Missing & murdered: a personal adventure in forensic anthropology

by Alan G. Morris

The popularity of TV programs such as the "CSI" trilogy attests to people s fascination with forensic science as a means of solving crimes, and this book follows the pathway into forensics via the fields of anthropology and anatomy. "Missing & Murdered" explains the practice of forensic anthropology and the skills base of skeletal biology, while at the same time debunking the CSI effect (the phenomenon of popular television raising crime victims real-world expectations of forensic science, especially crime-scene investigation and DNA testing). From muti murders, criminal cases and the Missing Persons Task Team to the study of archaeological skeletons, "Missing & Murdered" will grip and engross readers from one intriguing chapter to the next."

Genres: Nonfiction, True Crime, Science, Africa, Crime, South Africa, Anthropology

249 pages, Paperback

First published November 1, 2011

Reviews

[Andrew · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoy the tv series ‘Bones’ except, well, it can be a little light for my abhorrent tastes in misdeed. And, of course, it isn’t factual, it isn’t true and it isn’t set in South Africa. Fortunately, Alan Morris has filled the gap with his ‘Missing & Murdered’, a highly readable book that examines forensic anthropology and explores some of South Africa’s most horrific crimes along the way.

As a forensic anthropologist, Morris examines human bones to see what they can say about a person’s life, very often with regard to the cause of death. And because human bones are quite resilient and tend to hang around a bit, Morris is able to investigate lives from hundreds, even thousands of years ago. This has enabled him and others in his field to examine the history of mankind in Southern Africa, the cradle of mankind, and the findings regarding life, community and death are invaluable in understanding South Africa’s past, all the way back to man’s earliest ancestors. And skipping forward a few millennia, Morris’ analysis of the legendary and tragic Sara Baartman is in itself enough to justify the purchase and reading of ‘Missing and ‘Murdered’.

But I wanted to know about the crimes, about the vicious things that people do to each other because of rage, jealousy, greed or perhaps just a few cents. And Morris does not disappoint in this regard. He carefully explains what he does as a forensic anthropologist and how this fits into the solving of crimes. He then provides an overview of the skeleton and what it can tell us about the life and death of a person. And while quite technical, it was never boring; Morris is that holy grail of a person - someone who is an expert in their field of expertise and yet can discuss it with people who know nothing about it in a way that the field becomes alive, enjoyable and ultimately understandable.

Having provided a grounding in forensic anthropology, Morris takes the reader into the darkness of human behaviour. Particularly gruesome is the section on ‘Muti Murders’, one of the scourges of southern Africa, where the victims (mainly children) are slaughtered for their body parts. Morris’ role is twofold – identify the victims (which may have been reduced to a few bones) and link the sangoma to the murder through those bones.

He also looks back at the many politically-related murders he has investigated, as well as many of the domestic murders that he has consulted on. So, yes, while ‘Missing and Murdered’ is a wonderful introduction to the science of forensic anthropology, it certainly satisfied my dark enjoyment of true crime books.

[Margaret Crampton · Rating 4 out of 5]

As a South African and a zoologist I found. This book fascinating giving insight into both forensic science in this country and the solving of recent crimes, ancient archeological mysteries and modern muti murders and political killings. This work describes the work of the Missing Persons Task Team based in Cape Town and Pretoria. I found this work gripping and very accessible to the layman, an excellent interesting and informative read.

Margaret Crampton

[AJ Payne · Rating 3 out of 5]

Really fascinating and I learned a ton. I’ve read a bunch of forensic pathology/anthropology books by now and this one explains a ton of different concepts in unique and easy to understand ways which I appreciated. I also loved reading about it all in the context of my beloved South Africa. But man, it was too long, and was convoluted in many places, and could have been organized/edited better. And then it just seemed to end. So while I did really enjoy it, and want to give it 4 stars, it’s more like 3.5.

[LillianFrost · Rating 4 out of 5]

"Leaders may try to take their secrets to the grave, but it is the graves themselves that tell us the stories." A quote from the book.

A beautifully written explanation on how forensic anthropology works and what it entails. Especially pertaining to South Africa and its history. With interesting and entertaining anecdotes sprinkled in-between.

[Mel · Rating 1 out of 5]

I really struggled to read this. I've read many interesting books that straddle academic and mainstream realms to be accurate but accessible, but just could not focus on this. A real pity because I even met the author personally and was looking forward to what stories the book had to tell. This is one for those with a far more academic and dry interest in the topic of forensic anthropology.

[Phillipa · Rating 3 out of 5]

I really quite enjoyed this. Especially after Byleveld and Catch Me a Killer ... I think this is a good read if you are considering studying something like this because it is very clear just how romanticised the TV versions we get exposed to actually are. It is so refreshing to read the true-life versions, and even more so the ones that are happening on our doorstep.

[Katharine Holden · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting. I liked especially the inclusion of cases that didn't identify the victim--much more believable than a string of perfect successes. Also, I learned a lot about South Africa from this book.

[Gary Brooks · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is simply the best book I have read concerning forensic anthropology. the writing is clear, concise and scientific. the author goes to great lengths to recreate that 'you are there' kind of environment.