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Unsolved No More: A Cold Case Detective's Fight For Justice
The life and crime solving of the renowned detective who’s “a voice for all who have been silenced” (Lt. Joe Kenda [ret], the “Homicide Hunter”). As a law enforcement officer for more than fifteen years, Detective Kenneth L. Mains has investigated thousands of crimes, including working undercover with the FBI, solving cold case homicides, investigating the Mafia, and leading one of the greatest cold case organizations ever assembled. This is his story and that of the victims for whom he speaks.“A tremendous amount of respect for his investigative insights and his integrity.” —Jim Clemente, former FBI profiler and writer for Criminal MindsUnsolved No More will take readers on a journey with a struggling kid who barely graduated high school to a teenager who joined the Marine Corps and finally a man who put himself through college to accomplish his lifelong goal of becoming a police detective. Mains, who is routinely sought out by law enforcement and victims’ families to help solve cold cases, writes about his own investigations to show readers how he goes about solving crimes others had given up on.“Kenneth Mains is a law enforcement equivalent of a surgeon of cold cases . . . he diagnoses the issues and, working with precision, dissects the cases with consummate skill and care . . . I highly recommend this wonderful book if you want to understand the cold case investigatory process or if you want to dive into some cases that are filled with twists, turns, and more than a few surprises.” —Blaine Pardoe, New York Times–bestselling author
346 pages, Kindle Edition
Published May 24, 2017
129 people are currently reading
352 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 25 of 25 reviews
May 24, 2017
One chapter in this book is about my mom, and it's not the whole truth. Mr Mains denied me any information regarding my mom's death, and refused to provide any documentation. when I informed him I would file a F..O.I.A request, Mr Mains became defensive of his findings. That's why I stopped talking to him. Then I found out through Facebook that my mom's information, of which was denied upon my request, was all out in the open for everyone to read. when confronted on Facebook, he blocked me and removed the ability to review his book. I guess my mom's story was interesting enough for a book, but not for actual justice.
May 22, 2017
This is a different sort of true crime book by a man who found his niche in life. He always knew he wanted to be a police detective. He got discipline from the Marine Corp, and he put himself through college. Then he got into law enforcement, working in several different areas of it, but eventually found his calling as a detective who specializes in cold cases, after realizing he has a special talent in that area and devoting himself to it as the best use of his talents. His name is Kenneth Mains and this book is his story of how he got there and what he does. I do recommend it, as he and his book are one of a kind. My thanks to NetGalley, WildBlue Press and the author for giving me an ARC in return for my honest review.
May 25, 2017
I couldn't wait to read this book because I've read about the author and his group. The Unsolved No Morebook is a true behind-the-scenes look at how cold-case crimes are solved, told through the eyes of one of the best cold-case detectives in the nation. I appreciated the time that the author, Kenneth L. Mains, took in letting us as readers into his life and how he became a cop, then a detective, then a cold-case detective who created the American Investigative Society of Cold Cases, which you've probably heard about from the news.
Then, when he gets into case studies of actual cases, you feel like you're right there, looking over his shoulder as he pores over files and sitting next to him as he talks to the victims' loved ones as well as the suspects. He doesn't shy from telling us where he's made mistakes or questioned his own theories. It's especially touching when he expresses how bad he feels for the victims and their survivors as well as his desire to be right about making sure the suspect is guilty or if he's able to clear someone from suspicion. He has some ideas on the criminal justice system that really surprised me, too.
I'd give this book a full five stars, but I want to read more about Det. Mains and his approach to cold cases and criminal justice in general. Highly recommended for true-crime fans!
Then, when he gets into case studies of actual cases, you feel like you're right there, looking over his shoulder as he pores over files and sitting next to him as he talks to the victims' loved ones as well as the suspects. He doesn't shy from telling us where he's made mistakes or questioned his own theories. It's especially touching when he expresses how bad he feels for the victims and their survivors as well as his desire to be right about making sure the suspect is guilty or if he's able to clear someone from suspicion. He has some ideas on the criminal justice system that really surprised me, too.
