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    Forensics: What Bugs, Burns, Prints, DNA, and More Tell Us about Crime
    Forensics: What Bugs, Burns, Prints, DNA, and More Tell Us about Crime
    Forensics: What Bugs, Burns, Prints, DNA, and More Tell Us about Crime
    Audiobook11 hours

    Forensics: What Bugs, Burns, Prints, DNA, and More Tell Us about Crime

    Written by Val McDermid

    Narrated by Sarah Barron

    4/5

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    About this audiobook

    Val McDermid is one of the finest crime writers we have, whose novels have captivated millions of listeners worldwide with their riveting narratives of characters who solve complex crimes and confront unimaginable evil. In the course of researching her bestselling novels, McDermid has become familiar with ever branch of forensics, and now she uncovers the history of this science, real-world murders, and the people who must solve them.

    The dead talk-to the right listener. They can tell us about themselves: where they came from, how they lived, how they died, and, of course, who killed them. Forensic scientists can unlock the mysteries of the past and help serve justice using the messages left by a corpse, a crime scene, or the faintest human traces. Forensics draws on interviews with some of these top-level professionals, groundbreaking research, and Val McDermid's own original interviews and firsthand experience on scene with top forensic scientist.

    Along the way, McDermid discovers how maggots collected from a corpse can help determine one's time of death; how a DNA trace a millionth the size of a grain of salt can be used to convict a killer; and how a team of young Argentine scientists led by a maverick American anthropologist were able to uncover the victims of a genocide. It's a journey that will take McDermid to war zones, fire scenes, and autopsy suites, and bring her into contact with both extraordinary bravery and wickedness, as she traces the history of forensics for its earliest beginnings to the cutting-edge science of the modern day.

    A former journalist and Northern Bureau Chief of a national UK tabloid, Val McDermid is the bestselling author of The Skeleton Road and twenty-eight previous novels, three story collections, and the nonfiction book A Suitable Job for a Woman, an inside look at female private investigators. She lives in Scotland. 
    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherHighbridge Company
    Release dateJul 7, 2015
    ISBN9781622317400
    Author

    Val McDermid

    Val McDermid is a number one bestseller whose novels have been translated into more than forty languages, and have sold over nineteen million copies. She has won many awards, including the CWA Gold Dagger the LA Times Book of the Year Award and the Cartier Diamond Dagger Award for outstanding achievement. She writes full-time and divides her time between Edinburgh and East Neuk of Fife.

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    Reviews for Forensics

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    • 4/5
      At first I thought it was great to have a Scottish narrator read a book authored by a Scot, then I found the initially humorous accent annoying. It is as if I was listening to Shakespeare recited by a Cockney. Yes, it is a type of English, but it somehow isn't real. To hear "skeletal remains" over and over as "skeeltal remains" loses its power of amusement. And her flat intonation of an American accent...well, I think McDermid (if she had any say) would have been better off with a straight forward reader.The book, however, was well written. McDermid did not try to hide she is a crime writer or the books she has written using her research into forensics and into police profiling. The differences between American and British law was interesting, as well as Irish jurisprudence.

      1 person found this helpful

    • 5/5
      Her non-fiction books are a joy.
    • 4/5
      Really interesting and written in understandable English. I've read other books on the subject, but none so wide in the timespan--both the latest technology and origins of forensics in very early China. Thoroughly enjoyable, if you are interested by the subject and not too sensitive to graphic description of decay.
    • 5/5
      I was not familiar with this author's work before this audiobook. It's a well-written and well-researched work. A lot of cases are covered in addition to notable people involved in forensic science.
    • 4/5
      Val McDermid turns her considerable narrative skill to a non-fiction history of the development of forensics, from the days of Jack the Ripper to the 21st century. It's almost as gripping as one of her novels. Each chapter deals with one branch of forensics (Toxicology, DNA and Blood Spatter, Facial Reconstruction, etc.) and how it has come to be essential to crime scene investigators, prosecutors and defense attorneys. "The courtroom is the anvil on which scientific evidence is struck. With a well-prepared lawyer playing the part of the hammer, forensic techniques are either strengthened or broken, according to their merit." McDermid uses some classic cases, both unsolved and resolved, to illustrate what can be proven in a court of law (and equally what sometimes cannot be known for certain). The details of some of them were already familiar to me, but her perspective on the scientific evidence was still worth reading about. Comparisons of procedures in the US and the UK were often surprising, and who knew how much the insect world has to contribute to interpretation of a crime scene!
    • 4/5
      A survey of the development of forensic crime investigation and technological aspects separated in chapters. Just enough grit and gore to make the points not so much it splashes about.
    • 4/5
      I have so many thoughts about this book and they're scattered all over the joint. It occurred to me as I finally finished reading it that we sometimes come at books in much the same way faulty investigators come at a crime scene: we take in the initial information (in our case, the title, cover and jacket flap) and make assumptions as to how the book is going to play out. If, as we start to read the book, it fails to fulfil our assumptions, we tend to then judge it on its failure to be what thought it would be, instead of judging it on what it is. The differences between investigating crimes and reading books are ... obvious and profound, but in the case of books, the blame lies squarely on poor marketing. This book, for instance, has had two titles. It's original on release was Forensics: Anatomy of a Crime (the edition I have) and then upon reprinting, it was named Forensics: What Bugs, Burns, Prints, DNA and More Tell Us About Crime. It's former title is problematic, but not misleading. Those that choose the book based on the latter I think are bound for disappointment, unless they know absolutely nothing about forensics, have only a general interest in it, and very little curiosity about the actual science involved. I wanted the science. I expected the science. I wasn't expecting the very journalistic style of the narrative. That part is on me, because I've never before read McDermid and didn't know about her background in journalism. I really dislike the style of writing journalists do; in too many cases the narrative ends up with a sensationalist tone that feels manipulative and turns me off. This book started off that way and had it not been for reassurances by friends that it would get better, I doubt I'd have continued reading it. Thankfully, I found the remaining chapters more palatable, and once I re-adjusted my expectations (i.e. this is not a science book) I was able to more or less find something interesting in each. I also was left wanting though, too; she mentions the science, but never how it's done. She doesn't explain why polymerase enzyme would make DNA 'replicate the hell out of itself', or how forensics scientists lift fingerprints from seemingly impossible places. And I really had a problem with some statistics she included in the chapter on blood spatter/DNA, concerning the number of African-descent males in the UK vs US databases. I'm not objecting to the veracity of it, but the writing in that section was so badly done that at first glance, it appears she's using her words to skew the reader's perception. It took my husband and I 5 minutes of reading it and re-reading it before we decided it was probably just very terrible editing. But there were lots of interesting bits too; with the right expectations, this would not be a wasted or disappointing read. For those with an interest in true crime and history, this book might be a winner. It's easy reading, the crimes she chooses are interesting (when they aren't horrific) and the book rarely drags. At the end of the day, Forensics and the author would have been better served had they stuck with Anatomy of a Crime as a subtitle and marketed it as General Interest / True Crime*. As such, I think it would have a found a very appreciative audience. As it is, marketing it as a Popular Science book is setting everyone up for disappointment. *Oddly enough, the publisher did list the subject as "True Crime", but then proceeded to use the back cover / page flap to sell the book as using "ground-breaking research" to "lay bare the secrets of this fascinating science". And finally, my husband asked that I include his complete annoyance with the flies printed on all the pages of the book; he didn't read it, but every time he saw me with it, he'd catch a glimpse of the flies and think I'd squashed one between the pages. If they insisted on persevering with that theme, at least vary the squashed insects...
    • 3/5
      nonfiction! fascinating, but does take a little time to sink into (i.e., not a quick read, but still an enjoyable one--in whatever way the subjects of maggots and decay and murders and other grisly crimes might be called "enjoyable").
    • 4/5
      This was exactly the right book for my easily distracted brain. With each chapter covering a different aspect of forensics, from fingerprints to profiling to forensic anthropology, McDermid never dives too deeply into any one subject, but each chapter is well-organized and she includes relevant historical criminal cases to illustrate how each subject can make a difference in discovering what happened, who the victim and perpetrator are and ensure that the accused is convicted. This is a fun introduction to the various fields that comprise forensics.
    • 3/5
      Modern criminal convictions are now reliant on the work of the forensic scientist. Carefully analysis of a scene can reveal secrets of what happened, sometimes from beyond the grave. A single hair, or a speck of blood on a coat can reveal so much information about the last moments of someone’s life and allow close and justice. McDermid is best know for her gritty crime fiction, but in this book she is talking with the experts and recalling the origins of all types of forensic science. There are interesting chapters on DNA and blood splatter, extracting details from the scene of a fire, the history of fingerprints and how they are still used in modern crime investigations and how anthropology and facial reconstruction can bring the people alive once again.

