True crime fans will most definitely enjoy the different murder and violent death cases from the long career of former coronor of Marin County, Ken Holmes, that are covered here. Meanwhile, others will probably enjoy learning some of the essentials of forensic science, or maybe just about the general nature of coroner work in the United States.

I write this as someone who very squarely falls into the louder character. Although author John Bateson does a good job providing grisly details in a respectful fashion, I still needed to either take a pause or skim the next several lines. I’ve just simply never been one for any of that, to be blunt. However, I found “The Education of a Coroner” remarkably informative when it came to its descriptions of the nuts and bolts of Holmes’ work and professionals like him. There was much in that general area that not only intrigued me, but genuinely flat-out surprised me (a prime example - I still still can hardly believe that not only are many coroners not medical examiners, in much of the country the coroner is an elected position of all things).

So while definitely not quite my usual when it comes to nonfiction reading, the education I received here definitely makes me glad that I picked this up and gave it a go.

Not as good as I hoped. Interesting at times, but it all kind of blended together. The author was not the man who the story is about. I blame it on the author and since, I was able to get my hands on the audiobook from Hoopla, the narrator was a tad on the boring side, also.

I thought this would be interesting, given my interest in crime and investigations, and it had it's moments, but overall, the writing was not engaging enough.

Don't get me wrong, the actual stories were intriguing, but the author is a bit too present, he interjects too often, and just couldn't get out of the way to let the story be told. That's too bad, because I think Ken Holmes deserved someone to tell his story well, and Bateson just doesn't. I ended up abandoning the book after several chapters because Bateson is just too much in the way and his writing style was very annoying.

Absolutely fascinating reading. This focuses on forensics cases in Marin County over four decades, covering a range of circumstances from serial murders to bridge jumpers and everything in between. There’s gristly detail, but there’s also beauty and a studied understanding of the role of a coroner in the societies we have built.

Admittedly, I'm in the midst of playing catch up on books I read, mostly over the summer, that I didn't manage to review straightaway (those rascally triplets on summer break!). It's been long enough that I can't recall any specific details, but I can still easily recall how I felt about it and why I was interested to begin with. Just keep in mind that my thoughts have been blurred by time. And as is always the case, different strokes for different folks.

With the exception of craft/art/children's books, I don't review a lot of nonfiction, but this particular book appealed because I love to watch legal/law enforcement/medical drama's and documentaries. But also, when I was in my early teen's, I wanted to be a pathologist and/or medical examiner. What can I say? When you want to be a doctor, but you don't want to cut into living people and you love a good mystery....

So, I went in excited. And I'll admit, I learned a thing or two while reading the book. But. The author's perspective didn't always mesh with mine, occasionally uncomfortably so. However, there is a lot of information about suicide, suicide investigations, and the way in which suicide ripples through a family and community. Given that he worked in the coroner's office responsible for the area covered by the Golden Gate Bridge, Bateson has more experience with this particular subject than most in his line of work. And because of his time in the coroner's office, he went on to do a lot of good work in suicide prevention.

One of the things that I will always remember about this book is how much I learned about the politics surrounding the coroner's office. You'd think that something like an autopsy, or a death investigation, would require a medical degree, but shockingly, that is not so. If you're interested in learning about the difference between a medical examiner and a coroner and just some of the ridiculous politics that surround it, this is an eye-opening read. 

For me, this book was pretty meh. It's the first of this kind that I've read, and it left me wanting. Fortunately, there are plenty more fish in this particular sea.

Scribner and NetGalley provided me with an electronic copy of The Education of a Coroner: Lessons in Investigating Death. I was under no obligation to review this book and my opinion is freely given.

Author John Bateson has done a good job in highlighting the career of a coroner, showing a real life counterpart to fictional television characters such as Dr. Quincy from Quincy, M.E. and Olivia "Liv" Moore from iZombie. Ken Holmes worked in the Marin County Coroner’s Office for thirty-six years, starting as a death investigator and ending as an elected coroner after multiple terms. The book tells the story of his career, through the many cases he investigated. Although this is supposed to be a book about Ken Holmes, the author spends too much time on the cases and not enough on the man himself. His struggle to educate police, with regards to proper procedure, evidence, and chain of command, was compelling, but did not come through to a large extent.

