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Bones: A Forensic Detective's Casebook
Fascinating, educational, and highly readable, Bones takes readers into the dark world of forensic science.
317 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1992
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 38 reviews
December 4, 2008
Dr. Douglas Ubelaker is the curator of anthropology at the Smithsonian, a consultant for the FBI in forensic anthropology, and teaches of forensic anthropology at George Washington University. (I couldn't find any reference to the other author, Henry Scammell.) presents dozens of case studies and breaks down the science used to work on them into bites. These bites sometimes become bogged down in details or include not enough information, but they're there. In fact, if it weren't for the many photos and diagrams sprinkled throughout, I probably wouldn't have finished the book, to be honest.
Like many forensic books, this one explores the history of forensic anthropology, following the science from basic archaeology to what it is today. It also tracks the author's (the book is written in first person, so it's unclear if only Ubelaker is speaking or if they're both "I") journey from excavating burial sites to identifying the difference between sheep and young human femurs (they are quite similar).
And while that's all very interesting - and the cases are generally intriguing - the language is often clinical and textbookish. Bones has a feel of someone going through all of his case files and just presenting surface information, rather than explaining it well with less cases and more useful description of how the case is solved, as other authors have done. What I mean is, if you want to know how it all works, this isn't a good reference book. Some explanations are long and specific, while others just touch on the very basic elements and scurry to the next case.
On the other hand, there are several unsolved cases in the book, so if you fancy yourself a super-sleuth, pay attention. You never know when you might help catch a killer!
For readers who have a good foundation in forensics (either you do it for a living or have read everything else on the shelf already), Bones might not prove to be too interesting. You likely already understand determination of race and height from bones, recognize the different marks scavengers and weapons leave, and the know value of superimposition of photos on skulls for identification. However, if you're looking for a supplement to other, better books, this might be worth picking up, particularly for the section on races, because the illustrations are good. Overall, however, I'm just not really impressed with this book.
Now, here's a mystery for you: Who is Henry Scammell?
Like many forensic books, this one explores the history of forensic anthropology, following the science from basic archaeology to what it is today. It also tracks the author's (the book is written in first person, so it's unclear if only Ubelaker is speaking or if they're both "I") journey from excavating burial sites to identifying the difference between sheep and young human femurs (they are quite similar).
And while that's all very interesting - and the cases are generally intriguing - the language is often clinical and textbookish. Bones has a feel of someone going through all of his case files and just presenting surface information, rather than explaining it well with less cases and more useful description of how the case is solved, as other authors have done. What I mean is, if you want to know how it all works, this isn't a good reference book. Some explanations are long and specific, while others just touch on the very basic elements and scurry to the next case.
On the other hand, there are several unsolved cases in the book, so if you fancy yourself a super-sleuth, pay attention. You never know when you might help catch a killer!
For readers who have a good foundation in forensics (either you do it for a living or have read everything else on the shelf already), Bones might not prove to be too interesting. You likely already understand determination of race and height from bones, recognize the different marks scavengers and weapons leave, and the know value of superimposition of photos on skulls for identification. However, if you're looking for a supplement to other, better books, this might be worth picking up, particularly for the section on races, because the illustrations are good. Overall, however, I'm just not really impressed with this book.
Now, here's a mystery for you: Who is Henry Scammell?
December 8, 2015
Dr. Ubelaker is a brilliant scientist, one of the best in forensic anthropology. I've read some of his scientific papers and they are great. Unfortunately I am not a huge fan of this book. I have read many forensic anthropology books, by a wide variety of authors and I certainly don't expect them all to be the same. Many books of this genre that are aimed to the general reader divide the book by cases; normally one case per chapter. I understand the logic of dividing the book by subjects relevant to the science, but it led to poor flow. I did not enjoy not getting the full story about a case discussed in chapter 3 until chapter 18. Many of his stories didn't lead anywhere either because they were unresolved or the victim never identified.
I found that Dr. Ubelaker didn't seem to keep in mind who his target audience was. He would make reference to studies, landmarks, various things that the general person might not know. It's hard for myself to really judge since I have studied human osteology. But then on the flip-side he spells out some things I found to be very obvious.
I found that Dr. Ubelaker didn't seem to keep in mind who his target audience was. He would make reference to studies, landmarks, various things that the general person might not know. It's hard for myself to really judge since I have studied human osteology. But then on the flip-side he spells out some things I found to be very obvious.
