Silent Witnesses: The Often Gruesome but Always Fascinating History of Forensic Science

We've come a long way from the days when criminals could get away with murder by claiming blood on their clothes came from animals. This book takes us through the whole history of forensic science, beginning with the first scientist who found a way to distinguish between human and animal blood, all the way up to DNA analysis. The science is explained in terms that are easy for the lay reader to understand. Each new forensic development is illustrated with interesting details about crime cases, mostly murders. These cases were explained in detail, and were the most interesting parts of the book. This book provides an excellent introduction to the history of forensics for the reader with a casual interest in crime investigation.

This was a fascinating read. The author did a remarkable job, researching the details and presenting each historic event covered. It should be read by every MD with any interest in the history of medicine. It exposes the evil intentions of many over the centuries, as they chose these chemicals to destroy unsuspecting victims. Brilliant scientific minds overcame obstacles to bring justice to those innocent and suffering victims.

It is interesting reading about how crimes are solved now and how the discoveries came about. They discoveries are no-brainers now but what is amazing is how hard it was for people who came up with the idea had to work to get their idea accepted! The author introduces a technique, writes about who discovered it, and then writes about a couple of crimes for which the technique proved it's value.

This book is very interesting. We have all seen the television shows of this century called CSI. This book talks about how the forensic science got started. Which scientists are credited with the many aspects of the science. It also talks about many different murder cases over the years where the various methods of forensic science were used to prove or disprove how the victim was murdered. I would highly recommend this book to anyone who likes history, science, or even mysteries. I found it so interesting that it was hard to stop reading.

Nice concise history of forensic science. Sometimes details were overlooked that I would have liked to have learned about example cases cited by the author. Really gives a view of how low human beings can go to take advantage of others. Must be terrible working with this stuff all the time and start to think that all people are this evil.

If you like your forensics with lots of gory details, this book is for you. We are so used to hearing about DNA evidence now, but in the past, many cases went unsolved, or the wrong person was convicted simply because the technology had not been available, and in some cases, was used improperly by unskilled investigators. This book is detail driven and has some lengthy explanations which may be too involved for some readers, but that is why I loved it.

This was really interesting. Most books (for laypeople) on forensics talk about how they've been used in current cases. This goes back through the development of forensics -- how did we develop blood testing for identification? Fingerprints? Ways to identify poisons after the victim has died? etc. Along the way, he tells about how forensic tests were used in various historic and more modern cases, up to the identification of the Romanovs and of Richard III.

Bought as a gift, my friend stated that she didn’t like it and didn’t end up finishing it. I am yet to read it. It isn’t on the top of my reading list

Nigel McCrery created Silent Witness, which aired on the BBC featuring a team of forensic pathologists, as well as the more light-hearted New Tricks, this time about retired policemen solving cold crimes. The author started his working life as a police officer in Nottinghamshire and towards the end of this book he uses one of the cases he worked on to show how DNA profiling can be successful many years after a murder.In his introduction the author launches straight in with details of a murder of a young girl with illustrations of how forensics can rule someone out as a suspect as well as pointing justice in the direction of a perpetrator.This book goes right back to the early forensics. It must be remembered that identifying someone from their corpse is probably not the easiest task! `Always remember you are absolutely unique, just like everyone else.' Margaret Mead US anthropologist (1901-1978) Although arranged in order of chronological developments in real life some of the techniques overlap before the scientists come to an agreement of the best method.Each chapter of the book not only details the advances in forensic science but also gives examples of how these discoveries were used in evidence in court. There is much to digest in this book but it is all presented in such a way that you don't need any specialist knowledge to understand. I even kept track during the chapter on ballistics and for the first time understood how bullets can be tracked back to a particular gun.I have to admit my favourite chapter was on poisons `after all, they were an extremely convenient way of ridding yourself of an enemy whilst avoiding detection.' Often used by women it took scientists much trial and error before they came up with conclusive proof that could be laid before a jury.A must read for anyone who would like an accessible insight into the work of forensic scientists through the ages.

Bought on the strength of another forensic non fiction title ‘written in blood’ I found this title very interesting and much easier to follow for a layman in the subject, such as myself. The cases mentioned are fascinating and I found it very easy and enjoyable to read. Thank you.

What a wonderful book. Found it hard to put down. Interesting story after interesting story. Grim but fascinating history but it

A gift so hopefully it is enjoyed

This book can only be described as a boreing lesson in history.There's hardly any cases to get really interested in , just goes on and on about the hIstory of forensics and how it all started.DEAD BOREING.