Forensic Science: From the Crime Scene to the Crime Lab

by Richard Saferstein

For courses in crime scene investigation A Straightforward, Student-Friendly Primer on Forensics Forensic Science: From the Crime Scene to the Crime Lab presents forensic science in a straightforward, student-friendly format that’s ideal for students with limited backgrounds in the sciences. Topics are arranged to integrate scientific methodology with actual forensic applications, and discussions are focused on explaining state-of-the-art technology without delving into extraneous theories that may bore or overwhelm non-science students. Only the most relevant scientific and technological concepts are presented, keeping students focused on the practical knowledge they’ll need in the field. The Third Edition is updated to include a brand-new chapter on mobile device forensics, and new revisions to the text reflect the now nearly exclusive use of digital photography at crime scenes.

Genres: Textbooks, Chemistry, School

576 pages, Paperback

First published April 21, 2008

Reviews

[Mohammed Aymen ALI TALEB · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this book because I wanted to discover the world of forensic science. We all have watched a movie or a TV show about crimes investigations, but I wanted to know more about how it's done in the real life.

The edition that I had was the second. It consist of 18 Chapters, and each chapter talks about a specific topic (Searching the crime scene, death investigation, document examination...).

The book is well written and well organised. At the end of each chapter there is a summary that helps you understand what you have read so far, and also a couple of questions for you to test yourself. Some case files are included to better understand the topic. The author gives a history background before talking about how to secure, to search and to record a crime scene. Then, the author talks in detail about physical evidence and how they are searched and collected (drugs, firearms, bloodstains...).

The book is really exciting and I had much fun in reading It. It fundamentally changed my point of view of forensic science. I recommend it for all who wants to discover this world.

[Dan Adams · Rating 4 out of 5]

Read this book for a Forensic Science college course I've just completed. Always enjoy a good crime novel or mystery, and relish the same on TV; but this book gives you all of the actual science used in the investigations and, believe me, most crimes are not as easily-solved as books, and movies, and especially half-hour TV programs, would have you believe. Interesting stuff!

[Amy · Rating 2 out of 5]

I feel like most of the book was almost in list form. It read more like a list of historical events and techniques instead of an actual textbook. This caused a DNF

[Madilyn Gomm · Rating 5 out of 5]

Of all the textbooks I have had to read in my years of schooling, this has been by far the best. Very educational, well organized, and great visual aids.

[Sylvester · Rating 5 out of 5]

Forensic Science is an comprehensive textbook covering all the topics one may encounter during their course of learning. It is very well laid out and the appendix was useful, however the depth of the teaching in the book is too shallow for someone who may have background in scientific work.

[Catherine West · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very good book about how investigations are done at the crime scene and evidence collected and transported to the crime lab.