Traces of Truth

by Ciaran Prior

From the crime scene to the courtroom, a gripping insider perspective from a former CSI
Despite his childhood fear of death, Ciaran Prior chose to become a Garda crime scene investigator, a role that brought him face-to-face with what he once feared most.
In this revealing memoir, Ciaran sensitively details his work on some of Ireland's most shocking killings, from the murder of chip shop owner Franco Sacco to the double assassination of Eddie McCabe and Catherine Brennan in 1995, offering the reader a unique insight into the role of a CSI in modern-day policing, as well as describing the impact that frontline encounters with death had on Ciaran's own outlook.
Much more than just a forensic police procedural, Traces of Truth is both a fascinating glimpse into the techniques, instinct and judgement required to see justice done, and a moving reflection on life, death and the traces that a career spent dealing with mortality leave on a man's psyche.

321 pages, Kindle Edition

Published September 19, 2024

Reviews

[Ciaran Prior · Rating 5 out of 5]

"A Cultural Gem not to be missed this autumn, Traces of Truth is well worth a read. It's both harrowing and chilling to get a rarely seen Irish perspective on a career often glamorised on TV and in film. The book is a fascinating multi-layered read that's laden with compassion and eye-opening insights about both life and death."
— RTÉ Culture

"A unique contribution underscoring the importance of values, courage and humility in contemporary policing. The fragility of life, the thin line between life and death, are a constant backdrop to the narrative. His CSI methodology is painstaking, with reverence and respect shown to the often pitiable human stories revealed."
— The Irish Times

"This is not your average police procedural memoir and the book does not shy away from the human tragedy of violent death. Not every book about crime scene investigation will have quotes from the Roman philosophers Seneca and Marcus Aurelius threaded through it, but Prior's musings on the afterlife in Traces of Truth are particularly insightful."
— The Sunday Times

"A great read. Ciaran sifted through tragedy with forensic precision, seeking clues to pursue justice for the deceased. His writing takes you right onto the scenes, reconstructing the final hours and minutes of lives lost, yet always retaining humanity and a sense of duty to those who died."
— The Examiner Special Correspondent, Mick Clifford

[Paul Mulvey · Rating 4 out of 5]

Coming from the same County as Ciaran there were several cases that I had heard about before so this engaged me even more in his narration of particular cases. As a technical person I enjoyed his description of the forensic science. Ciaran is accomplished writer for sure. 75% of the book is about his CSI work and I wondered at times if this was a warts and all account of the work. It seemed that he came out the hero of every case, this is a little harsh I know, but I did expect that he might have recounted some blunders. I recognise that for legal reasons he may have been prohibited from doing this. His accounts of tragedy within in his family circle does in fact balance out the slight super hero image of his CSI work and provides the opportunity to show his more vulnerable side. When he retired Ciaran packed a toothbrush and went off to India. Maybe it was my late night reading of the book but I found that this part went over my head. It was more of a travelogue than his personal reflections. As if beamed up by Scotttie we jumped from Lanesborough to an airport in India. I would have like to know more about his personal reasons for this trip. I have had the experience when writing a long piece and crafting it within an inch of its life, weariness sets in and you just want to wrap it up and get shut of it leading to a weak finish. In this book the end comes like falling off a cliff; was this intended?
Overall this book was a great read. I noted that the publisher's notes at the end said that this was Ciaran’s first book. I’d say he might have a trilogy of crime novels in him centred around rural Ireland. Go for it Ciaran. I worked with a Cork man once and he recounted when in Pearse Park all he could hear was shouts of “Cum awn Lawfort” so I issue that same shout to yourself Ciaran. (Just remembered maybe you’re from the far side, Ballyleague!)

[Don Dealga · Rating 3 out of 5]

From an early childhood fixation on mortality, through a working life and career encountering & investigating some of the most traumatic modes of death Ciaran Prior's book is no easy read and despite the bulk of its subject matter resists the temptation to descend into some 'true crime' type of schlock. Ultimately, it is the toll that his career as a forensic CSI takes on Prior's mental and physical well being and how he eventually attempts to resolve that, that forms the narrative arc of this book. One of the major compounding factors for Prior's well being is his kind of 'bottling up' of emotions and reactions, attempting to distance himself from the horror and damage he has to witness on a virtually daily basis by denying or refusing to confront his own emotions and feelings. It's a kind of truism that the 'typical' Irish male reaction to pain, anxiety and distress; is to pretend it's all ok and that a 'brave front' and cheerful demeanor is a way to deal with such things not recognizing that such behaviours are are actually harmful 'coping mechanisms' and a masking of real psychological harm. Prior has to eventually confront the reality of what appears to be his PTSD and seek a route to healing.
The book is beautifully written and contains numerous erudite references to and quotes from various works ranging from Marcus Aurelius to Gabor Mate.