The Dead Speak: My life in forensics

by Thomas Coyle

With a career that spans investigating murders at Scotland Yard to identifying bodies after global disasters, one of NZ's leading forensic scientists takes us behind the tape of a lifetime of working on crime scenes.

In this empathetic and darkly funny memoir, Thomas Coyle – one of New Zealand's most seasoned forensic investigators – pulls back the police tape and walks us straight into the crime scenes. With sharp detail, he reveals how the tiniest fragment of evidence can expose a suspect, prove a motive or confirm an identity. Sometimes, all at once.

But crime scenes are only part of his story. The Dead Speak also plunges us into the world of disaster victim identification – a discipline where time, science and compassion collide. Where forensic experts are flung into a race against time to identify bodies in makeshift morgues as desperate families wait for news of their loved ones.

Taking us from meticulous casework at New Scotland Yard to the chaos of the Boxing Day tsunami in Thailand and the devastation of the 2011 Christchurch earthquake, The Dead Speak is both a gripping insider's account of forensic investigation and an unflinching portrait of humanity at its best and worst.

Fair warning, it's not for the faint-hearted.

With a career spanning more than three decades, over 20,000 crime scenes and disaster victim identification for the New Zealand police, Thomas Coyle MNZM is one of New Zealand's foremost forensic experts.

His memoir charts not just the evolution of forensic science, but the extraordinary life of a man who has made the dead speak.

Genres: Nonfiction, True Crime, Memoir, Adult

260 pages, Kindle Edition

Published February 3, 2026

Reviews

[Lakinloveslit · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was such an interesting read, and my first non-fiction of 2026! Anything even remotely related to crime is right up my alley, and even better when it’s NZ based.

Thomas started his career in the UK, before moving to NZ and working for the NZ Police. It was so interesting to see how he started training in fingerprint analysis (and to see how much science has advanced since then), to how he moved into crime scene investigation. I loved not only learning about his career, but a bit about his background and life too. Two of the hardest hitting chapters for me were those around the mass casualty identifications done after the Boxing Day tsunami and the Christchurch earthquakes. Though they were heartbreaking, it was amazing to see how experts from all over the world came together with a mutual mission to reunite loved ones with their families and did so with so much respect. I can totally imagine how frustrating it must be to be compared to TV crime shows like CSI after reading this - it’s certainly nothing like that in real life! I had to giggle when reading about how Thomas spilt fingerprinting dust all over the floor of a wealthy home and tried to clean it up only to make it even worse 😂 we’re all human after all!

This is a really readable non-fiction book - it’s well written and super digestible so I would definitely recommend you pick it up if you’re interested in crime or science or forensics! Huge thanks to @allenandunwinnz for sending this my way - I loved it

[Emma · Rating 4 out of 5]

So interesting. Brace yourself!

[Claudia]

:( so boring

[Aroha Connew · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thoroughly enjoyed it. Very interesting life

[Rosie · Rating 4 out of 5]

A nicely written and easily digestible memoir, covering a range of scenarios that provide some insight into the sort of work that SOCOs and other forensic officers complete.

It was interesting to see what techniques I recognised and which I did not, and has reminded me that I should keep-up my knowledge in this area.

Reading this has reinforced that working in forensics is where I would like to be. It helps that I find the things talked about disgustinating (disgusting + fascinating, thank you six-year-old me; I think Thomas described it as "curiously disgusting", or "morbidly fascinating", near the beginning of the book?), but I really do think the drive to help people as so emphasised in this memoir is primary.

Thank you to family friend Helen for this graduation gift! It was thoroughly enjoyable :3

[Jacki (Julia Flyte) · Rating 4 out of 5]

I don’t read a lot of non fiction, but I do enjoy memoirs, especially ones like this that let me know what it would be like to do a job that’s always interested me. The Dead Speak is written by a forensic pathologist, a job that I’ve always thought would be exciting. Note that I used the past tense – the work is fascinating and important, but not exciting.

Thomas Coyle’s memoir makes it clear that it’s the slow, error free work that breaks a case far more often that the eureka moment. Which quite frankly is a little disappointing 🤣 but I was fascinated to learn how much a forensic pathologist can learn from a crime scene. For example there’s one story about a case where someone had been peering in a window at the victim and Coyle was able to retrieve prints from the sides of the palms that rested on the glass and DNA from the imprint of the forehead.

It was sobering reading about the identification of bodies after disasters like the Boxing Day tsunami and the Christchurch earthquakes, and the techniques that are used to retrieve fingerprints from bodies that are badly burned or decomposed

I’m glad I read this. It was really interesting and quite amusing in parts. (Although there are also some quite gory parts and overall I wouldn’t call it a jolly read).

[Piper · Rating 5 out of 5]

I want to start this review by saying that growing up, shows like CSI and Criminal Minds were seasoned regulars in our household and sparked my passion for science. When Allen and Unwin offered to provide me with a copy of this book to review, I could not refuse. Forensic science is a field I have always had a keen interest in, so I am very grateful to receive a copy of this book to review.

This memoir is the story of Thomas Coyle, one of New Zealand's most seasoned forensic investigators, walking us through his life from growing up in the UK, to his journey at New Scotland Yard, all the way to Aotearoa, working as part of the New Zealand Police and later as part of the disaster victim identification teams.

His story is so compelling and raw. It offers a real-life look at the over-glamorised world of forensics and shows how important fingerprint and DNA evidence is, especially in difficult events, like the Boxing Day tsunami and the 2011 Christchurch earthquake.