      McDermid has blended fairly well the history of forensics and early developments along with the more exacting modern day techniques. It is a reasonably accessible book, not too challenging scientifically, with a good narrative all the way through. It is a bit gory at times, not exactly the best thing to read when eating your lunch, and there are a reasonable number of photographs and illustrations to enhance the text. The final chapter on the actual trial is quite an eye opener, as she gets the experts to describe the way that they are treated in the adversarial battleground that is the modern court room. Overall worth reading I thought.
    • 5/5
      This book is excellently written. A great balance between the history of each discipline, practical application, and how it continues to evolve. She addresses arson investigation to entomology, autopsies to DNA analysis, even the reliability of the sciences in the courtroom. Val McDermid both introduces forensics to the curious first-time reader and further intrigues someone with more than a passing interest.

      What's more, it's about the people who study each field and the people they honor in each investigation. This is most certainly not a dry, technical read. McDermid uses the human component she's developed as a crime writer to engage the reader and makes us care about the victims as well.

      Very interesting and compelling read. I thoroughly enjoyed it and would recommend it.
    • 4/5
      Interessantes Buch über die Geschichte und Entwicklung der kriminologischen Forensik.
    • 5/5
      Val McDermid makes everything read well. I’m uninterested in history but I read a lot of crime fiction. I was fascinated by FORENSICS by Val McDermid ©2014. The book covers the evolution of forensics as a tool for crime solvers in the past 200 years. Not interesting, you say? Ha! There you’d be wrong. It read like a story, with lots of exciting discoveries, complete with satisfying ending. Brilliant, positively brilliant.Now I’ll have to scrounge around to see if I can find another book of hers I haven’t read yet.
    • 5/5
      A brilliantly entertaining whirlwind tour through forensic science from some of its origins to the present day. Using case histories this has a great feeling of pace and is never boring. I'm not particularly interested in the origins and development of fingerprints for example, but Val McDermid makes it interesting. Very disturbing in places, I found the articles on medicine and some of the psychiatric issues to be well researched. Recommended not only for the interested reader but the general reader too. Will make me look at more books on some of the fields in here.
    • 5/5
      Forensics by Val McDermid is a superb popular introduction to forensics from both scientific and legal perspectives. The experts she consulted with largely be familiar to anyone who has even a passing interest in forensics and McDermid brings her usual style to consolidating this information into a very interesting and accessible book.This should be interesting to anyone who enjoys crime mysteries, whether written or in a visual medium. Also true crime buffs will learn a lot and gain a better appreciation for the work investigators do. Forensics in general, and this volume in particular, will appeal to those who like understanding how so many little things can create a coherent whole. In forensics the little things are initially part of the crime scene (perhaps splatter or any other residue left by the perpetrator or the act itself. As separate little things they are then put back together into another whole, in this case the timeline, for example, of the crime and its aftermath. Much like a puzzle that forms one picture but can be taken apart and put together to create a different but related picture.Reviewed from a copy made available by the publisher via NetGalley.
    • 5/5
      This is a great book on this topic, combining the history of the various components with true crime stories as to how they were used to solve crimes. This would be a great source of information for teachers of this topic.
    • 5/5
      'Every contact leaves a trace.'This is the Locard Exchange Principle and it's the fundamental building block of what we term 'forensics'. In this neatly presented book, talented crime writer Val McDermid explores the development of forensic science and its applications in solving real life crime.