Crime Scene: Inside the World of the Real CSIs

by Connie Fletcher

Most people who work as actual crime scene investigators will tell you two Television doesn't always show the truth...and science never lies. But how do DNA experts, trace analysts, medical examiners, forensic pathologists, and cold case detectives work together to produce evidence and solve a case--beyond the shadow of a doubt?

In this fascinating, true-life account, America's leading crime experts share their personal, unforgettable stories. From powder burn to fiber analysis, blood spatter to skeletal remains, New York Times bestselling author Connie Fletcher takes you into a world of crime-solving that's even grittier, more bizarre, and more shocking than any TV show. It's a thrilling ride into the dead center of a crime scene.

Genres: Nonfiction, True Crime, Crime, Science

416 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published October 1, 2007

Reviews

[Fishface · Rating 5 out of 5]

All superlatives! If this had been longer than a Stephen King epic I would still have felt that it was too short. One intriguing story after another about how a small scrap of evidence -- often microscopic -- turned a case around, either exonerating the wrong suspect or focusing detectives on the right one -- sometimes both at once. The oral history in this book makes clear all over again that people need to stop believing everything they see on TV!!!

[Eva · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting and Broad
The author interviewed a lot of crime scene investigators, print analysts, morticians, and forensic scientists (and more!) for this. Although it was published in 2006 and some of the information on strategy and science has been updated, the information from certain cases is the same. It was really neat to hear from multiple sources how the whole picture of a crime fits together. I read through it quickly and felt like I was left hanging at the end. DNA was a special highlight, as it was still new. Im glad we have that at our disposal. Now I'm curious to read more about unsolved, "cold cases." 🥶 I'm getting more and more hooked on true crime...it's so odd. I never would have ventured here when I was younger. I didn't even dare.

3.5/5
Left Me Wanting More.

[Jan Norton · Rating 3 out of 5]

I've read a lot of true-crime/forensic-science books, and this one's the first I've encountered in this format: grouped by concepts such as "crime scene processing," "trace evidence," "cold cases" etc., it consists of snippets from a number of different experts, from very short paragraphs to multiple-page entries, but with most of the contributions less than a page long. Described by the author as an oral history of personal experience, anecdotes about specific cases, commentary on how technology has changed, and so forth.

[Adriano Barone · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ottimo, anche se ormai probabilmente datato (il libro è del 2006, l'edizione italiana del 2010).
Interessantissimo, anche per le inesattezze e gli equivoci che ha creato CSI, probabilmente la serie più odiata dagli addetti alla polizia scientifica.

[Manu Ribxs · Rating 4 out of 5]

I learned so much through this book, but it did get repetitive in the end!

[Betty Stoneking · Rating 5 out of 5]

it was ok book

[Isabella · Rating 4 out of 5]

Crime Scene: Inside the World of the Real CSIs is a gritty, realistic view into the lives of investigators.

I was really pleased with the level of detail and research in this book, but what struck me most was its shocking (and sometimes funny) true stories and interview snippets. It’s a fantastic tool for researching crime scene investigation and the many tasks that come with the job.

[Pat · Rating 5 out of 5]

I very much enjoyed these real life vignettes of CSI as it works in the real world and not on TV.
The chapters are a collection of short(~100 words) to several pages of direct quotes from people working in the Crime Scene Investigation field, and shed many insights not only into human behaviors that we will all recognize, but some amazing stories where fate simply solved the crime.
High recomend it.

[Kathy · Rating 2 out of 5]

I am not a big fan of reading oral interviews nor of collected letters but as a faithful watcher of many [too many] TV crime shows, I feel obliged to educate myself a bit about the real thing. Fletcher's collection of quotes from various crime fighting personnel has many interesting passages and quite a few that I could have skipped. Thus, a mere two stars but not an addition to the Unfinished pile.

[Kathy-Diane · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you want to know what investigating crime scenes is really like, as opposed to the dramatized version in TV and film, this is a must read. In these pages, life is more fascinating than fiction.

[Anne Marshall · Rating 4 out of 5]

A great book. Packed with really interesting information and anecdotes