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    Unsub: A Novel
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    Unsub: A Novel
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    Unsub: A Novel
    Audiobook12 hours

    Unsub: A Novel

    Written by Meg Gardiner

    Narrated by Hillary Huber

    4/5

    ()

    Currently unavailable

    Currently unavailable

    About this audiobook

    A riveting psychological thriller inspired by the never-caught Zodiac Killer, about a young detective determined to apprehend the serial murderer who destroyed her family and terrorized a city twenty years earlier.
     
    Caitlin Hendrix has been a Narcotics detective for six months when the killer at the heart of all her childhood nightmares reemerges: the Prophet. An UNSUB-what the FBI calls an unknown subject-the Prophet terrorized the Bay Area in the 1990s and nearly destroyed her father, the lead investigator on the case.

    The Prophet's cryptic messages and mind games drove Detective Mack Hendrix to the brink of madness, and Mack's failure to solve the series of ritualized murders-eleven seemingly unconnected victims left with the ancient sign for Mercury etched into their flesh-was the final nail in the coffin for a once promising career.

    Twenty years later, two bodies are found bearing the haunting signature of the Prophet. Caitlin Hendrix has never escaped the shadow of her father's failure to protect their city. But now the ruthless madman is killing again and has set his sights on her, threatening to undermine the fragile barrier she rigidly maintains for her own protection, between relentless pursuit and dangerous obsession.

    Determined to decipher his twisted messages and stop the carnage, Caitlin ignores her father's warnings as she draws closer to the killer with each new gruesome murder. Is it a copycat, or can this really be the same Prophet who haunted her childhood? Will Caitlin avoid repeating her father's mistakes and redeem her family name, or will chasing the Prophet drag her and everyone she loves into the depths of the abyss?
    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherPenguin Random House Audio
    Release dateJun 27, 2017
    ISBN9781524722807
    Unavailable
    Unsub: A Novel
    Author

    Meg Gardiner

    Meg Gardiner is originally from Southern California, where she practiced law and taught at the University of California, Santa Barbara. She is the author of five Evan Delaney novels as well as the Jo Beckett thrillers, The Memory Collector, The Liar’s Lullaby and The Nightmare Thief. She lives with her family near London.

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    Reviews for Unsub

    4/5

    138 ratings18 reviews

    What did you think?

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    Review must be at least 10 words

    • 5/5
      We have a highly intelligent Unsub who is patient enough that his terror has reigned for over two decades. He has a plan and is very meticulous...leaving cryptic clues while sitting in the background enjoying his successes. He can't think of any better pawn in his game than the daughter of the one he got the best of decades ago. If you love the show Criminal Minds...behavioral analysis and/or a just a gruesome and well thought out serial killer rampage...then you are going to be more than pleased with this book. Just what I need...another series that I can't resist:)
    • 1/5
      DNF @ 50%. I was excited to get into this. The ratings are seriously high, all my friends have loved and I felt left behind. But I just can't into it. I kept pushing myself to read a little more, but ultimately I am just not interested in more morbid deaths or who the killer is.
    • 3/5
      This book.It was a good book but for me there was a huge issue. I felt as though it was written with the hopes to become a movie. Maybe more authors than I realize do just that but it's these mystery/thrillers that seems to be told in an over-the-top kind of way that bother me. Caitlin's the daughter of a retired cop, a cop herself (a narcotics detective) and she walks in her fathers shoes when a serial killer, The Prophet, returns twenty years after terrorizing the Bay Area. You see, Mack (Caitlin's father) was the lead detective on the case which finally drove him crazy and ended his career. Now that The Prophet has returned, Caitlin gets a shot at doing what her father couldn't.It's a game to The Prophet, a puzzle, a psychological torture that only he knows... He leaves messages and sends notes that make no sense. Can Caitlin decipher these notes? Can she figure out Deralynn's blinks.... (view spoiler) This is where it all became too much for me. Then there was the ending... but of course. So smart.Was it gruesome, psychological and shocking? Yes it was.
    • 4/5
      Caitlyn is the daughter of a detective whose life spiraled out of control in search of a serial killer. Now the killer is back, and Caitlyn is determined to close the case once and for all- but will it destroy her the way it did her father?It's fast paced and doesn't shy away for the gory details. I recommend this particularly for fans of shows like Criminal Minds.
    • 3/5
      This is a perfectly solid crime novel, just nothing terribly interesting, unique or original about it. It hits all the right notes at the right times, but just provides exactly what you'd expect. I don't think I'll be picking up the inevitable sequel.
    • 5/5
      This story kept me on the edge of my seat. I did not want to put this book down. There were so many twists and turns. I wanted to tell Caitlin to give up and stay safe but you knew she couldn't do that. This definitely did not disappoint me. I look forward to many more of Meg Gardiners books. I received an ebook copy from Firsttoread for a fair and honest opinion that I gave of my own free will.
    • 4/5
      I really enjoyed this one. I have never read anything written by Meg Gardiner before picking up this book but after reading the description, I knew that I would have to give this book a shot. I am very glad that I did. The books opens with a lot of excitement so I was immediately hooked. There was never a moment where I felt like I wanted to put this book down even though I had to every once in a while due to various responsibilities including my job and other such boring things. This was one of those stories that really got into my head and didn't let go until I got to the last page.The Prophet killed one person after another, sometimes more than one at a time, before suddenly stopping over twenty years ago. He was never caught and he killed his victims in different ways so that it was hard for the police to get ahead of him. Mack Hendrix was one of those detectives tasked with catching this ruthless serial killer. He was never able to catch the murderer and the case ended up destroying his life.Caitlin, Mack's daughter, became a detective even after everything her father has went through. She has worked in narcotics but as soon as a murder occurs similar to that of the Prophet, she gets a call. Is it a copycat or could the Prophet be back? She is highly motivated to catch this killer but also fears losing herself in the case as her father did.I really liked the characters in this one. They just all felt really authentic to me. Caitlin seemed like she really cared about her job but she worked hard to have a life outside of it. I really felt that all of her emotions during the case were very well done. Sean was amazing. He knew exactly how to be supportive without being overbearing. I thought that Sean and Caitlin were wonderful together. The secondary characters were equally well done.I thought that the mystery was exciting and pretty complex. This wasn't one of those books where you figure out what is going on early on. I don't think I ever figured anything out before the author wanted me to but I never stopped trying. All of the descriptions in the story really helped bring the story to life.I would highly recommend this book to fans of mystery thrillers. This story does involve a serial killer so there are a few more graphic scenes as you would expect in this kind of story. I am really looking forward to future book in this series.I received an advance reader edition of this book from Penguin Group Viking - Dutton Books via First to Read.
    • 2/5
      I generally like a good serial killer book every once in awhile. Unfortunately, Meg Gardiner's 'Unsub' is a miss. The plot was too far-fetched for me, the writing was just OK (sort of the 'generic thriller' variety) plus the resolution and conclusion were incredibly convoluted. The story was fairly intriguing, at least in the beginning. An infamous serial killer in the San Fran area seemingly returns after a multi-year respite and begins a new spree. One of the leads on the law enforcement side happens to be the daughter of the detective who led the investigation of, and whose career was ended by, the murderer's initial spree. The killer kills, and kills again (always in gruesome and spectacular fashion), etc., while the police thrash around trying to figure out the motivation. The lead detective has a brainstorm that allows some progress to be made on the case, eventually the killer's identification is discovered, and a wild and inconclusive conclusion ensues. On the positive side, the pacing is good and the plot moves ahead quickly. The characters aren't developed very well, though, so we're left with an implausible story with a crazy conclusion.
    • 3/5
      I am going to use the word good - good read, good story, good characters - good. Give it a try!
    • 4/5
      Holy crap! Once this book gets going, it never lets up. The search for a sadistic serial killer in the San Francisco area keeps escalating until it's virtually impossible to put the book down. Beware, though, that there are some very graphic and disturbing scenes - this is not for the faint of heart. I'm on to the next book in the UNSUB series. Frankly, I don't know how the author could top this one.
    • 5/5
      Caitlin Hendrix became a cop because her dad was a detective who could not stop himself from bringing his work home. Like many cops, he had a case that nearly destroyed him, one he could not solve, and one that seems to be now one his daughter must solve - a serial killer who left mysterious messages and dead bodies throughout the city. This is a well-written fast-paced journey through the sick mind of a serial killer and a cop bent on stopping him.

      1 person found this helpful

    • 5/5
      Wow, intense, gripping, and unputdownable. Did you ever think you could go hours with goosebumps? Well, with this book you can. The serial killer that drove Caitlin Hendrix's father mad is back, twenty years later. Now, Caitlin is on the team that is determined once and for all to get rid of "The Prophet". His crimes, victims and killing techniques are all over the place. This time he is out for vengeance and on a mission, he's not stopping this time.The first in a series that has Caitlin Hendrix looking for the one her father "could not put away". I really liked this new character and seriously look forward to reading more in the series. Caitlin with her analytical skills and ability to solve puzzles really made me want to keep on reading. And I want to keep on reading with any future books in the series.Thanks to Penguin Group Dutton for approving my request and to Net Galley for providing me with a free e-galley in exchange for an honest, unbiased review.

