UNSUB

The best thing I can say about this book is the the author tried. She gave us a fun and twisty plot, filled with a lot of detail. Unfortunately in giving us all that plot, she shorted the characterization. There was a lot of family history and a lot of telling rather than showing, so it was hard to feel very invested in the characters. The main character, Caitlin, was very clearly a page taken from the Clarice Starling book, with little of her pluck and charm. The other characters also felt one dimensional and fell quite flat.

I’m also not sure what kind of research the author did, but the psychology of the villain really didn’t hold together at all. This is a pet peeve of mine and a place where a lot of authors need better research show more and consulting.

Overall, if you’re interested in this book but haven’t yet read [b:The Silence of the Lambs|23807|The Silence of the Lambs (Hannibal Lecter, #2)|Thomas Harris|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1390426249s/23807.jpg|22533], read that instead. You’ll enjoy it more and it’s what this book aspired to but failed to be. show less

I saw the review for Unsub on a fellow blogger’s site some time ago - I forget who it was, or I would thank them properly for showcasing one of the best thrillers I remember reading in ages. This novel, while not being for the faint of heart, is a compelling journey into the mind of a cold-blooded serial killer and of the law enforcement officers hunting him, in a hazardous cat-and-mouse game that favors the battle of wits between the two opposing forces rather than indulging in the more gruesome details of the crimes themselves, which was the main reason I stopped watching shows like Criminal Minds when the “gore factor” became more important than the psychological analysis, which I find much more fascinating.

In the ’90s, the show more area around San Francisco was the hunting grounds for a serial killer nicknamed The Prophet because of the enigmatic messages he left on the scenes: detective Mack Hendrix gave everything he had in the hunt for the killer and emerged from the battle devastated in body and mind, while the unsub - acronym for Unknown Subject - was never captured and seemed to vanish into thin air. Now, after twenty years, new murder scenes following the Prophet’s same m.o. are appearing again, and police officers are wondering if their killer has resurfaced or if the killings are the work of a copycat. Caitlin Hendrix, Mack’s daughter and a police officer herself, is determined to find the Prophet, both for the sake of her city and to restore the good name of her father, who is seen as unhinged and unreliable. As the victims’ number climbs, the Prophet establishes a sort of direct communication with Caitlin, with the intent of drawing her into a trap that will destroy her as it happened with her father, while the young police officer tries to stay one step ahead of the killer and to win the deadly game.

The phrase “it was impossible to put the book down” can be found so often that it somewhat lost its impact, and that’s the main reason I usually avoid using it, but in this case it’s the perfect description of what UNSUB did to me: while at times it can be quite distressing because of the Prophet’s brutally arranged displays of his work, it also offers some distance thanks to the emotional difference between the written word and a filmed scene, so that readers can concentrate on the actual clues and on the relentless - and often discouraging - efforts from law enforcement in preventing these crimes and catching their perpetrator. Meg Gardiner draws you into the story in such a way that, just like her protagonist, you need to see the end, see where the deceptively arranged clues and the many twists and turns will lead - and hope that at the end justice will emerge victorious.

I liked Caitlin as a character, mostly because she is flawed and is going around with a huge chip on her shoulder, but her determination in getting at the root of it all and finally catching the killer is strong, stronger than the despair that comes from seeing how the killer keeps eluding the chase: no matter how many hard hits she takes, she keeps trying to move forward knowing that to win the fight she must be smarter than her enemy. Caitlin is not depicted as some kind of super-hero, and it’s her humanity and imperfections that make her so compelling as a character and that kept me glued to the book to see where and how the story would end. And let me tell you that it did not end in any predictable way…

The Prophet, for all his inhuman focus on making his victims suffer and the police feel inadequate and lost, is an equally fascinating character, mostly because he appears quite lucid in his madness and very proficient in advance planning, not unlike a consummate chess player who’s able to plot for several moves ahead in the game. His ability to predict how the victims or the police will behave makes him a terrible adversary indeed, quite far from the mindless killer looking only for a blood-soaked series of murders. There is also the added factor of his choice of messages and murder scenes that take inspiration from a well-known work of literature - one I’m not going to mention to leave the surprise of discovery intact: this element was of particular interest for me because I studied the source material back in my school days, and I was intrigued by the discovery of how certain well-remembered passages were tied with the Prophet’s work and his goals.

UNSUB is a dark story, no doubt about it, and there are moments when it becomes thoroughly ominous and disturbing, but at the same time it feels very authentic - the main reason it turns out to be so immersive. I would not mind seeing it turned into a movie because it possesses all the right elements for a breath-stealing one, but lacking that there are two more published book in this series that promise to be equally riveting: having just discovered Meg Gardiner’s talent, I intend to explore more of her works as soon as possible. show less

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 show more 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. show less

This is one crazy rollercoaster ride of a thriller that will have you rechecking doors, windows and watching for sunlight just to take the edge off from feeling like you’re going to jump out of your skin at every sound.

Gardiner knows how to write an intricately detailed plot with appealing characters and a bit of a cliff hanger in the conclusion that you won’t see coming and will leaving you wanting her to deliver a sequel. The skill in creating such a terrific novel isn’t surprising considering she’s a veteran in the suspense genre so she’s had plenty of practice in delivering worthy stories.

Unsub provides constant suspenseful action using the gruesome serial killer device making it difficult to put down thanks to the show more tension, broken psychology, unpredictability and realism.

Even though it seems to be marketed as a stand-alone you can’t help but feel as if she is setting up her readers for a new series starring Caitlin. Here’s hoping that’s true and we’re treated to more of her chilling writing!

*UPDATE* - Just found out a sequel IS coming in January 2018. Titled – Into the Black Nowhere show less

Unsub—the FBI's designation for Unknown Subject. The history of serial killers has been peppered with this word, as each at one time in their history has born this classification. In this story Detective Caitlin Hendrix must do what her father had failed to do many years earlier – – track down the Prophet, a serial killer that terrorized the Bay Area decades earlier and not only destroyed her father's career but also destroyed him psychologically. And the Prophet is back. Killing and taunting investigators. For Caitlin, this is personal. Sifting through a series of ingenious and brutal murders that have deep religious and literary connections, Caitlin must try to outthink the unknown killer—the unsub. But he always seems to show more remain several steps ahead. His meticulous planning and execution is matched only by his extreme brutality and a gift for shocking even the most seasoned detectives. The characters are compelling and the villain is one of the best you will ever encounter. The writing and storytelling are nearly perfect and this is a book that once you start you will not be able to put down. Lock the doors and get ready for a frightening ride. I could not recommend this novel any more highly. A great story, well written.

DP Lyle, award-winning author of the Jake Longly, Samantha Cody, and Dub Walker thriller series show less

Meg Gardiner knows how to tell a story! She does an excellent job at setting the scene and introducing the characters. Just as you settle in the for story, she hits the gas and makes you hold on for dear life until the end of the book. The main idea of the crimes has been used before numerous times, but Gardiner gives it her own twist. Even if you've read books with similar themes, this one will feel fresh and new. My only complaint is that I didn't want to put it down, so I read it in two sittings! With Gardiner, though, I have come to learn that there is no lingering over the book. Fasten your seatbelt and hold on! It's gonna be an awesome ride!

UNSUB by Meg Gardiner is a very highly recommended psychological thriller/police procedural.

An UNSUB is what the FBI calls an unknown subject. Between 1993 and 1998 anyone who lived in the Bay Area knew about the UNSUB called the Prophet. The Prophet terrorized the area and was responsible for eleven ritualistic murders, all unsolved. Caitlin Hendrix understands the terror and harm the Prophet caused because her father, Mack Hendrix, was the lead investigator on the case. The case nearly destroyed him while tearing her family apart.

Twenty years later Caitlin is a detective on the Narcotics Task Force. When two bodies are found bearing the signature of the Prophet, the sign for Mercury on their bodies, it appears that the Prophet is show more back, or a copycat, and the killings are going to begin again. Caitlin asks and is reassigned to Homicide where they are hopeful that she can convince her father to share some of his knowledge and insight about the previous cases. As the body count rises along with fear and tension, the Prophet leaves horrifying videos and cryptic written clues. Soon he begins to target Caitlin

UNSUB feature extremely well-developed characters set in a fast paced, complex, riveting plot. Gardiner takes care to set the scene and establish her characters right away; then the action takes off and the tension steadily rises. Caitlin is a compelling, well rounded character and it will be exciting to see her return in another case. (And there will be a sequel, Into the Black Nowhere.) I'll be looking forward to the next case Caitlin is assigned.

Additionally, I was impressed with the skillful way Gardiner presented her complicated plot and the clues that needed to be deciphered in order to stop the murders and figure out who is the Prophet. The Prophet is intelligent and utterly evil, resulting in a gripping thriller with a terrifying killer. (The infamous Zodiac killer was the inspiration for the novel, so it is dark and disturbing.) But he is up against the intelligence and sheer determination of Caitlin, and she is a clever, serious adversary.

All in all, UNSUB is a perfect summer vacation thriller. This is definitely a stuck-over-night-at-the-airport book that will keep you awake and hold your complete attention - only you'll want to be in a well lite area, maybe near security.

Disclosure: My review copy was courtesy of Penguin Random House.
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https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/2047238551 show less