Bones Never Lie: How Forensics Helps Solve History's Mysteries

by Elizabeth MacLeod

"How did King Tut really die?"

The mystery of the young pharaoh's death is only one of the puzzles that modern science has helped solve. Thanks to forensics -- the scientific way of examining physical evidence -- we now know what killed Napoleon and whether Anastasia survived the massacre of the Russian royal family.

Seven intriguing stories about historical royal figures whose demise was suspicious, and hard scientific facts about crime-solving techniques make each event seem like an episode of CSI rather than a history lesson.

Kids will be fascinated to find out how scientists used autopsy results (and the waist measurement of his pants!) to prove that Napoleon died not of arsenic poisoning as suspected, but of stomach cancer; and how DNA testing revealed that King Tut died of malaria.

Other stories include: Who was the Man in the Iron Mask? What was the fate of Marie-Antoinette's son? Who killed an entire Maya royal family? Who knows what really happened to Thailand's young King Rama?

At times a gripping "whodunit," at others a guide to deductive reasoning, this book will be hard to put down for any kids who love mysteries, murder, and suspense.

Genres: Nonfiction, Science, History, Childrens, Juvenile, True Crime, Canada

160 pages, Hardcover

First published January 8, 2013

About the author

Elizabeth MacLeod was born on October 21 in Toronto. As a child Liz liked to read Nancy Drew and Anne of Green Gables books, swim, sing, dance, and hang out with her friends. Encouraged by her parents, she began writing stories and poetry for her own enjoyment at the age of 10, her favorite subjects being mad scientists and tyrants who threatened to take over the world.

Today Liz is inspired by almost anything--her friends, reading, and the funny, beautiful world around her. Her first job in publishing was at OWL magazine, and Liz credits editor Sylvia Funston as one of her mentors. Liz also names Valerie Wyatt, a writer and editor, as an important influence on her work, as well as a good friend.

An avid reader, Liz enjoyed digging up amazing facts and researching historic royals and their countries and customs for Royal Murder (2008). She encourages anyone with a desire to write to "just do it." Even if no one ever reads it, the joy that comes from expressing yourself through words is reward enough. Liz adds that writing takes practice, and with each day you are bound to improve.

Liz lives in Toronto with her husband, Paul, and their two cats, Smedley and Cosmo.

She enjoys keeping active, spending time with friends, music, theater, and cheering on the Toronto Maple Leafs. Liz plans to continue writing about a broad spectrum of topics in both fiction and non-fiction, and would like to work on more picture books in the future.

Reviews

[Jim Erekson · Rating 3 out of 5]

Focusing solely on heads of state (mostly royalty), Macleod's book should have been titled to match the fact. The existing title would be more apropos of a series.

Text vignettes discussing forensic techniques sometimes did not match the case being discussed in the chapter and made it feel disjointed. And repetitive spot illustrations of a chemist's beaker, an x-ray sheet, a magnifying glass, and a microscope were distracting because they also did not match what was going on on the page. As icons, they should have been used when they were being discussed in the forensics being used to solve the case. A few things like this made me think the book was put together hastily--Kathy Lowinger is credited as editor, and Sheryl Shapiro as designer. No one was given credit as a separate editor for visuals. But the text was well written, and enjoyed being led by Macleod through each of the ideas for each case.

The most interesting was the case of Thai king Rama VIII, which is still unsolved. I always wondered why no one was allowed to talk in public about the royal family, and it sounds like one key reason for strict enforcement of this constitutional rule may be to avoid public speculation about the death and the likely conspiracy behind it. Three men executed in 1955 were bizarrely convicted after two had been acquitted. They were freed after the first trial, but then found guilty after the third appealed his guilty verdict (which re-opened the case for all three, I guess). The reason it was an interesting study in forensics is because the scene was so badly compromised before police could investigate that tons of evidence was either unreliable or completely missing. This allowed Macleod to discuss what the police needed and why it was unavailable.

[Kathleen · Rating 3 out of 5]

Bones Never Lie is a children's nonfiction book about forensic science and historical mysteries. YAY!

Granted, a couple of these are pretty common mysteries that have been (repeatedly) solved. Whether or not Anastasia Romanova survived the massacre of her family (she didn't), whether Marie Antoinette's son Louis-Charles died in the hands of the revolutionary guards (he did, and the heart buried in the Saint Denis Basilica is almost certainly his). Whether Napoleon was poisoned and King Tut murdered are also pretty common, if not necessarily solved. However, MacLeod also included the mysterious death of Thailand's King Rama, which I had never heard of, and the massacre of a Mayan royal family, likewise, plus the Man in the Iron Mask, which solution is always gonna be "fuck if we know." So the stories are really cool.

