Forensics

The squeamish among you may rest assured – there is nothing too grisly here to spoil your lunch. Not that there is any skirting of blood and gore at the scene of the crime. It is rather that Platt examines the subject in such painstaking detail that you find yourself becoming fascinated by the marvels of this branch of scientific detective work, both in the field collecting evidence and back at the laboratory analysing it. Police and forensic scientists now have a large and growing battery of chemicals and specialised equipment to make hidden clues visible, and Platt explains how these often microscopic scraps of evidence are pieced together to identify both victim and suspect, often using celebrated cases and real life examples. The foreword by crimewriter and forensic anthropologist Kathy Reichs emphasises the fact that law enforcement relies on careful evidence collection, skilled detective work and science, rather than the glamorous techno-wizardry of TV crime shows. Along with information on websites, each chapter includes places to visit such as Police museums and, more interestingly, information on career paths such as forensic imaging specialists or toxicologists. Close-up photos and digital artwork are used to good effect throughout. A fascinating volume for would-be sleuths.