Women Who Talk to the Dead: The True Story of 200 Forgotten Murder Victims and the Relentless Pursuit of Justice by an FBI Agent and a Detroit Police Detective

by Katherine Schweit

Two women lead the largest FBI exhumation in history to give voice to 200 forgotten murder victims.True crime fans of Mindhunter, I'll Be Gone in the Dark, and We Keep the Dead Close, will love how Schweit blends her expertise in law enforcement with her gift for storytelling, to bring readers this gripping true-crime story of social justice.

In the shadows of Detroit's abandoned buildings and beneath the soil of county cemeteries lay hundreds of murder victims-buried anonymously, their killers uncharged, their families not knowing why they disappeared. For decades, only decaying police files hinted at what happened to these forgotten cold cases murders.

Until two women decided to listen to the dead.

In the spirit of award-winning writers Amber Hunt and Jana Monroe, Women Who Talk to the Dead chronicles the remarkable journey of Detroit Police Detective Shannon Jones and FBI Special Agent Leslie Larsen who assemble a team led by female forensic anthropologists, scientists, and investigators who methodically unearthed Detroit's painful past. Surrounded by skepticism and bureaucratic roadblocks, follow them through rain-soaked cemetery digs, crumbling case files, and bone-filled body bags to identify the nameless dead and bring closure to families who had spent decades wondering what happened to their loved ones.
Katherine Schweit takes readers inside this unprecedented cold case investigation, scientific breakthroughs that allow forensic experts to "hear" what bones can tell us decades after deathThe emotional toll of searching for answers when everyone else has moved onThe bitter reality of which murders are solved and which victims' society deems disposableHow a small team of dedicated women changed a system that has too often allowed killers to escape justice simply because their victims were poor, marginalized, or forgottenPart forensic procedural, part social justice narrative, this book exposes the tragic consequences when the criminal justice system fails those most vulnerable. It also celebrates the resilience and determination of the law enforcement officers who refuse to let these forgotten victims remain nameless.
Some of Detroit's dead have finally reclaimed their identities-but hundreds more still whisper from unmarked graves, waiting for someone to listen.

Genres: True Crime, Nonfiction, Crime, Science, Audiobook

222 pages, Kindle Edition

Published May 15, 2025

About the author

Katherine Schweit is a former journalist and Chicago prosecutor who spent 20 years as an FBI Special Agent. In her latest book, "Women Who Talk to the Dead," two women lead the largest FBI exhumation in history to give voice to 200 forgotten murder victims. True crime fans of "Mindhunter," "I'll Be Gone in the Dark" and "We Keep the Dead Close," will love how Schweit blends her expertise in law enforcement with her gift for storytelling, to bring readers this gripping true-crime story of social justice. In the spirit of award-winning writers Amber Hunt and Jana Monroe, "Women Who Talk to the Dead" chronicles the remarkable journey of Detroit Police Detective Shannon Jones and FBI Special Agent Leslie Larsen who assemble a team led by female forensic anthropologists, scientists, and investigators who methodically unearthed Detroit's painful past. The book is "especially and unreservedly recommended" by the Midwest Book Review, which calls the book "a simply fascinating read from start to finish," and "inspiring." The New York Times' Devlin Barrett calls it "a haunting account of what it takes to give victims’ families something more important than closure—to give them answers”.


Schweit is also the author of "Stop the Killing: How to End the Mass Shooting Crisis," and the dual titled, "A Simple Guide to the Second Amendment/How to Talk About Guns With Anyone." Honoring the book with its Ben Franklin Award, the Independent Book Publishers Association called the book a "comprehensive, non-partisan guide [to] equips readers with strategies to engage in informed discussions about guns in America."

Her FBI career centered on justice against all odds, earning her two U.S. Attorney General Awards for fighting for victims. Now, she offers hope to those impacted by violence on her podcast, Stop the Killing, with her London co-host Sarah Ferris. She is a founding member of the Bureau Consortium consulting group and owns Schweit Consulting LLC., providing crisis and communications guidance to schools, businesses, and government agencies. She sits as an expert advisor on several boards, including the University of Michigan’s National Center for School Safety. She earned a BA in journalism from Michigan State University and a JD from DePaul College of Law, where she is currently an adjunct professor. Based outside Washington, D.C., she continues to write, teach, and advocate for justice and a safer future for everyone.

Reviews

[Peacegal · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is the story of two women who chose to undertake the intense, nerve-wracking, and often thankless task of restoring identities to unknown victims of violent crime who were buried in a potter's field in Detroit over the course of multiple decades.