Forensics has come a long way since his time at Scotland Yard, but one thing that never changes is the basics of collecting fingerprint evidence. I was also (not so) surprised to hear about all the stories in the Far North and how he and his team collected evidence to identify and put away criminals. I was very moved by Coyle's role during the 2011 Christchurch earthquakes. It's one of those events that all Cantabrians can remember so vividly.

I was also very interested in Coyle's life after the Police. I could have seen myself loving one of the Forensic Insight experiences.

Thanks so much to Allen and Unwin for sending me a copy of this one to review. I was extremely moved by this book and will now be recommending it to everyone and anyone.

[Hayley Sutherland]

I don’t feel that this books needs a star rating as the content is quite personal. It feels weird to say that I enjoyed it when it was full of so much sadness but I did fly through it and find myself wanting to keep reading.

Just like a lot of others around my age, at some point I dreamt about being a forensic investigator. I 100% blame Gill Grissom, Sara Sidle, Catherine Willows and of course, Horacio Caine from CSI 🤦🏼‍♀️ Unfortunately real life is not like tv and this book portrays that so well.

I liked how the author detailed some cases throughout the book. And as a fan of who-done-it mysteries this appealed to me a lot. However, in the back of my mind was always the fact that these were true stories, stories about real people, some with families who have experienced the worst of the worst.

The Dead Speak will definitely not be for everyone. It’s not for the faint hearted or the weak stomached! But it is for those who like things a bit gruesome and a lot real and raw.

Thank you so much @allenandunwinnz for gifting me a copy of this book. I enjoyed it and would highly recommend to anyone who likes true crime/real life CSI type books.

[Aimee · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Dead Speak: My Life in Forensics
⭐️ - 5
This book was darkly funny and honestly captivating. I learned so dang much and enjoyed every page.
Thomas Coyle has a way of telling a story that you simply cannot not be entirely engrossed in, some of the stories he tells in this book are horrendously sad and graphic but he manages to make it entertaining and I was glued to each page.
He talks about cases he has worked and even going to do identification after natural disasters.
He writes like youre sitting at a pub having a beer and hes telling you a work story.
There is so much more to forensics than I ever knew (sorry Thomas Ive watched too much CSI and didnt know how much work goes into identification of victims and suspects)
Thomas Coyle is actually doing a talk in Auckland very soon and I will definitely be buying tickets!

[Angela Campbell · Rating 4 out of 5]

An extremely interesting insight into the world of forensics, Thomas Coyle’s book is a compelling account of his thirty year career, largely in the British and New Zealand Police forces. He covers some pretty gruesome topics so be warned! However they are recounted with a sense of humour and respect which leaves the reader better informed about how many crimes are solved - which is very different from that of CSI. I was surprised by the degree of diligence and absolute attention to detail required. Forensics is a calling not just a job. I applaud the award of MBE to the writer. By his own account, it was richly deserved.

[Courtney Rose · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely devoured this book! finishing it in less than 24 hours! As a first book, it’s incredibly well written, gripping, and hard to put down.

While some of the content is undeniably gruesome (as you’d expect from forensic work), the author handles every case with deep respect and compassion for the victims. That balance between scientific detail and human sensitivity really stood out to me.

It’s fascinating, eye opening, and at times confronting, but always thoughtful and dignified. An outstanding first book, and I’m already looking forward to whatever comes next!

[Kasey · Rating 4 out of 5]

A really interesting read. Some pretty gruesome moments but fascinating to learn a little about how forensics work and the processes behind it. Found myself googling mentioned cases from NZ. Notable parts were about the tsunami and Christchurch earthquake victim identification process, horrible events but nice to read about the deceased being blessed by the minister and Tohunga, and the compassion.

[Julie · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars

This was a fascinating look behind the scenes of what being a Forensic Scientist is really like. It cover crimes from both the UK and NZ as Coyle stars his career at Scotland Yard before moving to New Zealand. Well worth a read if True Crime is your jam.

[AJ · Rating 5 out of 5]

A wonderful read. Honest, heart-felt, technical and detailed … and filled with relevant and genuine anecdotes. A scientific and personal insight into the gritty and human reality of crime-scene forensics and disaster victim identification. Highly recommend.

[Olwen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another interesting tale of working in forensics, and also how the author managed to move to the other side of the world and transition from public service to private enterprise, meeting many challenges along the way.

[Leanne Webster · Rating 3 out of 5]

Really enjoyed this one. The Dead Speak: My Life in Forensics by Thomas Coyle gives a super interesting look into the real world of forensics, and it’s definitely not as dramatic as shows like CSI make it seem.

The author keeps things pretty factual in terms of graphic detail, but it’s fascinating to see how cases are actually worked through. It’s less about glamorous cops in suits and more about careful, methodical investigation, which honestly makes it feel more real.

The sections on disaster victim identification were especially interesting, they really highlight the scale and emotional weight of that kind of work, and how important accuracy and respect are in those situations.

I also found the New Zealand cultural aspects really meaningful, the emphasis on respecting the deceased comes through strongly and adds an extra layer of depth to the work being described. If you’re curious about what forensics is really like behind the scenes, it’s an engaging read.

[Miz · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 ⭐

[Cari Smith in Nelson · Rating 5 out of 5]

I learned so much through reading this book. What a fascinating career

[Kathryn · Rating 5 out of 5]

As someone who works in a medical laboratory I really appreciated this perspective and insight in the forensic side of the lab

[Georgia · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 stars ⭐️

[Teao · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 star