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Murder & Mayhem: A Doctor Answers Medical & Forensics Questions for Mystery Writers
In Murder and Mayhem: A Doctor Answers Medical and Forensic Questions for Mystery Writers, Dr. D. P. Lyle culls the best of his popular "The Doctor Is In" question-and-answer column for the Mystery Writers of America, in which he answers medical and forensic questions from writers all over the country.
A frequent advisor to published mystery writers, as well as writers for TV shows such as Law and Order, Dr. Lyle tackles subjects such as traumatic injuries, doctors and hospitals, weapons of death, poisons and drugs, police and the crime scene, the coroner and the crime lab, and more. In extremely organized and accessible detail, he answers questions spanning a wide range: Do pupils shrink or enlarge with death? Can X rays be copied? Can ingested cocaine kill? How soon do strangulation bruises appear?
Lively and accessible, this solid reference book is bound for every mystery writer's shelf.
A frequent advisor to published mystery writers, as well as writers for TV shows such as Law and Order, Dr. Lyle tackles subjects such as traumatic injuries, doctors and hospitals, weapons of death, poisons and drugs, police and the crime scene, the coroner and the crime lab, and more. In extremely organized and accessible detail, he answers questions spanning a wide range: Do pupils shrink or enlarge with death? Can X rays be copied? Can ingested cocaine kill? How soon do strangulation bruises appear?
Lively and accessible, this solid reference book is bound for every mystery writer's shelf.
304 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 9, 2003
35 people are currently reading
345 people want to read
About the author
D.P. Lyle
34 books153 followersDP Lyle, MD is the Macavity and Benjamin Franklin Silver Award winning and Edgar, Agatha, Anthony, Scribe, Silver Falchion, and USA Best Book Award nominated author of many non-fiction books as well as numerous works of fiction.
He has worked with many novelists and with the writers of popular television shows such as Law & Order, CSI: Miami, Diagnosis Murder, Monk, House, Medium, and Pretty Little Liars and others
For the past 35 years, he has practiced Cardiology in Orange County, California. He is the co-host, along with Jan Burke, of Crime and Science Radio, a twice-monthly program on Suspense Radio.
He has worked with many novelists and with the writers of popular television shows such as Law & Order, CSI: Miami, Diagnosis Murder, Monk, House, Medium, and Pretty Little Liars and others
For the past 35 years, he has practiced Cardiology in Orange County, California. He is the co-host, along with Jan Burke, of Crime and Science Radio, a twice-monthly program on Suspense Radio.
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Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews
October 24, 2017
I sure wouldn't want to get on the wrong side of mystery writers.
February 2, 2016
This is an excellent resource book if your WIP involves any accidents, attacks, poisonings, or deaths. Dr. Lyle answers questions in a way you just can't find in regular medical resources, because he's specifically aiming his advice at how you could possibly make this injury or illness work for your particular plot requirements. Of course, your specific question might not be covered in this book, but boy, he covers a lot of topics. I would have liked an index, since certain issues are covered in multiple sections, and I can imagine it being difficult to go back and find that one part I vaguely remember.
There are some sections -- e.g., how deaths are investigated, how autopsies work -- that would be more relevant for modern stories than my low-tech fantasy world, but there was certainly enough here to give me some good ideas. And some very, very bad ideas for what to do to my poor doomed characters (he he he).
It gets gruesome, obviously, so maybe don't read it at bedtime (like I did).
There are some sections -- e.g., how deaths are investigated, how autopsies work -- that would be more relevant for modern stories than my low-tech fantasy world, but there was certainly enough here to give me some good ideas. And some very, very bad ideas for what to do to my poor doomed characters (he he he).
It gets gruesome, obviously, so maybe don't read it at bedtime (like I did).
May 5, 2014
An interesting reference for writers on a very specific topic. Will also appeal to trivia buffs. I learned something new in almost every entry, and I've watched decades of medical, police and legal dramas on tv.
Side benefit: this book will also help you not have the internet search history of a serial killer if you're a curious soul. Things I have Googled: suffocation times (Othello); poison that mimics death (Romeo & Juliet); drowning (Hamlet); fast-acting ear poison (Hamlet); fast-acting consumed poison (Hamlet); fast-acting poison introduced in a superficial wound (Hamlet); blood loss from stabbing (Hamlet and Macbeth). And that's just Shakespeare.
Side benefit: this book will also help you not have the internet search history of a serial killer if you're a curious soul. Things I have Googled: suffocation times (Othello); poison that mimics death (Romeo & Juliet); drowning (Hamlet); fast-acting ear poison (Hamlet); fast-acting consumed poison (Hamlet); fast-acting poison introduced in a superficial wound (Hamlet); blood loss from stabbing (Hamlet and Macbeth). And that's just Shakespeare.
August 21, 2008
The book is a collection of Dr. Lyle's columns for a member publication of Mystery Writer's of America. It is an invaluable tool and I use it often while writing my novels and short stories.
The entries are clear. The illustrations are very helpful. My only complaint is that it should have included an index.
The entries are clear. The illustrations are very helpful. My only complaint is that it should have included an index.
March 16, 2008
Does exactly what it says on the tin. Invaluable if you're looking for the science behind your story twists. Recommended to writers and the curious-minded alike.
December 1, 2021
Designed for mystery writers, this book provides writers [and interested readers] with medical and forensic information. For mystery writers, it is an invaluable reference book.
In Part One, Doctors, Hospitals, Illnesses, and Injuries, the topics are broken up into broad categories that include Traumatic Injuries and Their Treatment; Environmental Injuries and Their Treatment; Doctors, Hospitals, and Paramedical; Medications and Drugs; and Diseases and Their Treatments.
In Part Two, Methods of Murder and Mayhem, the topics are broken up into broad categories that include The Effects of Guns, Knives, Explosives, and Other Weapons of Death; Poisons and Drugs; and Medical Murder.
In Part Three, Tracking the Perp, the topics are broken up into broad categories that include The Police and the Crime Scene; The Coroner, the Crime Lab, and the Autopsy; and Odds and Ends, Mostly Odds.
Illustrations are also included.
The questions and corresponding answers are clear and concise; some have short responses while others are more complex. But the amount of information here is impressive; both readers and writers interested in the construction of mystery stories will find much to appreciate here.
Highly recommended.
In Part One, Doctors, Hospitals, Illnesses, and Injuries, the topics are broken up into broad categories that include Traumatic Injuries and Their Treatment; Environmental Injuries and Their Treatment; Doctors, Hospitals, and Paramedical; Medications and Drugs; and Diseases and Their Treatments.
In Part Two, Methods of Murder and Mayhem, the topics are broken up into broad categories that include The Effects of Guns, Knives, Explosives, and Other Weapons of Death; Poisons and Drugs; and Medical Murder.
In Part Three, Tracking the Perp, the topics are broken up into broad categories that include The Police and the Crime Scene; The Coroner, the Crime Lab, and the Autopsy; and Odds and Ends, Mostly Odds.
Illustrations are also included.
The questions and corresponding answers are clear and concise; some have short responses while others are more complex. But the amount of information here is impressive; both readers and writers interested in the construction of mystery stories will find much to appreciate here.
Highly recommended.
October 12, 2023
This book is exactly what it says on the cover and that is amazing!!! One addition: I think this will be useful to any kind of fiction writer. Mystery? Of course. Horror? Yup. Action/adventure? Indeed.
I understand why it would be pertinent to mystery writers. (As someone who has dipped their toes into the genre.) I merely rented the book this time, but I intend to purchase it for the sake of reference.
This book covers a whole range of topics from what a character could feasibly survive to what they absolutely would not survive. Beyond that, information about how the perpetrator could be discovered (or not). And so much more that I won't list here. I found answers to questions I did not know I had.
So. Yes. If you write mystery, this book will be a great resource. If you write any kind of fiction, you may find answers to some nagging questions, a clever way to twist your plot, or a spark of inspiration.
I understand why it would be pertinent to mystery writers. (As someone who has dipped their toes into the genre.) I merely rented the book this time, but I intend to purchase it for the sake of reference.
This book covers a whole range of topics from what a character could feasibly survive to what they absolutely would not survive. Beyond that, information about how the perpetrator could be discovered (or not). And so much more that I won't list here. I found answers to questions I did not know I had.
So. Yes. If you write mystery, this book will be a great resource. If you write any kind of fiction, you may find answers to some nagging questions, a clever way to twist your plot, or a spark of inspiration.
December 25, 2019
Answered all my questions and then some
Wow. At first I thought some of these questions were off, but there was a detailed answer to all of them . Perfect and just what I was looking for.
Wow. At first I thought some of these questions were off, but there was a detailed answer to all of them . Perfect and just what I was looking for.
June 25, 2019
Very interesting...kinda scary though, a potential blueprint for criminal behavior.😱
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April 29, 2020If someone found this book on my shelf and didn't know I studied medicine, that person would probably call the police on me.
February 24, 2017
There are three books by this author, all covering similar subjects. They are very well organized and it's very obvious that the author takes an interest in the writer's questions, providing great feedback and even encouragement. Other than the fact that the three books tend to repeat some of the topics, I would definitely recommend these to any writer who wants to create credible mysteries and thrillers.
July 29, 2011
Awesome book!!!! This is a compilation of the most popular questions from his "The Doctor Is In" column for the Mystery Writers of America. He clearly states at the beginning that this is a resource for writers to make their stories more plausible, not to be used for diagnosis or treatment of any medical problem. He wanted to provide a consolidated resource since many times it can be hard to sort out valid information from the bogus or questionable info on the internet. It is also to keep writers from rehashing the same old flawed info used by other writers. TV can be misleading.
Whether you are a mystery writer or not, this has many great questions and answers. He provides the simplified question as well as the original question as submitted that often is a few linked questions in regards to a particular scenario.
Whether you are a mystery writer or not, this has many great questions and answers. He provides the simplified question as well as the original question as submitted that often is a few linked questions in regards to a particular scenario.
July 19, 2011
I'm not a writer (or even a heavy reader) of mysteries, but I found this exploration of the medical facts behind mystery plots to be an entertaining read. Lyle answers writers' plot questions, clearly explaining the biology, medicine, and chemistry to the layman. A few facts are repeated, since the book is compiled from Lyle's newsletter columns, but they aren't overly distracting. An interesting trivia book for anyone interested in the subject, even if you're not using it for writing reference.
April 19, 2010
It's three am,you're hard at work on your mystery screenplay, and all that's missing is the essential medical clue to solve the murder. Who ya gonna call? Dr. Lyle is the go-to guy for writers looking for the perfect piece of medical knowledge, fillin the blanks that imagination alone simply can't. Even if you aren't a writer, the book is probably the best bathroom reading ever -- endlessly entertaining, witty, and informative. Buy this book!
November 26, 2013
Fascinating. It goes without saying that this book is highly recommended for mystery writers, but anyone with an interest in forensics would appreciate it as well. What's more, Lyle doesn't only detail the medical aspects of the scenarios he's presented with; he also discusses the emotional reactions that characters would have in such situations, which makes for richer reading and better writing advice.
October 16, 2015
This was so much fun to read. Lyle has a great way of explaining things that are easy to understand without condescending. There are so many evil, gruesome things to do to a person and I can't wait to off somebody in my next work. I also liked Lyle's personal comments, like calling people out on the bizarre-ness of their question, what an interesting twist their violent idea could lead to, and my favorite, involving a diaphragm: "How diabolical!"
March 10, 2009
Using as a reference for my novel.
Three stars based on the degree of usefulness.
Three stars based on the degree of usefulness.
July 14, 2016
Very informative. Great for people who have medical and/or forensic questions connected to what they are writing.
Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews