Forensic Identification: Putting a Name and Face on Death

by Elizabeth A. Murray

Examines how forensic scientists identify victims and criminals by studying autopsies, facial reconstructions, fingerprints, and DNA evidence.

Genres: Nonfiction, Science

72 pages, Library Binding

First published January 1, 2012

About the author

Dr. Elizabeth A. Murray is a forensic anthropologist and also Professor of Biology at Mount St. Joseph University, where she teaches doctoral-level human gross anatomy and undergraduate-level anatomy and physiology, as well as forensic science.

"With nearly 30 years in the field, I guess I was 'forensic' before it was cool! I find forensic science to be a fascinating subject that incorporates law, ethics, psychology, history, and technology, as it aids our global community."

Qualifications & career

Reviews

[Lily · Rating 3 out of 5]

Review originally featured on Bookluvrs Haven.

Alright, so to be fair, when I requested this book I didn't realize it was a science title meant for higher grades. I thought it was for adults. After all, it speaks of forensic science and suspicious death. But it is in fact an introductory sort of book about forensics. Like a Forensics 101 book.

Though the subject matter was interesting, I was pretty bored some of the time. Since I have a College degree in Police Studies, I was familiar with a lot that was meticulously described in these pages. I did skim a lot of the dry information (dry for me anyways) and focused more on the case studies in this book.

Not to mention some pretty graphic pics that were interesting to me, and hopefully not too graphic for kids, though I am not sure if "higher grades" means highschool age? In any case, the case studies earned the 3 star, because they kept me interested in reading this to the end.

Very cool book though if you want to know a lot more about forensic sciences, and it is written quite well, with plenty of visual illustrations to keep you focused.

*I received a eBook copy of this book for free to review from the author/publisher; this in no way influenced my review, all opinions are 100% honest and my own.*

[Alicia · Rating 3 out of 5]

This neat book is almost as good as Death that I read a few months back. What it definitely does a good job of is detailing scientific issues relating to identifying dead and decayed bodies, complete with some gruesome photos and cool case scenarios. If kids weren't interested in forensic science they sure might be after this book!

[Hope · Rating 2 out of 5]

I gave this book 2 stars because while the information is factually accurate and sources are cited, it's presented in a very dry manner. It's educational, but quite boring. It felt like I was reading a small excerpt (it's only 67 pages) out of a particularly dull textbook.

I did enjoy the case files in each chapter, with a little blurb at the beginning and an explanation of how they identified the body at the end. I thought that was a neat, engaging way to give context for and examples of the information provided.

However, I also found that the book was not well edited. There was 1 blatant error – a sentence about the work of a forensic odontologist was repeated on a single page, once where it clearly was supposed to be, and again where it clearly wasn't. There were also numerous examples of strange phrasing and repetitious wording.

Overall, not a great resource if you're interested in forensic anthropology. I'd recommend looking for a different book.

[Jessica Meier]

Murray, E. A. (2013). Forensic identification: putting a name and face on death. Twenty-First Century Books.
Review Source: School Library Journal; Nov2012, Vol. 58 Issue 11, p124-124, 1/5p
SOL Correlation:
• BIO.5 - The student will investigate and understand common mechanisms of inheritance and protein synthesis. Key concepts include i) use, limitations, and misuse of genetic information; and j) exploration of the impact of DNA technologies.
• LS.2 The student will investigate and understand that all living things are composed of cells. Key concepts include
a) cell structure and organelles;
b) similarities and differences between plant and animal cells;
c) development of cell theory; and
d) cell division.
• LS.3 The student will investigate and understand that living things show patterns of cellular organization. Key concepts include
a) cells, tissues, organs, and systems; and
b) patterns of cellular organization and their relationship to life processes in living things.
Review: A nonfiction book on the forensic identification of bodies - complete with pictures, this book is an in depth look at how science can be used. The information is factually accurate and unbiased in its presentation. Murray is a forensic anthropologist with a research interest in cold case resolution and writing for secondary students. This book is on the Senior High Core Collection List and is recommended by the National Science Teachers Association(NSTA) The book can be used in the biology and life science classes. The skull on the front cover would spark an interest. The book is written at a more advanced reading level, geared for high school readers. High school students would be intellectually and emotionally able to read the book, but would need to have an interest in the topic. The scope is narrow - the science of dead bodies. It is also very technical and graphic. The photographs are amazing in this book. The book is technical enough to be scientific, but accessible enough to be interesting. Student would use this book. It is an interesting topic that is frequently in the news and pairs very well with books like I Hunt Killers.
Audience: High school students who liked I Hunt Killers or who are interested in crime novels would probably like this book.

[Anne · Rating 4 out of 5]

With so many television shows covering the topic of forensic identification, it is nice to finally have a book that delves into the science behind the matter. You will learn about DNA testing, facial reconstruction, fingerprinting, and more from Dr. Elizabeth A. Murray, an educator and forensic scientist with over twenty –five years of experience in the field. The best part of this book, although a bit gruesome, is that it provides cases files which help readers directly apply the scientific methods that they have learned about. Provided at the end is a list of quality resources for further exploration. Recommended for tweens and teens that want both an engaging and fascinating read.

[Sue · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sweet and to-the-point. Loved it.

I loved the REAL--and original--pictures. Didn't sugar-coat it, easy-to-read only because the book was thin.

I enjoyed the "case files," but OOPS, big mistake on page 48. It won't detract from my rating but . . . a certain sentence is included twice, word for word. I had never encountered this before. To wit: "She noted healing sockets in the upper and lower jaw that suggested all four wisdom teeth had been extracted shortly before this man's death."

[Jenny · Rating 1 out of 5]

I have read several books on forensics, and stock several forensics books in my classroom library. None of the books in my classroom library have graphic pictures of the dead in them, and the adult books I have are only sparsely illustrated. I doubt a middle school library COULD stock this book, which is listed as a juvenile, and I question whether a high school library would stock it, although it might be more appropriate there.

[Catherine · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was another interesting book on forensics.

[Kimberlee · Rating 4 out of 5]

Engaging non-fiction for students.

[Mandy Chilcote · Rating 4 out of 5]

CSI in book form for teens--engaging informational text. Highly recommend for students