-- What's it about? --McDermid explores the interaction of justice and evidence, from the initial crime scene to the courtroom, from the eighteenth century to up-to-the-minute scientific advances. Each chapter focuses on a different area of forensics, such as toxicology or facial reconstruction, and explores key developments within that field, including their application in particularly well-known criminal cases. Classic British crimes are touched upon - Jack the Ripper, the Brides in the Bathtub, Harold Shipman - as are influential criminalists amd scientists like Alec Jeffries and Val Tomlinson. Of course, being a writer of fiction, McDermid also mentions some of the links between fiction and forensics, with particular reference to Sherlock Holmes, who anticipated many modern forensic discoveries, and CSI, which can lead the public to expect miracles of scientists.-- What's it like? -- 'More and more, scientists can discern details about a suspect's physical appearance from their DNA: traces left at a crime scene can describe the people who were there almost as accurately as an eye witness.'Fascinating. Easy to read. Engrossing. McDermid's concise written style ensures information is conveyed clearly and effectively. When quoting experts in the field she frequently quotes at length, allowing the experts to explain key features of their field or crucial elements of a case. Along the way there's some fascinating information, including the fact that eighty percent of children tested in one small sample (30 children) failed to wake up when a fire alarm was sounded at random hours of the night, even though some of them had the alarm in their bedroom.This disturbing fact was only unearthed due to the inquisitiveness and diligence of the team investigating the fire, (while the rest of the UK was busy denouncing Mick Philpott as a vile beast, the investigators were wondering why the children weren't woken by the fire alarms,) and this is what McDermid's book really celebrates: the tireless dedication of numerous people in disparate fields which means that we 'can live knowing that, if we are the victims of crime, the perpetrators will be brought to justice'.Whether she's examining maggots or burnt-out buildings, McDermid brings the same eye for detail to the scene and smoothly relates individual cases to the broader developments in each discipline. Her tone strikes the perfect balance between knowledgable and approachably friendly, making this feel a bit like an informative chat with a favourite teacher or lecturer.-- Final thoughts --This was just as interesting and well written as I'd anticipated. McDermid effectively illuminates a range of forensic disciplines, including examining their limitations and the possibility of abuse and/or error. There's a helpful bibliography for those who want to find out more about specific areas or cases, but I feel my interest has been quite satisfied! She concludes by reflecting on the way in which forensic evidence and the way it's gathered is examined in the courtroom, and maintains a deeply positive attitude despite noting some problems caused by our adversarial system.Ultimately, this is a surprisingly feel-good read, despite its inevitable accounts of death and human cruelty, probably because McDermid's amazement and genuine appreciation of what science can achieve and what people will do is inspiring.
    • 5/5
      It's hard to use the word enjoyed about a book about investigating mostly murder, but I did enjoy this one, interesting look at various aspects of a criminal investigation with an emphasis on murder and how techniques have developed over the years. There's mention of the Stardust disaster and some details on it, as Val McDermid reported on it at the time, this was interesting to hear a fairly neutral account.I liked Sarah Barron's narration, she did a good job of some accents.
    • 4/5
      Val McDermid, apparently an author of some standing as a writer of untrue crime novels, has written a true crime walkthrough of forensics topics interweaving real-life cases and comments. The fine selection of topics has no overall progressive narrative to such an extend that most of the chapters may have been permuted without loss of coherency. If there is a base for the book it is a fascination and awe for modern forensics. She is a good writer. Perhaps her crime novels has trained her in writing clear prose. She delves not into academic technicalities that could perhaps have been interesting. She has based her book on other books as well as a good number of interviews with a broad range of forensics experts. A few of these comes from the University of Dundee: Forensics chemist Niamh Nic Daéid and forensics antropologist Sue Black.I find McDermid view of the fallibility of forensics balanced drawing forth cases where presumed experts lack self-critique. Bernard Spilsbury and a U.S. ballistic expert Thomas Quirk are critized. For Roy Meadow, McDermid presents aspects of the tragic Sally Clark case that I do not recall having read before: The appeal was not prompted by Meadow's evidence but by Pathologist Alan Williams that had failed to disclose blood test results. I do sometimes find popular science writing lack an appropriate level of critique to the material. McDermid is one of the better writers, but I do fine one case where she oversteps the confidence we should have in science. Here is what she writes on page 164: "We already know, for instance about the existence of a 'warrior gene' - present mainly in men - which is linked with violent and impulsive behaviour under stress". When I read "We know" I get mad, and when I read 'warrior gene' I get extra mad. Behavioral genetics is a mess full of red herrings. Recent meta-analysis of the warrior gene polymorphism MAOA-uVNTR and antisocial behavior ("Candidate Genes for Aggression and Antisocial Behavior: A Meta-analysis of Association Studies of the 5HTTLPR and MAOA-uVNTR") reaches a 95% confidence interval on 0.98-1.32, while, interesting a very low p-value (0.00000137). The strangeness of difference between confidence interval and p-value is discussed in the paper and presently walks over my head. What seems reasonable certain is the loads of between-study heterogeneity. Any talk of warrior gene needs to acknowledge the uncertainty.There are certainly more elements to forensics than McDermid presents. A Danish newspaper has recently run a story about cell phone tower records used in courtroom cases. A person carrying a powered cell phone reveals his/her location, - but only with a certain exactness. Cell phones may not necessarily select the nearest cell tower. From my own experience I know that my cell phone can select cell towers in other countries from where I am located, e.g., my cell phone in Nordsjælland in Denmark can easily select a cell tower in Sweden 15 to 20 kilometers or more away and my cell phone in Romania switched to a Ukrainian cell tower perhaps 20 kilometers or more away. U.S state Oregon has seen the case of Lisa Marie Roberts that on her bad lawyer's advice pleaded guilty in 2004 because of critical important cell tower evidence. In 2013 she was freed.I was struck by one of the stories presented that originates from the book of criminal lawyer Alex McBride. A surveillance camera records a case of apparently straightforward violence, but McBride is able to get his client off by threatening to use another part of the camera recording showing a policeman mishandling a person in a case of wrongful arrest. The prosecution dropped the charge for the original case. It does not seem fair to the victim of the original crime that the criminal can go free just because another crime is committed. To me it looks like a kind of corruption and extortion.
    • 4/5
      If the study of forensics were put on a chart, it would look like human population. It would flatline for thousands of years, then suddenly take off about 200 years ago, and shoot straight up in the 21st century. Val McDermid leverages that parabolic curve in her crime fiction. Her research is meant to make her stories exciting, amazing and authentic. But as in everything, truth is stranger than fiction, and Forensics is amazing because it traces these astonishing developments in depth. The level of sophistication seems to rise almost daily, changing the nature of investigations, the rate of convictions, and the very process of justice. Cold cases can be revived and solved, and the wrongly convicted can go free. Sometimes.Along the way, it is inevitable that the reader learns some odd facts:-dead bodies absorb arsenic from surrounding soil, making the claim of arsenic poisoning suspect.-hair grows about a centimeter month, allowing scientists to track drug consumption.-the iphone 5S has a specialized location chip that runs off reserve power. People have reported their iphones continuing to track their movements for four days after the battery has died and the phone shut itself off.-thanks to various insatiably curious scientists, we know the thickness of facial flesh and can reconstruct faces from skulls. We can determine the size and shape of an entire body from a bone fragment. We know what bugs consume dead human flesh, when they do it, what stage of life they were at the time, and can pinpoint the time of death by them.-the study of blood splatter has come to the point where we can reconstruct everything about the scene from it. Tiny splatters of DNA-worthy blood are now expected and found in places no one ever looked before.-women are 85% of forensic psychologists.-the British police hire scientists and psychologists to solve crimes, creating profiles from the clues at the crime scene. They help narrow the list of suspects and focus searches. And add their own errors and prejudices.Forensics would do Sherlock Holmes proud. It makes a continually changing and fascinating read. The successes, failures and abuses of the system share space with the human sloppiness and mistakes that land innocent people in prison for life – or worse. McDermid demonstrates them concretely and fairly. She obviously both loves and appreciates it all, and it shows.David Wineberg