Death: Corpses, Cadavers, and Other Grave Matters

by Elizabeth A. Murray

Everyone dies . . . but what happens inside the human body when death occurs? What body systems are key for holding on to life? And what value does studying death have for those of us still living? Explore all of the answers with a forensic scientist who takes a look at the body’s interconnected cellular systems and the links between life and death.

Genres: Reference, Nonfiction

112 pages, Library Binding

First published January 1, 2010

About the author

Dr. Elizabeth A. Murray is a forensic anthropologist and also Professor of Biology at Mount St. Joseph University, where she teaches doctoral-level human gross anatomy and undergraduate-level anatomy and physiology, as well as forensic science.

"With nearly 30 years in the field, I guess I was 'forensic' before it was cool! I find forensic science to be a fascinating subject that incorporates law, ethics, psychology, history, and technology, as it aids our global community."

Qualifications & career

Reviews

[Suzanne · Rating 4 out of 5]

A straightforward, easy-to-read book. Not a lot of *new* information beyond Biology and Anatomy 101, but a concise overview of what life is and isn't and what happens to our bodies after death.

[Jane Night · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was on the short side. I would have loved for it to be a bit longer.

This was absolutely a beginners book for those who know next to nothing about death or even basic anatomy. I work in healthcare but I also love mysteries and hoped to gleen new knowledge from this book. Sadly, this book had little to say that I didn’t already know. Some of the decomposition stuff was new but most of it was stuff I already was pretty familiar with.

I did enjoy all the diagrams and pictures though.

This book would be more for high school students then adult readers but I didn’t know that when I ordered it from the library. If I had known it I probably wouldn’t have bothered.

[B Kevin · Rating 2 out of 5]

Not a very meaty book. Expect for the subject matter, it seemed more of a children's book. Not a lot of effort went into this, in fact, I suspect more effort went into designing the 'package' than writing the contents. It is a very pretty book, in spite of the subject. But if you have watched more than a couple of episode of either 'Bones' or 'Quincy', you already know everything in this book.

[BCPL Youth Services Librarian]

Click to see book in BCPL's online catalog

[Mila Ballentine · Rating 5 out of 5]

The book was informative and gave basic knowledge about the stages of after death.

[Metagion · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a textbook, and meant for students just looking for "how things work". (Okay to browse.)

[Greg Parrott · Rating 3 out of 5]

Obviously a young adult book. I should have researched the book more.