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Facing Death: A Julia Rawson Mystery
Julia Rawson is the first female Death Investigator for the Virginia Medical Examiner’s Office, outside of Washington D.C., and learning to navigate the complex world of death investigation and law enforcement in 2002. Using her natural skills as an artist she creates a face for an unidentified body, a homicide victim found in the mountains of western Virginia.
Julia is working to solve a murder and find her place in the world. Julia, a multi-racial woman, finds herself an outsider in a world of insiders, working with police and medical investigators she breaks traditional norms and tries to discover her place. She finds solace in her friendship with Lisa Byrd and others as she faces death over and over, and sometimes, even finds answers.
During her inquires she meets Forensic Anthropologist, Dr. Michael Cuezze, who speaks her language and seems to understand her. But will the 2000 miles between them stop something before it begins?
Julia is working to solve a murder and find her place in the world. Julia, a multi-racial woman, finds herself an outsider in a world of insiders, working with police and medical investigators she breaks traditional norms and tries to discover her place. She finds solace in her friendship with Lisa Byrd and others as she faces death over and over, and sometimes, even finds answers.
During her inquires she meets Forensic Anthropologist, Dr. Michael Cuezze, who speaks her language and seems to understand her. But will the 2000 miles between them stop something before it begins?
- GenresFiction
233 pages, Kindle Edition
Published March 22, 2016
44 people want to read
About the author
Catyana Skory Falsetti
2 books6 followersCatyana Skory Falsetti was born in Sao Paulo, Brazil to a Japanese- Brazilian mother and Scots-Irish American father and grew up in Saratoga County, New York.
She is a graduate of the State University of New York at New Paltz and George Washington University, where she earned her master’s degree in forensic science. She also has a master's degree in Urban and Environmental Planning from Arizona State University.
Falsetti has worked in several roles, including crime scene investigator and death investigator, for various law enforcement agencies throughout her career. These include the Prince William County Police Department in Northern Virginia, the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner in Northern Virginia, the Harris County Medical Examiner’s Office in Houston, Texas, and the Broward Sheriff's Office in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida.
She currently lives in Northern Virginia with her husband and cats.
She is a graduate of the State University of New York at New Paltz and George Washington University, where she earned her master’s degree in forensic science. She also has a master's degree in Urban and Environmental Planning from Arizona State University.
Falsetti has worked in several roles, including crime scene investigator and death investigator, for various law enforcement agencies throughout her career. These include the Prince William County Police Department in Northern Virginia, the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner in Northern Virginia, the Harris County Medical Examiner’s Office in Houston, Texas, and the Broward Sheriff's Office in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida.
She currently lives in Northern Virginia with her husband and cats.
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Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
April 28, 2016
Just A Day in the Life of a Forensic Death Investigator until…
I am a big fan of stories the blur the line between fact and fiction, whether the book be historical fiction, a science thriller, or as in this case, a mystery. There is something about not being sure just where this line is drawn that heightens the suspense and tension for me. Facing Death provides the fact side of this equation in a big way.
Julia Rawson is a young, relatively inexperienced forensic death investigator, learning her way in the male-dominated world of law enforcement. As such, she is often recalling and applying the research and theory she learned in school to what she is doing on the job. These recollections add an air of authority and realism to the plot, and it was enjoyable learning a bit more about this field. The main character, Julia, is enthusiastic, energetic, and likeable. At several points in the book, she describes a meal she is having at a restaurant or that she has cooked, and the descriptions are always followed by the word, “yum.” Traits like that make her a pleasure to read about and some of the naivety she displays is even more engaging.
On the other side of the fact-fiction equation, however, the author could have given us more. It is only at the very end of the book that there is much in the way of suspense and tension built from the fiction. Of course, Julia is working on unsolved crimes, so there is that mystery. But the plot is mostly ‘another day at the office,’ as opposed to a complex, web of clues or an escalating series of events or the tension of a serial killer about to strike again. The end does provide that tension, but the pace was somewhat slow getting to that point.
If you like learning about forensic science and would enjoy the story of a young woman creating a life for herself among the dead, Facing Death should prove entertaining.
I am a big fan of stories the blur the line between fact and fiction, whether the book be historical fiction, a science thriller, or as in this case, a mystery. There is something about not being sure just where this line is drawn that heightens the suspense and tension for me. Facing Death provides the fact side of this equation in a big way.
Julia Rawson is a young, relatively inexperienced forensic death investigator, learning her way in the male-dominated world of law enforcement. As such, she is often recalling and applying the research and theory she learned in school to what she is doing on the job. These recollections add an air of authority and realism to the plot, and it was enjoyable learning a bit more about this field. The main character, Julia, is enthusiastic, energetic, and likeable. At several points in the book, she describes a meal she is having at a restaurant or that she has cooked, and the descriptions are always followed by the word, “yum.” Traits like that make her a pleasure to read about and some of the naivety she displays is even more engaging.
