An Expert Witness: Forensic Science on Trial

by Sue Black

Pioneering forensic scientist, anatomist and anthropologist, Professor Dame Sue Black takes the reader into our criminal courts’ witness box from the perspective of an expert witness, the forensic scientist, explaining exactly what that job is, what it demands, how the role evolved, and its likely future.

The expert witness sits at the crux of the relationship between law enforcement, science and the legal system. When that relationship works well, it makes for compelling fiction, television and movies. When it works less well, it makes for compelling and explosive news headlines.

In Dissection of an Expert Witness, Sue Black puts the relationship between these different institutions, and how they affect and are affected by the expert witness, under the microscope. Using shocking landmark cases that expose both the strengths and weaknesses of the interconnection between disciplines - she In which cases did we get it right? In which did we get it wrong? And if we had done it differently, might the pendulum of justice have swung another way?

Incisive and compelling, following the impact of advances in technology to changes in funding and the effect of our gladiatorial system, Sue Black tracks the journey of this most intriguing of sciences through to its inevitable conclusion - and the toll it may take not only on experts but ultimately how justice plays out.

Sue Black 2026 (P) Penguin Audio 2026

Genres: Nonfiction, Science, History, True Crime, Crime, Law, Memoir

400 pages, Hardcover

First published July 2, 2026

About the author

Professor Dame Sue Black is one of the world's leading anatomists and forensic anthropologists. She is also the Pro-Vice Chancellor for Engagement at Lancaster University. She was the lead anthropologist for the British Forensic Team's work in the war crimes investigations in Kosovo and one of the first forensic scientists to travel to Thailand following the Indian Ocean tsunami to provide assistance in identifying the dead. Sue is a familiar face in the media, where documentaries have been filmed about her work, and she led the highly successful BBC 2 series History Cold Case.

Reviews

[Janine]

Simply excellent! Everything you want to know about the what, the why and the how of forensic evidence can be found in the entertaining and well researched book by a renowned Scottish forensic scientist, Sue Black.

I confess I bought this book after finishing watching twenty-nine seasons of Silent Witness on BritBox. Love that show and its amazing characters. While my favorite character, Nikki Alexander, is a pathologist and the author is an anatomist and forensic anthropologist - you learn so much by reading books - they both want truth to prevail.

Black’s book rigorously follows a pattern - explaining the United Kingdom’s legal system and defining “expert” testimony to explaining the evolution of ways certain scientific - and pseudoscientific - techniques that advanced forensics. In explaining these, Black includes cases from the UK, US and Europe. These are especially interesting and show, for example, how blood spatter or finger prints evolved. I especially found the case where a young man in defending himself over a picture of his male genitalia not being his (he had to have pictures of his “at attention” - I love the British phrases - which proved he was innocent). Other cases like the Crippen and Dreyfus (document forgery) were more prominent in their day.

My one criticism was not giving credit for the discovery of the “double helix” (DNA) with Rosalind Franklin who saw it first before Crick and Watson. But in fairness on everything else this author was precise, clear and unfathomably truthful in her history, observations and concerns for the future of forensic science.

This is book for lovers of true crime or crime fiction. It takes you behind the scenes of how crimes can be solved. Reading this book with make a reader appreciate their crime book reads better.

[amycw]

DNF'd at 60%. It's not a bad book, but it was definitely not what I expected. I expected Dr. Sue Black to regale readers with fascinating anecdotes about how her knowledge as a forensic anthropologist helped to solve criminal court cases (and there is a little bit of this). I was expecting C.S.I. Instead, it is a VERY dense book that instructs potential expert witnesses in how to be a good expert witnesses. It does this through examining expert witness testimony in historical court cases and analyzing what was done well or not so well, with a lot of history of criminal investigative procedures. Unfortunately, I found it to be really dry and boring! I just couldn't keep my mind on what I was reading and finally gave up.

[Ruthy lavin]

I don’t know what it was about this latest book from Lady Sue Black that didn’t captivate me, but unlike her previous books, I found it a little boring if I’m honest.
I’ve had it on my TBR ever since the release date was announced, excited to download it the moment I could, because I am so fascinated with this incredible woman and her phenomenal work In the field of forensic anthropology.
However, I felt the emphasis was lost on facts about law, court cases, rules and regulations - when I’m sure the many more life experiences she could have shared with us would have been better received.
As a Welsh woman, the section about the April Jones case was a revelation and very interesting, but the rest of the book was just lacking something for me.
I still think this lady is an incredibly intelligent and inspiring woman, and she writes extremely well.
I look forward to more from her in the future, but just hope it’s grittier.

[Shelleyrae at Book'd Out]

In the year ending September 2025, police in England and Wales recorded more than two million serious crimes. Most of these cases required some form of forensic involvement, whether from crime scene officers, forensic scientists, or other specialist experts, each contributing to the investigation from the crime scene to the courtroom.

In An Expert Witness: Forensic Science on Trial, Dame Sue Black, an internationally renowned forensic anthropologist with more than thirty-five years of experience giving expert evidence in UK and international criminal courts, explores the evolution of the forensic expert witness and their vital role within the justice system.

A forensic expert witness is a specialist who applies scientific expertise to legal investigations, analysing evidence and providing objective, evidence-based opinions for the courts. Their work spans several disciplines including forensic pathology, anthropology, toxicology, and digital forensics.

Drawing on fascinating historical and contemporary cases, Black examines both the strengths and limitations of forensic science and those who practise it. She explains the distinction between investigative evidence and probative evidence, showing how forensic science can eliminate suspects without necessarily identifying the offender. She also discusses the dangers of pseudoscience or “junk” science, and considers the opportunities and challenges that emerging technologies, including AI, may present for the future of the discipline.

Given the significant influence expert testimony can have on the outcome of a trial, forensic scientists must provide contextual, reasoned, and scientifically defensible interpretations of the evidence. Black reflects candidly on her own experiences in the witness box, describing the stress and frustration of enduring rigorous cross-examination that can challenge not only an expert’s qualifications and methodology, but also their personal credibility.

Taking a tone somewhere between a university lecture and an impassioned conversation, An Expert Witness is an interesting and thought-provoking read for anyone curious about forensic science and the law. I also think it would be a valuable resource for students entering the field, such as my daughter, who is currently completing her Master’s in forensic science.

One of the key conclusions I drew from An Expert Witness is that while forensic science is an invaluable tool in both criminal and civil investigations, no one should ever be convicted, or exonerated, on the basis of a single piece of scientific evidence. As Black demonstrates throughout the book, the use of forensic science in the courtroom is at its most powerful when it forms part of a broader body of evidence, interpreted with rigour, integrity, and appropriate caution.

[Kirsty]

This is the third book and possibly the final one. This one is slightly different and is a mix of landmark cases where good and bad forensic science has been used and also her experiences of being a forensic witness. We hear of Sue Black’s own legacy to the field with her work on the defining marks of hands which has been widely accepted and instrumental in many cases. You can have a pictures of much scarred hands any time Sue!

It is a call of arms to the younger generation for more anatomists over forensic science graduates, and better science embracing new technologies, rigorous testing, better use of statistics, and more balanced expert witnesses and better court environments for them to discuss their findings.

[Farah Mendlesohn]

No idea why it says it's not yet published.

Audio: read excellently by the author.

Lessons:
- no one except a statistician should be allowed to give statistical advice or interpretation in court;
- when looking for similarities in a pattern, always look for differences as well;
- only large data sets can show whether your new sexy tool actually works
- never claim 100% certainty
- never go beyond your lane (I regularly see this on non fiction--books that begin with a history of something when the author knows very little about history; historians who start applying their ideas to periods and places beyond their specialism--fine if they have done the work, but often it's casual comments that make you go 'huh?')
- the police want to solve a crime; the prosecution want a conviction, and the defence want an acquittal: none of them are actually focussed on truth.
- the appeals court is rigged against the poor, the working class, the non white, the female.


I have no idea whether Sue Black wanted me to take these ideas away. The book is very complex.

