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Silent Witnesses: The Often Gruesome but Always Fascinating History of Forensic Science
Crime novelist and former police officer Nigel McCrery provides an account of all the major areas of forensic science from around the world over the past two centuries. The book weaves dramatic narrative and scientific principles together in a way that allows readers to figure out crimes along with the experts. Readers are introduced to such fascinating figures as Dr. Edmond Locard, the “French Sherlock Holmes”; Edward Heinrich, “Wizard of Berkeley,” who is credited with having solved more than 2,000 crimes; and Alphonse Bertillon, the French scientist whose guiding principle, “no two individuals share the same characteristics,” became the core of criminal identification. Landmark crime investigations examined in depth include a notorious murder involving blood evidence and defended by F. Lee Bailey, the seminal 1936 murder that demonstrated the usefulness of the microscope in examining trace evidence, the 1849 murder of a wealthy Boston businessman that demonstrated how difficult it is to successfully dispose of a corpse, and many others.
296 pages, Paperback
First published August 29, 2013
246 people are currently reading
2035 people want to read
About the author
Nigel McCrery
66 books54 followersNigel Colin McCrery was an English screenwriter, producer and writer. He was the creator of the long-running crime dramas Silent Witness (1996–present) and New Tricks (2003–2015).
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 139 reviews
April 15, 2017
I really enjoyed this because if you havent noticed by now I love books about the history of fields or history in general. The book is really general and so I wouldn't read it if you want to learn details and specifics about how forensics work but if you want a quick read that'll give you an idea of the time line in which forensics started to be used then you should totally read this. Also if you're looking for an introductory book into forensics science this is a good read as well.
February 22, 2021
Well researched and extremely well written.
It’s a shame so many of the cases featured are so old, but it is still a very interesting and informative read.
It’s a shame so many of the cases featured are so old, but it is still a very interesting and informative read.
August 3, 2014
"Murder has a magic all of its own.” So said William Roughhead, a 19th century criminologist, and so opens Silent Witnesses: The Often Gruesome but Always Fascinating History of Forensic Science.
McCrery sets out to demonstrate the wizardry and science of forensic identification, which, as he notes, is "a history of uniqueness."
The book is divided into chapters, with each section discussing the technological progression of one particular form of forensic evidence: fingerprints and physical identifiers, ballistics, blood, trace evidence, the body, poisons, and DNA. The writing is casual and conversational, with each technological advance accompanied by an anecdote that demonstrates the efficacy of the new technology. I was especially entertained by the unexpected details (for example, the first time fingerprints were used to solve a murder was in Argentina) and some of the more archaic anecdotes. (Did you know that in ancient China, handprints and fingerprints were used in evidence, and in Babylon, handprints were considered sufficiently individual to be used to seal legal contracts?) McCrery provides entertaining biographies of some of the most influential figures in the forensic sciences, such as Dr Joseph Bell, Doyle's main inspiration for Sherlock Holmes, as well as Alphonse Bertillon, the "Holmes of Paris" and man who introduced the idea of "photo-fit pictures." (In fact, in Hound of the Baskervilles, Holmes is described as second only to Bertillon.) McCrery also discusses a few crimes that I think may have been inspirations for other mystery writers.
Whilst I rather enjoy the lurid stories of the long-distant past, more recent atrocities, especially ones in which McCrery acted as an investigator, felt far more ghoulish to me. Other than my distaste for these recent true-crime cases, the main place in which I think the book could be improved is the photographs that pepper the book. Even though photographs would be incredibly useful in illustrating some of the details such as differences in rifling or the equipment used in isolating poisons, most are of buildings or generic "forensic-ish" pictures that add little to no enlightenment.
Unlike the photographs, the stories themselves are varied and entertaining. They include tales of crooked expert witnesses, the struggles of pioneering scientists and detectives, and murders so outlandish that they belong in an Agatha Christie novel. Amongst a multitude of amusing anecdotes and sensational stories, here are a few of my favourites:
--Several entrepreneurial ladies have run profitable businesses in the industry of husband removal. For example, the lady Toffana di Adomo was so successful in marketing her "Acqua Toffana," supposedly a benign ladies' cosmetic, that she helped almost 600 women to become quite merry widows.