On the other side of the fact-fiction equation, however, the author could have given us more. It is only at the very end of the book that there is much in the way of suspense and tension built from the fiction. Of course, Julia is working on unsolved crimes, so there is that mystery. But the plot is mostly ‘another day at the office,’ as opposed to a complex, web of clues or an escalating series of events or the tension of a serial killer about to strike again. The end does provide that tension, but the pace was somewhat slow getting to that point.
If you like learning about forensic science and would enjoy the story of a young woman creating a life for herself among the dead, Facing Death should prove entertaining.
May 27, 2016
Facing Death is a debut murder mystery novel by the author Catyana Skory who is a real forensic artist; Her authority and mastery on the subject shows very clearly as she investigates the dead humans at the crime scenes.
The book gradually builds the momentum, rightfully, because many of us are not familiar with the art--author has done a great job in bringing readers up-to-speed in first half of the novel which is very engaging read. In the second half, the book builds on the knowledge and and the story moves really fast.
Julia Rawson is and enthusiastic death investigator. As we follow Julia's first person account, the suspense and tension starts to build which peaks at the end. The reader is easily hooked by the continuous increase in the tension which, to my understanding, is deliberate to allow reader to absorb the details first.
Facing Death is definitely a book that's different from normal fiction. It educates you, while at the same time, it provides the thrill we seek from mystery reads. Highly recommended to the readers who look to read something different in the genres of mystery/ thriller/ crime.
The book gradually builds the momentum, rightfully, because many of us are not familiar with the art--author has done a great job in bringing readers up-to-speed in first half of the novel which is very engaging read. In the second half, the book builds on the knowledge and and the story moves really fast.
Julia Rawson is and enthusiastic death investigator. As we follow Julia's first person account, the suspense and tension starts to build which peaks at the end. The reader is easily hooked by the continuous increase in the tension which, to my understanding, is deliberate to allow reader to absorb the details first.
Facing Death is definitely a book that's different from normal fiction. It educates you, while at the same time, it provides the thrill we seek from mystery reads. Highly recommended to the readers who look to read something different in the genres of mystery/ thriller/ crime.
April 24, 2016
Julia Rawson is a forensic death investigator. Her job is to help determine the cause and manner of death and make facial reconstructions. Facing Death provides a glimpse behind the curtains of her daily work routine. The author uses the first person narration, which is very intimate. Julia is the narrator of the story. With great sincerity and openness she shares her everyday life experiences with the reader. As the story unfolds we get to know her better as a person and get to know the complex death cases she is confronted with. The writing flows smoothly, is clear, easy to follow and engaging. The characters seem very real and are well developed. All those things make this book an intriguing read.
May 2, 2016
Facing Death, by Catyana Skory Falsetti, is not about preparing for the end of your life. It’s about a forensic artist, Julia, who works with human remains found at crime scenes. Through meticulous sculpting, she gives the skull a face and the bones a body, so that the dead person can be more easily identified. The process is detailed and time-consuming. Having no prior knowledge of this process, I found the explanation fascinating.
In the course of working on a body, Julia becomes involved in a case that has ties to people working in her office. When the worker finds out what she knows, she “faces death” in an entirely different way.
The first half of the book reads more like a journal than a mystery. The second half picks up speed and drives the plot forward.
In the course of working on a body, Julia becomes involved in a case that has ties to people working in her office. When the worker finds out what she knows, she “faces death” in an entirely different way.
The first half of the book reads more like a journal than a mystery. The second half picks up speed and drives the plot forward.
November 18, 2021
Fascinating information on a day-to-day basis of work in a ME setting, forensic sculpting, forensic investigating and just about all the forensic science world. The mystery is woven throughout the above as the author touches on how an unidentified body involves a homicide and years-old robberies. I struggled a bit with the whole "dryness" of the narration, yet it did fit the sense of serious science.
November 7, 2020
Loved the story but found the writing style quite juvenile. I did this. I did that. Then I did ...
There were very few complex sentences.
Learned a lot about the medicolegal investigation service. Would recommend it but in future books maybe a bit more editing of the text would raise it from good to great.
There were very few complex sentences.
Learned a lot about the medicolegal investigation service. Would recommend it but in future books maybe a bit more editing of the text would raise it from good to great.
August 4, 2020
All I can say is, I loved it!!!! Thanks for an awesome read. It kept me from wanting to put it down. I want to read the next one, Saving Face. Can't wait. Thanks Cat for taking me away from everyday life. Your Friend, Kimber
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews