Deadhouse: Life in a Coroner s Office

by John Temple

Life in a Coroner's Office chronicles the exploits of a diverse team of investigators at a coroner's office in Pittsburgh. Ed Strimlan is a doctor who never got to practice medicine. Instead he discovers how people died. Mike Chichwak is a stolid ex-paramedic, respected around the office for his compassion and doggedness. Tiffani Hunt is twenty-one, a single mother who questions whether she wants to spend her nights around dead bodies.

All three deputy coroners share one a compulsive curiosity. A good thing too because any observation at a death scene can prove meaningful. A bag of groceries standing on a kitchen counter, the milk turning sour. A broken lamp lying on the carpet of an otherwise tidy living room. When they approach a corpse, the investigators consider everything. Is the victim face-up or down? How stiff are the limbs? Are the hands dirty or clean? By the time they bag the body and load it into the coroner's wagon, Tiffani, Ed, and Mike have often unearthed intimate details that are unknown even to the victim's family and friends.

The intrigues of investigating death help make up for the bad parts of the job. There are plenty of burdens―grief-stricken families, decomposed bodies, tangled local politics, and gore. And maybe worst of all is the ever-present reminder of mortality and human frailness.

Deadhouse also chronicles the evolution of forensic medicine, from early rituals performed over corpses found dead to the controversial advent of modern forensic pathology. It explains how pathologists “read” bullet wounds and lacerations, how someone dies from a drug overdose or a motorcycle crash or a drowning, and how investigators uncover the clues that lead to the truth.

Genres: Nonfiction, True Crime, Death, Science, Crime, Mystery

184 pages, Hardcover

First published March 7, 2005

About the author

John Temple is a veteran investigative journalist whose books illuminate significant issues in American life.
His forthcoming book, Up in Arms, details Cliven and Ammon Bundy's multiple standoffs with the federal government. It will appear in June 2019.
Temple’s last book, American Pain: How a Young Felon and His Ring of Doctors Unleashed America’s Deadliest Drug Epidemic, was named a New York Post “Favorite Book of 2015” and was a 2016 Edgar Allan Poe Award nominee. American Pain chronicles how two young felons built the largest pill mill in the United States and also explains the roots of the opioid epidemic.
Temple also wrote The Last Lawyer: The Fight to Save Death Row Inmates (2009) and Deadhouse: Life in a Coroner’s Office (2005). The Last Lawyer won the Scribes Book Award from the American Society of Legal Writers.
Temple is a tenured journalism professor at the Reed College of Media at West Virginia University. He holds an MFA in nonfiction writing from the University of Pittsburgh. Prior to academia, Temple worked as a newspaper reporter. He currently lives in Morgantown, West Virginia with his wife and two sons. More information can be found at www.johntemplebooks.com.

Reviews

[♥ Sandi ❣ · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars

Good story, easy to read, moves along like a fiction novel, but I am sure not for everyone. Very few gory parts, but scientific in the format of death.

The story pretty much stays with the employees of the Allegheny Coroners office - so it is easy to begin to know and like these people. We begin to see the work of these employees through the fresh eyes of two young female college student interns, questioning whether they are suited for this type work.

I have read other John Temple books and he makes nonfiction read like a novel. Although this subject matter may not be for everyone, Temple brings the forensics down to a 'bare bone' description that anyone can understand.

[Trevor Pearson · Rating 3 out of 5]

"In the autopsy room, the body will be stripped, opened, turned inside out, emptied. Blood, urine, ocular fluid, and bile will be sucker out, dehydrated, atomized, and scanned. Organs will be cut loose, diced, shaved into sections less than a cell thick, saturated with dyes, eyed through microscopes. If it's murder, the evidence will show when autopsy techs cut her open. Or when the labs find toxins in the blood or urine, or when the kaleidoscope-like organ tissue slides give up the ghost. With little delicacy and much painstaking science, pathologists will hone or reverse the findings made by investigators at the death scene."

I figured that a career in death investigation would be a life altering decision, but who knew life in a coroner's office would be so much fun to read about? Once you get past the unsettling descriptions of examinations and the barriers a person has to gain a foothold within the industry the reader is treated to an entertaining read that demonstrates the science behind the process and the people that go a long for the ride. Deadhouse is told through the eyes of two young woman as they pursue an internship at a local coroner's office. As similar as they may seem, their individual life experiences have led them down different paths with respect to reaction, determination, and perspective on how to view the job at hand. The message that one of the interns constantly play's through her head during their first couple of shifts is that you remember every case in the beginning but eventually you don't remember any of them; the other one just wants to hit the ground running. Through drug overdoses, deaths of lonely old ladies, suicides, and miscarriages; the message seems lost but desensitisation doesn't work for everybody. When dealing with death and tragedy, callousness may get you through the day unscathed but keeping an appreciation for life and it's experiences will help maintain humanity when a grieving family needs it most.

"Some deputy coroners, Tiffani Hunt, find this job difficult because there sometimes seems to be no upside. Other jobs involve death and tragedy - firefighting, nursing, paramedical work - but the people who do those jobs draw conviction from the idea that they are helping people. Deputy coroners find their jobs entertaining, but it doesn't always feel like they're helping anybody directly. Sure, they identify public health hazards and help catch killers. Sometimes they can help survivors or at least treat them with kindness. But most of the time, the job consists of dealing with people who are beyond help."

The story is set in the Allegheny County Coroner's Office from the fall of 1999 to the summer of 2000, with a wide array of character's it would make a fiction writer jealous. Dr. Bennet Omalu is a Nigerian born pathologist at the office who not surprising hasn't perfected the English language and doesn't take to sarcasm and humor as well as the rest of the team. He takes his job very seriously, has a very hands on approach and although unconventional at times he shows great promise. Tracy McAninch is a summer intern and is thrust into the demands of the job on her first day. She has concerns about the minutes, hours, and days ahead and what she may be subjected to. She wears her heart on her sleeve and stoicism is not yet a reflexive quality, but she's working on it. Tracy aspires to work in a crime laboratory and views this internship as a necessary evil on her desired career path. Carey Welch is another summer intern and will work with Tracy as they go on this journey together. Carey is a little more gung-ho about the line of work and all that it entails but wants to ensure that the decision she makes will be the right one for her career. The blood won't be the problem, she watches plenty of surgical episodes on The Learning Channel but until the advent of "smellivision" there's potentially one noxious concern.

Tiffani Hunt is a young single mother and has been a deputy coroner for a little more than a year. She lives in a bad area of town and has seen more than the typical person would which gives her more perspective and credibility on domestic cases but motor vehicle accidents is another story. Mike Chichwak is an elder statesman of the team and brings levity during the most absurd of times. He enjoys teaching and passing on knowledge to interns as they encounter common situations in a frank way that can turn disgusting at the blink of an eye. Dr. Cyril Wecht has run the office for the better part of thirty years and is one of the most famous forensic pathologists in the whole world. He is also an interesting fellow that has encouraged many a people to put on their tinfoil hat as he has provided his own opinion to the John and Robert Kennedy assassinations and converted many there after. All characters in this book share a common curiosity that help uncover the truth of a death and a reinforcement that what they are doing is important despite all the emotional burdens that come with the job.

"It's your job to deal with death so the rest of the living don't have to. You cover it with a maroon blanket and whisk it away to a deadhouse that looks like a chapel among skyscrapers, where it's secrets are laid open. It's your job to hide death from others - but maybe you get really good at hiding it from yourself as well."

In Darkhouse, the author/journalist is granted complete access to the coroner's office, it's functions and all of its sensitive and vital work. The true crime aspect and introduction to forensic medicine was very interesting and drew me in from beginning to end. What was also surprising to find out was the lack of government funding issued to the department almost as if addressing it and prioritising it would bring you closer to your own grave, so why bother? With this occupation filled with idiosyncrasies and lack of resources it puts a lot of pressure on the employees, employees who at the time of the book were ill equipped, lacked training and occupational requirements in a profession where it is vital to catch the details and save precious time. Let me assure you that for the most part time's have changed.

The history of forensic medicine was also very enlightening and I would have preferred more content surrounding the sensory work utilized during the different era's and how it evolved into modern forensic science. Reading this section reminded me of Caleb Carr's The Alienist and the methodology of using fingerprints and other body measurements as a means to record important information and build a file for the city's most frequent offenders.The public have always had a great interest in crime scene investigations, hence all the CSI's, next stop Tuscaloosa, I can see it now. It is a current trend in modern media that I don't envision slowing down and with this book I got my fix in literary form and was equally rewarded with the experience. Recommended.

"Death, be not proud, though some have called thee Mighty and dreadful, for thou are not so; For those whom thou think’st thou dost overthrow, Die not, poor Death, nor yet canst thou kill me. From rest and sleep, which but thy pictures be, Much pleasure; then from thee much more must flow, And soonest our best men with thee do go, Rest of their bones, and soul’s delivery. Thou’art slave to fate, chance, kings, and desperate men, And dost with poison, war, and sickness dwell, And poppy’or charms can make us sleep as well And better than thy stroke; why swell’st thou then? One short sleep past, we wake eternally, And death shall be no more; Death, thou shalt die."

[Andrea Hickman Walker · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very interesting, and written in an accessible, informal style, it gives insight into the realities of working in a particular US coroner's office.

[Carey · Rating 4 out of 5]

everyone should read this book... since i am actually in the book and it is a true story!! i'm in it for my summer internship between junior and senior year at dickinson...

[Jan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Disclaimer : in my fifty years as a nurse in venues from birthing to hospice and more, I came to view death differently than most. And I did do some of them both in ER and jails.
I was intrigued and riveted by the system used in Pittsburgh as well as the people who are tasked with caring for the dead before sending them to the morticians as well as finding the necessary details to present to the legal system to seek justice for the victim if the death is caused by another person. By following the deputy coroners, forensic pathologists, and interns for a year, we come to appreciate their work and give thanks for their dedication.
Not for the squeamish, but a reality check for devotees of forensic tv shows.
Highly recommend!
Tim Lundeen performs the narration in a no nonsense manner that works very well.
Bought this on sale at Audible.

[AJ Payne · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not the best book about pathologists I've read, but still really interesting - it's especially really basic for anyone who has never read about about pathologists/coroners before. It's got tidbits about the history of pathology, the coroner system, and factoids about dead bodies and the science behind examining them. But nothing goes very in depth, so it won't bore or slide into too much detail for the newbie. It's a bit old (covers events in Pittsburgh in the summer of 2000) so it talks about CSI when that was a new phenomenon and how that was changing the field, so it's an interesting snapshot.

A good introduction to how coroners work for those interested.

[Guera25 · Rating 2 out of 5]

I wanted to like this. I picked it because I thought it would be filled with anecdotes of strange cases and how the coroner helped to solve the case, but instead, it was 177 pages of backing and filling about the lives and not-very-interesting quirks of the staff and gobbets of fatuous philosophizing that I'm sure sounded great at 3:30 in the morning when he was strung out and bleary-eyed and pushing for the finish line, but came off as navel-gazing dross in the light of day. A total bore.

[Sal · Rating 3 out of 5]

An interesting quick read that sheds some light on the work of a coroner's office. Granted, things may have changed a bit over the years with the advancing of technology, but still an interesting read with a lot of context.

[gloria segal · Rating 3 out of 5]

The coroners office

Interesting read about Coroners and what they deal with on a daily basis.
How the interns react and learn to accept what once was a living being is now an empty shell.

[Thomas Newton · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great book on forensics.

I chose this book out of many others in this category because the science interests me. I am glad I did, as it moved along from the very beginning with many different cases and happenings after another. I would strongly suggest it to my fellow readers

[Dana · Rating 5 out of 5]

A fascinating look behind the scenes of death. As someone who has lost people too young, it was comforting to see the back side of what is done and why.