I'd give this book a full five stars, but I want to read more about Det. Mains and his approach to cold cases and criminal justice in general. Highly recommended for true-crime fans!
December 13, 2019
The chapter about the Jennifer Hill murder is pure fiction. And I could prove it. When I contacted Kenneth Mains to request information backing up his claims on DNA evidence etc. , I got no response. Another investigative journalist contacted him as well. Mains ignored him, too. Mains just throws trash out there hoping no one will do any fact checking. If he fabricated the Jennifer Hill murder to the extent he took it, I can't believe anything he writes, or god-forbid, investigates.
May 24, 2017
I'm a true crime fan, and I really wanted to like this book. I wanted to like it so much I continued reading it beyond the "woe are cops" sighing and whining that opened the book. However, the descriptions of the cases were dull, he didn't solve all of them, and he was very much the focus of every story.
Thank you Netgalley for this free ARC.
Thank you Netgalley for this free ARC.
May 16, 2023
Poorly written, poorly edited. Don't bother.
September 2, 2017
When I started reading Kenneth Main’s book Unsolved No More, I thought I was going to get stories of cold cases that he has resolved. The book starts as his autobiography, and I wondered if I made a good choice. I write about cold cases, so that was what I wanted. Then I hit his chapter on why cases go cold. That chapter alone should make this book required reading for law enforcement professionals. He confirmed what Victoria and I have encountered in our own cold case research for books. One word – “wow!” I actually re-read portions of that chapter twice because it resonated with me so well. I have seen the tunnel-vision of some investigators at the expense of the survivors and the victims getting resolution.
Mains knows his stuff, that much is true. His autobiography portion of the book is there for two reasons. One is to establish his credibility. Done! Two, explaining why he became drawn to the twilight world of cold cases. Done again. In fact, looking back at that portion of the book, it was masterfully done to achieve these goals. “I see what you’ve done there Detective Mains – well played…”
The absolute best portion of this book is the actual cold cases themselves that he worked on. Kenneth Mains is a law enforcement equivalent of a surgeon of cold cases…he diagnoses the issues and, working with precision, dissects the cases with consummate skill and care. There is no flowery language here, these are written with the icy calculated care of a professional.
The case stories Mains has written about are beyond gripping, they draw you in and hold you tight as he puts you in his shoes in looking at them. These are not the kind of cases you see on Discovery ID, they are more of the gritty real-world cases. Not all of them have the kind of red ribbon tied to them at the end that you might expect with a perfect resolution. I was caught off guard by some of the resolutions, and as a reader, that’s a good thing.
The true crime genre is in its infancy when it comes to the subgenre of cold cases. I highly recommend this wonderful book if you want to understand the cold case investigatory process or if you want to dive into some cases that are filled with twists, turns, and more than a few surprises. Pick up Unsolved No More, you won’t be disappointed.
Mains knows his stuff, that much is true. His autobiography portion of the book is there for two reasons. One is to establish his credibility. Done! Two, explaining why he became drawn to the twilight world of cold cases. Done again. In fact, looking back at that portion of the book, it was masterfully done to achieve these goals. “I see what you’ve done there Detective Mains – well played…”
The absolute best portion of this book is the actual cold cases themselves that he worked on. Kenneth Mains is a law enforcement equivalent of a surgeon of cold cases…he diagnoses the issues and, working with precision, dissects the cases with consummate skill and care. There is no flowery language here, these are written with the icy calculated care of a professional.
The case stories Mains has written about are beyond gripping, they draw you in and hold you tight as he puts you in his shoes in looking at them. These are not the kind of cases you see on Discovery ID, they are more of the gritty real-world cases. Not all of them have the kind of red ribbon tied to them at the end that you might expect with a perfect resolution. I was caught off guard by some of the resolutions, and as a reader, that’s a good thing.
The true crime genre is in its infancy when it comes to the subgenre of cold cases. I highly recommend this wonderful book if you want to understand the cold case investigatory process or if you want to dive into some cases that are filled with twists, turns, and more than a few surprises. Pick up Unsolved No More, you won’t be disappointed.
June 14, 2017
I didn't think this was a bad book after I got through the first few chapters. The beginning is more about the setup for how the author became an officer and why he chose to begin his career in cold cases. I have to be honest, I thought he came off a bit more self assured than I care for my authors to be and I felt a bit alienated by the 'everyone hates cops until they need one,' mentality that opened the book.
Being someone who doesn't dislike the police forces any more or less than I dislike carpenters, car salesmen, grocery store baggers, pilots, or people working in any other industry, I found the idea that he felt the need to mention the scorn of the police departments a bit sad.
In any case, there are a lot of cases examined in this book, some that were solved, some that weren't solved and each one is an interesting look into the process of a cold case investigator. If you are fond of the television shows that depict cold cases, then you will probably like the heart of this book. There is graphic content in this book, so be aware of that if it bothers you.
For the most part I thought this was a pretty good book and that the author was honest when giving his account of what he believed happened and I appreciate that he took the time to share this portion of his life and his experiences with us as a general audience. You will likely learn a thing or two about police work whilst reading this. I did.
Recommended for those interested in unsolved cases and the detectives that solve them.
This review is based on a complimentary copy from the publisher, provided through Netgalley. All opinions are my own.
Being someone who doesn't dislike the police forces any more or less than I dislike carpenters, car salesmen, grocery store baggers, pilots, or people working in any other industry, I found the idea that he felt the need to mention the scorn of the police departments a bit sad.
In any case, there are a lot of cases examined in this book, some that were solved, some that weren't solved and each one is an interesting look into the process of a cold case investigator. If you are fond of the television shows that depict cold cases, then you will probably like the heart of this book. There is graphic content in this book, so be aware of that if it bothers you.
For the most part I thought this was a pretty good book and that the author was honest when giving his account of what he believed happened and I appreciate that he took the time to share this portion of his life and his experiences with us as a general audience. You will likely learn a thing or two about police work whilst reading this. I did.
Recommended for those interested in unsolved cases and the detectives that solve them.
This review is based on a complimentary copy from the publisher, provided through Netgalley. All opinions are my own.
May 24, 2017
The famous 18th century Irish statesman and author Edmund Burke said once that, "The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing." With Unsolved No More, we have a perfect example of a good man who can't let evil prevail. After struggling through rugged teenage years, the author got his life on track and became a detective. Now he tackles and solves some of the toughest and most perplexing cases that others have let go cold. This book offers excellent insight into how it's done by a man who heats up cold cases and offers hope to those who live with the pain of not knowing.
November 19, 2020
Repetitive
This book looked at some interesting cases, but none of the cases the author actually solved. The author is boastful and talks about how clever he is. I had to skip through a lot of it, because he repeated his ‘findings’ over and over again.
He goes into great detail about what he ‘thinks’ might have happened in each case, which is just complete fantasy.
The first case he ‘solved’, he never found a body, and no one was ever convicted of any crime.
The second case he ‘solved’ had already been solved, and the murderer had been convicted and jailed 30 years ago.
This book looked at some interesting cases, but none of the cases the author actually solved. The author is boastful and talks about how clever he is. I had to skip through a lot of it, because he repeated his ‘findings’ over and over again.
He goes into great detail about what he ‘thinks’ might have happened in each case, which is just complete fantasy.
The first case he ‘solved’, he never found a body, and no one was ever convicted of any crime.
The second case he ‘solved’ had already been solved, and the murderer had been convicted and jailed 30 years ago.
August 8, 2017
This may have been a good book if he really talked about unsolved homicides and not so much as himself. The three most used words in this book is I, me.and myself. A lot of mistakes were made in the verbage that shouldn't have been put in this books.
June 13, 2017
It was fascinating to see the detective use the art of deduction, the art of compassion, and the art of perseverance to solve the cold cases.
January 3, 2018
Slow
This book never really caught my interest. It should have but was more like reading a textbook. Seemed to repeat himself a lot on the same page also
This book never really caught my interest. It should have but was more like reading a textbook. Seemed to repeat himself a lot on the same page also
June 3, 2017
Lycoming County.
I enjoyed this book very much and I am a fan of cold cases and their investigators. As an aside, I was born in Bradford County, which is a hop, skip and jump from Williamsport. It was really great to read about someone from my old area. Detective Mains is a great writer and I applaud all he is doing to help families up there. Keep up the good work.
I enjoyed this book very much and I am a fan of cold cases and their investigators. As an aside, I was born in Bradford County, which is a hop, skip and jump from Williamsport. It was really great to read about someone from my old area. Detective Mains is a great writer and I applaud all he is doing to help families up there. Keep up the good work.
December 24, 2018
Enjoyed it
March 15, 2023
My hometown so I'm biased, loved this tho
July 12, 2023
I found this book read by the author on YouTube. Total treat. Mains is a pitt bull.
April 5, 2024
If you are looking for a book that reveals some of the biggest problems inside law enforcement, this is a good choice. This book is a heartfelt story about the author's pursuit of a career where he could help solve cold cases. The author's story highlights some of his own challenges and reveals some of the internal conflicts in law enforcement.
The narrative in this book has a raw, unpolished feel. The author tries to show a clear analysis of cases, but someone with experience in technical writing will find the flow of logic to be jumbled and repetitive. The book would be improved by some proofreading and content editing.
As a woman with a background in a male-dominated technical field, I found one aspect of this book very frustrating. The author frequently name-drops and offers praise for male colleagues and authority figures. To the best of my knowledge, he only does this for one female colleague. He mentions three women who were positive influences on his life and career, but he doesn't offer names. The author does name victims in the cases he is trying to solve. They are all women. There are women in law enforcement. There are men who are victims of crime. The author just doesn't seem to notice his own internal prejudice. In this book, women are not equals. They are potential victims who need to be protected.
Another telling moment in this narrative is the review of the DB Cooper case. The author makes the assumption that the perpetrator is inexperienced because he chooses a civilian parachute over a military parachute. Sigh. No. Different tools for different jobs. Military-grade is not always the better choice.
The conclusions that I drew from this book are: I suspect that a career in engineering rather than a career in law enforcement was the better choice for me as a woman since I have little respect for men who see me as a potential victim. The author would benefit from teaming up with a partner from a very different social background who could offer alternative perspectives on cases. And, law enforcement would benefit from being able to focus more on crime solving and less on politics.
The narrative in this book has a raw, unpolished feel. The author tries to show a clear analysis of cases, but someone with experience in technical writing will find the flow of logic to be jumbled and repetitive. The book would be improved by some proofreading and content editing.
As a woman with a background in a male-dominated technical field, I found one aspect of this book very frustrating. The author frequently name-drops and offers praise for male colleagues and authority figures. To the best of my knowledge, he only does this for one female colleague. He mentions three women who were positive influences on his life and career, but he doesn't offer names. The author does name victims in the cases he is trying to solve. They are all women. There are women in law enforcement. There are men who are victims of crime. The author just doesn't seem to notice his own internal prejudice. In this book, women are not equals. They are potential victims who need to be protected.
Another telling moment in this narrative is the review of the DB Cooper case. The author makes the assumption that the perpetrator is inexperienced because he chooses a civilian parachute over a military parachute. Sigh. No. Different tools for different jobs. Military-grade is not always the better choice.
The conclusions that I drew from this book are: I suspect that a career in engineering rather than a career in law enforcement was the better choice for me as a woman since I have little respect for men who see me as a potential victim. The author would benefit from teaming up with a partner from a very different social background who could offer alternative perspectives on cases. And, law enforcement would benefit from being able to focus more on crime solving and less on politics.
June 13, 2017
Unsolved No More
A Cold Case Detective's Fight For Justice
by Kenneth L. Mains
WildBlue Press
Biographies & Memoirs , True Crime
Pub Date 24 May 2017
I am reviewing Unsoved No More through WildBlue Press and Netgalley:
Detective Kenneth L Mains has investigated thousands of crimes, and has worked for the FBI. He points out that his gift is determination and passion. He has been called the greatest cold case detective by some. He also was a United States Marine as well as the first in his family to graduate from college.
He goes on to talk about how innocent people get arrested and how that infuriates him.
He tells us that he believes that solving cold cases is the art of deduction. He points out too that no matter how hard you try, you can never win the war of words on Social Media. Kenneth L Mains is good friends with Homicide detective Lt Joe Kenda. He talks about barely making it out of highschool and being honorable discharged from the Marine Corps.
In January of 2003 he left for Harrisburg to begin his police training. In 2006 he was handpicked by the chief of Police to work as an undercover officer on the Drug Task Force. He would work as an undercover officer from 2006 to 2008.
Later he would get a leadership position and LT Joe Kenda would give him the advise of not being there friend but be there boss. He then goes on to talk about his work in Cold Cases.
I give Unsolved No More five out of five stars!
Happy Reading!
June 13, 2017
Warning: This book contains extremely graphic adult content, violence, or expletive language &/or uncensored sexually explicit material which is only suitable for mature readers. It may be offensive to some readers.
I did not receive any type of compensation for reading & reviewing this book. While I receive free books from publishers & authors, I am under no obligation to write a positive review, only an honest one. All thoughts & opinions are entirely my own.
A very awesome book cover, great font & writing style. A very well written unsolved murder mystery or memoir book. It was very easy for me to read/follow from start/finish & never a dull moment. There were no grammar/typo errors, nor any repetitive or out of line sequence sentences. Lots of exciting scenarios, with several twists/turns & a great set of unique characters to keep track of. This could also make another great unsolved murder mystery movie, a college PP presentation a or better yet a mini TV series or even a documentary (True Crime; American Crime Story; Investigative Discovery). You should have been a little more humble! It was just OK for me so I will rate it at 3/5 stars.
Thank you for the free Wildblue Press; Storycartel; Author; PDF book
Tony Parsons MSW (Washburn)
I did not receive any type of compensation for reading & reviewing this book. While I receive free books from publishers & authors, I am under no obligation to write a positive review, only an honest one. All thoughts & opinions are entirely my own.
A very awesome book cover, great font & writing style. A very well written unsolved murder mystery or memoir book. It was very easy for me to read/follow from start/finish & never a dull moment. There were no grammar/typo errors, nor any repetitive or out of line sequence sentences. Lots of exciting scenarios, with several twists/turns & a great set of unique characters to keep track of. This could also make another great unsolved murder mystery movie, a college PP presentation a or better yet a mini TV series or even a documentary (True Crime; American Crime Story; Investigative Discovery). You should have been a little more humble! It was just OK for me so I will rate it at 3/5 stars.
Thank you for the free Wildblue Press; Storycartel; Author; PDF book
Tony Parsons MSW (Washburn)
October 24, 2023
While this book would benefit from detailed editing, it was still contained very interesting subject matter, told in such a manner that sheds a light that shines on relevant specifics. I had always wanted more information on the case of Jennifer Hill, and Detective Mains offered that in sensitive, yet compelling detail, as well as the other cases found here.
June 1, 2017
This book's focus is on the author and his journey, with some samples of the cases he has worked on. Not exactly what I expected but parts of the book were interesting.
I voluntarily reviewed an Advance Reader Copy of this book.
I voluntarily reviewed an Advance Reader Copy of this book.
July 15, 2017
I received a free copy via Netgalley in exchange for a honest review.
This starts off really well explaining the authors life prior to the police force and why he was interested in cold cases.
Unfortunately the cases he reviews in the book are very repetitive and boring.
This starts off really well explaining the authors life prior to the police force and why he was interested in cold cases.
Unfortunately the cases he reviews in the book are very repetitive and boring.
April 24, 2023
Interesting
Very interesting insight what it takes just to start being an detective ,..also all the schooling one must be involved in thanks KEN
Very interesting insight what it takes just to start being an detective ,..also all the schooling one must be involved in thanks KEN
Displaying 1 - 25 of 25 reviews