In many parts of the country, coroners are not medically trained, often having rudimentary skills in crime scene procedure and investigation. Many are elected officials, which often results in individuals who lack the abilities of a medical doctor or even an undertaker. It is an outrage that a suspicious death may not be handled properly, but the author did not give this fact enough of an emphasis. I wanted to know more about Ken Holmes, his early training and his later experience, but The Education of a Coroner just scratched the surface of this interesting man's life. Readers who are interested in knowing more about a real life coroner may find The Education of a Coroner to their liking.

Author John Bateson shares the story of Ken Holmes, who worked in the Marin County Coroner’s Office for 36 years, following his beginning as a death investigator through to his retirement as the elected coroner.
Marin County, in California, attracts tourists like flies, but it is also where San Quentin Prison is located. During his career, Holmes has dealt with the rich and the poor. He shares some of the highs and lows of cases he has dealt with over the years, including serial killers and Golden Gate Bridge suicides.
Holmes emphasizes that the job is not as it is portrayed on television. It’s a most interesting look behind the scenes.

. .

Ken Holmes was a death investigator and coroner in Marin County, California for a total of 36 years before his retirement at the end of 2010. The coroner’s career is bound to be eventful no matter where one works, but Marin County creates its fair share of special interest, what with all the suicides at Golden Gate Bridge, misdeeds at San Quentin Prison, and various cases involving celebrities (e.g. Harvey Milk, Jerry Garcia and Tupac) in addition to all your everyday sordid homicides.

Bateson is the former executive director of a suicide prevention center in the Bay Area and the author of two previous books on the topic of suicide. He first met Holmes through his earlier research, and this book arose from interviews conducted in 2014–15 along with phone and e-mail follow-ups. He successfully recreates Holmes’ cases with plenty of details—which sometimes gets gory, as you might expect. If you’re hooked on CSI or otherwise fascinated by the means and aftermath of death, you should enjoy this as much as I did.

This is an absolutely fascinating insight into the life of a coroner based near the Brooklyn Bridge. As a fan of medical nonfiction, true crime, and anything slightly morbid I really enjoyed this - it was almost as good as Mary Roach's Stiff. Bateson tells the stories with great humanity and humility. This work touches on every area of life and the experiences of so many people. He also really exposes the strange world of the coroners office and the odd relationship it has with politics and government.

Advice though - do not read out the bizarre deaths that you found entertaining to the in-laws, not a good way to ingratiate yourself.

***This book as reviewed for the San Francisco and Seattle Book Reviews, and for Scribner via Netgalley

Education of a Coroner by John Bateson tells the intriguing experiences of Ken Holmes, former coroner of Marin County in California. For forty-odd years, Holmes worked in the coroner's office, first as a death investigator, then later as assistant coroner and head coroner.

Coroners are different than medical examiners. They are elected officials who may, or may not, as in Holmes’ case, be a medical doctor. If they are not, then bodies for autopsy are contracted out to mortuaries or hospitals.

Through his stories, it is easy to see Holmes is devoted to the truth, and is a compassionate empath. Cases were pursued to the most logical conclusion, and some stayed open for years! As an independent agent, Holmes did not weigh favour to law enforcement or the courts. He followed the truth. There were cases he pushed as murder when others would have it not so, and other cases, such as that of Sammie in San Quentin, where he stuck to truth rather than exculpatory silence.

It was so sad to realise how prevalent suicide is, especially from the Golden Gate Bridge. It was in part thanks to Holmes that sturdier protections were added to the bridge to discourage jumpers. Wolfram's story hit me hard. I fear dying, and no one being able to identify my body (or just not care…). It was heartening to learn he was finally identified. That family found resolution.

I've always loved forensics. I was set to be a forensic anthropologist before health concerns put paid to that. It was a good thing, in retrospect. I would have long since burnt out. I think I'd love to meet Holmes just to sit and listen to his stories in person. Death captivates us all (says the person watching Most Haunted...), whether we acknowledge it or not. It is the ultimate unknown. Coroners and medical examiners dance that blurred line on a daily basis, becoming close friends with Thanatos. This book tells of murders, suicides, accidental death, and natural deaths. There is Sammie, the San Quentin prisoner, dead unnecessarily, Tupac, the rap star murdered too yoUng, overdoses like that of young River Phoenix, and more.

Bateson is a masterful storyteller, making for captivating reading. Humour is, by necessity, threaded through the narrative. Mirth, bordering on gallows betimes, helps defuse the wiry coils of tension that confronting death winds in the body and mind.

Referring to the FBI van as the 'Costco for forensics’ or noting that 'For one thing, Bertha was dead and not going anywhere until Holmes okay’d it, so she could wait’, injects levity into solemn situations, which helps when reading such weighty material, and is critical when confronted by it in the field, day after day. That lesson my group and I learned fairl quick!

📚📚📚📚📚 Highly recommended for those interested in forensics or memoirs.

Ken Holmes career as a coroner in Marin County, California spanned more than four decades. During that time he oversaw many deaths - accidents, suicides and homicides, some straightforward and some complex and some cases that took many years to finally solve. He prided himself on being a voice for the dead and finding the truth for their families. In telling his stories to John Bateson, he has allowed us to enter his fascinating world and career.

Ken Holmes really did learn his career on the job. Starting as a mortuary assistant he became fascinated in the causes of death and moved onto a job as a death investigator for Marin County eventually becoming the Coroner. During that time he investigated serial killings, jumpers from the Golden Gate, overdoses, gun deaths and some notorious cases that made the National news. He also discusses the process of death and the changes that the body undergoes that helps Coroners know the time and sometimes place of death. Recommended if you enjoy reading about forensic science or true crime.

Thank you for the opportunity to read this book. I enjoyed it very much!

Thank you to Scribner for providing me with an advance copy of John Bateson's book, The Education of a Coroner: Lessons in Investigating Death, in exchange for an honest review.

PLOT- John Bateson explores the career of coroner Ken Holmes, who worked for California's Marin County Coroner's Office for over thirty-six years. 

LIKE- Death and the business of it is fascinating. My aunt's first husband was a coroner in Los Angeles County and although I didn't know him, I heard of stories from his career via my aunt. Those stories are a big reason that I was drawn to The Education of a Coroner. 

Bateson explores many of the cases that Holmes worked on during his career, including tough cases to crack and those that remain unsolved. Included are celebrity cases, suicide jumps from the Golden Gate Bridge, and even a case involving a cult. The Education of a Coroner is not gratuitous, but it does include details of death, which can be gory. I know that some readers would not be able to handle the details. They will definitely live in your mind for awhile. Bateson covers all areas of the job, including crime scene protocol, autopsies, trials, and behind the scenes office work. I learned that in many counties, the coroner is an elected position. It should probably worry the general public that in some parts of the country, the coroner is not even required to have any medical experience. With basically zero experience, anyone could be a coroner, even if they shouldn't be. It's scary.

Some of the cases were fascinating, especially the way that Holmes worked with the evidence to eventually solve a crime. Truly, no two cases were alike. I appreciate that the book touches on the sensitive subject of how Holmes spoke to the families of the deceased. I can appreciate that the job of a coroner is someone who wears many hats and speaking with loved ones must be among the toughest parts of the job; certainly not something that everyone would be able to handle.

DISLIKE- The pacing was occasionally sluggish, which I attribute to my unequal interested in all of the cases. Perhaps Bateson included too many cases, as not all were equally interesting or impactful. Less could have been more. 

RECOMMEND- If your curious about the job of a coroner and if you like reading about various cases, then I highly recommend Bateson's The Education of a Coroner. It's not for the squeamish, but if you can stomach it, it's an important look into a profession that greatly impacts our society.

Thanks to NetGalley for this ARC!

Fans of true crime will love this book. Coroner Ken Holmes’ cases are described in great, gory detail, along with his thought process for cause of death. Some go unsolved, but all of them are a part of him.

Holmes is a self-deprecating man, which helped him move up the ladder within his department. As each case unfolds, the author portrays him with the right amount of confidence and respect. Some cases are more convoluted than others, so I am not sure who is at fault when the particulars get confusing. There were times where I had to read over the cast of characters a few times in order to determine who killed who, who had the motive, and other items of note. That is really the only caveat I have about this book – otherwise it’s an enjoyable, if dark, read. There are plenty of cases to appeal to everyone’s interest, whether it be prurient or otherwise. Holmes has an outstanding memory and usually has a philosophical turn when sharing his stories.