[Ashley · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very good read. Very descriptive and follows a nice storyline.

[Jeff Carpenter · Rating 5 out of 5]

A very good inside look at the operations of the Allegheny County Coroner's Office.

[Tracy Reynolds · Rating 2 out of 5]

Good enough, but it's no Stiff by Roach. I guess I have a better idea of the legalities involved and the bad pay and treatment of those in the world of coronary practices.

[Betsy · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book walks the reader through daily life in the Pittsburgh Morgue through both research and interviews with the employees and summer interns who work for the Pittsburgh Coroner's Office. Various aspects were explored, such as what happens during an autopsy . . . who performs the autopsy and who assists, which details are important to the examiners. It also explored making calls to pick up bodies, including those that expired naturally versus homicides, drownings, traffic accidents, etc.

Politics are explored as well. I was somewhat surprised to find that Pittsburgh is one of the few cities that operates a Coroner's system as opposed to having a Medical Examiner. Although several differences were given, the main one seems to be that the coroner is elected, while a medical examiner is appointed. Because of this, a coroner's office has more freedom to insist upon investigation and prosecution, not having to rely on appointment by an official that may have an interest in NOT drawing attention to certain situations. At least that's how the Coroner's office in Pittsburgh sees it.

The book also introduces one to the Allegheny County Coroner, Cyril Wecht, who is something of a celebrity. A medical doctor with a law degree, Wecht has lent expert testimony in the Kennedy asasination, the Jon Binet Ramsey case, O J Simpson's trial and more. He has written a number of books, and is an energetic and somewhat controversial character.

Most of all, though, I read this book because I grew up in Pittsburgh and heard my mother tell of visiting the morgue once, on a lark with some friends. I was not disappointed to learn that there once was an open "chapel" where members of the public could view any unclaimed bodies in an effort to identify them, and a visit to the morgue chapel became something of a prom night destination in the early to mid 20th century. The book also mentioned places with which I'm familiar... the South Side, Wilkinsburg, and so on. While not exactly riveting, it is short and easy to read. I enjoyed the stories and subject matter, and also reading a bit about my home city.

[Jim · Rating 3 out of 5]

Nothing spectacular in this book. It really didn't seem as if the author knew where he wanted to go with it. I think he should have followed the experiences of the interns. Got the feeling that it was written on the cuff, almost as if to take advantage of the current climate of interest in forensics. There was some good information and certainly was worth reading, but overall wasn't impressed. Was he on some timeline to produce it within a certain limit? Who knows. Often repetitive too.

[J. · Rating 4 out of 5]

Of you are interested in finding out what would happen to a body found under unusual circumstances, read Temple’s book about Allegheny County Coroner’s Office. The author examines a new intern, experienced technicians, doctors, families, and bystanders actions, and perspectives as the coroner’s office searches for lead to yet another body on their table. The mixture of cases, personnel, and circumstances uncovers the pragmatic and human side of death.

[Autumn · Rating 3 out of 5]

Eh it was ok. I found some of the names to be a little too similar to keep the characters straight. However, I did find Tiffani's story interesting. I wouldn't have thought she would have faced the same kinds of problems from her community that the police do.

[Kaitron · Rating 2 out of 5]

this is a really poorly written book; however Carey is ALL over it and I am even pretty sure I am mentioned on page 34!

[Vanessa · Rating 1 out of 5]

Wasn't impressed.... though I wanted to be.

[Ashley · Rating 4 out of 5]

It was a good book and a sort of learning experience for me. I was fascinated by the book.

[Tina · Rating 3 out of 5]

The only reason I'm giving this a 3 is because I was interested in hearing the snippets of where/how actual deaths occurred in Allegheny County. Other than that it was pretty slow.

[Liz Phillips · Rating 4 out of 5]

An intriguing book that detailed the workings of a coroners office in the US. Probably a little gory for the squeamish. Definitely enlightening.