--Samuel Colt's famous 6-shot was known as "the equalizer" because of a popular poem that was written about it:
--The freakiest poisoning case in the book is that of Georgi Markov. He was out walking one day when he suddenly felt a sharp pain in his leg. He thought it was due to the umbrella point of a passerby. In fact, the umbrella had been used as a weapon to shoot a tiny spherical metal pellet into his leg. The pellet, which contained a lethal dose of ricin, was sealed with a material that melted precisely at the temperature of the human body. (I kept waiting for someone in the story to show up with a mini-rocket cigarette or perhaps a shoe-phone.)
From explanations of Locard’s Exchange Principle (“Every contact leaves a trace”) to the details of the science behind "bullet fingerprinting" to pure hearsay like the story of the man who outsmarted a highwayman (he tricked him into taking a shot, and because early guns took so long to reload, was able to get his sword out before the gun was read again), Silent Witnesses is both entertaining and informative. If you're an inveterate mystery reader and interested in a casual, informal look at the history of forensics, this book is definitely worth a peek.
Excerpted from my review on Booklikes.
~~I received this ebook through NetGalley from the publisher, Chicago Review Press, in exchange for my honest review.~~
McCrery sets out to demonstrate the wizardry and science of forensic identification, which, as he notes, is "a history of uniqueness."
The book is divided into chapters, with each section discussing the technological progression of one particular form of forensic evidence: fingerprints and physical identifiers, ballistics, blood, trace evidence, the body, poisons, and DNA. The writing is casual and conversational, with each technological advance accompanied by an anecdote that demonstrates the efficacy of the new technology. I was especially entertained by the unexpected details (for example, the first time fingerprints were used to solve a murder was in Argentina) and some of the more archaic anecdotes. (Did you know that in ancient China, handprints and fingerprints were used in evidence, and in Babylon, handprints were considered sufficiently individual to be used to seal legal contracts?) McCrery provides entertaining biographies of some of the most influential figures in the forensic sciences, such as Dr Joseph Bell, Doyle's main inspiration for Sherlock Holmes, as well as Alphonse Bertillon, the "Holmes of Paris" and man who introduced the idea of "photo-fit pictures." (In fact, in Hound of the Baskervilles, Holmes is described as second only to Bertillon.) McCrery also discusses a few crimes that I think may have been inspirations for other mystery writers.
Whilst I rather enjoy the lurid stories of the long-distant past, more recent atrocities, especially ones in which McCrery acted as an investigator, felt far more ghoulish to me. Other than my distaste for these recent true-crime cases, the main place in which I think the book could be improved is the photographs that pepper the book. Even though photographs would be incredibly useful in illustrating some of the details such as differences in rifling or the equipment used in isolating poisons, most are of buildings or generic "forensic-ish" pictures that add little to no enlightenment.
Unlike the photographs, the stories themselves are varied and entertaining. They include tales of crooked expert witnesses, the struggles of pioneering scientists and detectives, and murders so outlandish that they belong in an Agatha Christie novel. Amongst a multitude of amusing anecdotes and sensational stories, here are a few of my favourites:
--Several entrepreneurial ladies have run profitable businesses in the industry of husband removal. For example, the lady Toffana di Adomo was so successful in marketing her "Acqua Toffana," supposedly a benign ladies' cosmetic, that she helped almost 600 women to become quite merry widows.
--Samuel Colt's famous 6-shot was known as "the equalizer" because of a popular poem that was written about it:
“Be not afraid of any man, no matter what his size.
When danger threatens, call on me and I will equalize.”
--The freakiest poisoning case in the book is that of Georgi Markov. He was out walking one day when he suddenly felt a sharp pain in his leg. He thought it was due to the umbrella point of a passerby. In fact, the umbrella had been used as a weapon to shoot a tiny spherical metal pellet into his leg. The pellet, which contained a lethal dose of ricin, was sealed with a material that melted precisely at the temperature of the human body. (I kept waiting for someone in the story to show up with a mini-rocket cigarette or perhaps a shoe-phone.)
