Autopsy: The Memoirs of Milton Helpern, the World's Greatest Medical Detective

by Bernard Knight

Excellent Book

Genres: True Crime, Crime, Nonfiction

273 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1977

About the author

Aka Bernard Picton.

Professor Bernard Knight, CBE, (born 1931) became a Home Office pathologist in 1965 and was appointed Professor of Forensic Pathology, University of Wales College of Medicine, in 1980. He has been writing since before 1963, when his first crime novel was published. Since then, he has written about thirty books, including contemporary crime fiction, historical novels about Wales, biography, non-fiction popular works on forensic medicine, twelve medico-legal textbooks and the Crowner John Mysteries series of 12th-century historical mysteries.

In addition, he has written scripts for radio and television dramas and documentaries, including the forensic series The Expert starring Marius Goring, in the 1970s. He has contributed to many other textbooks and has edited several medical journals - he was Managing Editor of Elsevier's Forensic Science International, the leading international publication in the field.

Currently, he is a founder member of The Medieval Murderers, a select group of historical crime-writers within the Crime Writers' Association, who give presentations at literary festivals, libraries and bookshops, to promote their work amongst the public. He is also one of the non-fiction judges for the annual 'Dagger' Awards of the Crime Writers' Association and a regular reviewer of crime books for the Internet site Tangled Web.

He was born and lives in Cardiff and as well as being a doctor, he qualified as a barrister and was awarded the CBE in 1993 for services to forensic medicine. In the 1950s, he served as a Regular Army medical officer in Malaya during the terrorist campaign, in a military hospital which he compares with 'MASH'.

-Wikipedia

Reviews

[Soozee · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was written in the 70s, so is now looking very dated as forensic medicine has progressed tremendously. However, it was interesting to read the case studies in the book. The full title of the book is 'Autopsy: The Memoirs of Milton Helpern, the World's Greatest Medical Detective' which could be debated - he may be well known in America, but I am sure other specialists such as Keith Simpson in the UK were more innovative, pushing the boundaries and moving the science forward at least as much as Helpern, if not more. The author does come over as rather smug and full of self-belief that his opinion is correct and his peers are flawed.

Overall reasonably entertaining - I would have preferred more cases and less self-analysis other than a brief biography.

[Anna · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a bit dated but a fantastic and intriguing read. Some terms that were not deemed offensive in the time of this book are used, so be warned (mainly a term used for a special need child).

I love Dr. Helpern, he seems like an honest and amazing person. He talks about ethics and moral code. His book is written without talking down to the reader. I felt like he was a friend sitting on my couch telling me stories he had come across throughout his profession.

I recommend this book for the forensic file watchers and those interested in any autopsy crime stories.

[Victoria · Rating 3 out of 5]

This memoir of Milton Helpern, “The World’s Greatest Medical Detective” isn’t for the faint-hearted. Helpern worked in New York City’s medical examiner’s office for more than 40 years and was its chief from 1954 to 1973. Although technology may have changed, what remains fascinating–and invaluable to crime writers–is the philosophy he used in tackling many of the era’s most challenging homicide cases.

[Thomas]

Milton Helpern, longtime NY medical examiner, wrote the book (he LITERALLY wrote THE BOOK... TWICE) on forensic science. But this is not THAT book. This is a look at his life and career and some of his more interesting cases.

[Timothy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love true crime? Did you ever watch Quincy? If so, this is the book for you— replete with cases and techniques, murders and accidental deaths, and sundry other details about medical forensics from the 1930s through the 1970s. Altogether this 1977 book is worth finding and reading!

[Chooi · Rating 4 out of 5]

Insightful, but self-absorbed

[Robert Snow · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was one of those Summer beach books that I read in the early 80's. My Dad was a Police detective and spent time in the Medical examiners officer, so I found this book interesting read. This book is way before CSI craze and is dated, but is no less interesting. As my Dad used to say... " To solve a good murder case you need a good snitch! I've never placed too much in credence in all the CSI hype! The Medical examiner just expands the knowledge of what the Police all ready know and helps prove the case.

[Gregory Tait · Rating 3 out of 5]

Very dry book, almost like a text book.The book is also a product of its time. Written in the 1970's the Medical field in regards to forensic medicine has advanced so much I don't think the Dr would recognize it.

[Kwinder · Rating 4 out of 5]

A series of deaths of be evaluated from the view of the corner's office. A true life "Quincy M.E.".

[Fishface · Rating 4 out of 5]

A really good read. Full of fascinating stories from the autospsy table, but I must say there's precious little from the author's private life.