February 4, 2023
3.5 stars
If the thought of dead bodies makes you queasy, definitely don't read this book. It goes into very gross detail and includes photos, mostly of bones. Some of the cases involve abduction and child abuse. However, the author has a matter-of-fact and unbiased writing style as well as a dry sense of humor.
This "Bones" is not the basis for the 2005-2017 TV show "Bones" but it could easily have been an important reference. The book does not read like a textbook as one reviewer put it, but like a crime procedural show with all of the interpersonal drama removed. Dr. Ubelaker describes many of his cases from the 1970s to early 90s as well as some cases he learned about from his teachers. Some were still unsolved as of the publishing date (1992). He studied forensic anthropology, which was still fairly new at the time, before he went to work at the Smithsonian Institution. He explains the technology they utilized and their methods, many of which were groundbreaking, as well as the beginnings and expansion of forensic anthropology as a topic of study. Some things he emphasizes are to not make assumptions: don't accept anyone else's statement or conclusions and try to get the evidence to fit that. Look at the evidence first, then see what results it leads to. I appreciated his humility - you can never be 100% sure that you're correct, and he's careful to phrase his statements as estimates or 'typical results'. He tries to refrain from drawing conclusions when he's called into court, but presents the facts as he found them. He also tries to be respectful of the dead and remember that they were once living humans. His work with the FBI is bringing criminals to justice, giving the dead a voice, and providing closure for their families.
If the thought of dead bodies makes you queasy, definitely don't read this book. It goes into very gross detail and includes photos, mostly of bones. Some of the cases involve abduction and child abuse. However, the author has a matter-of-fact and unbiased writing style as well as a dry sense of humor.
This "Bones" is not the basis for the 2005-2017 TV show "Bones" but it could easily have been an important reference. The book does not read like a textbook as one reviewer put it, but like a crime procedural show with all of the interpersonal drama removed. Dr. Ubelaker describes many of his cases from the 1970s to early 90s as well as some cases he learned about from his teachers. Some were still unsolved as of the publishing date (1992). He studied forensic anthropology, which was still fairly new at the time, before he went to work at the Smithsonian Institution. He explains the technology they utilized and their methods, many of which were groundbreaking, as well as the beginnings and expansion of forensic anthropology as a topic of study. Some things he emphasizes are to not make assumptions: don't accept anyone else's statement or conclusions and try to get the evidence to fit that. Look at the evidence first, then see what results it leads to. I appreciated his humility - you can never be 100% sure that you're correct, and he's careful to phrase his statements as estimates or 'typical results'. He tries to refrain from drawing conclusions when he's called into court, but presents the facts as he found them. He also tries to be respectful of the dead and remember that they were once living humans. His work with the FBI is bringing criminals to justice, giving the dead a voice, and providing closure for their families.
August 28, 2021
Reads just like a textbook on forensic anthropology. A bit dry in places and as of today a bit dated in parts.
November 25, 2010
Beach Vacation Read #3: Scrounged from the sad pair of little wicker baskets filled with books that served as the beach house library.
While this wasn't a bad introduction on forensics, it's becoming terribly dated, teetering on historic. I had a lot of issues with how the data was laid out here, word definitions were clunky and repetitious, readability was far from smooth.
Ubelaker's entire book is fractured vignettes. I prefer meatier stories, even if they are short, and it irritated me to constantly be in introduced to a case, explore it for a page or less, have Ubelaker go, 'and then it became a cold case' and never refer to it again. No doubt this sort of example is the typical occurrence for forensic detecting, but I had been expecting something a little more engaging. I've become spoiled by my CSI shows and Ann Rule books.
I'd consider this worthwhile to pick up if you really enjoy the forensic crime dramas, but I wouldn't recommend going through any great effort to obtain a copy.
Beach Vacation Reading List (November 2010)
#1 | Shutter Island
#2 | Someplace to Be Flying
#3 | Bones
#4 | Into the Arms of Strangers
#5 | Little Heathens
#6 | Bridge of Birds
#7 | But I Trusted You
#8 | Married by Morning
#9 | The Hunger Games
#10 | All My Patients are Under the Bed
While this wasn't a bad introduction on forensics, it's becoming terribly dated, teetering on historic. I had a lot of issues with how the data was laid out here, word definitions were clunky and repetitious, readability was far from smooth.
Ubelaker's entire book is fractured vignettes. I prefer meatier stories, even if they are short, and it irritated me to constantly be in introduced to a case, explore it for a page or less, have Ubelaker go, 'and then it became a cold case' and never refer to it again. No doubt this sort of example is the typical occurrence for forensic detecting, but I had been expecting something a little more engaging. I've become spoiled by my CSI shows and Ann Rule books.
I'd consider this worthwhile to pick up if you really enjoy the forensic crime dramas, but I wouldn't recommend going through any great effort to obtain a copy.
Beach Vacation Reading List (November 2010)
#1 | Shutter Island
#2 | Someplace to Be Flying
#3 | Bones
#4 | Into the Arms of Strangers
#5 | Little Heathens
#6 | Bridge of Birds
#7 | But I Trusted You
#8 | Married by Morning
#9 | The Hunger Games
#10 | All My Patients are Under the Bed
January 12, 2012
While forensics is a fascinating science and the topicss covered are interesting, the workmanlike writing does nothing to bring Ubelaker's subject to life and in fact works against him to quite a great extent. Chapters are typically laundry lists of information - one case after another with perhaps three or four paragraphs dedicated to each, often without any resolution given or without having a case fulfill the purpose/point that Ubelaker tells you it will. He or his ghost writer waste no opportunity to pass up a chance at adding narrative or appeal; the long chapters of lists of information about the business end of criminology are boring as all get out; one case melts into another until they're so indistinguishable that at times I would accidentally open the book at the wrong page, earlier in the book then where I'd put it down, and read for pages before realizing I'd already read it once before; and his jokes just plain aren't funny. I had to force myself to get through it, and, given the subject matter, that's really saying something. I'd give it two stars except..well..I don't really know why I'm giving it three stars; I don't know that it's really earned that third one.
August 12, 2012
This was the second FA book I read, it is nearly as good as Maple's. It's been awahile since I read it and was considering skimming it again. It is awesomely written and I can't imagine anyone would have trouble "picturing the scene." The illustration with the chicken thighs was especially interesting.
January 1, 2015
At first I wondered if I was going to get through this one. The author's writing style was dry. As I got into the rythem of his writing, though, it became far more accessible. If you have any interest in forensic anthropology (or if you've seen the TV show Bones) you might find this book interesting.
June 21, 2010
A disappointing number of the cases were unsolved, vague on the details, or actually examined by someone else. I'd recommend William R. Maples's Dead Men Do Tell Tales or Michael M. Baden's Unnatural Death over this one.
March 28, 2019
I have read this after finishing 'Dead men do tell tales' by Dr. William Maples (also a forensic anthropologist) and as much as i really enjoyed Maples' book, I really didn't like this one.
It jumps from case to case without either cohesion or conclusion, so much so that i often found myself lost, confused and irritated. I only finished the book as I always finish reading what I started, even if i am not enjoying it, just don't like to leave a book unfinished. There were a few interesting cases, two cases in the chapter before last really touched me, they were very emotional.
If you are interested in the subject and looking for a good read I would definitely say go straight for Dr. Maples' book which reads much easier and is very interesting.
It jumps from case to case without either cohesion or conclusion, so much so that i often found myself lost, confused and irritated. I only finished the book as I always finish reading what I started, even if i am not enjoying it, just don't like to leave a book unfinished. There were a few interesting cases, two cases in the chapter before last really touched me, they were very emotional.
If you are interested in the subject and looking for a good read I would definitely say go straight for Dr. Maples' book which reads much easier and is very interesting.
May 23, 2023
I’ve both enjoyed and learnt a lot fromreading Ubelaker’s case histories of forensic science based on his long years as a Smothsonian Institution scientist with snippets of auto- and biography thrown in. I wonder what did son Max grow up to be? The human component illuminated some of myownwork on fossil vertebrates - good to learn more of the taphonomuc processes for instance that lead to ‘grave wax’. Teeth are one of the most indestructible partsof our skeleton and that is true ofthe fossilrecord too along with the dentine scales that preceeded them - pity the index does not do justice to the many times they are mentioned as solving a case.
August 28, 2022
I don't read a lot of non fiction but a coworker of mine was reading it and I thought it looked interested so I gave it a go. It's a 30 year old book so I'm sure science has advanced quite a bit since then but the basics are probably still the same and it was indeed interesting. It took a couple chapters to get past the intro material and then while the individual stories weren't as fleshed out as I'd expected it still tied everything together very well and language-wise was well written to boot.
December 22, 2024
An interesting look at the history and work of forensic anthropology. Douglas Ubelaker provides the basics of the field with facts and actual cases. By providing a glossary of terms at the back of the book, he makes it easy for non-scientists to reference the meanings of any terms he uses the reader may not know.
November 2, 2019
I read fictional books about dead body mysteries often, but this fascinating book is about real people, real bones and real mysteries of who, how and when people died. It's a page turner in the best sense of the tv crime dramas and 'case' series.
October 1, 2020
I read this book years ago.
In it, Dr Ubelaker, a forensic anthropologist, tells of several incidents where his skills helped solve crimes.
If you liked shows like the various CSIs, you'll find this book interesting.
In it, Dr Ubelaker, a forensic anthropologist, tells of several incidents where his skills helped solve crimes.
If you liked shows like the various CSIs, you'll find this book interesting.
June 14, 2017
What a informative and fascinating book! I learned lots of new things about bones, and the pictures were real eye-openers.
June 23, 2025
This was a great book, I really enjoyed reading this book and would give it an a .
July 5, 2016
Ubelaker is a forensic anthropologist who works at the Smithsonian Institute. He wrote this book to give others a picture of what it is like to be a forensic anthropologist and get a taste for the kinds of cases he works and contributions he makes to solving both ancient mysteries and modern crime.
What I did not realize when I started reading this was just how long ago "modern" was. The most "recent" case Ubelaker mentions in this book is 1990. Which also means, this book predates the ability to use DNA evidence in forensics. It is interesting to hear what things were like prior to DNA identification options. He does a lot of identification jobs by determining how unique certain bones are and the likelihood of whether it matches a suspected victim's photos and x-rays and dental records. That said, this wasn't quite what I was hoping for. I was hoping for forensic stories, but Ubelaker is not a born storyteller. He presents cases in the briefest of summaries. I've even heard some of the cases before since I've also read a book on Bill Bass, one of Ubelaker's mentors, and while Bass rolled out the tale in a highly engaging and interesting manner, Ubelaker managed to make them almost boring. At times this read more like a textbook on all the stuff a forensic pathologist does and Ubelaker frequently mentions cases without even bothering to lay out the whole case and will frequently just summarize by saying whether or not the case was solved. Now that said, he does give a very realistic picture for just how many cases go unsolved for a person in this job. I also wonder how many have now been solved with the availability of DNA processing. Anyway, not the best written forensics book. Lots of the stories are spun out better in Bill Bass's book. This one is definitely dated, and the Kindle version I read must have been digitized by a computer and not run through spell check because it had weird typos like committed at one point was spelled cornrnitted and a few times all was spelled al1.
Notes on content: Just one or two language issues, usually in quotes. No graphic sexual content. It is mentioned that some victims were sexually assaulted but no details at all. Obviously, there are many stories of violent deaths, though because of the brevity with which Ubelaker spins them, few are gorily described. Obviously, bones are described in detail frequently, and evidence of a lot of smashing, slashing and shooting are described.
What I did not realize when I started reading this was just how long ago "modern" was. The most "recent" case Ubelaker mentions in this book is 1990. Which also means, this book predates the ability to use DNA evidence in forensics. It is interesting to hear what things were like prior to DNA identification options. He does a lot of identification jobs by determining how unique certain bones are and the likelihood of whether it matches a suspected victim's photos and x-rays and dental records. That said, this wasn't quite what I was hoping for. I was hoping for forensic stories, but Ubelaker is not a born storyteller. He presents cases in the briefest of summaries. I've even heard some of the cases before since I've also read a book on Bill Bass, one of Ubelaker's mentors, and while Bass rolled out the tale in a highly engaging and interesting manner, Ubelaker managed to make them almost boring. At times this read more like a textbook on all the stuff a forensic pathologist does and Ubelaker frequently mentions cases without even bothering to lay out the whole case and will frequently just summarize by saying whether or not the case was solved. Now that said, he does give a very realistic picture for just how many cases go unsolved for a person in this job. I also wonder how many have now been solved with the availability of DNA processing. Anyway, not the best written forensics book. Lots of the stories are spun out better in Bill Bass's book. This one is definitely dated, and the Kindle version I read must have been digitized by a computer and not run through spell check because it had weird typos like committed at one point was spelled cornrnitted and a few times all was spelled al1.
Notes on content: Just one or two language issues, usually in quotes. No graphic sexual content. It is mentioned that some victims were sexually assaulted but no details at all. Obviously, there are many stories of violent deaths, though because of the brevity with which Ubelaker spins them, few are gorily described. Obviously, bones are described in detail frequently, and evidence of a lot of smashing, slashing and shooting are described.
January 30, 2014
This book took me over 6 months to read mostly because of situations in my life that interfered with reading, but also because it was a bit drier than I was expecting, having read books by the likes of Bill Bass and Janis Amatuzio, and figuring this would be as good. Although the book is from the 90s and a bit dated, most of Ubelaker's cases were from long before that and thus the details wouldn't have changes much had the book been written more recently. Instead of focusing just on the cases, the author goes far in depth into the techniques used to gain insight into the cases, perhaps more in depth than was needed for the book. This technical writing was the part that tended to lose me, as it was a lot about how he could use just a piece of bone to determine the identity of a person and how the person died. Also, many of the cases in the book remain unsolved at press time (can't say what's happened in the last 20 or so years), which is a bit disheartening when you think that Ubelaker works for the Smithsonian and used the latest tools and programs available, yet still couldn't find out who killed the victims.
Overall, not a terrible book, probably something readers with a genuine interest in forensic anthropology would enjoy, but unlikely to enthuse the casual CSI fan.
Overall, not a terrible book, probably something readers with a genuine interest in forensic anthropology would enjoy, but unlikely to enthuse the casual CSI fan.
April 20, 2022
An interesting look at what all a forensic anthropologist does; at some of the considerations in determining age, race, sex, time of death, etc; and at some of the cases wherein the author and the Smithsonian have consulted.
2nd review-- I was in need of some more detached reading after finishing a triggering (but excellent) read, so I picked this up from my stack. Yes, I consider true crime and forensics to be detached reading material. I was surprised to see that I had read this book before because I didn't remember it. None of it seemed specifically familiar as I read the whole thing. But, then, I have read quite a few books dealing with this type of work (both fiction and nonfiction) so there were few details that were outside my scope of familiarity. I was conscious of how dated the book was only because of the references to the "ongoing" Green River Killer case and some of the references to computer systems. Most of the information here is timeless and an updated version would only discuss newer techniques but would not necessarily negate or diminish any of the information in this book.
2nd review-- I was in need of some more detached reading after finishing a triggering (but excellent) read, so I picked this up from my stack. Yes, I consider true crime and forensics to be detached reading material. I was surprised to see that I had read this book before because I didn't remember it. None of it seemed specifically familiar as I read the whole thing. But, then, I have read quite a few books dealing with this type of work (both fiction and nonfiction) so there were few details that were outside my scope of familiarity. I was conscious of how dated the book was only because of the references to the "ongoing" Green River Killer case and some of the references to computer systems. Most of the information here is timeless and an updated version would only discuss newer techniques but would not necessarily negate or diminish any of the information in this book.
February 24, 2011
Dr. Douglas Ubelaker is the curator of anthropology at the Smithsonian, a consultant for the FBI in forensic anthropology, and teaches of forensic anthropology at George Washington University. There were 75 illustrations that didn't really lose anything by being in b&w. Like some of the other forensics books written by professionals for a popular audience Dr. Ubelaker seemed not to be quite sure what would interest us and what we either didn't need explained or didn't want to know. For example, I really don't need the names and addresses of all the diplomates of the American Board of Forensic Anthropology (6 pages).
One of the other reviewers complained that Dr. Ubelaker stated that forensic anthropologists could determine a lot about a person from their bones but then included too many cases where the investigation concluded with identity of the remains still unknown. I guess that's the difference between TV and real life.
One of the other reviewers complained that Dr. Ubelaker stated that forensic anthropologists could determine a lot about a person from their bones but then included too many cases where the investigation concluded with identity of the remains still unknown. I guess that's the difference between TV and real life.
December 5, 2012
By the title and the description, I thought that this book was going to be a book involving a step-by-step, from start to finish of cases that Ubelaker has worked on. However, that was not the case. I was actually pleasantly surprised by this book. He covers a lot of different forensic sciences, but he focuses on the sciences surrounding forensic anthropology.
I have previously read Ubelaker's Human Skeletal Remains:Excavation, Analysis, Interpretation and I was pleased that he didn't repeat a great deal of information from one book to the other.
I think that individuals interested in Forensic Sciences and Forensic Anthropology would get a kick out of the book since it is so informative. Additionally, one thing that this book unintentionally does is address the CSI effect (even though the book was published about 8 years before CSI aired).
I have previously read Ubelaker's Human Skeletal Remains:Excavation, Analysis, Interpretation and I was pleased that he didn't repeat a great deal of information from one book to the other.
