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The Blood Says Otherwise
Absorbing true crime account of years at the frontline of crime scene reconstruction - from cold-blooded killings and gang wars to cold cases revived by a single clue.
A compelling account of Ruben Miller's years working as a forensic scientist, visiting crime scenes and gathering evidence. His detailed descriptions of what he sees are often heart-breaking. The behaviour of the people he meets - lawyers, police, the media and even the occasional suspect - is always fascinating and occasionally hilarious. Insights into the techniques of forensic science give a fascinating view of what it can and can't do vs what the public, and even legal experts, expect.
With unflinching honesty and flashes of dark humour, Ruben takes readers beyond the police tape to the questions that hang heavy in the air and the small details that change everything.
Part true-crime and part memoir - this is what it really takes to face the darkest scenes, and still walk away.
A compelling account of Ruben Miller's years working as a forensic scientist, visiting crime scenes and gathering evidence. His detailed descriptions of what he sees are often heart-breaking. The behaviour of the people he meets - lawyers, police, the media and even the occasional suspect - is always fascinating and occasionally hilarious. Insights into the techniques of forensic science give a fascinating view of what it can and can't do vs what the public, and even legal experts, expect.
With unflinching honesty and flashes of dark humour, Ruben takes readers beyond the police tape to the questions that hang heavy in the air and the small details that change everything.
Part true-crime and part memoir - this is what it really takes to face the darkest scenes, and still walk away.
272 pages, Kindle Edition
Published March 1, 2026
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 34 reviews
April 9, 2026
As a former forensic scientist myself, I found that Ruben Miller has provided a strikingly realistic and honest overview of the discipline in New Zealand. While the case details are often confronting, Ruben cleverly balances technical scientific procedure with dark humour and wit, inviting the reader to walk alongside him through his career. He captures the full arc of that journey—from his shaky beginnings as a student to the very real, often unspoken effects that twenty years in such a demanding field have on a person.
I applaud Ruben for writing a book that is more than just a page-turning collection of true-crime stories; it leaves you with a profound sense of empathy. He offers a deeper understanding not only of those working in grim conditions day in and day out, but also of the environments that foster the crimes he investigates. It is a rare feat to write a book that feels equally at home in the library of a forensic science student, a clinical psychologist, or a casual true-crime fan. So well done, Ruben.
I applaud Ruben for writing a book that is more than just a page-turning collection of true-crime stories; it leaves you with a profound sense of empathy. He offers a deeper understanding not only of those working in grim conditions day in and day out, but also of the environments that foster the crimes he investigates. It is a rare feat to write a book that feels equally at home in the library of a forensic science student, a clinical psychologist, or a casual true-crime fan. So well done, Ruben.
April 17, 2026
For me this was both heavy & sobering, but also genuinely interesting & eye-opening. A real insight into a role in our society that we are not usually privvy to in such an intimate way. A book anyone looking to go in to a field like this should probably pick up first. Some events described will stick with me forever I think, and that doesn’t happen often these days.
Read
August 20, 2026hmm. It was quite readable and well written enough. In particular the grey details boxes and actual day to day of forensic sciencing was well explained, a real forensic 101 - that with the "Rotorua is a town in NZ" etc, clearly is aiming for some international sales!
However, despite Miller's explanation that only crime details that were already available to the public were included non-anonymously, I felt there was way too much info given. Did those families give their permission? To have their hoarding fathers alcohol related death and life described, their poor 2yr olds last minutes (that one will stick 😞), how their persons face looked in death super detailed? Should have kept it all anon.
Also, tho i absolutely respect the therapy work he's done for himself and is championing, i do think he needed to do a bit more before writing a memoir. Like, yes the crime scene details have traumatised you but lets go back - it kind of seemed this job was never for you so why did you pursue it to the point of lying about the morgue visit in the job interview (aside from the not-handling, Stephanie was the organiser!), have you replaced early showboating to the press with eg book publicity, how has the ptsd come out in your non-work life etc... just some qs.
Also Jared Savage on the front saying "wickedly funny"... where 😅
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have come back 24hrs later to add about one page that i have not stopped thinking about - about how tempted he was to basically plant evidence one day... the way he framed it was like everyone ever has been tempted before but what's important is that he didn't 🙏 namaste. ahh nope!!! do not think temptation is common, surveyed my colleagues and they were all a hell no, i'm a hell no, the fact that he wasn't is worrying (and another sign this was not the career for him!) and the fact that he chose to publish it in a book... cooked. not great bob.
However, despite Miller's explanation that only crime details that were already available to the public were included non-anonymously, I felt there was way too much info given. Did those families give their permission? To have their hoarding fathers alcohol related death and life described, their poor 2yr olds last minutes (that one will stick 😞), how their persons face looked in death super detailed? Should have kept it all anon.
Also, tho i absolutely respect the therapy work he's done for himself and is championing, i do think he needed to do a bit more before writing a memoir. Like, yes the crime scene details have traumatised you but lets go back - it kind of seemed this job was never for you so why did you pursue it to the point of lying about the morgue visit in the job interview (aside from the not-handling, Stephanie was the organiser!), have you replaced early showboating to the press with eg book publicity, how has the ptsd come out in your non-work life etc... just some qs.
Also Jared Savage on the front saying "wickedly funny"... where 😅
-
have come back 24hrs later to add about one page that i have not stopped thinking about - about how tempted he was to basically plant evidence one day... the way he framed it was like everyone ever has been tempted before but what's important is that he didn't 🙏 namaste. ahh nope!!! do not think temptation is common, surveyed my colleagues and they were all a hell no, i'm a hell no, the fact that he wasn't is worrying (and another sign this was not the career for him!) and the fact that he chose to publish it in a book... cooked. not great bob.
May 7, 2026
Not often you get to go inside the mind and body of someone in a job like this. Fascinating read. I’m a clinical psychologist too, so I found myself absorbing Ruben’s experiences in a very familiar way. At what point does the doing good for others at your own personal cost need to give way?
I used to be fascinated by crime, so much so that I thought I’d visit a murder case at the Old Bailey in London when I had a day spare. Instant regret. It was how Ruben describes the majority of cases he worked on, bleak, sad … depressing. Two men get drunk, and one kills the other. Yuck. But Ruben manages to cover so much in this book that the bleakness turns to interest, knowledge, humour in an instant.
Very few people are true monsters and I loved how he reverse demonised the people or bodies he encountered. Also brought a tear to my eye his almost constant dance with his mental health. Edging closer and closer to some freedom from what he was going through.
What a courageous book and so beautifully written.
I used to be fascinated by crime, so much so that I thought I’d visit a murder case at the Old Bailey in London when I had a day spare. Instant regret. It was how Ruben describes the majority of cases he worked on, bleak, sad … depressing. Two men get drunk, and one kills the other. Yuck. But Ruben manages to cover so much in this book that the bleakness turns to interest, knowledge, humour in an instant.
Very few people are true monsters and I loved how he reverse demonised the people or bodies he encountered. Also brought a tear to my eye his almost constant dance with his mental health. Edging closer and closer to some freedom from what he was going through.
What a courageous book and so beautifully written.
July 10, 2026
In my mind, a must read. A real life narrative that stirs not only the readers emotions, but offers fingers into the emotional lives of the brutalised, those who did it, and the families of both.
Serving more obviously as an introduction to forensic science 101, we are offered a very human perspective on numerous brutal murders, each presented in a matter of fact style but integrating the investigator's methods, thoughts and often suppressed emotions to fully colour the experience of a career as a first responder attending the worst of the worst.
Through Ruben's story, we become aware of his personal journey through decades of normalised horror, the push and pull of the job and the toll those seared in memories take over time.
We are witness to the incredible sacrifice of those regularly attending murder scenes, having to put obvious conclusions and personal biases aside to immerse themselves in hideously dark places to arrive at the truths needed for justice to prevail.
All written with empathetic perspective and heart racing imagery. A bloody good book.
Serving more obviously as an introduction to forensic science 101, we are offered a very human perspective on numerous brutal murders, each presented in a matter of fact style but integrating the investigator's methods, thoughts and often suppressed emotions to fully colour the experience of a career as a first responder attending the worst of the worst.
Through Ruben's story, we become aware of his personal journey through decades of normalised horror, the push and pull of the job and the toll those seared in memories take over time.
We are witness to the incredible sacrifice of those regularly attending murder scenes, having to put obvious conclusions and personal biases aside to immerse themselves in hideously dark places to arrive at the truths needed for justice to prevail.
All written with empathetic perspective and heart racing imagery. A bloody good book.
May 1, 2026
True Crime meets personal tale of perseverance
After 21 years of military service I am planning to study forensic science. I came across this book while doom scrolling Instagram. It was a recommendation for anyone thinking of going into the field.
I read it all in 3-4 days and was amazed at the firsthand experiences being described in a way that you felt present with the author at the scenes. Phenomenal writing and honesty kept me invested entirely through. The authors final acceptance of his trauma and ultimate PTSD diagnosis wss shared honestly and with descriptions that you could vividly imagine. Great read! Loved it! Gave me a lot to think about on my studies and future.
After 21 years of military service I am planning to study forensic science. I came across this book while doom scrolling Instagram. It was a recommendation for anyone thinking of going into the field.
I read it all in 3-4 days and was amazed at the firsthand experiences being described in a way that you felt present with the author at the scenes. Phenomenal writing and honesty kept me invested entirely through. The authors final acceptance of his trauma and ultimate PTSD diagnosis wss shared honestly and with descriptions that you could vividly imagine. Great read! Loved it! Gave me a lot to think about on my studies and future.
May 16, 2026
I really enjoyed this book, largely for the horror movie murder scenes and nerdy crime-fighting science. But what surprised me were the insights I gained, not only into what humans are capable of doing to each other, but also how there may not be such a great distance between the shocking acts of criminals and what anyone else, subjected to the same causes and conditions, might be capable of doing. I appreciated the author’s casual writing style, and I was fascinated following his very honest journey towards self-awareness and discovery of the personal damage he has suffered after such a long stint doing what must surely be one of the toughest jobs there is.
April 28, 2026
3.5 Stars!
Drawing on his time working in police forensics, this account that is both informative and thought-provoking, without ever feeling overly graphic or sensationalised.
What stood out most was how balanced the detail was enough to give real insight into the work, but never crossing into being too gruesome. More than anything, it highlighted the ongoing lack of mental health support for frontline workers, which was both surprising and confronting. A compelling and eye-opening read. I certainly enjoyed it!
Drawing on his time working in police forensics, this account that is both informative and thought-provoking, without ever feeling overly graphic or sensationalised.
What stood out most was how balanced the detail was enough to give real insight into the work, but never crossing into being too gruesome. More than anything, it highlighted the ongoing lack of mental health support for frontline workers, which was both surprising and confronting. A compelling and eye-opening read. I certainly enjoyed it!
May 8, 2026
Not an easy read, but a good one. I normally plow through books but had to take my time with this to process everything. I take my hat off to those who attend such gruesome scenes every day in order to find answers to what has happened in awful tragedies. Where would we be without them. I liked the way the book was told, case by case, and with information about the forensics. Looking forward to hearing him speak at the Auckland Writers Festival next week.
Read
May 14, 2026This fascinating book has so many layers. It is gripping and fascinating. It is informative and interesting. At the same time, by describing the more than 20 years in the job, the writer the writer is brutally honest, deep, sad and quite often hilariously funny. It is one of those book that you should read, put away and than read again. Highly recommended, also because I cannot think of any book like it.
July 14, 2026
The Blood says Otherwise is a phenomenal read. It collides between profound darkness and everyday reality. It captures the raw vulnerability of a frontline man immersed in the aftermath of horrific crimes. Ruben Miller’s brave story goes beyond the scientific facts and inspires readers to reach out to their community and be a pillar of support. Highly recommended; even if you are like me and mostly read stories on rainbows and frogs. :)
March 20, 2026
3.5 but rounding up.