There is a lot of background about their lives and career trajectories, as well as the day-to-day realities of forensics work, so this will be an especially recommended read for those who seek a future in this field.

[Maddie Littlepage · Rating 3 out of 5]

This story is one of pure tenacity. Schweit dictates the stories of women in the gruesome pursuit of justice and dignity for unidentified homicide victims. The book outlines the various bureaucratic and technical challenges in launching Operation UNITED, the largest exhumation of its kind in FBI history, and how the Operation succeeded and continues to succeed today. While the book is educational, inspiring, and approachable to newbies, the book would benefit from additional editorial review.

[Jen · Rating 4 out of 5]

What an inspiring story that gives a voice to those who no longer can speak for themselves.

We need more books like these. A highlight of everyday hero’s in our world will always be interesting.

[Kasey Turner · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was fascinating. If you are at all interested in forensics or the science behind work with bodies, you need to read this book. It focuses largely on the women themselves, following their interests and what drove them to their careers and specifically to this project. But it does not spare you some of the gross details of exhumation of really sloppy, messy, overcrowded burial sites.
Not for the faint of heart.

[Jessica · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for my honest review."

She is no longer a neighbour, a worker, or a mum. Now she is a body."

We're following two women in Detroit (both in law enforcement) who are trying to give a name to unclaimed bodies in their city. Unclaimed doesn't mean unwanted (though sometimes it does), those bodies have loved ones who are looking for them and who could use some answers. That's the thing about cold cases, sometimes they've been cold for a long time but DNA is changing the game. With DNA, you can give an unclaimed body a name and a history ; it may not solve the case but it will give loved ones some closure. When someone's been missing for long enough, people who love them know they're probably dead, but knowing and being sure is different. I was thinking about that watching "Les disparues de la gare" (The Lost Station Girls) - a case that happened in my country - some of the families got answers when they arrested two guys (yes, there were two murderers running around Perpignan at the same time, which is a bit terrifying), but not Tatiana's family. They know she's probably dead and have said so, but they're still looking because they have no idea what happened to her or who's responsible. That's what I like to tell people when they wonder why it's so important to close a case that's over 30 years old, because the people who loved that person deserve to have some answers.

In the book, we get to know Antonio. His mum, Anita, disappeared when he was a teenager. He knew that something bad probably happened to her, but actually knowing that she was indeed killed and being able to bury her body was so important to him. Burying a loved one is part of the way we grieve as human beings (it's said well in the book, but we always had rituals for that, including for the people who had no one). Leslie and Shannon are making it possible for people to finally grieve someone they're missing ; it's such an incredible gift. Of course, money is everything, and in one chapter, we learn about the reality of budget cuts (Detroit is not a rich city). There is something so sad about knowing that some people are fucked over beyond their death because money is everything. Unclaimed bodies are usually from underprivileged communities; they were failed during their lives and they are failed after their death too.

"There is a boy, now a man, who lost his mum the night he went for a sleepover at his cousin’s house. But now she is no longer lost. They have given Anita Wiley back her name."

[Lexi · Rating 4 out of 5]

(3.75*)


“Each person was given a name at birth, but became a number when they were murdered.”

This book is written as a true story and digs deep into the remarkable real-life account of groundbreaking efforts to recover, identify, and give a voice back to hundreds of unnamed murder victims buried in Detroit, Michigan. The story is mainly led through the eyes of Detroit Police Detective - Shannon Jones and FBI Special Agent - Leslie Larsen, this team of women investigators ended up undertaking Operation UNITED — the largest coordinated exhumation of unidentified murder victims in FBI history — in an attempt to solve cold cases that had long been forgotten by the justice system. Reading through this and learning how many people are unidentified, as well as, the details of what goes on just in Michigan alone, makes me really wonder what happens everywhere else also.

Author Katherine Schweit highlights cutting-edge forensic science, fieldwork in rain-or-shine cemeteries, and decaying case files to show the process it takes to uncover one’s identity and bring closure to families who had waited decades for answers. The heart of the story lies not just in the victims, but in the women behind the investigation. This is a truly dedicated team of determined professionals who faced skepticism, bureaucratic obstacles, and physical hardship, but remained committed in order to uncover truth.

Overall, I found Women Who Talk to the Dead to be well-written and have lots of investigative details. It is the type of work I am currently in the process of going back to school for. That said, I know some of the details are traumatic or tough to read, but the book’s emotional impact, along with the historical significance make it a powerful and worthwhile read.
Thank you NetGalley and Independent Book Publishers Association (IBPA) for the ARC!

[Susan Johnston · Rating 4 out of 5]

Living across the border from Detroit in the late 1980’s and early 1990’s, stories of women who went missing or bodies (or body parts) being discovered, were a not infrequent staple of the local newscasts. The city that had burned the Black Day in July was still marred by derelict buildings, systemic corruption, and a dwindling population. Often those who could get out, did get out. It was a sad state of affairs. So when murder or disappearance cases went cold, no one really cared if they were ever solved. There were bigger issues. Or at least that was what the old boys club said because a lot of those unidentified bodies were marginal women. They did not matter. Until they did.

It was a talented and motivated group of women who fought for the funding, fought for the resources, fought for these forgotten victims whose bodies had been buried in a couple of Potter’s Fields in the area. It was women because it had to be women. They were the only ones who cared enough to let the bones speak to them and who cared enough to be the voices the dead had lost. This is not a book for the squeamish because some of the stories do get a bit grisly. But the stories of the women from the FBI and the Detroit Police Department are moving and inspiring. They alone had the courage and the fortitude to slog through the bureaucratic ennui and a lot of muck and frustration, sometimes literal.

But in the end, they matched names to the bodies and in some cases provided much needed, long denied, closure. The most moving one was the teenage son who finally learned, thirty years later, why his mother never returned home. Kudos to the team. And kudos to the author for telling their story. Four purrs and two paws up.

[Elena J · Rating 5 out of 5]

Women Who Talk to the Dead by Katherine Schweit is a riveting, unflinching, and deeply humane chronicle of justice reclaimed from the silence of the grave. It’s not just a true crime story it’s a testament to resilience, compassion, and the extraordinary women who refused to let the forgotten remain voiceless.

In the decaying shadows of Detroit’s abandoned buildings and unmarked graves, hundreds of victims lay unidentified casualties not only of violence but of neglect. Enter FBI Special Agent Leslie Larsen and Detroit Police Detective Shannon Jones: two women who dared to listen when no one else would. Through relentless investigation, forensic breakthroughs, and sheer human will, they led Operation UNITED the largest coordinated exhumation of unidentified murder victims in FBI history.

Schweit’s storytelling is cinematic and meticulous, merging the tension of an FBI procedural with the moral weight of a social justice narrative. She exposes how class, race, and indifference allowed killers to roam free, while the poor and marginalized were left to vanish without trace. Yet she also illuminates the power of empathy the quiet heroism of those who dig not just for evidence, but for truth and dignity.

Women Who Talk to the Dead is a haunting masterpiece of investigative nonfiction part forensic thriller, part elegy and a reminder that the dead still speak, if only we have the courage to listen.

[Julie Svinicki · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’ll never drive past that cemetery the same way again.

Women Who Talk to the Dead shook me. I’ve driven past United Memorial Gardens on Curtis Road more times than I can count, unaware of the history beneath the soil. After reading this book, I’ll never pass it again without thinking of the unnamed souls buried there—and the incredible women who worked to give them back their names.

Katherine Schweit, my sister, wrote this extraordinary book. FBI Special Agent Leslie Larsen—one of the lead investigators and now a dear friend and client—teamed with Detroit Police Detective Shannon Jones in an effort so bold and humane, it’s hard to believe it hasn’t been widely told before now.

The level of care, patience, and persistence these women brought to this mission was astounding. They stood in the mud, unzipped body bags, and searched for DNA—unflinching, yet full of reverence. The fact that many of these victims had missing persons reports on file but no one actively looking for them is heartbreaking.

Schweit captures it all with clarity, empathy, and respect. This is more than a true crime story—it’s a blueprint for hope, and a tribute to what skilled, compassionate women can accomplish. I hope there’s a sequel. I’d watch the mini-series in a heartbeat.

[AnnieM · Rating 5 out of 5]

A remarkable book that shines a spotlight both on the heroic women led by Detroit Police Detective Shannon Jones and FBI Special Agent Leslie Larsen to find out the identities of forgotten victims. I was hooked from the beginning -- I grew up in Michigan and early in the book they are at a "paupers" cemetery in Canton, Michigan, not far from where my dad spent the last days of his life. It's eerie when you read a book and you know exactly the places they are talking about (I had the same feeling when I read The Michigan Murders). The book really highlights the absolute dedication and compassion these women feel for these unnamed, unidentified victims and want closure and justice for families. The book does an outstanding job describing forensic science and how newer advances have allowed cold cases to be reopened. This is a great book for lovers of true crime but also for anyone who wants to read a compelling story about heroism.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for an ARC and I voluntarily left this review.

