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Crime Science: Methods of Forensic Detection
The O.J. Simpson trial. The Lindbergh kidnapping. The death of Marilyn Monroe. The assassination of the Romanovs. The Atlanta child murders. All controversial cases. All investigated with the latest techniques in forensic science. Nationally respected investigators Joe Nickell and John Fischer explain the science behind the criminal investigations that have captured the nation's attention. Crime Science is a comprehensive guide to forensics. Without being overly technical or treating scientific techniques superficially, the authors introduce readers to the work of firearms experts, document examiners, fingerprint technicians, medical examiners, and forensic anthropologists. Each topic is treated in a separate chapter, in a clear and understandable style. Nickell and Fisher describe fingerprint classification and autopsies, explain how fibers link victims to their killers, and examine the science underlying DNA profiling and toxicological analysis. From weapons analysis to handwriting samples to shoe and tire impressions, Crime Science outlines the indispensable tools and techniques that investigators use to make sense of a crime scene. Each chapter closes with a study of a well-known case, revealing how the principles of forensic science work in practice.
312 pages, Hardcover
First published December 17, 1998
13 people are currently reading
135 people want to read
About the author
Joe Nickell
66 books51 followersJoe Nickell was an American skeptic and investigator of the paranormal.
Nickell was a senior research fellow for the Committee for Skeptical Inquiry and wrote regularly for their journal, Skeptical Inquirer. He was also an associate dean of the Center for Inquiry Institute. He was the author or editor of over 30 books.
Among his career highlights, Nickell helped expose the James Maybrick "Jack the Ripper Diary" as a hoax. In 2002, Nickell was one of a number of experts asked by scholar Henry Louis Gates Jr. to evaluate the authenticity of the manuscript of Hannah Crafts' The Bondwoman's Narrative (1853–1860), possibly the first novel by an African-American woman. At the request of document dealer and historian Seth Keller, Nickell analyzed documentation in the dispute over the authorship of "The Night Before Christmas", ultimately supporting the Clement Clarke Moore claim.
Nickell was a senior research fellow for the Committee for Skeptical Inquiry and wrote regularly for their journal, Skeptical Inquirer. He was also an associate dean of the Center for Inquiry Institute. He was the author or editor of over 30 books.
Among his career highlights, Nickell helped expose the James Maybrick "Jack the Ripper Diary" as a hoax. In 2002, Nickell was one of a number of experts asked by scholar Henry Louis Gates Jr. to evaluate the authenticity of the manuscript of Hannah Crafts' The Bondwoman's Narrative (1853–1860), possibly the first novel by an African-American woman. At the request of document dealer and historian Seth Keller, Nickell analyzed documentation in the dispute over the authorship of "The Night Before Christmas", ultimately supporting the Clement Clarke Moore claim.
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Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
December 4, 2008
Joe Nickell is the author of Detecting Forgery and Camera Clues; John Fischer is a former forensic analyst in a Florida crime lab and is now the president of Forensic Research and Supply Corporation. These two are well qualified to put out such a book — and they do an excellent job.
Crime Science: Methods of Forensic Detection takes the reader through crime scene investigation step-by-step. Each chapter focuses on a specific area: trace evidence, firearms, fingerprinting, impression analysis, questioned documents, serology, chemistry, pathology, and anthropology.
The language is easy to understand without becoming overly technical. There are many illustrations and photos to explain the text and the layout is logical and easy to navigate.
True cases are used at the end of each chapter to illustrate how each technique was used to solve the crime. For example, the case of Jeffrey MacDonald follows a discussion on documenting the crime scene and collecting and preserving evidence. In the MacDonald case, 26-year-old Green Beret Captain Jeffrey MacDonald, MD, called for help early in the morning on February 17, 1970.
MPs responded and found Mrs. Colette MacDonald stabbed and battered in a utility room. Next to her was Jeffrey, also covered in blood. Down the hall, they discovered the bodies of five-year-old Kimberly and two-year-old Kristen. Captain MacDonald was the lone survivor of an attack by four hippies, according to his statements.
Investigators didn’t think MacDonald’s story sounded right. They soon discovered that MacDonald’s version of the attack was impossible in light of the evidence. For example, MacDonald claimed to have been lying in the hall unconscious, yet no blood was found there. No fingerprints were found on the phone he used to call for help. The word “PIG” had been written in blood on the headboard of Mr. and Mrs. MacDonald’s bed. Closer inspection revealed that two fingers enclosed in something like a latex glove were used to write the word. All four family members had different blood types, making the investigation easier from the standpoint of determining whose blood was found in different places and on different articles.
Pick up this book to find out how this and other intriguing crimes were solved!
Crime Science: Methods of Forensic Detection takes the reader through crime scene investigation step-by-step. Each chapter focuses on a specific area: trace evidence, firearms, fingerprinting, impression analysis, questioned documents, serology, chemistry, pathology, and anthropology.
The language is easy to understand without becoming overly technical. There are many illustrations and photos to explain the text and the layout is logical and easy to navigate.
True cases are used at the end of each chapter to illustrate how each technique was used to solve the crime. For example, the case of Jeffrey MacDonald follows a discussion on documenting the crime scene and collecting and preserving evidence. In the MacDonald case, 26-year-old Green Beret Captain Jeffrey MacDonald, MD, called for help early in the morning on February 17, 1970.
MPs responded and found Mrs. Colette MacDonald stabbed and battered in a utility room. Next to her was Jeffrey, also covered in blood. Down the hall, they discovered the bodies of five-year-old Kimberly and two-year-old Kristen. Captain MacDonald was the lone survivor of an attack by four hippies, according to his statements.
Investigators didn’t think MacDonald’s story sounded right. They soon discovered that MacDonald’s version of the attack was impossible in light of the evidence. For example, MacDonald claimed to have been lying in the hall unconscious, yet no blood was found there. No fingerprints were found on the phone he used to call for help. The word “PIG” had been written in blood on the headboard of Mr. and Mrs. MacDonald’s bed. Closer inspection revealed that two fingers enclosed in something like a latex glove were used to write the word. All four family members had different blood types, making the investigation easier from the standpoint of determining whose blood was found in different places and on different articles.
Pick up this book to find out how this and other intriguing crimes were solved!
May 15, 2015
i’ve always been fascinated by the idea of ghosts and with ghost stories. Joe Nickell researches such paranormal claims in a truly scientific manner, demythologizing the happens in a supposedly haunted house, explaining to the inhabitants the pitfalls of human perception and beliefs and how they can lead to seeing ghosts.
so, i thought this book might be about “debunking” the myths surrounding forensic techniques (ie that they have rigorous science tests and experiments backing them when they do not). not so. this book is an explanatory history book of those techniques.
each chapter describes in detail the history of, the exact procedures, and a case study for how that technique is applied in field work.
so, no critical analysis of forensic crime scene analysis but it does set out a fairly comprehensive and readable reference guide to that field. it demonstrates Nickell’s very grounded approach to investigating those paranormal situations which is a truly scientifically empirical approach unlike the dozens of ghost hunter groups out there that merely claim to be using science.
so, i thought this book might be about “debunking” the myths surrounding forensic techniques (ie that they have rigorous science tests and experiments backing them when they do not). not so. this book is an explanatory history book of those techniques.
each chapter describes in detail the history of, the exact procedures, and a case study for how that technique is applied in field work.
so, no critical analysis of forensic crime scene analysis but it does set out a fairly comprehensive and readable reference guide to that field. it demonstrates Nickell’s very grounded approach to investigating those paranormal situations which is a truly scientifically empirical approach unlike the dozens of ghost hunter groups out there that merely claim to be using science.
October 10, 2007
This was one of my textbooks for a forensics class I took at LVC. It's great to see what techniques are used and how they were developed. If you're thinking about a forensics related job, this is a great background read and reference.
August 8, 2009
Text book-like, but informative and not dull. Includes case studies, examples, easy to read and understand... Makes me want to go back to school and do/learn this stuff again.
September 3, 2013
Could not retain my interest.
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews