The Casebook of Forensic Detection: How Science Solved 100 of the World's Most Baffling Crimes

The Casebook of Forensic Detection is a straightforward compendium comprising synopses of famous criminal cases that turned on forensic evidence and techniques. The book is organized according to these area of expertise, e.g. fingerprinting, trace evidence, psychological profiling, and so on. Within each section, the cases are presented in chronological order so the reader can trace out the historical refinements made to that technique.

On the plus side, Colin Evans writes extremely well: there is none of the lurid overstatement that plagues much true crime writing, nor is there too much technical detail larding up the stories. Each case is presented crisply and dispassionately.

The potential downside here is inherent to the book's show more structure and aims. If you're casually interested in forensic science (i.e. you're a good CSI fan) but not an expert, you'll find this book enjoyable and informative. But if you're looking for a story that will immerse you, it's not here -- the cases are so numerous, and hence necessarily so brief, that you will never have a chance to 'get inside' any of them. This book is a display case -- of the highest skill and quality -- but no more. show less

[b:The Casebook of Forensic Detection: How Science Solved 100 of the World's Most Baffling Crimes|2199758|The Casebook of Forensic Detection How Science Solved 100 of the World's Most Baffling Crimes|Colin Evans|http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1266628186s/2199758.jpg|1848232][a:Colin Evans|212116|Colin Evans|http://www.goodreads.com/images/nophoto/nophoto-U-50x66.jpg]Any student of detection and forensics, casual or serious is sure to love this book. I always expected a book of true crime to be a little too factual and boring, but Colin Evans makes this a very pleasurable read (once you ignore human depravity and gore).A book like this needs to be presented well, and in this also The Casebook doesn't disappoint. It has sections for show more the major disciplines like Fingerprinting, DNA Typing, Ballistics, Cause of Death, Psychological Profiling etc. The cases are then presented chronologically so that you can follow the progress of each branch of science. 100 very well known cases (mostly homicides) are presented with the facts of the case the way it was handled by those in charge. The science in many instances was not only essential to solve the crime, but was also instrumental in proving the case in court and getting a conviction.Each case is presented in 2-3 pages, not going into too much detail, but jut presenting the pertinent facts.Summing up each case is a comment on how the expert made an impression, or science was brilliantly put to use or what progress was made in forensics through this case.Fascinating read, and quite unexpectedly, I managed to get through it all at once. Will definitely be re-reading this in a few months.Even if the book had been less than satisfactory, I would be inclined to look at it with fondness if only for the many favorable mentions of Sherlock Holmes! show less

A really great book if you're feeling morbid. The focus on the early days of true forensic investigating is fantastic, and the cases share an apropriate degree of the creepy/chilling factor. For atmosphere, think Caleb Carr's "The Alienist," only real. This was one of my favorite books to read and reread when I was about fifteen, which proves at least one thing conclusively: I was a very strange fifteen-year-old.

Nothing really new to share but a decent enough book on the topic.