This was a really solid read about NZ forensic science. The crimes covered are both sobering and heartbreaking. The science is easy to follow and easy to understand. The book is a really insightful look at something most of us have no idea about or ever will see. Well worth it if you have an i Teresa in true crime or forensic science.
This was a really solid read about NZ forensic science. The crimes covered are both sobering and heartbreaking. The science is easy to follow and easy to understand. The book is a really insightful look at something most of us have no idea about or ever will see. Well worth it if you have an i Teresa in true crime or forensic science.
April 26, 2026
A deep, dark, sobering read. Very well written with added humour. My eyes and heart have opened up to appreciate what the forensic scientists, police, lawyers, judges, countless professionals and those behind the scenes, experience. As a member of the public who does not deal with any of this, but simply hears about it; thank you to all of you.
May 9, 2026
Completely relatable and strangely comforting. As a Detective, I could relate to all aspects of this book, the darkness, the black humour, perhaps unhealthy coping mechanisms, and the institutionalised “get on with it” mentality. Reading the final chapter was oddly comforting to know that we’re not alone in the darkness. Inspiring stuff.
May 10, 2026
Such a great read - a book about a fascinating topic that is written with compassion, intelligence and self-awareness. The science sections gives a break from the dark and unsettling parts of which there are a few. The Blood Says Otherwise takes you along for the ride of true crime scenes while providing you a back stage pass look into the world of forensic science. Highly recommended!
May 11, 2026
A powerful book written with a great sense of humor. I read this in 2 days, I couldn't put it down but at times it was really difficult to keep reading. Ruben tries to explore all sides story - the victim, the perpetrator and the forensic scientist. Huge respect to all those involved with frontline crime scenes, and I can't wait for a sequel!
May 11, 2026
A totally engrossing read. Ruben uses case studies to illustrate his career and informs the reader of not only the forensic details of the many different cases, but also the effects his work had on him. I would recommend it to anyone who is curious about human nature, both the darker side and the investigative side.
April 27, 2026
I loved the scientific aspects of this book and Ruben’s injection of some humour to make the material digestible. As someone whose work has exposed me to trauma and who had to walk away from that work due to the impact it had on my personal life, I appreciate the vulnerability he shared.
May 10, 2026
A really fascinating, well-written and eye-opening account of what it takes to be a forensic scientist in Aotearoa, insight into the struggles of those affected by crime and the personal impact these kinds of roles can have on the people that perform them.
May 10, 2026
This book is murder mystery and memoir. It's unexpectedly funny. If you like true crime, if you like to reflect on the psychology of human behaviour and if you're interested in a rare insight into the forensic teams and the work they do in NZ, read this one. It's a page-turner. I read it in a day.
May 10, 2026
Fascinating read about what forensic science is really like, the processes and ways that they can find evidence at a crime scene. Ane equally interesting, were the often quirky insights into what it feels like to do that job, and the personal toll it takes. Great read!
May 18, 2026
An enthralling read from start to finish. The details are well written and draw you in, making it hard to put down once you begin. The personal experiences and reflections are thought provoking and add real emotional depth to the book. Highly recommended.
May 28, 2026
Some interesting stats, but also quite a few uninteresting ones - particularly around chicken sandwiches and scientific explanations. It started off pretty slow and I have to admit I did skim through quite a bit. It got better as it went on
July 16, 2026
Well written. I was cautious when choosing this book as the author and narrator is not a writer but a technical person. But I quickly discovered that he can do both well.
No sensationalism, just excellent insights and stories. Definitely recommend.
No sensationalism, just excellent insights and stories. Definitely recommend.
March 10, 2026
3.5 rounded down
April 19, 2026
Really enjoyed this story of the author's career in forensics, and its impact on him.
May 10, 2026
Fantastic true crime read with interesting knowledge shared about forensic techniques and processes.
Loved it!!
Loved it!!
May 11, 2026
I couldn't put it down despite the sometimes-challenging subject matter. Well written, easy to read. A perceptive, insightful, intelligent and compassionate man.
May 13, 2026
The best book I’ve ever read
May 14, 2026
Best book I’ve read in a long time. Funny, intense and so engaging!
Displaying 1 - 30 of 34 reviews