The forensic descriptions are... not so much? The inserts don't always match up with the chapter in that the techniques being discussed are not always in use in that particular story, and the science is a bit garbled at times. Also, the book seems to promise definitive answers for these mysteries, which is impossible at this date, so it of course doesn't follow through. Still, I think it's a fun middle-grade book on forensic science and history that kids will likely actually want to read. Plus, of course, I enjoyed myself. Worth picking up from the library, perhaps.

[Cindy Mitchell *Kiss the Book* · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is an in depth look at some incredibly interesting forensic CSI. Each case details the historical background behind the mystery and includes simple-language explanations about the crime solving techniques used. It gives definitive answers about some mysteries –like how King Tut and Napoleon died. Other mysteries just become more mysterious or speculative like what happened to King Rama of Thailand.
I loved this book! I think its a perfect for Middle school students who have some of that foundational history knowledge and want an introduction to forensic anthropology/crime solving!

I didn't even realize when I was getting to the end of the book- so when I read the last page, I was almost dumbfounded –I couldn't believe that more pages simply weren't there. An immersive and engaging read that I read from start to finish in one sitting! Students are going to love this one!
MS- ESSENTIAL Reviewer: Stephanie Elementary School Librarian & Author.

http://kissthebook.blogspot.com/2013/...

[Kathleen Garber · Rating 3 out of 5]

Annick Press always has good books for teaching children about history and science and this is just like the others. Elizabeth Macleod shares seven stories from times past where we didn’t know exactly what happened back then, but now, with DNA and other crime solving techniques we have figured it out.

If your child loves mysteries, history or CSI this book will enthrall them. Each story (such as how did King Tut die) is followed from what we knew back then to what we’ve learned since. The book is full of related photographs and illustrations that help you follow along with what is going on.

The book is designed for ages 9-11 but could still be of interest to ages 12+. I found it interesting and I’m an adult. It’s a great book for those who are interested to pick up, or to use as part of a homeschool.

[Bexa · Rating 4 out of 5]

Read for Battle of the Books.

This was fascinating and again made me wish I had a better head for science. If I had read this as a kid, I probably would have worked harder, because I really wanted to go into forensics for a long time, but just don't understand chemistry enough.

This goes through the different types of forensics used to identify a body and what happened to it. While it can get a little graphic at times, MacLeod doesn't spend too long on the gritty details and sticks to the facts. I really enjoyed it and had fun reading it, especially since she used some cases that aren't well known. If you have a kid interested in becoming a detective or forensic scientist, pick up this book.

[Carmen · Rating 3 out of 5]

3'5
It’s a nice introductory book for those who are starting to interest for the forensics science. It explain very basics things like how to determine the time of the death through mysteries of historic figures.
The negative point is that the title of the book assures you that it will explain how these mysteries were solved by the forensics science but as you read you’ll see that it doesn’t offer a final answer to some of them but just theories based in the proves that were discovered by the forensics. I know it’s difficult because we are talking abut mysteries that occurred hundreds of years ago but being that the premise of the book I’m a little disappointed.

[Ch J Loveall · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book has a concise beginning for forensic science.

[Linda Hunt · Rating 4 out of 5]

I recommended this to my teenage granddaughter who is interested in forensics. It is a fascinating little book that shows how modern technology can give answers to ancient death questions.

[Spyder · Rating 5 out of 5]

A quick interesting read I picked up at the Carnegie Natural History Museum in Pittsburgh, PA a few years ago. I forgot I bought it until I was going through my shelves to find my oldest unread. But anyway lol. Great stories for youths to try to educate them and hopefully encourage them to get into one of the many branches of forensic science.

[Leigh Collazo · Rating 5 out of 5]

More reviews at Mrs. ReaderPants.

RATING/CONTENT BREAKDOWN:

Overall: 5/5--My middle schoolers are going to love this book! I am constantly on the lookout for "middle school appropriate" crime nonfiction. That can sometimes be a tall order since what my students really want is sensationalized serial killer stuff, which tends to be written for adults. I loved the stories of King Tut, The Man in the Iron Mask, and Princess Anastasia especially. While some of the stories end with no real answer to the mystery, other answers become evident only through the forensic tests on the bodies. I loved that some of the questions were not answered--it goes to show that even with all the science we have today, we still don't know everything. It leaves some things still up to the imagination!

Presentation & layout: 5/5--Contains lots of captions, information boxes, clean layout with lots of negative space, title page of each subsection is a bright blue background marked with crime scene tape, headers highlighted in bright yellow make them stand out. Some pages present the information as if it were on a computer, tablet, or smart phone screen.

Quality of information: 5/5--Each story is thoroughly researched. Presents lots of interesting historical and scientific information in a clear, easy-to-read format.

Photos/illustrations: 5/5--Includes lots of full-color photos, maps, paintings, and x-rays. Excellent layout, and all photos include captions on orange "evidence identification" tags.

Documentation of sources: 5/5--Huge bibliography, broken down by each of the seven featured mysteries.

Front and back matter: 5/5--Contains TOC, Acknowledgements, glossary, Royals Time Line, Forensics Time Line, bibliography, further reading, image credits, and index.

Engrossing: 5/5--Each story integrates background historical information as if it were a story. The mystery in each section is clearly identified, as are possible explanations for the mystery. Each possible solution is explained clearly, and evidence supporting or discounting each possible answer is thoroughly examined.

Writing: 5/5--Writing is clear and engaging. Forensic terminology is easy-to-understand, so middle school readers should not have any difficulty understanding what is going on.

Appeal to teens: 5/5-- Teens are interested in forensic science, especially when there is a mystery to solve. This is a current topic that will appeal to students who watch TV's Bones or HBO's Dexter.

Appropriate length: 5/5--Each story runs approximately 20 pages, and nearly every page features at least one full-color illustration. There is lots of negative space on each page, making the book easy on the eyes.

THE BOTTOM LINE: A must-have for middle school libraries and science classrooms.

STATUS IN MY LIBRARY: On order.

READALIKES: Wicked History series; Written in Bone (Walker)

CONTENT:

Language: none

Sexuality: very mild; brief mention of incest in King Tut's family

Violence: mild; talk of murders, suicide

Drugs/Alcohol: mild; poisoning is a possible reason of death

Other: Sensitive students may not like frank discussion of bugs that inhabit dead bodies, mummies, rigor mortis, etc.

[Melissa · Rating 4 out of 5]

Bones Never Lie by Elizabeth Macleod is a forensic look at some of the biggest murder/unusual death mysteries in history. With the popularity of shows like NCIS, Bones and CSI, books dealing with forensics have become extremely desired. Take a mystery and add an ick factor and you have a book that won’t stay on the shelves. Bones Never Lie will most certainly fall into that category. I really enjoyed it.
Elizabeth Macleod picks some very interesting history mysteries to include in her book. Many of the mysteries I had at least heard that there were questions surrounding the deaths but even in those, the discussion of what current forensic techniques have been used almost always included information I had not heard. I loved the story of Anastasia Romanov and was truly fascinated by the current DNA tests that have proved that “Anna” was not Anastasia. In addition to the information included the book set up felt very put together. The images accompanying the text lent to the CSI feel. There were evidence bags, red script in the corners reminiscent of notes on case reports and the pull out pages looked as though they were on a tablet or computer screen. I would have liked a few more pictures from the actual cases but as these are all older cases it is understandable that pictures are hard to come by.
My one concern with the book is not a concern so much as confusion. As I mentioned, many of these stories I have at least heard of and some of them I have read about before. In specific, I have read about using up to date forensic investigation on the case of Napoleon’s death. The most recent book I read was titled Killer Wallpaper by Anna Prokos. Here is my concern- In Killer Wallpaper, the conclusions they came up with were very different than the conclusions in Bones Never Lie, namely the cause of Napoleon’s death. Both books are nonfiction, presented their conclusions as factual and the correct interpretation of the facts. The bibliographies, in both, include sources that I would consider trustworthy. The one source of the discrepancy of information I could discern, was that Killer Wallpaper was published in 2008 and Bones Never Lie in 2013. So this could be either a difference of opinion or a case of new information changing previous thought. This is mainly concerning to me because as a school librarian, I would like my students to have the correct information.
In wrapping up, I really enjoyed the book and would suggest it to others. 4/5 stars.

[Teresa Scherping Moulton · Rating 4 out of 5]

Is it possible to solve a mystery that's over 3000 years old? You bet it is! Just like detectives solve crimes that happen today, scientists and other experts can use techniques from the field of "forensics" (a scientific way of examining physical evidence) to find clues and solve mysteries of the past. Learn about fingerprinting, DNA analysis, bone analysis, autopsies, blood tests, X-rays, and much more as we take a look at history's mysteries of the rich and famous. How did Egypt's King Tut really die? Who was the Man in the Iron Mask, who was imprisoned for years with no one allowed to see his face? When the Russian royal family was killed, did one daughter really escape and show up years later in Germany? Did the small, shriveled-up heart buried with French Queen Marie-Antoinette really belong to her son? Find out these answers and more!

