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FBI Files
The Unabomber: Agent Kathy Puckett and the Hunt for a Serial Bomber
A new true-crime series that follows FBI agents behind the scenes as they work to keep Americans safe.
The Unabomber was a lone-wolf terrorist who carried out fourteen bombings that left three people dead and another twenty-three injured. A cunning genius, he dodged his FBI pursuers for nearly two decades, terrifying Americans from coast to coast.
Agent Kathy Puckett, a spy hunter and highly trained psychologist, served as the turning point in the FBI's efforts to understand the mind of the faceless killer. Her insights helped send more than a hundred agents to a remote cabin in the mountains of western Montana on April 3, 1996.
There the FBI captured Theodore J. Kaczynski, engineer of the most notorious bombing spree in U.S. history.
Bryan Denson presents the story of the FBI's investigation of the Unabomber and the agent who helped bring him to justice.
The Unabomber was a lone-wolf terrorist who carried out fourteen bombings that left three people dead and another twenty-three injured. A cunning genius, he dodged his FBI pursuers for nearly two decades, terrifying Americans from coast to coast.
Agent Kathy Puckett, a spy hunter and highly trained psychologist, served as the turning point in the FBI's efforts to understand the mind of the faceless killer. Her insights helped send more than a hundred agents to a remote cabin in the mountains of western Montana on April 3, 1996.
There the FBI captured Theodore J. Kaczynski, engineer of the most notorious bombing spree in U.S. history.
Bryan Denson presents the story of the FBI's investigation of the Unabomber and the agent who helped bring him to justice.
176 pages, Kindle Edition
Published June 25, 2019
10 people are currently reading
55 people want to read
About the author
Bryan Denson
10 books35 followersBryan Denson is the author of "The Spy's Son: The True Story of the Highest-Ranking CIA Officer Ever Convicted of Espionage and the Son He Trained to Spy for Russia."
The book is available for purchase now, but hits bookstores in the USA and Canada May 5, 2015. The Spy's Son also will be published in the U.K., Australia and New Zealand in June 2015. Rights also have sold in Poland and Estonia.
Movie rights to the book were sold to Paramount Pictures. The studio has attached Robert De Niro and Shia LaBeouf to play the father-son spy duo. The film is to be directed by D.J. Caruso. The screenplay was written by Kario Salem, a guy with a genius understanding of narrative.
Denson is a veteran journalist who has worked on the East, Gulf, and West coasts of the United States at five daily newspapers. He currently works for The Oregonian newspaper and OregonLive, where he covers the federal courts.
The book is available for purchase now, but hits bookstores in the USA and Canada May 5, 2015. The Spy's Son also will be published in the U.K., Australia and New Zealand in June 2015. Rights also have sold in Poland and Estonia.
Movie rights to the book were sold to Paramount Pictures. The studio has attached Robert De Niro and Shia LaBeouf to play the father-son spy duo. The film is to be directed by D.J. Caruso. The screenplay was written by Kario Salem, a guy with a genius understanding of narrative.
Denson is a veteran journalist who has worked on the East, Gulf, and West coasts of the United States at five daily newspapers. He currently works for The Oregonian newspaper and OregonLive, where he covers the federal courts.
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Displaying 1 - 24 of 24 reviews
June 30, 2019
There's been a recent movement with mass killings and similar horrible, violent incidents in the news, to shift the story from the perpetrator, to the victims. This book totally gets behind that shift.
While of course it does also talk about Ted Kaczynski, it shows us all of the victims, and really focuses on Kathy Puckett. Kathy was an FBI profiler, and when she was brought into the case, many years into it, she had some different theories, and pursued different angles on the case. Early on investigators thought the first victim was the perpetrator, and all the information thereafter, including all profiles, fit him oddly well and ignored evidence. She threw out that idea and made a new profile that turned out to fit a man she'd never heard of and never met--Ted Kaczynski--to a T. She was also pivotal in the decision to ask the Washington Post to publish the Unabomber's manifesto, which proved the key in solving the case. She also knew that after the publication they couldn't let their guard down. The bomber may have claimed he'd stop bombing if it was published, but she didn't believe him. And once again, she was right.
Dr. Puckett was the agent most responsible for bringing him down, even if she didn't make the arrest. This book shows the inner workings of the FBI for interested kids (and shows it's not all busting down doors and gunfights), it gives a respectful and age-appropriate story of a true crime (a crazy-popular genre in media with adults right now), and it tells a fascinating story about a terrifying moment in our recent history that kids might hear about but won't learn about in their history classes.
While of course it does also talk about Ted Kaczynski, it shows us all of the victims, and really focuses on Kathy Puckett. Kathy was an FBI profiler, and when she was brought into the case, many years into it, she had some different theories, and pursued different angles on the case. Early on investigators thought the first victim was the perpetrator, and all the information thereafter, including all profiles, fit him oddly well and ignored evidence. She threw out that idea and made a new profile that turned out to fit a man she'd never heard of and never met--Ted Kaczynski--to a T. She was also pivotal in the decision to ask the Washington Post to publish the Unabomber's manifesto, which proved the key in solving the case. She also knew that after the publication they couldn't let their guard down. The bomber may have claimed he'd stop bombing if it was published, but she didn't believe him. And once again, she was right.
Dr. Puckett was the agent most responsible for bringing him down, even if she didn't make the arrest. This book shows the inner workings of the FBI for interested kids (and shows it's not all busting down doors and gunfights), it gives a respectful and age-appropriate story of a true crime (a crazy-popular genre in media with adults right now), and it tells a fascinating story about a terrifying moment in our recent history that kids might hear about but won't learn about in their history classes.
November 8, 2019
Between 1978-1995 sixteen homemade bombs killed 4 people and seriously maimed many more throughout the United States. With each passing year the bombs became more powerful and the ‘Unabomber' become bolder. NOTE: since most bombs were sent to Universities or Airlines the Task Force was code named: UN (university), A (airline), BOM (bombing); hence, Unabomber.
For years the FBI examined every piece of evidence they had including the killer's “signature” equipment such as hand carved wood, tape, solder, powder from rifle cartridges and batteries with serial numbers removed. The Unabomber was deemed to be ”one of the most careful criminal opponents we had ever had”. The FBI’s best evidence was letters the killer had sent to a variety of people, newspapers, professors and victims, supposedly from an anarchist group signed “ FC”, always with an authentication code. Frustrated as they were, they believed that “The case was solvable… because the killer was a human being.” He was much more cunning than a common criminal, acting more like spy. Kathy Puckett, a “profiler” within the agency was brought in, she described the Unabomber as a male (not a group), working alone, extremely bright, highly educate and who had once lived in Chicago.
Ultimately, the Unabomber sent a 30,000a+ word manifesto to the NYT demanding its publication and promising to stop bombing upon its publication. The news and the FBI agreed hoping that someone would recognize the author’s words or writing style. This is exactly what happened.
A fascinating story of the search for one of America’s most dangerous domestic terrorists. The story outlines the research the FBI conducted their leads and disappointments, as well as the efforts the Unabomber went to to cover his trail and disguise himself. A quick read that will have you on the edge of your seat. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
For more book reviews follow me on Instagram at #emptynestreader and on Goodreads #fbifiles #theunabomber #bryandenison #nonfiction #truecrimestories #fbi #unabomber #domesticterrorism #bookstagramalabama #bookstagrammichigan #readalittlelearnalittlelivealittle
NOTE: Over the years the FBI's mission has changed… todays primary mission is to “protect Americans from terrorists, spies organized corruption, cyperattacks, assaults on our economic, military and political systems. Events generally known as "Domestic Terrorism”.
For years the FBI examined every piece of evidence they had including the killer's “signature” equipment such as hand carved wood, tape, solder, powder from rifle cartridges and batteries with serial numbers removed. The Unabomber was deemed to be ”one of the most careful criminal opponents we had ever had”. The FBI’s best evidence was letters the killer had sent to a variety of people, newspapers, professors and victims, supposedly from an anarchist group signed “ FC”, always with an authentication code. Frustrated as they were, they believed that “The case was solvable… because the killer was a human being.” He was much more cunning than a common criminal, acting more like spy. Kathy Puckett, a “profiler” within the agency was brought in, she described the Unabomber as a male (not a group), working alone, extremely bright, highly educate and who had once lived in Chicago.
Ultimately, the Unabomber sent a 30,000a+ word manifesto to the NYT demanding its publication and promising to stop bombing upon its publication. The news and the FBI agreed hoping that someone would recognize the author’s words or writing style. This is exactly what happened.
A fascinating story of the search for one of America’s most dangerous domestic terrorists. The story outlines the research the FBI conducted their leads and disappointments, as well as the efforts the Unabomber went to to cover his trail and disguise himself. A quick read that will have you on the edge of your seat. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
For more book reviews follow me on Instagram at #emptynestreader and on Goodreads #fbifiles #theunabomber #bryandenison #nonfiction #truecrimestories #fbi #unabomber #domesticterrorism #bookstagramalabama #bookstagrammichigan #readalittlelearnalittlelivealittle
NOTE: Over the years the FBI's mission has changed… todays primary mission is to “protect Americans from terrorists, spies organized corruption, cyperattacks, assaults on our economic, military and political systems. Events generally known as "Domestic Terrorism”.
February 25, 2020
For the record, the sole reason I read this was because it’s one of only two books in my entire local library system about the Unabomber case (the other is David Kaczynski’s 2016 book Every Last Tie: The Story of the Unabomber and His Family).
Initially I didn’t quite know what to make of it. A Unabomber book...for kids? But it was surprisingly well done, and didn’t dumb things down as much as I expected. It does, however, read like FBI propaganda. “The FBI are badass defenders of Americans and justice! They caught the Unabomber!” Well, no, not really. They didn’t catch Ted Kaczynski, his brother and sister-in-law did. And that was after seventeen years of the FBI’s failure to do so, despite 100+ agents working full-time on the case and an unprecedented budget for the manhunt. Had David not come forward with the letters and essays from Ted, it’s entirely possible he would have evaded the FBI forever. The agents are given a little too much credit here. Especially considering all the leaks, and the broken promise to keep David and his wife’s involvement from the press.
I also didn’t quite like how the author skimmed over and barely mentioned most of the bombing incidents during the 1980’s. It may have made for a longer book to include better descriptions, but I suppose it also would’ve highlighted all the failures and frustrations of the FBI during that decade, especially after the first fatality. And this book is 10000% pro-FBI.
Caught an error on a photo caption that mixes up United Airlines and American Airlines. Considering the brevity of the book, that feels inexcusable. And then there’s this bit:
“One handwritten note from Ted to his mother used the phrase “We can’t eat our cake and have it, too”. That was an odd inversion of the old proverb “You can’t have your cake and eat it, too.””
Actually, Mr. Denson, it’s a correct statement of that old proverb, not an inversion. It is logical and correct. You can have it AND eat it, but if you eat it you no longer have it.
Ted was actually a little too brilliant for his own good and much of society has yet to catch up. It’s actually a damn shame he’s rotting away in (super)maximum security while idiots run the world.
Initially I didn’t quite know what to make of it. A Unabomber book...for kids? But it was surprisingly well done, and didn’t dumb things down as much as I expected. It does, however, read like FBI propaganda. “The FBI are badass defenders of Americans and justice! They caught the Unabomber!” Well, no, not really. They didn’t catch Ted Kaczynski, his brother and sister-in-law did. And that was after seventeen years of the FBI’s failure to do so, despite 100+ agents working full-time on the case and an unprecedented budget for the manhunt. Had David not come forward with the letters and essays from Ted, it’s entirely possible he would have evaded the FBI forever. The agents are given a little too much credit here. Especially considering all the leaks, and the broken promise to keep David and his wife’s involvement from the press.
I also didn’t quite like how the author skimmed over and barely mentioned most of the bombing incidents during the 1980’s. It may have made for a longer book to include better descriptions, but I suppose it also would’ve highlighted all the failures and frustrations of the FBI during that decade, especially after the first fatality. And this book is 10000% pro-FBI.
Caught an error on a photo caption that mixes up United Airlines and American Airlines. Considering the brevity of the book, that feels inexcusable. And then there’s this bit:
“One handwritten note from Ted to his mother used the phrase “We can’t eat our cake and have it, too”. That was an odd inversion of the old proverb “You can’t have your cake and eat it, too.””
Actually, Mr. Denson, it’s a correct statement of that old proverb, not an inversion. It is logical and correct. You can have it AND eat it, but if you eat it you no longer have it.
Ted was actually a little too brilliant for his own good and much of society has yet to catch up. It’s actually a damn shame he’s rotting away in (super)maximum security while idiots run the world.
March 25, 2020
I'm so pleased that this is going to be a series.
As an 8th-grade English teacher, I work hard to find interesting books of many genre and length so I can get the right book into kids' hands.
This book fills a much needed niche. High interest non-fiction, not too long or complex, but also not dumbed down.
What I liked (well, I liked the whole thing, and I'm an adult who was alive when this was happening):
* Starts out with a bang (literally) so grabs interest
* Short, easy to read chapters, so holds interest
* Non-fiction that reads like fiction rather than a recitation of facts.
* Complex material made understandable, not an easy task.
* Begins with a list of characters that is organized with a brief description (as a kid I would have to do this myself sometimes. Having it already done might keep a kid reading.)
* Ends with sources, photo credits, and an index.
I'm eager to read whatever the next book in the series is. Keep them coming.
I'm also hopeful that some kids reading it will become inspired to become an FBI agent (I see cyber warfare as a critical future need).
As an 8th-grade English teacher, I work hard to find interesting books of many genre and length so I can get the right book into kids' hands.
This book fills a much needed niche. High interest non-fiction, not too long or complex, but also not dumbed down.
What I liked (well, I liked the whole thing, and I'm an adult who was alive when this was happening):
* Starts out with a bang (literally) so grabs interest
* Short, easy to read chapters, so holds interest
* Non-fiction that reads like fiction rather than a recitation of facts.
* Complex material made understandable, not an easy task.
* Begins with a list of characters that is organized with a brief description (as a kid I would have to do this myself sometimes. Having it already done might keep a kid reading.)
* Ends with sources, photo credits, and an index.
I'm eager to read whatever the next book in the series is. Keep them coming.
I'm also hopeful that some kids reading it will become inspired to become an FBI agent (I see cyber warfare as a critical future need).
June 10, 2020
4 stars
Ted Kaczynski, better known as the Unabomber, terrorized the nation for nearly 20 years through building and sending or planting package bombs across the U.S. This non-fiction book tells the story of how the FBI worked to solve the case through the perspective of Agent Kathy Puckett, one of the first female agents at the Bureau and a member of the Unabomb Task Force (UTF). Puckett and the other members of the UTF worked tirelessly to profile the Unabomber, cooperate with media organizations reporting on the case, and eventually apprehend Kaczynski.
I enjoy learning about more resent historical events, so I couldn’t put this book down. I had heard of the Unabomber, but I didn’t realize that some bombings and Kaczynski’s capture happened during my lifetime. This book was a quick but well-researched read and even had photographs of key players, evidences, and locations, which brought another level of “Wow, this really happened!” to the story. I recommend this book to anyone interested in modern history or learning about the inspiration behind Damien’s iconic hoodie-and-sunglasses get-up in Mean Girls.
- Miss Anna
Ted Kaczynski, better known as the Unabomber, terrorized the nation for nearly 20 years through building and sending or planting package bombs across the U.S. This non-fiction book tells the story of how the FBI worked to solve the case through the perspective of Agent Kathy Puckett, one of the first female agents at the Bureau and a member of the Unabomb Task Force (UTF). Puckett and the other members of the UTF worked tirelessly to profile the Unabomber, cooperate with media organizations reporting on the case, and eventually apprehend Kaczynski.
I enjoy learning about more resent historical events, so I couldn’t put this book down. I had heard of the Unabomber, but I didn’t realize that some bombings and Kaczynski’s capture happened during my lifetime. This book was a quick but well-researched read and even had photographs of key players, evidences, and locations, which brought another level of “Wow, this really happened!” to the story. I recommend this book to anyone interested in modern history or learning about the inspiration behind Damien’s iconic hoodie-and-sunglasses get-up in Mean Girls.
- Miss Anna
August 1, 2019
For seventeen years, the Unabomber terrorized the nation and kept FBI agents baffled as to his identity. Part of a new series on important FBI cases, this book provides background on that particular case while explaining how agents were finally able to crack it, arresting Theodore J. Kaczynski, a terrorist who worked alone, in his remote Montana cabin in 1996. The contributions of agent Kathleen Puckett are highlighted here, and readers can see for themselves some of the writing that led to the Unabomber's capture. The fact that his own brother ended up providing help to the FBI once he suspected what his brother might be up to adds intrigue to the story, which is supported with sketches, photographs, and documents. It's hard not to read this account and wonder how this man got away with his crimes for so long as well as not feeling how much simpler times were when he was operating. I'm sure this compelling account and the others that follow it will be popular with middle grade and high school readers.
July 11, 2019
I can see this book being really popular with kids. With all the crime shows on TV and crime in the media, kids are very aware.
This is the FBI investigation into the Unabomber (aka Ted Kaczynski). It's written from the FBI point of view. The unabomber sent random mail bombs, mostly to university professors over a 17 year period. The FBI could never break the case. He was finally discovered when he sent his Manifesto to the NYTimes and Washington Post demanding they publish it. His brother recognized the writing and alerted the FBI. They closed in on his Montana Shack and arrested him when they found bomb making materials. He was a total recluse. Shocking to learn that he had a genius IQ and was once a Berkley professor.
It looks like this is going to be a series of FBI cases for middle grade. Can't wait to see what's up next.
This is the FBI investigation into the Unabomber (aka Ted Kaczynski). It's written from the FBI point of view. The unabomber sent random mail bombs, mostly to university professors over a 17 year period. The FBI could never break the case. He was finally discovered when he sent his Manifesto to the NYTimes and Washington Post demanding they publish it. His brother recognized the writing and alerted the FBI. They closed in on his Montana Shack and arrested him when they found bomb making materials. He was a total recluse. Shocking to learn that he had a genius IQ and was once a Berkley professor.
It looks like this is going to be a series of FBI cases for middle grade. Can't wait to see what's up next.
December 3, 2022
It's not heavily focused on Puckett but neither is it heavily focused on the Unabomber, but a mix of the two using Puckett as a plot element to the series of the case of the Unabomber and how he operated for so long and how Puckett was part of the case. It works well for the intended audience, giving away the details that are important without being overwhelming (though still a touch gruesome, but not gratuitous in explaining what happened to some of those that were on the receiving end of the homemade bombs). So it left information out, but not to the detriment of understanding the story as a whole.
I'd definitely check out a few more of the books in the series to see if it's a worthy collection to add.
I'd definitely check out a few more of the books in the series to see if it's a worthy collection to add.
November 1, 2021
3.5 stars
An informative look at the crimes of the Unabomber and the FBI agents who investigated him. Even as an adult, I learned a lot from this kid's book! I think it would have been more interesting to include additional info about Ted Kaczynski and fewer details about the FBI agents, but I guess it's an "FBI Files" series so it makes sense the way it was written.
An informative look at the crimes of the Unabomber and the FBI agents who investigated him. Even as an adult, I learned a lot from this kid's book! I think it would have been more interesting to include additional info about Ted Kaczynski and fewer details about the FBI agents, but I guess it's an "FBI Files" series so it makes sense the way it was written.
April 29, 2024
This really informative and well-laid out for younger readers. Honest about how bad and scary this was without being scary or overdone. It is very complimentary about the FBI (I mean, the series is called FBI Files after all.) But this case looks like a case of sheer luck and a good couple of citizens stepping up. Very interesting.
August 9, 2022
I'm not sure that students in the middle grades would be able to digest this book. Even I struggled to keep the people straight and the subject matter is pretty heavy. But it was a well-organized book and tells a fascinating story.
March 1, 2023
Powiedzmy sobie szczerze, nie był to najlepszy reportaż. Strasznie krótki, brak jakiejś biografii Teda czy opisu jego procesu. Zamiast tego biografia jednej z agentek 💀 Nie było tu nic czego sama nie byłabym w stanie znaleźć w internecie...
September 5, 2019
I devoured this book! A fascinating story that is not only really well told but expertly researched. I highly recommend.
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June 19, 2020Non-fiction
A glimpse of how FBI cases are not solved in one episode like one TV. How much research it actually take to investigate FBI cases.
A glimpse of how FBI cases are not solved in one episode like one TV. How much research it actually take to investigate FBI cases.
January 3, 2022
It was a pretty easy read. It was enjoyable to read but also easily able to keep up with!
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February 27, 2024Booktalk on 02/27/24 - TG
November 23, 2024
Very interesting.
February 5, 2025
…It would’ve been nice if my library made it more clear that this was intended for kids…. but easy read, I would’ve enjoyed it more… If I was a kid…
January 4, 2023
This book was very educational. It also gave some insight on what was going on with the agents on the case. It kept me invested and was overall a great read.
August 25, 2024
A short book that does not go very far into the mindset of the criminal or the agents in charge of the investigation.
Makes a good, lighthearted read.
Makes a good, lighthearted read.
March 26, 2021
This book was ok. It didn't give much exciting insight that I didn't already know. There were some fillers I felt weren't needed and didn't contribute in any way. I do think it would be a great book for someone starting out their research on The Unabomber. Or even a middle schooler or high schooler.
November 20, 2019
I learned a lot from this book.
Displaying 1 - 24 of 24 reviews