High profile true crime cases wrapped up in a telling memoir!
To say I've been waiting patiently to read this book is an understatement! I think this has been one of my most anticipated reads of this last year! While the world was introduced to Paul Holes during the investigation and story surrounding the Golden State Killer, Mr. Holes was always an employee in the background of my law enforcement career, as we worked in the same county. His cases were the cases we all talked about on a local level. And while I knew Contra Costa County held some interesting and baffling mysteries, seeing many of them together in book form, was quite the throwback to some of the most eye opening occurrences of our time. I was most surprised to learn the Golden State Killer case had been on the radar of Mr. Holes from the very beginning of his career, dating back to the mid-90's. It made the culmination of his career at retirement, being able to identify the Golden State Killer who had been a stranger to the world and his victims, that much more sweet.
I give kudos to the author for being vulnerable in the telling of his story, specifically as he highlighted what a law enforcement career does to one when they answer their calling in a field that most don't understand. Diving into the pitfalls of family life when one is married more to the career than to the family, Holes gives us an inside view to the relationships and conversation, expectations and ultimate sacrifices made when chasing answers. Unfortunately his experience is all too often the experience of many in the law enforcement field, including losing a fellow brother in blue. While this book was more about highlighting the career wins and haunting experiences on local cases, and ultimately the solution to the Golden State Killer's identity and conviction, I wish he could have given us a bit of insight into how he's doing now, but maybe he's still trying to figure that out and it isn't as clear as I wish it might be for him. I do know he was very instrumental in solving so many local cases, and was the quiet face behind so much of what the crime lab was successful in completing for local law enforcement. I hope he's able to find peace and a good balance between retirement and continuing into what is a calling and the future of cold cases.
This is a perfect read for those that love true crime and diving into the details of how crimes are solved. The science and forward thinking into DNA technology is a great highlight in this book. While I'm not up on my science terms and such, I believe both novices and experts in this type of technology will be able to understand the terms it's been described in and how it was used in the cases selected, both old and new. I will always be continuously baffled at the difficulties law enforcement meets along the way when trying to work together with other agencies towards, what should be, a common goal of finding justice for the victims. I'm glad there are still investigators out there that aren't willing to give up and continue to crusade toward answers, no matter how cold the case and the personal sacrifice.
I give kudos to the author for being vulnerable in the telling of his story, specifically as he highlighted what a law enforcement career does to one when they answer their calling in a field that most don't understand. Diving into the pitfalls of family life when one is married more to the career than to the family, Holes gives us an inside view to the relationships and conversation, expectations and ultimate sacrifices made when chasing answers. Unfortunately his experience is all too often the experience of many in the law enforcement field, including losing a fellow brother in blue. While this book was more about highlighting the career wins and haunting experiences on local cases, and ultimately the solution to the Golden State Killer's identity and conviction, I wish he could have given us a bit of insight into how he's doing now, but maybe he's still trying to figure that out and it isn't as clear as I wish it might be for him. I do know he was very instrumental in solving so many local cases, and was the quiet face behind so much of what the crime lab was successful in completing for local law enforcement. I hope he's able to find peace and a good balance between retirement and continuing into what is a calling and the future of cold cases.
This is a perfect read for those that love true crime and diving into the details of how crimes are solved. The science and forward thinking into DNA technology is a great highlight in this book. While I'm not up on my science terms and such, I believe both novices and experts in this type of technology will be able to understand the terms it's been described in and how it was used in the cases selected, both old and new. I will always be continuously baffled at the difficulties law enforcement meets along the way when trying to work together with other agencies towards, what should be, a common goal of finding justice for the victims. I'm glad there are still investigators out there that aren't willing to give up and continue to crusade toward answers, no matter how cold the case and the personal sacrifice.