      1 person found this helpful

    • 5/5
      It had been a while since I have read anything from this author but with this book, Meg Gardiner shows she is still at the top of her game. More, more, and more, please. I literally lost sleep over this book. This is because I could not stop myself from reading one more page that led to another page and another. This book has it all...strong characters, deceivingly evil sadist killer, great storyline, romance, surprises, and an amazing ending. I am sad that I have to wait so long for book two. Caitlin comes swing right out of the gate. She does not let the fact that she is a newbie to the homicide unit keep her down. This includes facing danger and looking him in the eyes. Speaking of killer's; the Prophet is intelligent and kills with a purpose. Therefore, he is dangerous. Yet, it takes teamwork to stop a killer. Caitlin had strong male presence to help guide her.

      1 person found this helpful

    • 5/5
      Caitlin Hendrix a a police detective as was her father. Her father's mind was broken and his career shattered for failing to catch a serial killer. Caitlin had her life changed too. She struggles to keep her work separate from her life so that she doesn't repeat her father's mistakes. But when the serial killer who eluded her father makes his return, Caitlin finds herself in the middle of the investigation.The story is filled with danger and excitement. It is also filled with twists and turns as Caitlin and the other investigators try to figure our the killer and stop him before he can kill again. The book ramps up the tension as the story goes along and it starts with high tension. The killer has become more daring and more blatant in this series of killings. He also seems to be performing for Caitlin and making her his target.I enjoyed Caitlin who was a well-drawn character with strengths and flaws. I liked the cast of characters who surrounded her. This was an engaging thriller that was hard to put down. I needed to know who the killer was and if our heroes could manage to stop him.

      1 person found this helpful

    • 5/5
      Caitlin Hendrix is the daughter of well-known Detective Mack Hendrix. She has been working hard to make a name for herself on the force outside of the limelight forced on her. Caitlin has been assigned a detective position in Narcotics for the past six month attempting to accomplish this quest when all of a sudden her past comes rushing back in. The serial killer known as The Prophet, who destroyed her father’s career and her picturesque childhood, is back in the Bay Area wreaking havoc after disappearing nearly twenty years ago. The Prophet is known for sending cryptic messages and setting up murder scenes riddled with double meanings. In the 1990’s when Mack Hendrix was on the case they were unable to nail down a suspect or motive behind the killings. Caitlin is now on the case with a fresh perspective mixed with the ability to turn to her once estranged father, Mack, for insight. Caitlin quickly falls deeper and deeper in to the case, fully immersing herself in to finding the killer. The Prophet latches on to this obsession and begins to bait Caitlin even further by going after the ones she loves. Will Caitlin be able to figure out who The Prophet is before it’s too late for those who mean the most to her? Can she solve the case that brought her father’s career to an end? Meg Gardiner creates a hunt for a serial killer torn straight from an episode of Criminal Minds in UNSUB. From the opening chapter to the last page I was gripping my seat attempting to solve the riddles and puzzles that The Prophet was leaving behind. As Caitlin builds her case and uncovers the motive behind this serial killer, Gardiner continues to suck the reader in to her fight for justice. The reader is invested in not only solving the case, unveiling the identity of The Prophet, but also the well-being of every character, whether major or minor, in the novel. UNSUB will go down in history as not only one of my favorite reads of 2017, but also one of my all-time favorite books. Now if January would just hurry up and book #2 be out to purchase! A special thank you to the ladies, Janel and Ashley, behind the Criminally Good Book Club over on Instagram for choosing this as their October 2017 selection. Job well done!
    • 4/5
      I feel a new series in the making. A bit predictable at times, with just enough to keep the story fresh.
    • 5/5
      Why did I delay starting this series for so long?Read UNSUB if you're looking for a dark, gritty, intense, edgy thriller that doesn't hold back, and leaves you with a burning need to read the next book.I love Caitlin's character. In some ways, she's the typical heroine with tragedy in her past and weight on her shoulders. But she also stands out as strong, determined, and independent. Her character is complex and likable.The action is not for the feint of heart. There's a serial killer on the loose, and we aren't sheltered from the details.I was a little disappointed in the ending, but that's my own personal quirk. I can't really say what, exactly, bugged me, because of spoilers, so I'll just say that this book follows the path of many crime TV series in which the drama goes one step further than plausible. And this brings us a thread that will either continue in book 2, or one we'll be watching for over our shoulders throughout.Regardless, I'm hooked and moving on to the next book.
    • 5/5
      I do love a good serial killer book. Unsub does NOT disappoint. This book takes off right from the beginning and it NEVER slows down. I am serious. Not one lull in the book!! Now to read the follow up book, Into the Black Nowhere!
      Thanks Netgalley for letting me read this book in return for an honest review.