One thing that did make me laugh was the many comments on the medical profession. I think it's becoming more and more of an open secret that doctors are absolutely crap at analysis, and aren't scientists. Those of us with chronic conditions regularly find ourselves dealing with ignorance and arrogance.

So here is my doctor + statistics story:

In 1997, after years of illness variously misdiagnosed, and a rapid decline that year, a friend who had seen it before suggested I might have coeliac. I found a medical dictionary (no wikipedia in those days) and checked off the entire list, including things I hadn't even realised weren't normal.

I trotted along to the GP and requested a test. This is a quote, I will never forget it.

"Oh, you can't possibly have Coeliac, it's very rare." Followed by a comment about how it's hereditary and if no one else in the family had it, I couldn't possibly.

Me, in Historian: "You do realise that means someone has to have it?"


It won't surprise anyone reading today that the test came back positive because we now know it's not all that rare. Also that it turned out to be very common on one side of my family,

[Whatdomreads]

*Review of an ARC copy received from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review*


This book has pleasantly surprised me, in the best way possible.
An Expert Witness is written and told by Sue Black, an outstanding forensic anatomist, a professor and at its core, a scientist. Through this book, Black communicated the history of forensic sciences, how forensic sciences are qualified as such and what it feels like to be in the courtroom, against people who are trying to undermine your professionalism, amongst other topics my fellow true crime and forensics enthusiasts will enjoy.
Black told history of how forensics was built through past cases and quite... outstanding people who qualified themselves as professionals, shining a light on old cases with explanations of how each field progressed through centuries.
One thing is very true - Black's writing can make you understand the topics in this book very well. I enjoyed how in detail she went, with credible sources and a sprinkle of humor in the placed where it felt right. She showed us that working in such field as hers is definitely not for the faint of heart and truly makes you think of not only the victims and injustice they can face in the courtroom, but of the professionals who can be attacked and harassed for simply doing their job. My respect for Sue Black goes a very long way for the work she has done for forensics and new methods she introduced for future scientists to fully adapt. She also showed us how human everyone is at the end of the day, and what toll it can take on you.
Overall, this book was very informative, but easy to understand and very well communicated. Truly a great experience to dive into if youre trying to learn about the justice system, forensic sciences and all matters related.

[Eileen]

Thank you very much to NetGalley for the ARC.

I'm a fan of true crime and I like courtroom novels, so I thought this would be a great book for me. I liked the insight into what the traps are in testifying as an expert. It seems like a very difficult process where it is easy to make a mistake. I learned how the English court system works in a similar way to American courts, but is a little different. Sue Black is clearly very experienced in her field and this book was very comprehensive about the topic.

This is a well-written book, but it is very dense with instructions on how to be a good expert witness and also the history of all the types of evidence and how they became (or didn't become) usable in the British court system as evidence. I found that I needed to focus quite a lot while reading it. I really wanted to read this book because it seemed right up my alley, but in the end it was too technical and focused on old trials and evidence that didn't keep my interest. I tried to muddle through, but it was a DNF at 34%.

The court cases that were used as precedents for all different types of forensic evidence weren't interesting enough for me. Black goes back and describes each crime that led to the type of evidence, like hair analysis or proving that a person was poisoned by arsenic. The author describes cases going back centuries and very thoroughly details all the ways that the scientists and medical practitioners figured out how to make (or failed to make) their cases in court. This was all a bit too dull for me. I tried putting the book down and taking breaks, but I just didn't want to read any more because it required too much concentration and not enough enjoyment for my time spent.

[Dina]

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with an eARC in exchange for an honest review.

As a biochemist, I was particularly excited to read An Expert Witness. Forensic science was one of my favorite subjects at university and I was looking forward to reading about real cases and learning more about the practical application of forensic science in criminal investigations.

I anticipated more first-hand accounts from Sue Black's own career as a forensic anthropologist. While there are some fascinating glimpses into her work, the book focuses much more heavily on the history of forensic science and on analyzing the testimony and methods of expert witnesses involved in historical cases. Readers interested in the development of forensic science and the legal role of expert witnesses may find this aspect fascinating, but it wasn't what I had hoped for. Because Sue Black is often evaluating the work and decisions of other experts, the tone occasionally came across as more critical and judgmental than informative, which made it harder for me to stay engaged.

