The Forensic Science of C.S.I.

by Katherine Ramsland

The CBS television show, CSI: Crime Scene Investigation, has captured audiences - and ratings - with its unflinchingly realistic details of forensic science, tools, and technology. This fascinating new book - written by an acclaimed biographer with a master's degree in forensic psychology - goes behind the crime-solving techniques dramatized on the TV show to examine the reality of these cutting-edge procedures.

From DNA typing and ballistics, to bitemark and blood pattern analysis, here are detailed accounts of the actual techniques used in today's crime investigations. Prominent experts in the field offer rare glimpses into cases ranging from missing persons to murder.

For fans of the television show, as well as true crime buffs and science readers - this is the real thing.

"With the mind of a true investigator, Katherine Ramsland demystifies the world of forensics with authentic and vivid detail." (John Douglas)

"Fascinating...this book is a must for anyone who wonders how the real crime-solvers do it." (Michael Palmer, New York Times bestselling author of The Patient.)

Author Biography: Katherine Ramsland has a master's degree in forensic psychology from John Jay College of Criminal Justice. She has published thirteen books, including biographies of Anne Rice and Dean Koontz, and has been translated into six languages. Her reference book on Anne Rice's work, The Vampire Companion, was a national bestseller. Next year Writer's Digest Press will publish Mental Judgment: A Guide for Writers to Forensic Psychology.

Genres: Nonfiction, Science, True Crime, Crime, Reference

272 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2001

About the author

I've loved books since I was 3, and the library was a highlight of my childhood. I've been fortunate to be able to find great joy in what others have written and sometimes to give this to readers. I follow my own muse, because it leads me on interesting adventures. I began my writing career with "Prism of the Night: A Biography of Anne Rice." I had a bestseller with "The Vampire Companion." Since then, I've published 69 books and over 2,500 articles, reviews and short stories. I have also been an executive producer for "Murder House Flip" and "BTK: Confession of a Serial Killer." From ghosts to vampires to serial killers, I have taken on a variety of dark subjects, mostly in crime and forensics. I hold graduate degrees in forensic psychology, clinical psychology, criminal justice, creative writing and philosophy. Currently, I teach forensic psychology and criminal justice at DeSales University. My books include "I Scream Man," "How to Catch a Killer", "Confession of a Serial Killer", "The Forensic Psychology of Criminal Minds", "The Mind of a Murderer", "The Human Predator: A Historical Chronicle of Serial Murder and Forensic Investigation", "Inside the Minds of Serial Killers", "Inside the Minds of Sexual Predators", and "Inside the Minds of Mass Murderers". My background in forensic studies positioned me to assist former FBI profiler John Douglas on his book, "The Cases that Haunt Us", and to co-write a book with former FBI profiler, Gregg McCrary, "The Unknown Darkness", as well as "Spree Killers" with Mark Safarik, "The Real Life of a Forensic Scientist" with Henry C. Lee, and "A Voice for the Dead" with James Starrs. I speak internationally about forensic psychology, forensic science, and serial murder, and has appeared on numerous documentaries, as well as such programs as The Today Show, 20/20, 48 Hours, NPR, Dr. Oz, Coast to Coast, Montel Williams, Larry King Live and E! True Hollywood. Currently, I'm working on a fiction series, The Nut Cracker Investigations, which features a female forensic psychologist who manages a PI agency. "I Scream Man" is the first one.

Reviews

[Kristina Coop-a-Loop · Rating 1 out of 5]

When I stole rescued The Forensic Science of C.S.I. by Katherine Ramsland from the "donations received" cart at the mediocre university library, my former employer, I didn't realize it was about the tv show C.S.I. I do not watch that show. I have never watched that show and have no interest in ever watching that show. While this looks like an interesting book describing the field of crime scene investigation for the intrigued layperson, I abandoned it fairly quickly for these reasons:

1. It's written for fans of the tv show C.S.I. The author frequently cites specific episodes and explains how detective so-and-so or CSI dude whosiwhatsit is practicing excellent (or not) forensic techniques. 2. The C.S.I. tv show shout-outs are very frequent. 3. I don't know these C.S.I. characters and don't give a shit how they relate to the book. 4. I'm now bored and anyway, the book was published in 2001 and is more than likely wildly out of date.

While I do find the area of forensic science very interesting, I'd rather read a book that was published more recently. However, if you are a fan of the tv show C.S.I., you may want to read this.

[Roberta · Rating 3 out of 5]

I had hoped that this book was going to go into real detail about cases on the TV show. The book uses examples from early shows but there is a disclaimer on the cover that the book was not authorized or approved by anyone connected with the C.S.I. TV show. It references episodes by title which didn't really help me since I remember the cases they solved, not the name of each show.

It was still a pretty good read but if you are not interested in the TV tie-in you might prefer to go with a book like Hidden Evidence: Forty true crimes and how forensic science helped solve them by David Owen or The Casebook of Forensic Detection by Colin Evans. There is a glossary and a good list of references in the back of the book.

The author has a degree in forensic psychology from the John Jay College of Criminal Justice and has published 15 books including biographies of Anne Rice and Dean Kootz. She spent a year as research assistant to former FBI profiler John Douglas when he was working on the book The Cases That Haunt Us. Hidden Evidence: Forty true crimes and how forensic science helped solve them

[Tessa · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed reading this book.
Usually I don't lean towards non-fiction, but the way that the episode ideas were laid out in comparison to actual cases, made it very interesting.

Some of the cases were really disturbing...some were cases I'd already heard of.

Sometime I'll stream the old CSI: Vegas episodes to see the ones marked in the book.

[John · Rating 3 out of 5]

liked the show & liked the book

[Beth Ramirez · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is by far one of my favorites in my collection. It is so informative that it pretty much answers all your questions before you even have time to ask them. If you were to take notes in a Forensics class this would be the end result.

[Susan · Rating 3 out of 5]

Very informative, though at this point the info is slightly out of date. A little too textbook-like for my taste, though that also means that the info is very well organized.

[Laura Crognalo · Rating 4 out of 5]

I liked how the author used parts of the T.V show C.S.I. as a way to have us follow how in real life how can works.

[Kathy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Ramsland takes the television series - one of my favorites - as a framework for talking about the actual science that solves, or attempts to solve, crimes. It's hardly profound and sometimes repetitious (well, how many different ways can you describe the contents of a scene-of-the-crime kit?) but generally interesting whether or not you're a fan of the plethora of crime shows that utilize this particular branch of detection.

[Bridget Cameron · Rating 4 out of 5]

Katherine Ramsland goes behind the scenes of some of the most brutal crime scenes recorded and debunks the rheutoric of forensic science seen in the series C.S.I ( Crime Scene Investigation). She demystifies the world of forensics with vivid and authentic detail, giving the reader the true picture of what tests are done and what really happens.

[Jade17 · Rating 4 out of 5]

although it's not a book about the tv show per se, it's a good refresher course on the basics of forensic science. some examples were also taken from the early episodes of the show.

[Jenna · Rating 2 out of 5]

A little dry, though the "true cases" blurbs in bold were rather interesting. Some of the info may also be outdated by now...

[Harvey · Rating 4 out of 5]

- although I've never watched an episode of the T.V. Series, this well-researched book is a fascinating study of forensic science by an author who has a Master's Degree in Forensic Psychology.

[Lucy Leigh J · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5⭐️