I really enjoyed this book, it was almost impossible to put it down, because it was captivating and thrilling. I had a hard time putting it down from time to time, but real life is a harsh mistress, sigh. I was in need of something like this one, and it was ages since I founded a good thriller, that kept me hooked from the start to the end. And this one managed beautifully.
But if I have enjoyed it so much (and I recommend it, if you are in for a really gripping thriller) why I gave it 3.5 stars? It is not a bad valuation, sure, but if I enjoyed it so much... well, why not something more?
Because even if I had a really great time with it, I had some issues with it. They are not really major, but they were enough to give me pause when the time came to give this book its stars. And I am sorry, but I have to put my complaints under the spoiler tag.
You can find the spoiler section on my Goodreads review, because it was a long part of the review, and it can be hidden in that review. (https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/3866511487?book_show_action=false&from_review_page=1)
I am really sorry that the spoiler section is quite long, but I just have to say all of it. But, as I was saying before, it is a good thriller, with good characters. I really enjoyed Caitlin. She is a good MC, and I liked her father too. And Sean, up to a point. It was really thrilling, and a good reading.

This one scared the beejeezus out of me! This entire series by Meg Gardiner is scary as crap! Probably because this series IS based on a real-life killer. Terrifying and fast paced, these books will give any thriller lover that pounding heart and need to keep all the lights on in the house!

A new series by one of my favorite authors is something I've been looking forward to and this first installment did not disappoint! Following in the footsteps of her father, Caitlin Hendrix works on the case of a local serial killer who reappears after leaving behind too many questions and too many bodies while staying a step ahead of the authorities at all times. This reappearance of "The Prophet" means more than just a case to solve for Caitlin as this specific case and killer was instrumental in destroying all her family was and could've been 20 years earlier. While inspired by the real Zodiac Killer, this fictional account is twisty and suspenseful. Creatively constructed, the author doesn't have to work hard to keep the reader interested, while trying to solve each of the puzzles and clues left behind by the killer. Keeping readers on their toes until the very last page, this book is just the beginning to another captivating series. An extra bonus for me was the location of the story - my own backyard and surrounding towns - can't deny the extra creepy factor this added to my experience of reading this novel!

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?

Narcotics detective Caitlin Hendrix remembers those days in the late 90s when her father was on the hunt for the Prophet. A man who claimed victims in the Bay Area. Everyone was afraid to go out and no matter all the cryptic clues he left behind with his victims, Detective Mac Hendrix couldn’t catch.

Now years later and two victims are found that bear a strong similarity to the attacks of the Prophet. Caitlin is a rookie detective but given her personal connection she feels she is the one who can help to catch this killer once and for all. Her father warns her to stay away because his life has never been the same after spending so much time only to come up empty-handed.

Caitlin works with the FBI team to determine whether this is the Prophet once again or a copycat killer wanting to gain notoriety. There’s a race against time as the body count starts to rise and the once again the city is plunged into fear.

There were a couple of moments that made me shake my head and think this couldn’t happen surely. Especially, when a member of the general public inserts themselves into the investigation and Caitlin seems to think this is ok and actually relies on her for information. This character wasn’t the typical “CI” that we see in crime shows/novels.

Nevertheless what this book has going for it, is the fast-pace at which the action is developing. I was completely caught up in the investigation and wanting to know how it would end. I was surprised by a few turn of events and overall found this an addicting read. In case you are wondering, this novel was inspired by the events surrounding the Zodiac Killer. This is the first book in the author’s Unsub series and I will look forward to the next one and hopefully see that Caitlin’s career is on the rise.

Amending review to include updated info: the 7 copies purchased by our libraries have circulated well. Will use UNSUB in an upcoming thriller book display and recommend for book club option. Will purchase more from this author and category in the future!

RATING: 4 STARS
​(I received an ARC from the NETGALLEY​)​
(Review Not on Blog)
Listened to on Audio

The cover reminded me of the Zodiac killer, and when I read the synopsis, it reminded me of Silence of the Lambs. I was really excited to read this one, but somehow got lost in the shuffle. This is my first book by Meg Gardiner, but definitely not my last. This book was gritty and suspenseful from the beginning. Caitlin Hendrix, is a Narcotics Detective, and the daughter of a former FBI agent. Her father was the lead investigator on the Prophet case. He was never caught, and when a new murder has all MO of the Prophet, Caitlin is brought into the case. She soon finds herself obsessed like her father. This book had everything I look for in a suspense thriller. Listening to it on audio I found myself doing more chores so I could listen to more. Caitlin is a strong female lead, but also flawed. I like how Gardiner explores the relationship between Caitlin and her father, and even with her mother. There were so many layers yet it did not drag either. I highly recommend this one and cannot wait for more in the series!

UNSUB is a fantastic start to what I'm sure will be a great series. I was hooked from the start and can't wait to dive into the sequel!

Just finished UNSUB by Meg Gardiner, the first installment of the UNSUB series. I actually read Into The Black Nowhere (UNSUB #2) before reading this one. I’m so glad I went back and read it. UNSUB is a psychological thriller inspired by the Zodiac Killer.

My favorite character was the protagonist Caitlin Hendrix, a young detective following in her dad’s footsteps. But she is determined to not be like her dad who brought his job home with him and made the personal relationships at home strained. Caitlin’s father was haunted by the serial killer named The Prophet who killed 11 victims on Mack Hendrix’s watch. Now twenty years later The Prophet starts to kill again. Caitlin struggles with carrying her dad’s reputation and she tries to deal with her dad now that she is an adult.

The Prophet, the antagonist, is a formidable character. He uses cryptic messages and loves to toy with the police. The author did a great job conveying the creepiness with this character. The pacing of the plot was perfect. The dialogue between characters was realistic and spot-on. The author slowly builds the story up to a mind-blowing ending. Just an overall great book! Look forward to reading more of the UNSUB series. 5 out of 5 stars! Recommended to those who love psychological thrillers with a bad-ass female protagonist and an extremely creepy antagonist.

Thank you Meg Gardiner, Dutton Books, and NetGalley for providing me with a review copy of this book to read.

Holy crap I loved this book! This serial killer...is insane! I love that it was inspired by the real Zodiac killer and now I want to know more about that case. I loved the twists in here and it seemed so eerily real. Loved it and can’t wait to read the next one!

I love me a good serial killer novel and this one delivered. Caitlin Hendrix is a spectacular detective. She's smart, vulnerable, witty, and so human. The Prophet, loosely used on the Zodiac killer, is an equally good killer—methodical and engaging.

This book manages to not only deliver and engaging hunt for a killer, but also explores ideas of family, legacy, and the danger of becoming too involved in a way that was delightfully fresh.

I received a free copy of this book from Netgalley in exchange for a fair and unbiased review.

Twenty years ago, a serial killer, nicknamed the Prophet by the police, drove Caitlin's police detective father to the brink of insanity. Driven mad by his inability to solve the case and save innocent lives, he retired from the police force, and Caitlin always remembered how terrified he was of the killer. 

Now, Caitlin is a police officer herself, and killings identical to those of the Prophet's have started again. Are the the work of a copycat, or is the Prophet back? If so, where has he been for the last number of years, and why start killing again now? As Caitlin is drawn deeper and deeper into the case, her father warns her not to let it consume her, but neither of them realize how much danger she's actually in.  

UNSUB has been a book I'd been dying to read for months but kept putting off for who knows what reason. I finally got around to reading it, and I'm kicking myself for not picking it up sooner! It has everything I loved - sadistic, intelligent serial killers, a smart female lead, some elements of stalking, and a touch of romance - it was the absolute perfect combination! 

The book started off with a bang and kept its momentum through until the end. I was constantly trying to guess what was happening, and put together the pieces of the puzzle, but I was nowhere even close, and I loved it. The book literally had my heard racing at some points and gave me goosebumps at others! There were moments that were so creepy that I found myself checking the locks on my doors!

I can't applaud Meg Gardiner enough for writing such a smart thriller. The detail that went into the case and the clues that were left at each crime scene were so on point that I couldn't get enough of it! I can't wait to read more of Gardiner's books, because she's a fantastic storyteller. Nothing was left to the imagination, and everything our killer did had a purpose that served a larger picture. 

I absolutely loved Caitlin as our lead - she was tough, independent, and likable, and I was rooting for her to solve the case the entire time. I wont give anything away, but I will say that the book leaves off on a bit of a cliffhanger, and I can't wait to dive into the sequel. If you're a fan of psychological thrillers, or books about serial killers, this is the book for you! I rated this one 5/5 stars, and it's already moved onto my list of all time favorite thrillers.

I absolutely loved this book!😍 This enthralling thriller had me on the edge of my seat with all the page turning suspense it brought me! I loved the plot and how things were descriptive yet kept that interesting fast pace, we all know and love. I loved Caitlin’s character and thought she was a great choice for main character. I admired her strength and how she handled things through all the chaos. I am so looking forward to the sequel to this masterpiece and don’t think I could read it soon enough! This book is highly recommended!

4.5 stars

Unsub
Unsub #1
Meg Gardiner
Dutton, June 2017
ISBN 978-1-101-98552-6
Hardcover

If you’re ever in the mood for a nail-biting, gut-wrenching tale of police work, this is it. Detective Caitlin Hendrix comes very close to her own kind of obsession that plays like a counterpoint to the unsub’s sick and deadly obsession and, at times, it’s a little difficult to tell them apart. I don’t mean that literally—on the page, of course you know who is who—but the emotional turmoil that each feels has a sort of certain similarity and you can’t help wondering just how much the killer is affecting her, perhaps even twisting her mind, not to mention the agitation stemming from her own baggage. This unsub is pretty well terrifying and Ms. Gardiner had me flying through the pages.

Reviewed by Lelia Taylor, January 2018.

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.

Caitlin Hendrix has only been on the job as a narcotics detective for six months. However, since her father was the lead detective on several cases involving The Prophet, a serial murderer who left the sign of mercury at each murder scene, she is quite familiar with the unsolved cases. Her father deems himself a failure for not solving the cases, and Caitlin lives with shame because The Prophet was never caught. The case ruined her father – she suspects it led to some kind of mental illness, and her relationship with him is strained. However, when The Prophet resurfaces 20 years after the last murder and starts another murder spree, Caitlin is assigned the case because she has access to her father and his knowledge of the crimes. Such is the background in the novel, Unsub by bestselling author, Meg Gardiner.

Gardiner has already established herself as an excellent writer and storyteller, and Unsub is no exception. Gardiner is experienced in building suspense, and there is plenty in this novel. The characters are well-developed, especially the main protagonist, Caitlin and also the murderer.

While the book follows what would be considered typical thriller protocol, it is fairly predictable in the scenarios leading up to the dénouement. However, there are enough twists and turns to keep the interest of readers, and with the promise of another book in the series soon coming out, there is an incentive to pay close attention to what is happening.

Although Unsub isn’t going to win any awards, it is a viable thriller and will definitely keep readers interested through to the end. Gardiner is an established author and those who like her style won’t want to miss anything that she writes.

Special thanks to NetGalley for supplying a review copy of this book.

Caitlin Hendrix has followed in her father's footsteps and become a detective. However, unlike her father she doesn't want her life and her career ruined by a serial killer; the Prophet. Twenty years ago he popped up killing couples and leaving cryptic messages, taunting the police and especially her father. Her father never caught him and it broke him. Now, new bodies have appeared all with the hallmarks of a kill by the Prophet. Caitlin is put on the case and the killers attentions have now switched from father to daughter.

For me, 2017 seems to be the year of the thriller. It is s genre that I haven't really explored before now, but I am glad I have started to read it, otherwise I would miss out on books like this. UNSUB was a creepy, nail-biting and heart wrenching read. Not only is it the usual hunt for the serial killer but it explores the relationship between Caitlin and her semi-estranged father who seemed to lose his mind over the same case 20 years ago. This case gives Caitlin a deep understanding of her father's behaviour all the time ago as she lives through the same nightmare.

And a nightmare it was. Gardiner infused this whole book was a distinctly creepy and almost otherworldly vibe as this serial killer seems to have a supernatural ability to thwart and outsmart the police in the most grotesque ways. This is definitely not a book to read alone at night, it will have you looking into dark corners and double checking your doors and windows. This also isn't the kind of book where you can guess whodunit, all you could do it watch through Caitlin's eyes as she tried to find the monster behind the killings.

This was an atmospheric read full of twists and turns that keep your eyes glued to the page. And, as well as being a highly enjoyable and scary detective story, it had some real human relationships making Caitlin more than just the typical cookie cutter rookie detective and added some depth to her character. I can't wait to read the next book in the series, it seems just as one mystery is burnt away another one emerges from its ashes.

Meg Gardiner’s psychological thriller UNSUB moves at a fast pace as the heroine, Detective Caitlin Hendrix, becomes obsessed with the Prophet, a killer who reappears after a 20 year hiatus. Inspired by the Zodiac Killer, UNSUB (Dutton, digital galley) pits Hendrix against a serial killer who enjoys taunting police.

The case is particularly personal for Hendrix because she grew up with first-hand knowledge of the original murders. Her now-retired detective father worked the first series of killings during her childhood and he may hold the key to solving the new murders.

Though some of the Prophet’s antics are over the top at times, Gardiner does a fine job detailing police procedures, making them believable. As all good detective novels do, UNSUB picks up momentum at the end, making it difficult to put down.

4.5 stars

Caitlin Hendrix has been a narcotics detective for six months when the Prophet, a serial killer who terrorized the Bay area in the 1990's and whom her father failed to apprehend, begins to kill again. Her father, Mark, hunted the Prophet, who completed ritualistic killers, gave cryptic messages, and mind games, until his life began to fall apart. The killer etched the sign of mercury on all his victim’s skin. Why? How are his victims connected? Are they connected?

Almost twenty years later, two bodies are found bearing the Prophet's sign for Mercury. He is back! Why now? Where has he been all this time? What is his end game? The stakes are high as more bodies are found and Caitlin finds herself getting deeper and deeper in the investigations as the Prophet appears to be getting under her skin. Caitlin is determined to stop the Prophet even if it means putting herself in danger. Anyone notice how she jumped from Narcotics to homicide to homicide lead detective in a blink of an eye?

This book is a mesmerizing look at evil. It is a page turner filled with psychological suspense, danger, mystery, and a vicious killer who manages to always be a step ahead of the police. If you enjoy smart police procedural(s), books with psychological suspense, a little gore, likable characters, a mesmerizing killer and great writing this book is for you. This book is enjoyable from beginning to end - there were no dull parts, nothing lagged, nothing felt rushed. This book evoked a feeling of dread and anxiety. Would Caitlin find the killer? Will she be too late? OH man!!! The Suspense!!! I loved every second of it. I love books that have me on the edge of my seat waiting to see what happens next. Meg Gardiner brought the thrills to this one!

This was my first book by Meg Gardiner and it will not be my last! I'm hooked!!!

This book was inspired by the real-life zodiac killings where the killer was never brought to justice. In some counties in Northern California the case remains open.

Thank you to Penguin Group Dutton and NetGalley who provided me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.