Crime Scene Chemistry for the Armchair Sleuth

by Cathy Cobb, Monty L. Fetterolf, Jack G. Goldsmith

Chemists and science authors Cathy Cobb and Monty L. Fetterolf have teamed up with Jack G. Goldsmith, fellow chemist and reserve police officer, to create another intriguing trek through the science of chemistry, this time using the fascinating field of forensic chemistry as their framework. All new hands-on demonstrations and fictional minute mysteries illustrate chemical concepts as the authors present the science — and the realities — of forensic chemistry in a narrative style that makes this timely topic accessible to the nonchemist. The authors lead you through actual and simulated forensic techniques such as
presumptive and confirmative drug testing
body fluid identification including luminol testing
DNA analysis
trace fiber and gun shot residue analysis
latent fingerprint development and collection
forensic soil analysis
Through more than twenty-five demonstrations, using ordinary household products and items, you can become familiar with the basics of forensic chemistry and gain insights into the painstaking work that goes into criminal investigations that is rarely seen on TV.
If you’re a fan of true-crime stories or mystery fiction, or interested in the science behind dramas like CSI, this informative and entertaining book is a must-have addition to your library.

Genres: Science, Chemistry, Nonfiction, True Crime

394 pages, Hardcover

First published August 9, 2007

Reviews

[Lena · Rating 3 out of 5]

I won't lie, it's been a long time since I studied chemistry in school and it was difficult at times to get through this book. As a longtime fan of Forensic Files and current writer of a mystery novel, it was worth it for me to put in the effort.

[Jeff Pedersen · Rating 2 out of 5]

the chemistry was fine but the demonstrations were a bit unnecessary for me. I hated the pun names, just being honest, sorry to the writers.

[Patty · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting title, even more interesting book. I would have to take some exception to the "armchair sleuth" part, at least *this* armchair sleuth. The chemistry is dumbed down a lot, but not enough for someone who hasn't had at least some training in chemistry. I could follow along on the experiments and do okay with the sleuthing part, or at least understand the explanation but the part that introduces the chemistry was a bit (or a lot in some cases) over my head. Still, I read to the end because the way the experiments were done was fascinating and seeing how things reacted was cool. Not that I actually performed any of the experiments (everyone is told they can and exactly how to do each experiment).

I didn't much care for the cutesy names we gave each of the people involved in the "sleuth" part of this - for example Candy Hart (a victim) or Arty Fax (museum worker)but I could pretty much ignore them.

If you are a writer of mysteries and you always wanted to know what causes some of the chemical reactions that are then discovered forensically, this is the book for you! And, you can reproduce the reactions in your own home with things like lemons, celery, ph-testing kits for an aquarium, and batteries. It was a lot of fun to read the experiments, too bad I couldn't follow the chemistry.

[Aurora · Rating 3 out of 5]

I have no idea who the target audience for this book is. Some of the scientific explanations of concepts or methods or whatnot were ridiculously simple and would only be worthwhile reading for someone who had never taken high school chemistry. Other concepts discussed were career scientist or graduate level information, which would be well beyond the grasp of someone who needed the rock bottom basics explained. Very weird. Also, it would have been better if the book had used real world cases as examples instead of hypothetical whatevers.