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A Devil in the Valley
This is a true story.
In 1994, an aspiring young cold case investigator in California’s East Bay, Paul Holes, puts aside trying to solve the Golden State Killer case as he waits for science to catch up.
Paul returns to an old file cabinet at the back of the forensic lab to look for another cold case he can work—something with DNA. He finds one. The 1978 murder of a married mother who went for a morning jog in a nearby park. The original investigators believed that a serial killer named Phillip Hughes was responsible; they just couldn’t prove it. But Hughes was headed to prison for three other local homicides, all because of an unexpected break in those cases. Without it, Hughes might have gotten away with everything. In the years since though, as Hughes sat in prison, so did his secrets. And now he’s coming up for parole.
In a race against time, Paul commits to solving the 1978 cold case before Hughes is let out. The victim’s family needs an answer. And, if Paul can prove that Hughes is the killer, he’ll use it as leverage to force Hughes to confess to everything else he may have done.
Little does Paul know, however, that the 1978 cold case he opens will take an unexpected turn, lead to other cases and killers he never knew about and haunt him for his entire career. It turns out that the small towns of Contra Costa County were home to a more sinister history than anyone had imagined. But the clues didn’t disappear. They just needed the right person, at the right time, to see them.
In 1994, an aspiring young cold case investigator in California’s East Bay, Paul Holes, puts aside trying to solve the Golden State Killer case as he waits for science to catch up.
Paul returns to an old file cabinet at the back of the forensic lab to look for another cold case he can work—something with DNA. He finds one. The 1978 murder of a married mother who went for a morning jog in a nearby park. The original investigators believed that a serial killer named Phillip Hughes was responsible; they just couldn’t prove it. But Hughes was headed to prison for three other local homicides, all because of an unexpected break in those cases. Without it, Hughes might have gotten away with everything. In the years since though, as Hughes sat in prison, so did his secrets. And now he’s coming up for parole.
In a race against time, Paul commits to solving the 1978 cold case before Hughes is let out. The victim’s family needs an answer. And, if Paul can prove that Hughes is the killer, he’ll use it as leverage to force Hughes to confess to everything else he may have done.
Little does Paul know, however, that the 1978 cold case he opens will take an unexpected turn, lead to other cases and killers he never knew about and haunt him for his entire career. It turns out that the small towns of Contra Costa County were home to a more sinister history than anyone had imagined. But the clues didn’t disappear. They just needed the right person, at the right time, to see them.
Audiobook
Published January 1, 2021
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About the author
Paul Holes
4 books813 followersPaul Holes retired as a Cold Case Investigator after spending over 27 years working for the Sheriff and District Attorney’s Offices during his tenure in Contra Costa County located in the Bay Area, California. Having experience in both forensic and investigative assignments, Paul throughout his career specialized in cold case and serial predator crimes, developing and applying investigative, behavioral, and forensic expertise in notable cases such as Zodiac, Golden State Killer, and Jaycee Dugard. Paul is frequently sought out by investigators to consult on the most complex and high profile cases and has played a part in putting several serial predators on Death Row such as Darryl Kemp, Joseph Naso, and Joseph Cordova Jr.
As an FBI Task Force Officer while employed with the DA’s Office, Paul teamed with FBI and Sacramento DA personnel to apply innovative technology that identified Joseph DeAngelo as the Golden State Killer, the most prolific and cunning serial predator in U.S. history.
Since the arrest of DeAngelo, Paul has been very involved on the media side continuing to assist law enforcement and victim’s families with their unsolved cases, through the television show The DNA of Murder with Paul Holes and with the podcast Jensen & Holes: The Murder Squad.
As an FBI Task Force Officer while employed with the DA’s Office, Paul teamed with FBI and Sacramento DA personnel to apply innovative technology that identified Joseph DeAngelo as the Golden State Killer, the most prolific and cunning serial predator in U.S. history.
Since the arrest of DeAngelo, Paul has been very involved on the media side continuing to assist law enforcement and victim’s families with their unsolved cases, through the television show The DNA of Murder with Paul Holes and with the podcast Jensen & Holes: The Murder Squad.