From explanations of Locard’s Exchange Principle (“Every contact leaves a trace”) to the details of the science behind "bullet fingerprinting" to pure hearsay like the story of the man who outsmarted a highwayman (he tricked him into taking a shot, and because early guns took so long to reload, was able to get his sword out before the gun was read again), Silent Witnesses is both entertaining and informative. If you're an inveterate mystery reader and interested in a casual, informal look at the history of forensics, this book is definitely worth a peek.
Excerpted from my review on Booklikes.
~~I received this ebook through NetGalley from the publisher, Chicago Review Press, in exchange for my honest review.~~
September 27, 2019
Silent Witnesses is a non-fiction research book about the developments and various stems of forensic science throughout the decades. Lots of new information that I didn't know about before was included, however, it was very slow-going and since I was going into this one as a casual reader, there were times that I felt a little overwhelmed with facts. This one is great for students and academics!
August 6, 2014
Police programmes with a focus on forensics are hugely popular, the CSI franchise getting some 30 million viewers at the height of its popularity. The realists of course know that actual real life forensics isn't like that, it's often laborious and very time consuming. The instantaneous results obtained by Horatio Caine and Mac Taylor don't reflect real life. And certainly not back a few hundred years ago when forensic science was just starting out.
This book took me a while to read because it's one I picked up and read a few chapters of and put down again. It's not something I wanted to read continuously not because it wasn't good just because I don't want to take in large amounts of detail all at once. The book is very informative, and would be perfect for somebody studying this field or someone looking to study the field. I remember my 6th form offering forensic science as a subject but it was a very tame version of the field and extremely amateurish (I didn't take it).
From the conception of forensic science through to present day we read about how the field has evolved. There are some really fantastic tales about early forensic science. A head being put on a pole in the hope a passerby would recognise it is one example. It's crazy to imagine things like that even happened. Moving on to the more advanced stuff and it really does blow my mind how many ways there are to solve a crime these days. You would think it would put off even the more hardcore of criminals. Everything from a hair, a bullet casing, a single drop of blood.. all of these things can identify a perpetrator.
What I especially liked is this book can be picked up, read and enjoyed by someone with even just a passing interest in this subject. Often I've picked up a book written about something I am vaguely interested in but I can never get past the jargon or superiority of the author in what they are writing about. This book is written in a very accessible way but at the same time even considered experts in this field could probably learn something from the book. With each aspect of forensic science separated into different chapters it's easy to just pick a chapter you like the look of rather than read the book in the traditional cover to cover fashion. With illustrations, anecdotes and a plethora of brilliant research this was a very enjoyable book and one I have no trouble recommending.
This book took me a while to read because it's one I picked up and read a few chapters of and put down again. It's not something I wanted to read continuously not because it wasn't good just because I don't want to take in large amounts of detail all at once. The book is very informative, and would be perfect for somebody studying this field or someone looking to study the field. I remember my 6th form offering forensic science as a subject but it was a very tame version of the field and extremely amateurish (I didn't take it).
From the conception of forensic science through to present day we read about how the field has evolved. There are some really fantastic tales about early forensic science. A head being put on a pole in the hope a passerby would recognise it is one example. It's crazy to imagine things like that even happened. Moving on to the more advanced stuff and it really does blow my mind how many ways there are to solve a crime these days. You would think it would put off even the more hardcore of criminals. Everything from a hair, a bullet casing, a single drop of blood.. all of these things can identify a perpetrator.
What I especially liked is this book can be picked up, read and enjoyed by someone with even just a passing interest in this subject. Often I've picked up a book written about something I am vaguely interested in but I can never get past the jargon or superiority of the author in what they are writing about. This book is written in a very accessible way but at the same time even considered experts in this field could probably learn something from the book. With each aspect of forensic science separated into different chapters it's easy to just pick a chapter you like the look of rather than read the book in the traditional cover to cover fashion. With illustrations, anecdotes and a plethora of brilliant research this was a very enjoyable book and one I have no trouble recommending.
February 4, 2015
I picked up this book from the Library because I majored in Forensic Chemistry and love reading books on the topic. The book is broken down into 7 main topics that Forensics covers. He goes through each chapter giving a nice background on each topic and also gives various stories of how different cases helped or used a method to bring justice to the perpetrator. Many of the cases I had never heard before and I thoroughly enjoyed the history behind the methods/ideas.
I give this book 3 stars for a couple reasons - first, I feel that the book could have been better edited. There are times where the text completely jumps. In one paragraph he will be talking about a method and then all of a sudden he's talking of a case - there is nothing leading into this transition. This happened several times. Also sometimes it seems that a case was discussed before there was background on the topic - it would have made more sense to go into the topic first.
Second, as a non-fiction book, there were absolutely NO references (other then those for the pictures). The reason this bothered me was because I looked up one of the cases online and read the Wikipedia article. I was surprised when part of the wiki article seemed almost word for word what I read in the book. Any scholar knows that Wikipedia is absolutely not acceptable as a resource. It seems that either Nigel McCrery wrote the Wikipedia article (to which his book is not a reference) or he used Wikipedia as a resource and simply re-worded it (hardly) for his book.. I will never know since he and/or the publisher felt that it was unnecessary for him to list his resources.
In general - a decent, captivating read - could be great if it was better edited and referenced.
I give this book 3 stars for a couple reasons - first, I feel that the book could have been better edited. There are times where the text completely jumps. In one paragraph he will be talking about a method and then all of a sudden he's talking of a case - there is nothing leading into this transition. This happened several times. Also sometimes it seems that a case was discussed before there was background on the topic - it would have made more sense to go into the topic first.
Second, as a non-fiction book, there were absolutely NO references (other then those for the pictures). The reason this bothered me was because I looked up one of the cases online and read the Wikipedia article. I was surprised when part of the wiki article seemed almost word for word what I read in the book. Any scholar knows that Wikipedia is absolutely not acceptable as a resource. It seems that either Nigel McCrery wrote the Wikipedia article (to which his book is not a reference) or he used Wikipedia as a resource and simply re-worded it (hardly) for his book.. I will never know since he and/or the publisher felt that it was unnecessary for him to list his resources.
In general - a decent, captivating read - could be great if it was better edited and referenced.
August 6, 2017
Continuing my odd streak of reading nonfiction books, I finished Nigel McCrery's Silent Witnesses: A History of Forensic Science this evening. As I read it, mostly while waiting at the mechanic's garage waiting, I paused to contemplate my fingerprints (to see if I have arch, whorl, or loop prints) or looked at the mechanics' hands to wonder what chemicals and substances they might transfer. (I got more than a few weird looks of my own.) Silent Witnesses is a solid introduction to forensics, with many interesting nuggets of criminal history. It is not a guide to committing the perfect crime...
Read the rest of my review at A Bookish Type. I received a free copy of this book for review consideration from NetGalley.
Read the rest of my review at A Bookish Type. I received a free copy of this book for review consideration from NetGalley.
March 20, 2017
I guess I've read too many books on forensic science as it pertains to solving crimes, because this book was mostly a rehash of cases I was already familiar with, and not written in a terribly gripping way. It might not be bad for a starter book for someone unfamiliar with the history of forensics, though.
March 18, 2019
Very interesting look at the history of forensic science. The book covers identity, ballistics, blood, trace evidence, the body, poisons, and DNA. It uses a variety of case studies throughout history and modern day to illustrate the advances in technology and technique. Read if you are interested in true crime or forensics.
November 24, 2017
Started slow but once the author got to the chapter on DNA it was fascinating.
June 10, 2018
ספר נחמד ומעניין על תולדות הזיהוי הפלילי. הוא מקיף את הנושא בצורה מקיפה וטובה. מצד שני, אלא אם כן אתם *מאוד* מתעניינים בנושא, אין פה איזשהו ידע יוצא דופן שחייבים לדעת.
January 22, 2022
It was slow going, but very interesting. I especially liked the case discussions. I think the author did a thorough job discussing various methods of solving crimes.
December 23, 2017
Çok beğendim. Polisiye romanları her zaman çok seven, Bones ve CSI gibi dizilerin müptelası olan benim için adli tıp tarihini gerçek olaylarla okumak gerçekten müthişti.
February 18, 2022
Yessssss, this is the shit! I just loved this book, it was such a fast read once I got the time to read without being stopped and enjoying the subject. Very historical based and I did not expect that at all! I thought it will be about crimes and stuff and then I realized it is HISTORY, and I was not disappointed at all!
I loved the history, and the fact that we get more than just what happened and that dude did that. I didn't watch the tv series that is based on this book, might never do it since I hate tv and watch only a couple of series but sounds promising and interesting.
I really loved this book and I recommend it to every crime junky out there wanting to get a little perspective of what happened before we go to where we are in forensic science.
I loved the history, and the fact that we get more than just what happened and that dude did that. I didn't watch the tv series that is based on this book, might never do it since I hate tv and watch only a couple of series but sounds promising and interesting.
I really loved this book and I recommend it to every crime junky out there wanting to get a little perspective of what happened before we go to where we are in forensic science.
May 7, 2023
This is an excellent book! It is a methodical review of particularly important forensic science methods and cases in which those methods were used (usually for the first or near the first time) and instrumental in solving the case. Most chapters are set up to focus on a particular method (such as blood, trace evidence, or DNA, all of which have chapters), explains what it is, how it works, why it's important, and uses a case to illustrate that importance. Everything is clearly well researched (the sheer amount of historical detail in the cases is incredible), told in a story format, and methodically laid out in such a way that is both easy to understand and interesting. Whether you're truly interested in the topic, or just looking for good criminology read, this is definitely a book that will catch and keep attention.
January 13, 2015
Quick tour of some of the advances in forensics from DNA to fingerprinting.
July 19, 2024
I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book and it only took two days for me to go through it!! It’s a phenomenal book and I found it very interesting. My only issue? I wanted more!!! I wanted more cases, more history, more topics covered!! For that reason I give it a 8/10 = 4/5 stars! Great book, highly recommended
August 9, 2024
Adli tıptaki tekniklerin gelişimini olaylarla anlatıyor. Çok ilginç bir kitaptı. Hemen okuyayım bitireyim tarzında değil de yavaş yavaş okuyup ilerlenebilecek bir kitap 🎯
March 23, 2017
This was a really engaging look at the history of forensic science, particularly relating to murder cases. I have a good background knowledge in the area, and thought this was very well researched. The historical background was thorough, and went beyond what is mentioned in a lot of other books on the subject. Well written and interesting, I would recommend.
September 4, 2022
very informative 👍🏼 it's literally the history of forensic science and how far it's come
November 12, 2018
This book was incredibly fascinating, but also incredibly depressing. The science of forensics is so interesting, but it is sad that it is necessary because of the horrible things that humans can do to one another. Fast and educational read.
I like how the development is explained and then a case where it was used to find and convict the killer was related. Some of the timeline wasn't linear, so it was a little odd to have a case from the early 1900s, followed by a case from the mid 1800s.
Other than that and the rather depressing topic, this was a very good book. This is an instance where I wish there was a half star option, as this is a 4.5 star book, no question. Not QUITE a five star and definitely NOT a 4 star, but 4 stars it must be. I highly recommend this book if you are into the CSI shows and true crime books.
My thanks to NetGalley and Chicago Review Press for an eARC copy of this book to read and review.
I like how the development is explained and then a case where it was used to find and convict the killer was related. Some of the timeline wasn't linear, so it was a little odd to have a case from the early 1900s, followed by a case from the mid 1800s.
Other than that and the rather depressing topic, this was a very good book. This is an instance where I wish there was a half star option, as this is a 4.5 star book, no question. Not QUITE a five star and definitely NOT a 4 star, but 4 stars it must be. I highly recommend this book if you are into the CSI shows and true crime books.
My thanks to NetGalley and Chicago Review Press for an eARC copy of this book to read and review.
August 30, 2016
Ölüler Sır Saklamaz polisiye düşkünleri için biçilmiş kaftan. Adli tıbbın teşhis yöntemlerinin yüzyıllar içindeki keşif ve gelişmelerini üstelik gerçek vakalar eşliğinde anlatıyor. Parmak izi, balistik, kan grubu ve günümüzde DNA yöntemlerinin keşiflerini ve gelişmelerini okuyoruz kitapta. İlginç bilgilerle dolu bir kitap misal insan kanı ile hayvan kanı 1901 senesine dek ayırt bile edilemiyormuş. Kitabı okurken bizim de ne denli geri kalmış bir toplum olduğumuzu düşünmemek elde değil. Avrupa'da 1794 senesinde balistik araştırması ile suçlu yakalanıyormuş.
October 21, 2016
If you have any knowledge of forensics, I'm afraid you'll be a bit bored with this. McCrery gives a very good, introductory look at the history and use of the basics--fingerprinting, DNA, etc. Of course, he starts earlier than fingerprints to give a sense of the difficulties of early crime detection.
August 16, 2025
3.5 Stars, Rounding Up
This book excels as a gentle introduction to forensic science and as a timeline of the history/development of forensic techniques. The scope of the book is sweeping, from the lowest form of technology (eye-witness identification) to the most cutting-edge techniques (DNA finger printing and genetic genealogy), all organized thematically, given in the approximately order of chronological development, and illustrated with an abundance of examples where the techniques were used, could have been used, or played a decisive role in the legal outcome.
THE BOOK’S STRENGTHS: Number One is the author’s selection of crimes to illustrate the evolution and employment of forensic science in the art of criminal investigation. The author displays a connoisseur’s discriminating eye in carefully curating a collection of cases. It is on the strength of his choices that I chose to round this rating up. He picks excellent examples that are interesting, some which are famous but more which are (sadly!) obscure, but all very relevant and memorable. With an almost unlimited catalog of human horrors to choose from, the author had quite a task in picking the best of mankind’s worst, but the end result is truly outstanding.
As an additional strength, this book is exceptionally broad and incredibly accessible. There is no prerequisite for reading; any reader with an interest will come away knowing a lot more about the methods of testing for arsenic poisoning or the role of microscopy in trace analysis.
THE BOOK’S WEAKNESSES: Broadness and accessible come at the expense of depth and rigor. I would have loved more detail, more technical jargon, more technical insight, e.g. ray tracing diagrams in the microscopy chapters and Lewis dot structures in the chapter on toxicology. As it is, such detail is beyond the scope of the book, but it speaks to the book’s limitation, namely that it is a book for a general audience. Specialists and keen amateurs will want to look elsewhere.
This book excels as a gentle introduction to forensic science and as a timeline of the history/development of forensic techniques. The scope of the book is sweeping, from the lowest form of technology (eye-witness identification) to the most cutting-edge techniques (DNA finger printing and genetic genealogy), all organized thematically, given in the approximately order of chronological development, and illustrated with an abundance of examples where the techniques were used, could have been used, or played a decisive role in the legal outcome.
THE BOOK’S STRENGTHS: Number One is the author’s selection of crimes to illustrate the evolution and employment of forensic science in the art of criminal investigation. The author displays a connoisseur’s discriminating eye in carefully curating a collection of cases. It is on the strength of his choices that I chose to round this rating up. He picks excellent examples that are interesting, some which are famous but more which are (sadly!) obscure, but all very relevant and memorable. With an almost unlimited catalog of human horrors to choose from, the author had quite a task in picking the best of mankind’s worst, but the end result is truly outstanding.
As an additional strength, this book is exceptionally broad and incredibly accessible. There is no prerequisite for reading; any reader with an interest will come away knowing a lot more about the methods of testing for arsenic poisoning or the role of microscopy in trace analysis.
THE BOOK’S WEAKNESSES: Broadness and accessible come at the expense of depth and rigor. I would have loved more detail, more technical jargon, more technical insight, e.g. ray tracing diagrams in the microscopy chapters and Lewis dot structures in the chapter on toxicology. As it is, such detail is beyond the scope of the book, but it speaks to the book’s limitation, namely that it is a book for a general audience. Specialists and keen amateurs will want to look elsewhere.
June 26, 2018
Locard's Exchange Principle: "Every contact leaves a trace." And that is the standard principle upon which all forensic science is based.
And, this book, does, in fact, cover the history of forensic science, as far back as bertillonage (anthropometry), the development of firearms and gunpowder (leading to ballistics) dactyloscopy (fingerprint analysis) and trace evidence up to modern day techniques such as spectroscopic analysis, DNA fingerprinting, and facial reconstruction.
And, although the book is interesting as a history text, the "often gruesome and always fascinating" part does not belong in the title, at least in my opinion. the book appeared to discuss more about the people--the police, the detectives, the scientists, and how they solved the actual crimes.
A brief outtake: "...this case was solved by another extraordinary forensic scientist, Professor John Glaister, Jr (1892-1971). During the First World War, Glaister served in Palestine with the Royal Army Medical Corps before returning home in Glasgow in 1919. There he became an assistant in Glasgow University's Dept of Forensic Medicine where his father (...also a prestigious forensic scientist ) was regius professior. ... Glaister Jr. spent 3 years in Cairo as a professor of forensic medicine at the University of Egypt where he had the unique opportunity to examine mummified bodies. He succeeded his father as regius professor in 1931..." and so on it goes.
If you are interested in the historical life story of some of the detectives, and how some of the forensic items came into use, then this book is for you. There are some gory details discussed about certain crime scenes, but I found the book to be quite lacking.
And, this book, does, in fact, cover the history of forensic science, as far back as bertillonage (anthropometry), the development of firearms and gunpowder (leading to ballistics) dactyloscopy (fingerprint analysis) and trace evidence up to modern day techniques such as spectroscopic analysis, DNA fingerprinting, and facial reconstruction.
And, although the book is interesting as a history text, the "often gruesome and always fascinating" part does not belong in the title, at least in my opinion. the book appeared to discuss more about the people--the police, the detectives, the scientists, and how they solved the actual crimes.
A brief outtake: "...this case was solved by another extraordinary forensic scientist, Professor John Glaister, Jr (1892-1971). During the First World War, Glaister served in Palestine with the Royal Army Medical Corps before returning home in Glasgow in 1919. There he became an assistant in Glasgow University's Dept of Forensic Medicine where his father (...also a prestigious forensic scientist ) was regius professior. ... Glaister Jr. spent 3 years in Cairo as a professor of forensic medicine at the University of Egypt where he had the unique opportunity to examine mummified bodies. He succeeded his father as regius professor in 1931..." and so on it goes.
If you are interested in the historical life story of some of the detectives, and how some of the forensic items came into use, then this book is for you. There are some gory details discussed about certain crime scenes, but I found the book to be quite lacking.
June 1, 2024
Üsna pealiskaudne ja ilmselt kiirustades kokku miksitud siiruviiruline ülevaade. Kisub sinnapoole, et sihtgrupiks on see lugeja, kellel eelteadmised kohtumeditsiinist puuduvad. Lugesin sama raamatut enne koroonat ja nüüd selgus, et olin kõik edukalt ära unustanud. Annetuskogu, here I come!
Sissejuhatus Narborough’ mõrvadest oli kogu raamatu kõige paremini õnnestunud osa, kusjuures seal ilmutab autor ohvrite suhtes natukegi empaatiat. Materjali esitamise süsteem on iseenesest hästi läbi mõeldud, aga tuim, monotoonne stiil ja hüplevad üleminekud nullivad selle eelise ära. Äkki oleks mõttekam olnud piirduda vähema hulga juhtumitega ja keskenduda teadusele? McCrery pole kirjeldajana suurem asi, aga süsteemide ja tendentside ülevaade kukub tal hästi välja.
Mandrieurooplasena ei saa märkimata jätta, et autoril on tüütu komme mitteinglise nimesid moonutada ja osa aastaarve on vist laest võetud. Sedasorti infi võiks enne trükki laskmist ikka kontrollida. Jürgen Thorwaldi internetieelne raamat (ja ma ei mõtle tõlget vene keelest) on selles suhtes kordades täpsem. Btw, seal leidub ka kordades rohkem empaatiat.
Mulle jättis kõige sügavama mulje täiesti kõrvaline episood brittide DNA eksperdiga, kes lõi tsaariperekonna jäänuseid lennujaamast laborisse viies kartma, et politsei võib ta teel kinni pidada ja uurima hakata, miks ta küll nii mitme inimese konte kotiga kaasas kannab.
Sissejuhatus Narborough’ mõrvadest oli kogu raamatu kõige paremini õnnestunud osa, kusjuures seal ilmutab autor ohvrite suhtes natukegi empaatiat. Materjali esitamise süsteem on iseenesest hästi läbi mõeldud, aga tuim, monotoonne stiil ja hüplevad üleminekud nullivad selle eelise ära. Äkki oleks mõttekam olnud piirduda vähema hulga juhtumitega ja keskenduda teadusele? McCrery pole kirjeldajana suurem asi, aga süsteemide ja tendentside ülevaade kukub tal hästi välja.
Mandrieurooplasena ei saa märkimata jätta, et autoril on tüütu komme mitteinglise nimesid moonutada ja osa aastaarve on vist laest võetud. Sedasorti infi võiks enne trükki laskmist ikka kontrollida. Jürgen Thorwaldi internetieelne raamat (ja ma ei mõtle tõlget vene keelest) on selles suhtes kordades täpsem. Btw, seal leidub ka kordades rohkem empaatiat.
Mulle jättis kõige sügavama mulje täiesti kõrvaline episood brittide DNA eksperdiga, kes lõi tsaariperekonna jäänuseid lennujaamast laborisse viies kartma, et politsei võib ta teel kinni pidada ja uurima hakata, miks ta küll nii mitme inimese konte kotiga kaasas kannab.
October 13, 2017
For someone like me, who doesn't know much about forensics except what I've seen on TV, this was a good book -- interesting, informative, and a fun read. It doesn't have a whole lot of detail about each area of forensics it discusses, but it's not meant to be that kind of book. It's a history of forensics, not a forensics text; McCrery takes us through the last few centuries of forensic detection, giving general information of different areas like fingerprinting, trace analysis, and DNA, and illustrating each area with a few actual cases from history.
This book won't make you an expert, but it'll give you a general overview of what forensic science is and how it developed. If you're interested in learning more, you'll have some basic terminology and important names to base your research on.
I enjoyed this book, and will probably read it again.
This book won't make you an expert, but it'll give you a general overview of what forensic science is and how it developed. If you're interested in learning more, you'll have some basic terminology and important names to base your research on.
I enjoyed this book, and will probably read it again.
July 26, 2020
A little disappointing but perhaps that's because I have read quite a few forensic science history books. The cases McCrery illustrates his book with are familiar ones and I am sure with a little bit of digging he could have found less known cases to give a broader feel for the application of the forensic methods he is exploring. Perhaps it is because he always tended to focus on the 'first use' of the technique rather than perhaps the best use, the most innovative use or even the worst crime. I am saddened that he has tended to focus on sexual violence against women (we know that 90% of murders are males killing males) but perhaps this make the book more 'titillating'. There are better forensic history books available.
November 4, 2023
Another new author to me....Nigel McCrery.....my book cover is different than any pictured here....published by Pocket Books in 1998.
Dr Samantha Ryan is a forensic pathologist somewhere in Britain....she is very clever, searches for the tiniest clue e.g. a type of ivy....and is determined she is right in her findings.
Sam is constantly at odds with Superintendant Hilary Farmer, of the Police Department...Farmer wants to solve the case; doesn't want Sam's help unless she is desperate.
Someone is killing people using a syringe and then cutting an upside down cross on the body from throat to groin. Sam is in great danger and almost dies of garrotting by the killer and is miraculously saved by a fellow policeman.
Dr Samantha Ryan is a forensic pathologist somewhere in Britain....she is very clever, searches for the tiniest clue e.g. a type of ivy....and is determined she is right in her findings.
Sam is constantly at odds with Superintendant Hilary Farmer, of the Police Department...Farmer wants to solve the case; doesn't want Sam's help unless she is desperate.
Someone is killing people using a syringe and then cutting an upside down cross on the body from throat to groin. Sam is in great danger and almost dies of garrotting by the killer and is miraculously saved by a fellow policeman.
July 9, 2024
On occasion, the history presented here is both gruesome and informative to anyone exploring the background of forensic science, but more often than not, it comes across as a mix between young adult storytelling, with real-life characters getting a dramatic makeover (so and so felt, so and so worried, so and so wondered), and textbook-yawning explanations. I don't doubt that it's a daunting task for anyone to organize a layman's series of cold cases and late solved mysteries, all of them mixed with high level science that the author readily admits can be difficult for the most competent jury member to comprehend, let alone a well-educated judge. Unfortunately, daunting or not, this one was a struggle to get through, process, and/or enjoy as a reader.
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