Speak Her Name: Stories from a Life in True Crime

by Mary Jumbelic

When a family friend died unexpectedly, Dr. Mary Jumbelic was pulled into the investigation—and uncovered the true cause of death. This woman was one of hundreds uanble to move, unable to speak, laying on autopsy tables due to violent crimes. Mary uses her unique voice to speak for these victims and seek justice.

Throughout her career as a medical examiner, Mary saw female bodies that had been sexually violated, battered, stabbed, and shot. Their corpses were dismembered. Some were buried in shallow graves, while others meticulously hidden. A majority of these deaths had been caused by someone the women knew—just like her friend.

As a woman in a man's world, Mary spent her life honing her forensic skills. Through this work, she came to terms with events in her own life. Experiencing motherhood in juxtaposition with her job provided constant reminders of her two one with the living, and one with the dead. Personal and professional experiences are interwoven in this tapestry of memoir.

Real women. True stories.

We bear witness and use the truth to effect change. Together, we speak her name.

270 pages, Hardcover

Published July 7, 2025

About the author

She speaks for the dead. They speak for her.

Mary Jumbelic, M.D. is an author from Central New York, and former chief medical examiner of Onondaga County.

A board-certified forensic pathologist, Mary has performed thousands of autopsies during her 25-year career. She has received awards for her work from the National Transportation Safety Board and the New York State Senate, and has been recognized as a trailblazer by the National Organization of Women. As an expert witness, she has appeared on numerous national broadcasts, most recently Dateline and 48 hours.

In retirement, Mary has published many nonfiction stories, accounts of her life both in and out of the morgue. Using her experiences, she provides a strong voice for the deceased as explores the human imprint made by those departed, demystifying death for herself, and others.

In November 2023, Mary published her first book, literary memoir "Here, Where Death Delights" (ISBN: 979-8988205203) in which she shares her journey from first experience of death to the crimes she has helped to solve with her forensic expertise.

Mary has separately published with more than 25 literary publications and, in 2021, her work was chosen in the top ten for the Tucson Literary Festival and a different story nominated for the Pushcart Prize. In 2014, her piece was selected for the top ten in the AARP/Huffington Post Memoir Writing Contest.

Mary teaches writing, and enjoys sharing her expert tips for a great crime novel or pathology mystery. She is also an Assistant Editor for Stone Canoe.

Mary lives in Central New York with her husband, and is surrounded by family.

Reviews

[John Kenney · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the second book by Dr Mary Jumbelic, a noted forensic pathologist who is writing on her life and her career. Most importantly in Speak Her Name she reflects on women who crossed her autopsy table, under horrific circumstances. The stories Dr Jumbelic tells allowed justice to be done, and the names of the dead heard and remembered. We follow her path from schoolgirl in a Baltimore rowhouse to med school and to her fellowship at the Cook County Medical Examiner’s Office the second busiest in the US. Her husband’s specialty of Pediatric Ophthalmology with hers limited choices going forward so off to Central Illinois and becoming a Coroner’s Pathologist was her fate. Eventually moving to Syracuse and finally as Chief of the Onondaga County Medical Examiner expanded her experience. There are more remarkable big city and small town cases with stops at 9-11 and KAL 747 in Guam as well. The victims’ stories compel reader to continue long reading sessions.
Within the pages of this book Dr Jumbelic shares some rather personal moments in her life. I learned a great deal more about her as a person, beyond our collegial friendship from Cook County MEO. Nothing however prepared me for the revelation within of an incident that truly shaped her career. Both her books are good reads for anyone in the death investigation realm or for a person seriously considering a career in forensic pathology.

[Mandy Lehti · Rating 5 out of 5]

Mary Jumbelic’s Speak Her Name is more than a memoir it’s a courageous act of remembrance and reclamation. With unflinching honesty and profound compassion, Jumbelic offers a rare glimpse into the intersection of science, justice, and humanity. Each page bears witness to lives silenced by violence, yet restored in part through her voice.

As a medical examiner, Jumbelic navigated the harsh realities of a profession dominated by men and haunted by tragedy. But her perspective transcends the clinical: she writes not merely to inform, but to humanize. The stories she tells of women whose lives were cut short and of her own efforts to uncover their truths invite readers into a dialogue about empathy, accountability, and the transformative power of bearing witness.

Jumbelic’s prose is deliberate and deeply felt, walking the delicate line between professional detachment and emotional truth. Her juxtaposition of motherhood and mortality of nurturing life while investigating death adds powerful emotional weight to her reflections.

Speak Her Name is both an elegy and a rallying cry. It reminds us that behind every case file is a story, and behind every victim, a voice that deserves to be heard.

[Michael Doane · Rating 5 out of 5]

In Speak Her Name, Dr. Mary Jumbelic delivers an extraordinary and haunting memoir that bridges the precision of forensic science with the profound empathy of human experience. Drawing from her years as a medical examiner, Jumbelic invites readers into the often unseen world of crime scenes and autopsy tables, not for shock, but for truth and justice.

What makes this book remarkable is its balance: it is neither sensational nor detached. Instead, Jumbelic writes with a clarity that honors the lives of the women whose stories she tells, victims silenced by violence, but whose truths demand to be heard. Each case is recounted with meticulous forensic insight and deep emotional resonance, revealing how bearing witness can be both a scientific and a spiritual act.

Interwoven with these investigations are Jumbelic’s own reflections as a woman and a mother navigating the brutality and beauty of life and death. Through her eyes, readers see not only the evidence but also the humanity behind every case file.

Speak Her Name is a deeply moving and courageous memoir, an unflinching call to remembrance and a testament to the power of truth-telling in the pursuit of justice.

[Dalyn Miller · Rating 5 out of 5]

Speak Her Name: Stories from a Life in True Crime is a powerful, deeply affecting memoir that blends forensic insight, personal reflection, and advocacy into a compelling narrative. Dr. Mary Jumbelic writes with unwavering clarity and compassion as she shares the stories of women whose voices were silenced by violence women she vowed to speak for when they no longer could. Through detailed recollections of her work as a medical examiner, she explores the emotional complexity of confronting brutality while maintaining the integrity, precision, and empathy her role demands. The memoir is equally compelling in its personal dimension, showing how Mary’s experiences as a mother, a woman, and a professional in a male dominated field shaped her resilience and sharpened her determination to pursue justice for victims. Candid, courageous, and deeply human, Speak Her Name is an unforgettable testament to truth telling, bearing witness, and honoring the lives of women who deserved far more than the violence that brought them to her table.

[Emily · Rating 5 out of 5]

Speak Her Name is a powerful and deeply human story that blends grief, resilience, and the search for truth. Mary Jumbelic writes with striking transparency, opening her own story in a way that feels both brave and deeply connective. Her honesty allows the reader to not only see her life, but to reflect on their own.

On a personal level, I found echoes of my own past experiences with spousal violence in her writing. Reading those passages was difficult but also validating, as it reminded me that survival and healing can exist alongside pain.

What moved me most was how she gives victims of crime a voice after death, ensuring their lives carry meaning beyond tragedy. Her words honor them and invite us to witness, not just observe.

[Eleanor Pilcher · Rating 5 out of 5]

Speak Her Name is not just a true crime memoir, it is an act of witness. Mary Jumbelic writes with forensic authority and deep emotional intelligence, recounting the countless women whose lives ended in violence and whose stories might otherwise have been forgotten. The personal thread woven through the investigation of her own family friend adds aching intimacy and moral urgency to every chapter.

What makes this book exceptional is its rare balance between scientific rigor and profound humanity. Jumbelic never sensationalizes tragedy; she restores identity, dignity, and voice to the victims. This is a haunting, necessary, and deeply meaningful read, one that lingers long after the final page.

[Laura · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this. It's a collection of stories about women who were victims of crimes who Dr. Jumbelic met through her work in forensic sciences. She weaves in her own story about her life and career trajectory between the chapters. The chapters about the women victims give voice to their names and their stories, which I really loved. Though their ends were violent, Dr. Jumbelic honors each of these women by telling their stories and not letting them fade into oblivion. Each chapter is quite short, making this an easy read, though quite graphic since we are reading about actual crimes, autopsies, and related investigations.

Dr. Jumbelic is local to me (she is the former Chief Medical Examiner for Onondaga County) and this local connection likely made me enjoy the book more.