That said, there were definitely highlights. The book is thoroughly researched, and I learned a great deal about how forensic methods were developed, challenged, and ultimately accepted within the justice system. The discussions around the limitations of forensic evidence and the potential consequences of mistakes were particularly thought-provoking.

I came looking for something closer to a behind-the-scenes forensic memoir and found instead a detailed exploration of the history and practice of expert witness testimony. While I appreciate what the book set out to accomplish, it was not quite the forensic science experience I was hoping for.

[David Evans]

A personal history of forensic medicine in which Professor Lady Sue Black gives us the benefit of her vast experience as an expert witness and forensic anatomist. She’s not shy of admitting, even for someone so eminent, how terrified she was, at times, in court when barristers tried to undermine her. “Would you say that you are an expert”? Her answer, “That’s for the jury to decide.” Very clever. This is a useful read for anyone who has had to give their opinion in court. I had to a few times as a GP, and mighty scary it was I can tell you — and it wasn’t me on trial. As Sue Black states, the expert witness is the only person under oath who is able to theorise rather than state bald facts.
She gives an excellent account of the history of the specialty, the pioneering scientists (and a few pseudoscientists) are given their due and there are gruesome details of wicked murders and staggering miscarriages of justice. This reads rather like a textbook, but I have a liking for these so that’s fine.
I was impressed by her candour in discussing her more trying experiences. I used to read a GP magazine that contained a weekly column called My Worst Moment in which doctors wrote about their mistakes. Human nature being what it is they never actually admitted to making any error and the cock-up was therefore a positive learning process, admittedly a highly stressful one. Incidentally, if I’d sent some of mine in unvarnished I would have been (quite rightly) slaughtered and my Defence Union would have washed their hands.
I enjoyed her opinion on some recent well-publicised cases and will therefore not be astonished if Lucy Letby is eventually confirmed to be not guilty.

[Cara Swain]

As a doctor with a deeply-rooted true crime obsession and an interest in the legal system, I expected to love this book, but sadly didn’t.
I understand what Professor Black was trying to do - framing the role of the expert witness with a description of the various fields within forensic science and the history behind them - but the lack of personal connection, for me, made the majority of the book a bit dull. From being gripped by the first chapter, I struggled through the meat of the book thinking that it must get better eventually, “And finally…” in the last chapter, our author shared a heartfelt story which was compelling to read. I found it heavy on legal legislation and scientific principles and lacking in anecdote to capture the reader’s interest. Even the historical criminal case stories used to contextualise the science were a bit bland. If the author had managed to pepper the whole book with more human connection from her own experiences, this book could have been better. Although perhaps this speaks to Professor Black’s thesis that the expert witness communicates the facts and probabilities, providing opinion only within their scope and field.
I think this is a book that will appeal to a limited audience - those working in the criminal justice system or scientific fields that contribute to it - in my opinion, it doesn’t have enough grip or intrigue for the average non-fiction reader.

[Bona.Fide.Bibliophile]

4.5/5

Thank you @groveatlantic and @netgalley for an eARC of An Expert Witness by Sue Black.

I do not think Sue Black is capable of writing anything that is less than perfect. Her knowledge, confidence and intelligence is evident in every sentence. Yet, she never makes it feel like you're being spoken down too, there is no trace (no pun intended!) of condescension at all. The execution (again, no pun intended :-) ) is so smooth, the flow of the book its flawless. Each chapter has its own topic and within those chapters, Sue Black skilfully combines her experience with real cases. It is what a non-fiction book should be. An excellent read. The title tells us everything, "An Expert Witness. The Story of Forensic Science in the Courtroom" - and that's exactly what we got!

[Sarah Jules]

I LOVE Sue Black.
After listening to the audiobook of All That Remains, I have to admit that I read this whole book in a lilting Scottish accent.
Black has an uncanny way of making complicated topics both entertaining and educational.
As a lover of CSI, NCIS, Criminal Minds, Bones (and basically any TV show with an ounce of 'forensicness') I was beyond excited for this book. Never in a million years did I realise how complex the nature of being an expert witness is, and how such a 'profession' has evolved. I went into this book thinking that I had a fairly decent understanding of the role of a forensic witness, only to realise that I was way off base.
This is a must read for lovers of police procedural0s, especially if you're looking to dip your toes into non-fiction!

[Rebecca Hill]

What does it mean to be an "expert" when testifying in a court of law? Sue Black takes us through the many different ways someone can be labeled as an expert, and what it entails.

This book goes into great detail not only on the scientific side, but also the courtroom, and the many tricks that can be used to discredit someone as being labeled an expert. It was a fantastic read, and I enjoyed learning about the many cases that were presented, and the drama that unfolded around them.

For those that enjoy the science, courtroom drama, or true crime, this is a perfect read!

[Beautifulday4makeup The-book-and-Me]

An expert witness is a biography mixed with real-life stories and experiences. While reading this book, I was really surprised by how closely expert witnesses are scrutinized in court. I also loved learning about the history of forensic science, which added an interesting dimension to the book.
I found the book very interesting and informative, although at times it felt a little long. Overall, I really enjoyed reading it and learning more about the world of expert witnesses and forensics.
I would like to thank NetGalley and the author for sharing the e-book with me.

[Soo]

Exceptional writing and very interesting book, however, I have one criticism. The author has included some content that I think is highly gratuitous. Detailed description of one particular crime against a female was particularly sickening and added nothing to the narrative and the point the author was making; it felt totally unnecessary to include. The author could very easily have just told the reader the crime was an assault on a female. We did not need the horrific details.

[P D Jolley]

I received this uncorrected proof as part of a Goodreads giveaway. I enjoyed this book more than I thought I would. If you like Mary Roach books, and I do, then I think this book would be of interest to you. There is a lot of science to understand but the mini case studies were fascinating. If you like true crime then you might enjoy this book. I found the contrasts between cases in US & UK captivating. I will look for her other books.

[Linda Fallows]

This book is about the work of expert witnesses in and out of court. Sue Black makes the most dry or technical details accessible to the average reader. A mixture of technical details and historical cases makes this book a fascinating read for anyone interested in forensics, the workings of court cases, or just any reader with an enquiring mind.

[JoJo]

A thorough view on the topic while being informative and very readable. Sue Black remains one of the best describers of complex activities and subjects that I know - which I guess it was made her a paramount expert witness. Just sorry that I have now read all three of her excellent books on the topic of forensics.

[Erin]

Wonderful read, just like Sue’s other books. She takes serious and grizzly topics but approaches them gently and with such warmth. I was breaking my heart on one page, and then rooting for her and her team on the next.

[Keziah]

This book is kind of hard for me to review. On one hand the book is interesting and full of captivating information. On the other hand it’s overloaded with knowledge and reads like a university paper.

Thank you to NetGalley and publishers for this arc in exchange for an honest review.

[Jade Anastasia]

Honestly, fascinating! It nearly lost me around halfway through because it is very very sciencey (I know it’s meant to be duh) but it pulled me back in I actually thought the final 40% of this book is the best bit, I love seeing people using their powers for good!

[Keely]

4.5

[Graham Sillars]

Absolutely incredible. Loved it!!

[Pip White]

As an expert witness myself, albeit in a different field, this is a fascinating, realistic and human account of the work with lots of history as well. Loved it.

[Zoë]

The more interesting part was when she talks about her own work and experiences.

[Emma Jackson]

Brilliant - loved all of her books. What an amazing person. Wish I could give it 6 stars.

[Cat Cameron]

This was quite dense and procedural, compared to the compelling narrative style of her previous books. It's all smart and interesting, just not what I was hoping for.

[Jed]

Fab ending but the start lacked what makes Sue Blacks other books so interesting/amazing which is a shame as I was super excited! (her first 2 would be an easy 5 star rating)

[Sam]

Really informative and interesting read.. Professor Sue Black’s writing is accessible but beautifully articulated.