This book was fascinating. It lays out different theories that could answer these historical myseries, walks you through the different analyses that were done, and then explains the logical conclusion. Some of these stories I didn't know much about - like the Man in the Iron Mask or the woman who claimed to be Grand Duchess Anastasia. Others, like the story of King Tut, I had heard before but didn't know the latest research on the subject. I did think that some of the explanations got a little muddled, with too much switching time periods and perspectives, but for the most part it was clear and easy to read.

I would generally recommend this book for grades 5 to 8, although it will also be good for some 4th graders. Anyone who likes science, history, technology, creepy stuff, or mysteries will get a kick out of this. It would be particularly good for kids who want the real facts on mysterious and creepy true stories. Two great readalikes would be Are You Afraid Yet?: The Science Behind Scary Stuff by Stephen James O'Meara and Haunted Histories: Creepy Castles, Dark Dungeons, and Powerful Palaces by J.H. Everett.

[Chris · Rating 4 out of 5]

Forensics is a science that’s becoming more mainstream today because of popular TV crime shows like CSI and even because of what we read and see in the news. Old criminal cases are being reopened – prisoners who once served time for crimes they did not commit are being released based on new evidence found using new forensic tools and technology.

That’s what this book is all about – using modern day science to re-examine some of the mysterious and famous deaths from the past.

In the book, scientists reexamine the deaths of seven historical figures and using this new technology and come up with startling new conclusions.

How did King Tut really die?
Was he murdered, or was it a fatal accident? In 2005, researchers were allowed to use a CAT scan on Tut’s mummy to look for clues.
In 2010 DNA testing was done. They found out some interesting things about King Tut and came up with a new explanation for his mysterious death at a very young age. It seems that a broken infected leg and a case of malaria might have played a significant part in his demise.

This is a fascinating book. It is well written, precise, logical, with good illustrations, photos, interesting sidebars. The book takes the time to explain who the person was,
what the mystery was behind their death, what forensic tools were used to find new evidence, and how these tools work. Then they come up with a verdict.

Bones Never Lie is a combination of science book and thrilling who- done- it. It is also a very “browsable” book. You don’t have to read it from start to finish, you can simply pick the person who most interests you.

Because of the amount of text and length of book, it would be best for older readers

[Audrey · Rating 3 out of 5]

Forensic science has been cool for years now. From CSI to Dexter, being able to solve crimes based on the small details and evidence at the scene is a subject of fascination for many people. Bones Never Lie caters to younger fans of forensic science, as well as those who are interested in some of history’s mysteries. There are plenty of illustrations, and the extra bibliographic information will be helpful for any kids that are really into the mysteries and want to delve further.

I actually learned some things from this book. I’d never heard of the mystery behind the King of Thailand, Ananda Mahidol. Three were executed for his death, but it is possible that they were merely scapegoats. Also interesting was the DNA testing of a mummified heart said to have belonged to Louis XVII of France. King Tut, the Man in the Iron Mask, and Anastasia are all also under consideration.

While these case studies are good for showcasing investigative methodology, often the cases are too old for any sort of real conclusion to be reached. I found this to be disappointing, but I’m not sure if young readers will also be disappointed or will merely be excited at the mystery of it all. I think this book serves as a nice introduction for the curious, but they’ll be left wanting more.

[Lori Spier · Rating 4 out of 5]

A compact, easy to read book, "Bones Never Lie" is sure to stimulate interest in forensic sciences in young adults.

Each chapter is devoted to a single case, as well as to a specifi part of forensic science and also to the history of the mystery surrounding each famous death. For example, in the case of what killed King Tut, DNA is used to isolate the potential fatal illness, while deductive reasoning tries to uncover just who was the man in the iron mask.

Not all the mysteries are "solved" - in fact, even when a solution is presented, there are still qualifiers that could rule that particular solution out completely. However it's a fascinating look for young people as to what science can determine about long-dead persons. The selection of cases are also good - they are familiar enough so that most people will have some idea of who the person is, yet still shrouded in enough mystery to make them intriguing. Sidebars provide further tidbits of information that relate to each case, and help to further flesh out the mystery.

Overall, it's a fascinating look for young people at what forensic science is and how it helps solve modern (and ancient) mysteries.

[Dianna Wolf]

MacLeod, E. (2013). Bones Never Lie: How Forensics Helps Solve History's Mysteries. Firefly Books Ltd.

Citation by: Dianna Wolf

Type of Reference: Encyclopedia

Call Number: Ref 363.2

Content/Scope: An encyclopedia relating to evidence of historical crimes and forensics.

Accuracy/Authority/Bias: This book was classified as "Core Collection" by "Middle ad Junior High Core Collection (H. W. Wilson)." This list is selected and recommended by collection development specialists in library service to young people. It was also reviewed by Library Media Connection which is well known and reliable.

Arrangement/Presentation: The book is organized by chapters with specific themes, and follows an organization pattern with same formats being listed together.

Relation to other works: This book relates to other books about forensics.

Timeliness/Permanence: Book was published in 2013, and relates to recent science and careers of the future

Accessibility/Diversity: The book provides photos and interests for a history and science lovers..

Cost:$24.95

[Melissa · Rating 3 out of 5]

I was disappointed by this book, which I felt missed many opportunities. It does use current forensics to explore mysteries surrounding the deaths of some historic royalty: Anastasia, King Tut, Napolean, etc. Unfortunately evidence is often inconclusive (that's not a surprise, but that's not what the book promises.) and the writing is a bit sloppy. Words are repeated in too close proximity and paragraphs more relevant to a modern CSI show are oddly inserted into a discussion of the murder of Mayan nobles or Napolean. Random unidentified objects float in the margins: a rubber glove, a syringe, a DOA tag. The impression left is of a little science surrounded by a slap dash interest in the glamor of royalty and a lurid and mild interest in crime scene investigation.
A better choice for kids interested in forensics is the excellent Written in Bone by Sally Walker.

[Dena McMurdie · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was an interesting look at some of the great mysteries throughout history. There were a few problems with it. It wasn't as detailed as I was hoping for and many of the mysteries didn't get solved.

However, with the popularity of crime TV shows, I can see how many middle grade and young YA kids would enjoy this book. It explains a lot of terms that detectives use and how those methods are used to help at a crime scene. And honestly, there is quite a bit of really interesting information in the book.

This is a great book to check out of your local library if they have it.

I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

My blog: Books for Kids

[Megan Hunt · Rating 3 out of 5]

I really loved this book, it was full of interesting facts. I liked how the book told us possible ways the historical people died. When I saw the title I thought it was all about bones, but I was wrong. The book was about King Tut, The Maya's and so much more it was full of facts and strange yet cool pictures. I had no idea that Roman leader Julius Caesar was stabbed to death, but the second knife wound actually killed him. Elizabeth MacLeod publishes great non-fiction books and definitely recommend this one.

[Anna · Rating 4 out of 5]

A really interesting book. Much of the information presented I already knew, but I learned a few new things. The information was a lot more in depth than I was expecting from a children's book. It was somewhat disappointing to have so many of the mysteries presented still unsolved at the end, but it also made the book more believable because in real life there are not so many clear cut answers particularly about things that happened so long ago.

[Thano · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was very interesting. I found it really cool how the detectives look over all the evidence and bones to find out what really happened. It would be really fun to be a detective because you get to find out what happened to people before everyone else does. I was surprised to here how King Tut died because it seamed like he was poisoned when he really died from a disease. I really enjoyed this Novel and I would recommend it to a friend.

[Terryann · Rating 4 out of 5]

this was a really interesting book. i loved the pictures and the format, i think this is really appealing to the younger crowd who may not read at as high a level as their peers, but also to the 'good' readers as well. each mystery is contained with documents, history, 'what if' and more. i was very intrigued by all of them and will do further research on a few:)

[Gloria · Rating 3 out of 5]

Nonfiction/ Twin Text #4

The twin text I found for this book was The Berenstain Bears: The Bear Detectives by Stan Berenstain and Jan Berenstain. Both of these stories are about solving mysteries. One is about finding the missing pumpkin while the other is trying to piece together the death of royalties. In both books clues are used to solve the mysteries.

[Kim Baccellia · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fascinating insight into how modern day science helps solve history's mysteries. Included are was King Tut murdered? Did Grand Duchess Anastasia of Russian survive? How did Napoleon die?

Love how modern science is used to explain some of these mysteries in an easy to follow format.

[Stephanie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very readable, makes forensic science accessible to kids. I especially liked that in some of the cases, the verdict is still unknown, showing that unlike on TV, forensics sometimes can't provide all the answers.

[Betsy · Rating 3 out of 5]

One Sentence Review: A fun idea and a book with a lot of great moments, but unfortunately the fictionalized suppositions weigh down what otherwise could have been a strong nonfiction text.

[Catherine · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was really interesting... I enjoyed reading this...

[Nicki · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was amazingly excellent!

[Sarah Sammis · Rating 3 out of 5]

http://www.pussreboots.pair.com/blog/...

[Jess · Rating 5 out of 5]

A very cool, informative book!