UNSUB

A Novel

By: Meg Gardiner

Narrated by: Hillary Huber

Length: 12 hrs and 1 min

Publisher's Summary

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 20 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 - 11 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 the Prophet's 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?

©2017 Meg Gardiner (P)2017 Penguin Audio

Once you start, you can't stop

Any additional comments?

This book really caught me by surprise. I started it at 7:30 AM, and I finished the book the same day. It is a great crime novel based somewhat on the Zodiac killer, and it is NON-STOP goodness. It has a little bit of everything, and it will keep you on your toes. Not to mention, the ending is a complete SHOCK! The narrator is fantastic. Don't waste another minute; get this book!

Would make a great movie.

What made the experience of listening to UNSUB the most enjoyable?

It was nice to be able to listen while doing other tasks. I really liked the story and would not have had the time to read the book.

Did the plot keep you on the edge of your seat? How?

Yes. I can usually figure out who the bad guy is. With this story however, I did not.

What three words best describe Hillary Huber’s performance?

Irritating, distracting, eye-rolling. I did not like this narrator. I have not listened to very many audio books yet, so I may be way off and others may like her. I just found her character voices often distracting. It would sometimes pull me out of the book and get me thinking about her voice rather than the story.

Any additional comments?

Great story. I really enjoyed it. I think this would make a good movie. I'd pay to see it.

Love Meg Gardener, but didn’t love this one

I usually love Meg gardener, but I couldn’t get into this one. It’s actually the first book of hers I didn’t finish. I stopped with like 5hours left. Not sure why, it just didn’t seem unique at all. If you live police procedurals you should definitely try it out, or try some of her other books, as they are fantastic!

Awful

This is one of the worst books ever. Mastered by a terrible narrator.
Boring, no plot, zero interesting characters,a bland killer. Just awful.

Very good, finished and purchased follow up

Very good, finished and purchased follow up. I really like the using a true case but making it modern, similar to what law and order svu and criminal minds do.

Ruined by Robotic Narrator

This could be the best book ever written, but I'll never know because the narrator is absolutely unlistenable. Monotone, robotic and emotionless.

Also, right from the bat there was needless gore.

Must read for Criminal Minds fans!

Fantastic! I love the methodology/MO of the killer. I've read the inspiration for his kills a few times and I suspected he was following it, but it was just vague enough to keep me guessing. Impressive. Can't wait for the rest of the series and the show. Thanks for the rec, Stephen King!

Only complaint is that the narrator is a little dull. She makes Caitlin sound older than she is, but the writing was so good it barely registered as more than a minor annoyance.

So bad

This book is really simplistic, predictable, and boring. I have finished it for which I should receive a reward! Don’t waste a credit.

I just couldnt get involved in this book

I Listen to a Book about 1 a Week But This book wouldn't let me get Involved. I had to Return It.
It Jumped Around every chapter and was confusing.

Unsub was a wild ride!

this was a book that lived on my wishlist for a long time, I'm disappointed It took me this long to listen.