[Charlotte Kane · Rating 5 out of 5]

It was very insightful and I enjoyed how Kate showed where they started and where they ended up. I liked how she built up the relationship, and the fact that they were both happy to stay quiet and work. Interweaving the discovery of bodies into the story was a great narrative, and you could really feel the emotions that everyone was feeling when they discovered these bodies - especially when the remains were babies! Those scenes were difficult to read. It was a very riveting read, and each chapter brought new challenges they had to face. The fact that they have now set a precedent for other states/districts is wonderful, and hopefully more people will be given their names and families will be given their closure. A definite read!

[Betsy Ashton · Rating 4 out of 5]

Schweit introduces the reader to a group of bad-ass women who work in law enforcement to identify unidentified bodies, often long-cold cases. A Detroit detective joins with an FBI agent, a forensic anthropologist, and others to identify where 200 unknown murder victims and missing persons by using a variety of scientific tools to put a name to what is often a pile of bones. This book opens the readers eyes to how difficult it is to find enough DNA to return the bones to the rightful family for reburial. When the works leads to what are clear murders, the team works with local law enforcement to match victim with perpetrator. Schweit writes in a novelistic style that is easy to read and profoundly thought provoking. I don't recommend this for bedtime reading...

[Reader · Rating 5 out of 5]

Katherine Schweit is my go-to authority on anything related to Mass Shooters, Active Shootings and related information and statistics. I’ve read all her books and this one adds the dimension of real people as individuals, victims, families and the cold case investigators.
This one feels real, with empathy evoking details of the crimes and subsequent investigations.
Read this and her other books to get a real understanding of the issues and how we can reduce them from happening.

[Sarah Ferris · Rating 5 out of 5]

Not even sure where to start with this book that I literally couldn’t put down. @kateschweit obviously had told me about it as she wrote it but there really is no way to convey the impact of this story without reading it. I wasn’t prepared for the full hero worship and respect I feel for these empathetic and compassionate women who truly not only talk to but really listen to the dead and then strive to give them back their voices. And Anita and Antonio, their story left me in tears. Amazing. Thank you for sharing their stories @kateschweit

[Frank Fleischmann · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was poignant and personal. It tells a story that needed to be told. Who had any idea there were so many people missing out there? The fact that they can now be found as a result of DNA, diligence and hard work gives hope to so many. This book is a labor of love by the author, and all the people who did the footwork, the FBI in the Detroit police. I’m glad it’s on my shelf!

[Valerity (Val) · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was an inspiring read about a group of women who got together to help find names for a large group of unidentified dead. They had all been buried in a couple of cemeteries in Michigan with others, and it was a huge effort to try to get DNA profiles for all of them. Then, they had to hope that families would come forward and provide their DNA in order to find a match.

[Laurann · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a very interesting story. Women coming together to give names back to John and Jane Does in Detroit is right up my alley for a great book. I listened to the audiobook, and while I loved the reader's voice, she did accents for different people. They were unnecessary and really took me out of the story. But the book itself was amazing.

[Cheryl Smith]

This book will be fascinating to true crime folks. The dedication of the women/people who trace down the unidentified victims of death and murder is truly inspiring. In my opinion, there were a few too many "gory" details, but it was okay just to get to know the story. One thing is clear--I could never do the tough work of police and FBI folks.

[Belle · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow. What selfless and commendable work. A very emotional and interesting book.

So utterly heartbreaking, but also so heartwarming at the same time. I was shocked to hear how completely unfunded they are. (I am not American, and was unaware of what has happened in Detroit)

Inspiring!

[Chelsea · Rating 5 out of 5]

Highly recommend reading the stories of these amazing women and their fight for justice for those left unidentified. It is inspiring while also incredibly sad.

[Courtney Johnston · Rating 4 out of 5]

Audiobook👂🏻
4.5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️✨

[Jill Bowman · Rating 4 out of 5]

A big ‘gross’ but definitely interesting and informative!

[Nancy Shaffer · Rating 4 out of 5]

Impressive effort by the women who pursued this project.

[M · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fascinating read.

[Anthony Ratcliffe · Rating 3 out of 5]

The storytelling is good, and I definitely enjoyed the saga of the Wileys. But factual and syntax errors took me out of the experience too many times.

[Michelle · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fascinating! All elements of this book are so interesting. Great women with great careers and even greater sense of humanity! Loved this!