[Engracia Schuster · Rating 5 out of 5]

A well written book that methodically and tastefully unveils the vulnerability of women, any woman. Dr Jumbelic uses her professional experience as a forensic pathologist to inform us about the-much too common- violence against women that often results in death. In her book “Speak Her Name” she describes how some of these women died. She is compassionate in her details and makes sure we know who they were and what was their story. Crime against women does not discriminate on age, race, location or social status. It is a sad fact of life. I find the book informative and fascinating, a must read for men and women; in particular young women.

[Cheryl Jensen · Rating 3 out of 5]

Mary Jumbelic shares her personal family story, and her journey toward becoming a Medical Examiner, interspersed with stories of women and girls she has autopsied. Speak Her Name is her effort to give a voice to women who have died by the intentional violence of someone else, frequently their own partner. Jumbelic is disturbed to discover one of her personal friends suffers such a death, and she will encounter the husband in the community and at her synagogue. Eventually, he is charged with his wife's murder and the case becomes a high profile trial at which Jumbelic may be asked to testify.

[Louise Hite · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book gives proves to you that pathologists are human. Jumbelic combines horrifying stories of murder by many different methods with her normal personal life. An underrunning story of the book was a friends purported accidental death. After her retirement, Mary was asked by a friend to look ove the file and reinvestigate. The case went to trial and the husband was sent to prison. Mary is a compassionate and consciencious doctor. Doctors of all kinds should be this way.

[Tosca Bruno-van Vijfeijken · Rating 4 out of 5]

Difficult to read at times, because it is so gruesome what some people do to other people - especially men to women or parents to children (god forbid), in the form of domestic violence. But a remarkable type of job, and career that Jumbelic describes. I do like how she weaves in her personal life stories as well.

The brevity of the chapters in some way makes it somewhat easier to stomach - because you know you don't have to 'face' the same story for too long of a time.... Awful stories.

[Nicole Marie Mastropool · Rating 5 out of 5]

As a true crime lover, I highly recommend Speak Her Name. It’s more than just a story, it’s a raw, powerful journey that shines a light on the realities so many women face. Mary’s courage in sharing her own experience, and her dedication to giving a voice to other women who have survived domestic violence, is truly inspiring. This book doesn’t just tell a story; it raises awareness, sparks empathy, and reminds us how important it is to keep women safe. If you appreciate true crime that goes beyond the headlines and dives deep into the human side, this is a must-read.

[Cindee · Rating 4 out of 5]

The author is very respected in our central NY area. This second book is mainly about the IPV ( intimate partner violence) done to women. Through her years of experience as a pathologist she has encountered so many wrongs done to women in this area. I’m very glad that she has spoken out about this violence including the under privileged and privileged. This type of violence has no boundaries!

[Elaine · Rating 5 out of 5]

The main story is one of a murder investigation in Syracuse, my town. But the many other stories are of women murdered in vengeance, in anger, in shows of power. Dr Jumbelic writes with rich description of her life, her vocation as an ME and the women she helped in death to tell their story.

[Diane Pasinski · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow! I loved this book! Dr Jumbelic’s writing style captured me. Her expertise coupled with her experiences of female homicide hooked me from the beginning. A “must read”.

[Shannon · Rating 5 out of 5]

Dr. Jumbelic has led a fascinating professional as well as personal life. it was wonderful being able to hear her given author's discussion, in this book is definitely worth reading.

[Roz · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a quick read because it was so engaging . I loved the authors ability to weave in and out of her very difficult professional experiences with her family stories and stories from her childhood. I also really appreciated how she told the story of “Leslie” throughout the entire book. It was very well written and I loved listening to her tell her stories (I listened on Audible). The author tells an important story and I hope the many women out there who need someone like Mary Jumbelic can get the help and support they need by reading this

[Maryclaire · Rating 5 out of 5]

Dr. Jumbelic’s dual perspective as a woman and seasoned forensic pathologist lends credibility and depth. She writes from a professional and personal standpoint for justice and trauma
being both informative and deeply affective.
You feel like you are on every call with her. She speaks for the dead, so the families and those left behind have an answer.
As a forensic memoir, the book is vivid and sometimes has disturbing imagery; it is intended to show gender‑based violence.
Abuse against females of all ages goes undetected and ignored in many areas of the country.
I am waiting to see what she will share in her next book.