Maggots, Murder, and Men: Memories and Reflections of a Forensic Entomologist

by Zakaria Erzinçlioğlu

The science of forensic entomology-the application of insect biology to the investigation of crime-is extremely specialized, combining as it does an expert knowledge of entomology with keen powers of observation and deduction. Dr. Erzinclioglu has been a practitioner for over twenty-five years and has been involved in a great number of investigations, including some recent high-profile cases, where his evidence has been critical to the outcome.

A great admirerer of Sherlock Holmes, Dr. Erzinclioglu compares his own techniques with those of his fictional hero, and takes the reader behind the often gruesome but deeply fascinating scenes of a murder investigation. This absorbing book ranges over cases from history, prehistory and mythology to the present day and is as gripping and readable as a good thriller.

Genres: Nonfiction, Science, True Crime, Death, Nature, Crime, Biography

256 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2000

Reviews

[Kirsten · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was fascinating, but at times I wished for more forensic entomology and less personal philosophy -- he seemed to spend an awful lot of time talking about what's wrong with the world and with the way forensic science is used in the courtroom. I wanted more science. Still, his style of writing is amusing and he definitely comes across as someone you'd want to have dinner with (or at least sit down and talk to; I'm not sure if dinner and his conversation really go together).

[Evalina Street · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a very interesting read. Dr. Erzinçlioğlu writes as if he were talking to you over a cup of tea. Many on the stories were heartbreaking, but most of them had endings served by justice. His occupation reminds me of the fictitious detective in the hit series 'Monk' in the way he is able to use the life cycle of insects to determine key details about the evidence of a case. I really enjoyed the read, very well written.

[Carla · Rating 2 out of 5]

DNF

Bored by the author’s self congratulating tone and patronizing attitude toward women, impoverished people, and people with mental illness.

[Ray McKay · Rating 2 out of 5]

It’s okay.

[Neal Alexander · Rating 3 out of 5]

As a PhD student, looking out of the Zoology department window in Cambridge, sometimes I would see a man cross the courtyard in a raffish broadbrimmed hat and cloak. I learned it was Zak Erzinclioglu, a forensic entomologist who, by examining the different species and life stages of insects found on a dead body, could determine a timeline and rule in or out competing theories of the crime. (I thought this would be a good career for a fictional character, but CSI beat me to it.)

Although not the show-off I imagined, the narrator of this memoir doesn’t seem to have been easy to work with. Partly because of the high standards he demanded in terms of science and law, although his disdain sometimes goes beyond that. For example: "One of the most disturbing insights one gets from being involved in the investigation of crime is the realization that the lives of many of the most underprivileged people are almost wholly without form: one day is very much like another; this year very much like the last or the one before." On the other hand, he did go out of his way to help people, for example there’s an evocative and disturbing account of someone suffering from delusional parasitosis. Overall the positive aspects of the book are let down by off-topic opining that would’ve been cut by a more demanding editor.

[Teresa · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was an interesting book, but I found it a bit disjointed. I think it could have been better organized. It was published in 2000, so I am sure that some strides have been made in forensics since then(at least I hope so!).
The historical anecdotes were interesting.
I could have done without so much of the author’s opinions, but the subtitle (memories and reflections of a forensic entomologist) does warn the reader that there will be opinions presented.

[Ashley K. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Awesome collection of anecdotes and trivia about forensic entomology and related disciplines. If you're thinking about going into this field, this book is a must. And for everyone else, it's worth checking out just to gain an appreciation for how much knowledge we can glean from insects.

[Haley · Rating 2 out of 5]

Not as gross as I expected, but also not as interesting. Read for a science book club I'm in, and I'm hoping the discussion is far more fascinating than the book.

[Katherine Addison · Rating 4 out of 5]

(He means "men" in the generic sense, because apparently he's still pretending that the default state of humanity is masculine. Or at least he's willing to do so for the alliteration.)

The subtitle is accurate: "Memories and Reflections of a Forensic Entomologist." This is a rambling sort of book, with sidebars on the flaws in the criminal justice system in the UK and how the world is getting more violent and nihilistic all the time and so on and so forth. Erzinclioglu is good at anecdotes, which is a plus since most of the book is anecdotal, and he's very good at talking about maggots. I read large chunks of this book with a mixture of revulsion and fascination, and I now know way more about flies than I'm entirely comfortable with.

I'd give this book three and a half stars, so we'll round up to four.

[Oops I ARC'd Again · Rating 4 out of 5]

Maggots, Murder, and Men is one of those forensic reads that sticks with you long after you’ve closed it.
Dr. Zak (a.k.a. the “Maggotologist”) takes you deep into the strange and fascinating world of forensic entomology — the way insects tell the hidden story of a crime scene. It’s grisly, it’s fascinating, and somehow he makes it all both educational and entertaining. As one reviewer put it, it’s “as gripping and readable as a good thriller.”

Some chapters do get heavy with the technical details (fly life cycles, court procedure), but the payoff is worth it when he brings the science back to real-life cases. The mix of personal reflection, creepy facts, and true crime grit makes it a one-of-a-kind read.

If you like true crime, CSI-style science, or just want something smart and a little unsettling, this is one worth adding to your list.

[Rob · Rating 4 out of 5]

On the scale of one to tough, this was a tough read. Tough in the sense that the author was eloquent about a subject that could be horrible. Dr Zak strikes me as an old school legend dispensing pearls of wisdom like, 'be judged on your competence, irrespective of the results' - advice for modern day politicians, similar to a species that this forensic entomologist specialises in. With stories and anecdotes from the plagues of ancient Egypt to modern day murder, and how maggots (and other insects) help solve baffling crimes. Towards the end, Dr Zak gets relatively philosophical, about what terrors we as humans can conjure up. I thought this was an excellent 'out of my comfort zone' read. Highly recommended!

[Andrew Charter · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book is a collection of essays on various subjects in and around the criminal justice system. I was hoping for more scientific detail around entomology.
More emphasis on the actual science behind his conclusions would have been more interesting.
It took me some time to “power through” and finish this book.

[Jessica Giles · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed the book but I wanted so much more from the cases the author presented. I didn’t find it entertaining enough for the general public nor did it flow very well; but it also lacked in scientific details for a more academic reader in that field.

[Annamarie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Deeply enjoyable book - I learned so much, and enjoyed the anecdotes. The author bounces around a lot, and the print is tiny, but Dr Zak clearly loves his profession and forensic science as a whole.

[Jennah Krause]

Really interesting! I used this for a research paper I was writing and found it extremely useful.

[Gemma · Rating 3 out of 5]

I found parts fascinating and other parts very boring. Interesting but nowhere near as interesting as other books I’ve read on the same subject.

[Nicoleta Fedorca · Rating 4 out of 5]

Facts about crime investigation and the justice system in England.

[Kamile · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great 📖

[Emily Grindley · Rating 1 out of 5]

DNF

I could not get into this book. I was wanting more scientific details and got Sherlock Holmes.

[Cody Jon · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good points, interesting read. Anecdotal, tangential style of writing was a bit difficult to follow at times.

[Jazz Fan · Rating 3 out of 5]

An interesting book, good anecdotes, but marred by the authors injection of personal philosophy into much of the content. That knocked it down a bit, for me.

[Linda Cox · Rating 3 out of 5]

I have read multiple books about forensic entomology, but this was a disappointment. The author thinks very highly of himself and tends to look down on others. There was a lot of anecdotes that had little or nothing to do with forensic entomology. There were a few interesting portions and I found the paleontology discussion interesting, but overall it was a tedious read.

[Jen · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was an assigned reading for my forensic entomology class. This book is not 100 percent all about forensic entomology, but rather, a look into the life of a forensic entomologist. You learn about all of the "workplace drama" that a forensic entomologist deals with, which is incredibly different from anything any of us have ever experienced working any job. His love for Sherlock Holmes shows in this book, through mention of the fact and also through his style of writing. Recommended for anyone going into the forensics field, it gives you insight into the mind of a forensic scientist and the detail that must be noticed. Nothing is unimportant when you are at a crime scene, and even the slightest detail left out could be detrimental to an investigation. Very sad that the author is no longer living, I'd have loved to read another book by him.

[Carrie]

I should have realized that this was going to be a depressing book. I thought it would be cool and science-y but in a fun and interesting way. And I guess that it is, but it just hadn't occurred to me that all the fun science would necessarily have to be tied in with dead bodies, rapes, murder and drowning victims. More depressing than I really wanted.

[Nina · Rating 4 out of 5]

I already knew a lot about forensic entomology from other books. What made this one so good was the author's references to Sherlock Holmes' methods and his observations and critiques of how the criminal justice system works. The system he describes is his native England's, but I'm sure it's pretty accurate for America as well, with the exception of open-market forensic services.

[Daphne Vogel · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was charmed by this book, by his ethics and by the insect lore. His is a voice you would hear over a pint near the fire, telling stories of forensic research, solved (or unsolved) homicide cases, the good cop, the bad cop, and the nature of man. That being said, if you're of a squeamish disposition, best to wade into this book one maggot at a time.

[Alicia Duff · Rating 4 out of 5]

Highly fascinating book to read! The author spends time detailing actual cases he worked on, taking time to explain the deep the analysis process. I don't have any background in this area of expertise, but I can tell the process is very involved and only a certain type of person is suited for this work. The material was completely new to me, I left the book wanting to read more.

[Mark Desrosiers · Rating 3 out of 5]

He wouldn't dare say it in the introduction, but the primary function of a forensic entomologist seems to be to estimate the time of death. Sometimes also to figure whether some remains have been moved. In other words, despite all the disgusticating details, it's a dull day's work.

[Rae · Rating 5 out of 5]

This memoir combines two of my loves--forensic science and insects. The author, who died in 2002, was considered the leading forensic entomologist in the world. He shares many of his cases, some of his politics, a lot of his opinions, and a great deal of his knowledge of insects and bodies.

[Ballroom Dancer · Rating 3 out of 5]

Written by a forensic entemologist. Really cool but no photos.