I think that individuals interested in Forensic Sciences and Forensic Anthropology would get a kick out of the book since it is so informative. Additionally, one thing that this book unintentionally does is address the CSI effect (even though the book was published about 8 years before CSI aired).
April 15, 2014
I started out reading this book on my subway commute and kept finding myself falling asleep. Not a good sign. So it got relegated to my bedside table.
Dr. Ubelaker tells a good story, but there's also a lot of science in the way. It's as though he was writing a book about the science of forensic anthropology, then was reminded of specific cases. I would have rather had it the other way around. Sometimes his scientific references are beyond the audience, which I assume is the general public. It's also very unsatisfying that the majority of the cases are unsolved and unresolved.
The science described is also vastly outdated. It was published in 1993 and we've come a very long way. I found it quaint that he was so excited about the computerized databases maintained by the FBI.
Dr. Ubelaker tells a good story, but there's also a lot of science in the way. It's as though he was writing a book about the science of forensic anthropology, then was reminded of specific cases. I would have rather had it the other way around. Sometimes his scientific references are beyond the audience, which I assume is the general public. It's also very unsatisfying that the majority of the cases are unsolved and unresolved.
The science described is also vastly outdated. It was published in 1993 and we've come a very long way. I found it quaint that he was so excited about the computerized databases maintained by the FBI.
June 8, 2009
The book had an unintentionally strange message. Ubelaker talks about the tremendous strides in forensic investigation, and how much you can tell from a skeletonized corpse if you know what to look for. He and other pathologists mentioned are able to be extremely certain about cause of death..yet in approximately half of the cases he talks about, there is no positive identification of the vitim.
It just struck me as a little odd that he would construct a book with such a mixed message, but as he was fond of saying, the forensic pathologist or medical examiner isn't there to guess or speculate. He or she is only there to uncover the facts and report them, and the sad fact is there are a lot of people being murdered out there, and only the killer will ever know.
It just struck me as a little odd that he would construct a book with such a mixed message, but as he was fond of saying, the forensic pathologist or medical examiner isn't there to guess or speculate. He or she is only there to uncover the facts and report them, and the sad fact is there are a lot of people being murdered out there, and only the killer will ever know.
May 1, 2012
The way Dr. Ubelaker narrates puts this book on par with some of the best crime fiction I have ever read! This is a page turner that I could not put down. A thoroughly entertaining bite of nonfiction that I can reread again and again. Each chapter is filled with a lifetimes worth of crime anecdotes and includes plenty of solved and unsolved cases as well. Dr. Ubelaker makes the mundane minutiae of of forensic science absolutely fascinating-from differentiating between the skulls of an encephalic calf and that of a human infant, to computer-assisted photographic super-imposition for purposes of identification-exciting. Seriously, a great book for anyone with even a trivial interest in forensic science.
October 11, 2012
Probably 3.5 stars. The subtitle of, "A Forensic Detective's Casebook" made me think this was going to be more of a series of detailed descriptions of successive cases. It was more about what he learned while being a Forensic Anthropologist and some snippets from cases that illustrated those points. Sometimes the cases had lots of details and were solved, many times they were not. I suppose that truthfully illustrates the job... many cases are unsolved. I liked this book fine, but some in the genre that I like better are Bill Bass's books and Dead Men Do Tell Tales by William Maples.
February 11, 2012
Dr. Ubelaker is the curator and senior scientist at the Smithsonian Institution's National Museum of Natural History, as well as a forensic consultant to the FBI. This book is a collection of case histories he has been privy to, and contains a lot of information on the sorts of things forensic scientists look for when examining a case. Recommended for anyone with an interest in that sort of thing.
April 21, 2018
This brought back fond memories of my college human osteology class. If I had known forensic anthropology was a career option I might have stuck to my original major. Interestingly, the author of the gook was an expert witness in the trials of Buck Walker and Jennifer Jenkins who were accused of the Palmyra murders described in the last book I read (And the Sea Will Tell). Small world.
October 25, 2013
anyone who has even a weak interest in forensic anthropology should read this book. i've read it thrice, prior to this last time, and never does it NOT leave me in awe of what the people who find the identities of our long lost dead do to obtain that knowledge. Simply put, a truly fascinating book.
May 6, 2015
Not the author's fault but the information presented is now outdated. I only gave two stars because I did not like the author's writing style. It seemed somewhat standoffish and braggy to me.
Couldn't finish this book.
Couldn't finish this book.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 38 reviews