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Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews
April 18, 2022
I am honored to not only be the first reviewer here but to have added this (audio)book to GR. It is another masterpiece by criminalist Paul Holes that was made like an audio documentary intermixing various family interviews with accounts of people who worked the cases of various young women who were brutally murdered in contra costa county in the 1970s. Riveting and sad and beautiful, a great listen!
April 24, 2022
This was done as an 11 episode podcast on Audible.com.
Paul strikes again with revealing a serial killer through DNA. Well worth the listen and definitely justified my audible membership. I listened to this podcast every chance I could.
Paul strikes again with revealing a serial killer through DNA. Well worth the listen and definitely justified my audible membership. I listened to this podcast every chance I could.
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July 2, 2025I haven’t read Paul Holes’ (incredible name, it’s giving Defective Harry Hole a la Snowman) autobiography yet, but I’ve heard and read lots of things about his work. Mostly it was concentrated on his work on the Golden State Killer so I didn’t have a real sense for him as a detective or his personality. This was a wonderful peek into his process/mindset and it made me really admire his dedication to the cases and the families who were impacted. He did not give up on these victims and worked on the same cases for years, coming up with new ideas and trying everything he could.
I know it wasn’t the focus of the piece, but I also thought the bit about the concentration of serial killers in the area was very interesting.
Overall, it was a short, engaging piece that really focused on the people impacted by crime and made me admire Holes more.
(Some of the police from various Dateline episodes should listen and maybe they’d learn some helpful tips about actually finding evidence to support a theory and not giving up!)
I know it wasn’t the focus of the piece, but I also thought the bit about the concentration of serial killers in the area was very interesting.
Overall, it was a short, engaging piece that really focused on the people impacted by crime and made me admire Holes more.
(Some of the police from various Dateline episodes should listen and maybe they’d learn some helpful tips about actually finding evidence to support a theory and not giving up!)
July 25, 2024
( Format : Audiobook )
"All I wanted was to hear him say, 'I'm sorry'."
interesting g Tory of an area and time oversubscribed by serial killers and the pursuit of them by Paul Holes. Actually a podcast divided into sections, some of which overlapped with their content but otherwise well presented. Includes the voices not only of the investigators but also of friends and relatives of victimys.
"All I wanted was to hear him say, 'I'm sorry'."
interesting g Tory of an area and time oversubscribed by serial killers and the pursuit of them by Paul Holes. Actually a podcast divided into sections, some of which overlapped with their content but otherwise well presented. Includes the voices not only of the investigators but also of friends and relatives of victimys.
July 4, 2025
I do find Holes a bit arrogant at times, but I have to admit that he's been part of a fascinating although horrifying career. I can't help but be impressed by his dedication and perseverance. Another interesting installment.
July 17, 2025
Golden State Killer and Cold Cases
Good for fans of true crime podcasts, this one looks at several cold cases that were from the same period as the Golden State Killer. If you're expecting Robert Ludlum, you'll be disappointed. But if you're a true crime junkie, it's all good here.
Good for fans of true crime podcasts, this one looks at several cold cases that were from the same period as the Golden State Killer. If you're expecting Robert Ludlum, you'll be disappointed. But if you're a true crime junkie, it's all good here.
October 30, 2025
Audible - So many of the victims families participated in the making of this Audible book. What these cold case officers do is so underappreciated. I highly recommend this Audible to anyone interested in true crime and serial killers in particular.
February 14, 2023
The real stories in this baffle me. There are some crazy people out in this world.
May 8, 2023
Actually a podcast. True crime from the master cold case and serial killer detective himself, Paul Holes.
January 30, 2025
If you love podcasts and cold crime, this is a must listen.
April 25, 2025
East Bay setting and logical clear writing made this a hit for me.
July 15, 2025
True crime that is sensitive to the families of the victims.
December 6, 2025
Good serial killer book
May 25, 2022
this Audible Original Podcast was so good; Narrated by: Jim Clemente & Paul Holes it was thoroughly researched and as Paul Holes goes about trying to tie serial Killer, Phillip Hughes, to one murder, then two, and each time solving cold cases. I loved this podcast and will definitely listen to others Paul Holes is involved with.
Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews