Forensics: What Bugs, Burns, Prints, Dna, and More Tell Us about Crime Paperback – Illustrated, 5 April 2016

It seems only fair that I should declare something of an interest before embarking on the content of this review. This subject area is part of my academic specialism so I am pretty widely read and knew many of the cases referenced in this book. However, for anyone coming relatively fresh to the topic, perhaps attracted by the deserved reputation Val McDermid has acquired in writing fiction, I think this is a terrific introduction to the subject.The minor difficulty I have with the book is that it does seem to me to be a slightly uncomfortable mix of the old and the new. The blurb on the back of the book suggests that the focus is on modern day forensics - but each chapter is laced with examples of older cases. (Jack the Ripper, The Brides in the Bath, Dr Crippen) - some more recent cases (Sion Jenkins, Colin Stagg, Colin Pitchfork form the 80's and 90's) and some very recent, less famous, cases. Ms McDermid draws extensively on other authors for many of her accounts (all properly attributed - for example Clive Stafford Smith's account of the Kris Maharaja case from his 2013 book Injustice gets distilled, very skilfully, into a three page summary. My personal preference would have been for the recent material to have been the major focus of this book. Ms McDermid has interviewed a large number of current practising forensic experts and extracted some fascinating case accounts from them. This rich vein could have been explored much more fully and some of the earlier material, which has been extensively covered elsewhere, given much less prominence.There's one other aspect of the book which is underplayed in my view. The final words declare that forensic scientists are "frankly, awesome." Well, a lot of them are. But it's not a universal truth as the book itself acknowledges in recounting the case of Sally Clark and the failings of Professor Roy Meadow and pathologist Alan Williams. And there are others too. Michael Heath's work was heavily criticised. But if they were just well qualified experts who got things wrong what about the case of Gene Morrison who just set himself up as an expert and proceeded to defraud the system? He was caught eventually but only after he had advised on a large number of cases and been paid a lot of taxpayers money. So the picture is not quite as rosy as it is generally portrayed.But I think these criticisms are perhaps drawn from my own specialism and that's why, although I have reflected them in this review I have not given this a four star rating.The book does benefit from the fact that Val McDermid is a highly skilled professional author. It is always interesting and really keeps the reader's interest. There are the usual minor proofing errors and I did find the decision, in a fairly serious work of non fiction, an odd editorial decision to asterisk out some of the letters of two four letter swear words.What I hadn't appreciated before reading the book was that it is published by the Wellcome Foundation and has been written to accompany an exhibition which they will be running in London from 26 February to 21 June 2015. I am lucky enough to have a trip planned for March and the exhibition is now a "must see" for me - and this book is a splendid companion for that exhibition.

For those people that commented 'in-depth' when reviewing this book, I think they obviously underestimated the range and scope of these topics.Each chapter gives a nice historical background to each of the forensic specialties: fingerprinting, pathology, toxicology etc, usually with the help of a few landmark cases, and the associated pioneers of the science; it then goes on to showcase the development of each with further examples of their uses in solving crimes or enhancing crime detection.But as anyone who has studied, or read about forensic science will know, each of these chapters has is worthy of and has standard reference works of their own, and so by the very nature of the beast this can only ever be a good overview, albeit a very entertaining and informative one.I actually found that I preferred to read chapters out of sequence with the listing, or choosing one which I was particularly fascinated by; after all there's no whodunnit ending to spoil by starting at the back and working your way towards the start!!

I originally read this as a paperback 'holiday read'. At the time I was an investigator and found it really enlightening. Subsequently I lecture in further education and use it as course material.

I'm really enjoying this book - it's so interesting and to learn about the detailed forensic process is fascinating.

This book gives a thorough overview of every are of forensics. It manages to provide good detail without going into so much depth it cannot be read or understood. It is a fascinating book. This could be a dry book but the way it is linked to real life cases makes it interesting. I was reading it for research but this book could be read by anyone and still be enjoyed. Val McDermid is a professional, and highly talented, author. This is evident in every page of this book. She has obviously done a great deal of research and the book is realistic. All aspects are backed by the top pathologists of current and previous generations. I loved the historical context as well. The ways in which forensics has grown and developed is fascinating. This is a well written and enjoyable book which I would highly recommend.

Of the number of books on forensics that have been published in recent years, this is conceivably the most interesting and thought provoking. In examining each branch of the science, it gives not only its history, but also the current issues relating to it in legal terms. As might be expected, there are many examples of relevant cases over the years, including some very recent ones. Whilst some might feel that a number of the stories are incomplete, the details given are to illustrate a point and not merely to provide a salacious interest.And the point is summarised excellently in the penultimate chapter entitled "The Courtroom". This in short is how forensic evidence is used against an accused. In an interesting discussion on the relative merits of the "adversarial" and "inquisitional "systems, the author introduces the concept of "equality of arms". It is a very fair assessment, but perhaps McDermid should have made more of the fact that one only has to look at a number of miscarriages of justice over the years, to see how many arise from a failure of the prosecution to share with, and in some cases deliberately withhold information from the defence.But as she rightly concludes without equality of arms a fair trial is impossible. Chillingly one only has to look at the USA, where the adversarial system is supreme; to see the consequences of a weak defence, sometimes for the innocent. And the consequences also, for the subsequent victims of the undetected guilty, who are no longer sought.

Starts really well and interesting but loses it's way a bit two thirds through

Regardless of it being based in the UK it sheds light on other places including the U.S. and ultimately it’s pretty useful for learning about the various applications and techniques of forensics, why they are important, how they can be used, and how they may tie together to provide information. Also the book shows incorrect applications and the importance of taking certain forensic methodologies with a grain of salt. An amazing read if you want an introduction to forensics and how they work

Ótimo livro, em perfeito estado. Chegou exatamente no dia marcado. Amei

Goede verhandeling over de aspecten van forensisch bewijs. De voor en nadelen worden helder uitgelegd en de geschiedenis goed beschreven. Een toegankelijk boek, van belang voor iedere schrijver van thrillers of detectives.

I am a teenager and many other crime books are not appropriate or too gory for my age, but this book was not! It was not a difficult read, it was easy to understand. I learned a lot about the many branches of Forensics through this book. Overall very educational and a good price.

El llibre està molt ben escrit i és molt entretingut, t'enganxa en un moment ; està organitzat en capítols sobre els diferents aspectes de la ciència forense amb exemples i anècdotes reals molt interessant....A més si ets un fan de CSI i similars serveix de contrapunt a alguns dels procediments que apareixen a aquestes sèries, on tothom sap de tot i on es resol en pocs dies qualsevol investigació.....