One Woman's Obsessive Search for the Golden State Killer
- By: Michelle McNamara
- Narrated by: Gabra Zackman, Gillian Flynn - introduction, Patton Oswalt - afterword
- Length: 10 hrs and 7 mins
- Unabridged
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A masterful true crime account of the Golden State Killer - the elusive serial rapist turned murderer who terrorized California for over a decade - from Michelle McNamara, the gifted journalist who died tragically while investigating the case.
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A haunting masterpiece
- By Kat - Audible on 03-02-18
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The Fact of a Body
- A Murder and a Memoir
- By: Alex Marzano-Lesnevich
- Narrated by: Alex Marzano-Lesnevich
- Length: 10 hrs and 38 mins
- Unabridged
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Before Alex Marzano-Lesnevich begins a summer job at a law firm in Louisiana, working to help defend men accused of murder, they think their position is clear. The child of two lawyers, Alex is staunchly anti-death penalty. But the moment convicted murderer Ricky Langley’s face flashes on the screen as Alex reviews old tapes—the moment they hear him speak of his crimes—they are overcome with the feeling of wanting him to die. Shocked by their reaction, Alex digs deeper and deeper into the case.
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Memoir of Molestation
- By Margaret on 05-22-17
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No Stone Unturned
- The True Story of the World's Premier Forensic Investigators
- By: Steve Jackson
- Narrated by: Kevin Pierce
- Length: 14 hrs and 3 mins
- Unabridged
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No Stone Unturned recreates the genesis of NecroSearch International: a small ,eclectic group of scientists and law enforcement personal, active and retired, who volunteer their services to help locate the clandestine graves of murder victims and recover the remains and evidence to assist with the apprehension and conviction of the killers.
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Forensic Superheroes
- By Mark on 09-14-16
By: Steve Jackson
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Mindhunter
- Inside the FBI's Elite Serial Crime Unit
- By: John E. Douglas, Mark Olshaker
- Narrated by: Richard M. Davidson
- Length: 15 hrs and 24 mins
- Unabridged
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Bonus material! Includes an excerpt from John Douglas and Mark Olshaker’s Obsession! Discover the classic behind-the-scenes chronicle of John E. Douglas’ 25-year career in the FBI Investigative Support Unit, where he used psychological profiling to delve into the minds of the country’s most notorious serial killers and criminals - the basis for the upcoming Netflix original series.
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I have purchased every book J.E.D. Has made available
- By leelee8888 on 10-29-17
By: John E. Douglas, and others
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We Keep the Dead Close
- A Murder at Harvard and a Half Century of Silence
- By: Becky Cooper
- Narrated by: Becky Cooper
- Length: 15 hrs and 47 mins
- Unabridged
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1969: the height of counterculture and the year universities would seek to curb the unruly spectacle of student protest; the winter that Harvard University would begin the tumultuous process of merging with Radcliffe, its all-female sister school; and the year that Jane Britton, an ambitious 23-year-old graduate student in Harvard's Anthropology Department and daughter of Radcliffe Vice President J. Boyd Britton, would be found bludgeoned to death in her Cambridge, Massachusetts apartment.
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Needs a great editor
- By Leslie G. on 11-13-20
By: Becky Cooper
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The Hunt: The True Story of Alaska's Most Notorious Serial Killer, Robert Hansen
- True Crime
- By: Ryan Green
- Narrated by: Steve White
- Length: 4 hrs and 10 mins
- Unabridged
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The Hunt is a chilling account of Robert Hansen's reign of terror. It delves deep into the psyche of a serial killer and captures the reality of his monstrous acts. Ryan Green provides a suspenseful narrative that draws the listener into the real-life horror experienced by the victims with all the elements of a captivating thriller.
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Narration is odd
- By Jo Garcia on 02-06-25
By: Ryan Green
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Death in the Air
- The True Story of a Serial Killer, the Great London Smog, and the Strangling of a City
- By: Kate Winkler Dawson
- Narrated by: Graeme Malcolm
- Length: 9 hrs and 30 mins
- Unabridged
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A real-life thriller in the vein of The Devil in the White City, Kate Winkler Dawson's debut, Death in the Air, is a gripping, historical narrative of a serial killer, an environmental disaster, and an iconic city struggling to regain its footing. In winter 1952, London automobiles and thousands of coal-burning hearths belched particulate matter into the air. But the smog that descended on December fifth of 1952 was different; it was a type that held the city hostage for five long days.
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Interesting
- By irene on 11-27-17
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Diamond Doris
- The True Story of the World's Most Notorious Jewel Thief
- By: Doris Payne, Zelda Lockhart - contributor
- Narrated by: Robin Miles
- Length: 6 hrs and 50 mins
- Unabridged
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Growing up during the Depression in the segregated coal town of Slab Fork, West Virginia, Doris Payne was told her dreams were unattainable for poor Black girls like her. Surrounded by people who sought to limit her potential, Doris vowed to turn the tables after the owner of a jewelry store threw her out when a White customer arrived. Neither racism nor poverty would hold her back; she would get what she wanted and help her mother escape an abusive relationship.
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5 Star Book; 2 Star Life
- By Dionna on 12-22-19
By: Doris Payne, and others
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American Predator
- The Hunt for the Most Meticulous Serial Killer of the 21st Century
- By: Maureen Callahan
- Narrated by: Amy Landon
- Length: 9 hrs and 3 mins
- Unabridged
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The names of notorious serial killers are usually well-known; they echo in the news and in public consciousness. But most people have never heard of Israel Keyes, one of the most ambitious and terrifying serial killers in modern history American Predator is the ambitious culmination of years of interviews with key figures in law enforcement and in Keyes's life, and research uncovered from classified FBI files. Callahan takes us on a journey into the chilling, nightmarish mind of a relentless killer, and to the limitations of traditional law enforcement.
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Why you shouldn’t listen to Reviews
- By jofi00 on 10-23-19
By: Maureen Callahan
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The Serial Killer's Apprentice
- The True Story of How Houston's Deadliest Murderer Turned a Kid into a Killing Machine
- By: Katherine Ramsland, Tracy Ullman
- Narrated by: Christina Delaine
- Length: 10 hrs and 39 mins
- Unabridged
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Elmer Wayne Henley, Jr. was only fourteen when he first became entangled with serial rapist and murderer Dean Corll in 1971. Fellow Houston, Texas, teenager David Brooks had already been ensnared by the charming older man, bribed with cash to help lure boys to Corll's home. Corll baited Henley with the same deal he'd given Brooks: $200 for each boy they could bring him.
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Well done
- By River Elder on 04-26-24
By: Katherine Ramsland, and others
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Death of Innocence
- The Story of the Hate Crime That Changed America
- By: Mamie Till-Mobley, Christopher Benson
- Narrated by: Bahni Turpin, Christopher Benson
- Length: 15 hrs and 8 mins
- Unabridged
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In August 1955, a fourteen-year-old African American, Emmett Till, was visiting family in Mississippi when he was kidnapped from his bed in the middle of the night by two White men and brutally murdered. His crime: allegedly whistling at a White woman in a convenience store. The killers were eventually acquitted.
By: Mamie Till-Mobley, and others
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Raised by a Serial Killer
- Discovering the Truth About My Father
- By: April Balascio
- Narrated by: April Balascio
- Length: 13 hrs and 38 mins
- Unabridged
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One evening in 2009, April Balascio was searching online, as she had been every night, for unsolved murders in the towns her family had lived growing up, when she stumbled across the latest investigations into the “Sweetheart Murders” cold case. All at once, the buried memories of her father’s dark history were awakened, and she knew she had to take action. She picked up the phone to call a detective and the rest is infamous true crime history. In her unflinching memoir, Balascio bravely reveals an astonishing tale of a lifetime of manipulation, unexplained upheavals, and silent fear.
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Good story, narration is elementary
- By AMarie on 12-19-24
By: April Balascio
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The Killer's Shadow
- The FBI's Hunt for a White Supremacist Serial Killer
- By: John E. Douglas, Mark Olshaker
- Narrated by: Holt McCallany
- Length: 8 hrs and 6 mins
- Unabridged
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Worshippers stream out of an Midwestern synagogue after sabbath services, unaware that only a hundred yards away, an expert marksman and avowed racist, antisemite and member of the Ku Klux Klan, patiently awaits, his hunting rifle at the ready. A riveting, cautionary tale rooted in history that continues to echo today, The Killer's Shadow is a terrifying and essential exploration of the criminal personality in the vile grip of extremism and what happens when rage-filled speech evolves into deadly action and hatred of the “other" is allowed full reign.
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A relevant and important read.
- By Alyson on 12-25-20
By: John E. Douglas, and others
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The Delphi Murders
- The Quest to Find ‘The Man on the Bridge’
- By: Nic Edwards, Brian Whitney
- Narrated by: Kevin Pierce
- Length: 7 hrs and 49 mins
- Unabridged
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On February 13, 2017, two Indiana teenagers, Abigail Williams, 13, and Liberty German, 14, went for a walk in the woods near the abandoned Monon High Bridge. They never returned home.
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Huge disappointment
- By Aleshia L. Hunley on 04-23-23
By: Nic Edwards, and others
What listeners say about Unmasked
Highly rated for:
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- Kelly K
- 04-27-22
Fascinating and engrossing! Paul is the best!!
You are a blessing, Paul. Never doubt it or yourself. Loved the book! #hotforholes
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- Lori Becker
- 05-04-22
Love this!
Love this book! Follow everything Paul does! 5 stars in my book! Truly loved it!
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- john
- 05-05-22
compelling story!
overall, I enjoyed this true story and accounts from Paul Holes. However, numerous times during this audio book, I felt like he should have hired a professional narrator. with that said, knowing that Paul Holes lived this himself, his personal experience does shine through during his narration.
I found the continuous struggle and torment Paul describes regarding his pursuit of serial criminals and the toll those activities had on his personal life and relationships valuable.
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- Guest User
- 05-07-22
Amazing! As expected.
Paul Holes is incredible and hearing more of his story with his vulnerability is amazing. For those really familiar with GSK-it’s still a fantastic narrative and isn’t redundant to everything you have already heard. Lots of great other cases discussed. I also can’t imagine anyone else reading it. I’m really pleased!
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- Janet J
- 05-14-22
Great book!
I finished this book in one day. Paul truly has a calling. He was relentless in his quest to find GSK so that justice could be served for the victims. Relentless. Tormented. Passionate. I admire the men and women who witness the devastation of monsters and somehow power through it to get them behind bars. This book
discusses true crime cases as well as Paul's personal story. Highly recommend.
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- Cathy Weaver
- 07-05-22
Great read
Loved the book and all the stories in it. Only negative was the somewhat awkward reading in parts (e.g. lots of awkward hard “t”s that were distracting - kitten, gotten).
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- Tessa
- 10-07-22
Not to be "that" person but...
in regards to his hyperfocus I kept thinking, he should consider being tested for ADHD
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- Diana
- 10-06-22
An excellent peak behind the scenes.
Admittedly, it was a struggle to get into this one at first due to the excellent pronunciation by Paul. No fault of his, he is very well spoken, I just wasn't used to hearing someone speak so clearly.
I loved this book and so did my husband. We started it on a road trip and binged through the rest when we got home.
This is not just another true crime book, in fact, you don't even need to be a true crime fan to enjoy it. Paul draws you in with his relatability. He grabs your attention by providing just enough detail about the cases to get you hooked. He shares so much about his personal strengths and struggles that it almost feels like you're reading a journal at times, and keeps you invested in the person behind the words. The compassion he has for his case victims is both honorable and astounding. He mentions several times that he has to switch to a different mode while working to box out the emotions.
Spoiler alert: he does discuss his work on GSK which I'm sure most people are interested in if they're reading this book. Throughout the entire book he is paying honor and respect to various people he's encountered in his life, making his character even more endearing.
In the end, this is a book about a man's weaknessses and victories and how those shaped his life. Though it's not just a tell-all report, it's an open and honest look into what people in his position have experienced. Highly recommend.
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- Edie L. Baldwin
- 10-06-22
Excellent!
I first ‘met’ Paul through listening to The Murder Squad podcast. Excellent book and stories. If you enjoy true crime you will enjoy this.
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- Angie Monday
- 09-12-22
Love Paul Holes…
…but he’s definitely not an engaging narrator, even recounting his career. Still, a very intriguing account of his career and life.
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