I got the impression that he is proud of his work, pays great attention to detail, and truly cares about those affected by the victim’s death. He emphasizes personal contact and shows empathy to those left behind.

Any book that teaches me something is a gem. In reading THE EDUCATION OF A CORONER I learned about rigor mortis (starts at the jaw, which is the strongest muscle in the body), suicide (apparently the Golden Gate Bridge was a mecca for those seeking to shuffle off this mortal coil) and government (how to work your way up through the ranks).

This was an excellent departure for the norm for me, and a thoroughly wonderful experience. If you have an interest in true crime or want to know what really happens during an investigation, pick this up. You won’t be sorry.

A fascinating book, following the life of a Californian coroner, Ken Holmes.
I appreciated that the book wasn't just chapter followed by chapter of the most gruesome or sensational deaths he had come across. Instead there's background to how he became a coroner, insight into the area he worked, the 'local' prison (the enormous San Quentin housing death row inmates) and suicide cases.
Culturally, the US & the UK can feel quite separated, especially when it comes to matters like capital punishment, which operated for nearly all the time Holmes was a coroner.

An interesting topic. Perhaps not a book to be read all in one go.

For those looking to understand the mindset of a killer or uncover the graphic details of the murders they commit, this is unlikely to be the book for you. Much more focus is given to the procedural work of a coroner, their victims & how the perpetrators are brought to justice. Or elude justice, as is sometimes the case.

Annoyingly, the author chooses to describe the appearance of women, more than once this happens, even when it has no relevance to what we are being told. One example is describing the sister of a suicide victim as a 'striking beauty', which I assumed would have some relevance, but instead I finished the chapter thinking either the author or the coroner he was a interviewing for this book were at least a little bit misogynistic. (Hence the lacklustre star rating despite the largely positive review).

I loved the book Working Stiff, so as soon as I saw this advertised as being in the "same vein" I was all in. My excitement has paid off nicely. The structure of the book follows the major cases of Holmes' career, but the narrative goes beyond descriptions of each case. In many ways, the text has the feel of an oral history. Bateson has done an excellent job infusing the narrative with character. Overall, I think this would be great to recommend to anyone interested in the medical field, true crime, and the human condition.

3.5 stars Reading John Bateson's book, The Education of a Coroner: Lessons in Investigating Death, is like reading a very grim tabloid. No gossipy or gory detail is spared, which sometimes felt overwhelming to me. But I like CSI-type shows and this was like binge watching them, except in a book.

In a nutshell, the young Ken Holmes was interested in medicine and was a detailed thinker. But he wasn't much of a student, so he started working in mortuaries in the 1950s. This led him to the coroner's office as a death investigator, an assistant coroner, and coroner. He and Bateson met each other through work they've done on suicide prevention, and decided Holmes had some stories to tell.

And boy, does he tell a helluva story. There are hundreds of cases from his Marin County coroner's office files in this book. Literally hundreds. That's why it gets overwhelming. There's very little "filler," or information outside of case after case.

Don't get me wrong. Most of the cases are interesting, and some of them are jaw-dropping. Bateson includes context about the part of Marin where the death happened, for example was it a wealthy area, or did the house have a fantastic view of San Francisco Bay. Holmes made it a point to spend time with the family of the deceased, so he also learned details about their lives. And he has a steel trap of a memory, recalling copious details from decades ago.

Holmes is also a man of his times, in that he's not afraid to be politically incorrect. He was born in the 1940s, so his prejudices leak out into the way he approaches cases or describes the players. I didn't find it incredibly offensive, but you might.

For the most part, however, Holmes comes across as a dedicated civil servant who truly cared about the decedents and their families.

The conclusion of the book is an interview-style discussion about death and grief. Holmes tells Bateson, “I firmly believe that we never have ‘closure’ following a death of someone close to us,” he says. “We may find some peace, we may ‘get through it’ and our lives continue, but true closure is elusive at best and probably nonexistent.”

True as that is, in this case we do get closure because the book ends. I found it fascinating overall, with incredible detail. But don't read it if you're going through a rough patch and feeling a little down, since it's generally pretty depressing.

Thanks to NetGalley and Scribner for a digital advance readers copy in exchange for my honest review. Quotes included here may change in the final version of the book.

<b>**I received a digital copy of this book from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.**</b>

<b>Introduction</b>
The Education of a Coroner is about the experiences of one man and his coworkers in the coroner's office of Marin County, California, throughout his career, which spanned from the late 70s through the new millennium. The rapid changes in technology, philosophy, and techniques in just under 40 years is incredible. The cases are morbidly fascinating, especially considering Marin County is one of the wealthiest counties per capita in California. Each chapter brings new insights into the unique and often completely misunderstood life of a coroner.

<b>The story</b>
Ken Holmes worked in the Marin County Coroner's office for 36 years before he retired amidst political and financial upheaval. In his career he went from working as a coroner's death investigator, hired straight out of a simple mortuary job, to being elected as County Coroner for three terms. He personally handled cases involving everything from Golden Gate Bridge suicides to the death of Robin William's mother. He also helped hunt down the infamous Trailside Killer, a serial killer who overpowered, sexually assaulted, and then killed female hikers in parks around Marin County. Despite all the blood and gore, Holmes loved his job. He maintained that the most important and rewarding part of his job was helping effected loved ones work through the aftermath and find not only answers, but also peace. The author manages to tell the stories not only of Holmes, but of each case, with detail and keen insight. This reader is at once intrigued, angered, appalled, moved, and then intrigued again. I had no idea how the coroner fit into the law enforcement community, nor did I know what the professional and training requirements entailed. The author includes details on every aspect of the daily life of a coroner. This book is both educational and fascinating!

<b>Literary analysis</b>
I thoroughly enjoyed this book for both it's educational value and it's fascinating look at true crimes. It almost reads like an episode of Dateline mixed with CSI; it certainly feels like the writing of a crime reporter, although I found I didn't mind it in this case. I loved coming away with not only insider knowledge of some really interesting death scenarios, but also a much better understanding of the role and work of a coroner.

This book is a quick, engaging, easy read. I did note that for some reason Chapter 10 seemed to be riddled with grammatical errors. I received an ARC though, so this may have been corrected before final publication. Otherwise this book was a pleasure to read.

<b>Conclusion</b>
I would definitely recommend this to anyone who enjoys reading about true crime and/or anyone who aspires to running for local government!

“'Every death has a story,' Holmes says, 'just like every life. Coroners are privy to it in ways that other professions are not.'"

As a coroner in San Francisco for more that four decades, Ken Holmes has seen it all. Like the title says, you explore the “education of a coroner,” starting from Holmes' childhood to his role as the elected coroner. But Holmes isn’t the only one learning- the reader learns more about what it takes to become a coroner and how Holmes succeeded at his job.

Each chapter focuses on something different- each morbid, yet fascinating. Every section provides a different case and a new way for Holmes to solve it. And John Bateson does a great job incorporating a vast number of cases and providing a detailed look at each one.

One example is a haunting and heartbreaking chapter on Golden Gate Bridge suicide victims. Other chapters focus on celebrity deaths, murder cases and mysteries that took years to solve.

You also learn more about why Holmes excels at his job and how the coroner’s office works. Bateson explores Holmes’ background and training, giving a more detailed look at coroners. For example, coroners in San Francisco have to take the same 22-week training course as law enforcement. It helped Holmes stay diligent and made him a better investigator.

Bateson and Holmes (rightfully) slag on the CSI-type shows a few times throughout the book, but I think The Education of a Coroner would make an amazing television series. Most crime shows have the coroner appear for 30 seconds in a lab coat who then defiantly states someone had been dead for 18 hours. Instead, a series based on The Education of a Coroner could give a more realistic characterization.

True crime fans and viewers of shows like Law and Order will definitely enjoy The Education of a Coroner. While there are a lot of case examples, they’re all interesting in their own way. It’s a fascinating look at a job that often gets overlooked or misinterpreted.

I received an advanced copy of The Education of a Coroner in exchange for an honest review.