Absolutely fantastic! For lovers of true crime, this is one book that you are going to want to dive into! Revisit some cases that you know, get an idea of the forensic evidence that was found - and so much more!

Due to a sudden, unexpected passing in the family a few years ago and another more recently and my subsequent (mental) health issues stemming from that, I was unable to download this book in time to review it before it was archived as I did not visit this site for several years after the bereavements. This meant I didn't read or venture onto netgalley for years as not only did it remind me of that person as they shared my passion for reading, but I also struggled to maintain interest in anything due to overwhelming depression. I was therefore unable to download this title in time and so I couldn't give a review as it wasn't successfully acquired before it was archived. The second issue that has happened with some of my other books is that I had them downloaded to one particular device and said device is now defunct, so I have no access to those books anymore, sadly.

This means I can't leave an accurate reflection of my feelings towards the book as I am unable to read it now and so I am leaving a message of explanation instead. I am now back to reading and reviewing full time as once considerable time had passed I have found that books have been helping me significantly in terms of my mindset and mental health - this was after having no interest in anything for quite a number of years after the passings. Anything requested and approved will be read and a review written and posted to Amazon (where I am a Hall of Famer & Top Reviewer), Goodreads (where I have several thousand friends and the same amount who follow my reviews) and Waterstones (or Barnes & Noble if the publisher is American based). Thank you for the opportunity and apologies for the inconvenience.

Another enjoyable book about case histories featuring a variety of forensic evidence and the science behind them.

I really enjoyed this book. It was an interesting look into the world of Forensic Science. And best of all it didn't have a "text book" feel that many of these type of books have. This book was simple to read, very interesting and hard to put down.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Amber Books for providing me with a copy of this eARC in exchange for an honest review.

Bodies of Evidence was originally printed in 2001, but has since been updated and rereleased. This is an overview of how forensics works, with each chapter giving a brief description and history of an area of forensics alongside photographs and case studies to illustrate.

I really liked the layout of each chapter. There were little profiles and side bits of information in boxes, so you could keep up with main story narrative and then at a point that felt natural to you, you could go back and read the extra info.

If you are already a true crime aficionado, this may not necessarily appeal strongly. However, I did find it an enjoyable read, with some cases that I’d not heard before! This would be excellent for someone who doesn’t know much about the history of forensics and was looking for an overview.

*social media reviews to follow*

This is a wonderful book for people with an interest in true crime, or anyone wanting to know more about Forensic Science and it's history.
This book gives detailed information in an easy to read format about techniques used to solve crimes and sometimes even to help identify the victims.
The best bit is that in each chapter, there are true crime examples of where this technique was used and how it helped to solve the murder.
The colour photos aren't grisly, but it's a very informative book

Bodies of evidence is a great book for an introduction into forensic science, it is well written and details a wide range of techniques used to investigate crime. To enable the reader to understand how each technique can be applied there are many 'crime files' that detail how different famous and normal cases were solved. These crime files are interesting to read and entice you to continue reading.

I received an early copy of bodies of evidence from netgalley for review.

3.5 stars
This book is super interesting and even helpful, especially if you're looking for basic information on forensic science and its applications to solving crimes. It is nonfiction and covers a wide array of scientific methods used in fields like fingerprinting or the study of insects in relation to murder investigation. I learned quite a bit while reading this book, It provided the basic information that someone new to the topic could easily follow. All the topics in this book included: history of how it was discovered and by whom, the application on when it can be used as well as several interesting murder cases as examples on how these methods where used in finding evidence for a conviction in a cases. Overall, I found it intriguing, educational, and a bit gruesome. Definitely recommend checking this book out if you're looking to expand your knowledge of true crime and investigation. It could also provide useful information to someone looking to study a certain field like ballistics or DNA.
Trigger warnings: graphic pictures, blood, murder, suicide
I received this advanced ebook, via Netgalley. This review is my own honest opinion.

Very good: science, forensics, case studies and pics. Informative and interesting about how things are learned, interpreted and presented in court. Nicely written, easy to follow. Good for crime followers.

This was an informative read. I learned a lot of things about forensic examinations. The book covered a wide variety of subjects. All were presented in a clear, easily read manner, which is a treat, because it would be so easy to really overwhelm someone with the science. Each section was interspersed with actual case histories pertaining to the chapter subject. These were very interesting.
All in all, if you are a crime buff who loves shows like CSI, this would be a great read for you.

I was given a digital ARC of this book by NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Overall, I really enjoyed this book. I think it’s an excellent choice for anyone interested in crime. It’s technical, but the writing is clear and straight-forward, so an interested reader can follow along. It’s a compelling mix of the history and science of forensics, which I don’t think I’ve encountered before (most subject overviews focus on one or the other). It’s a great starting point for anyone getting into forensic science or true crime, or the avid fan who wants to know more.

This is also an excellent resource for anyone who writes crime or horror fiction. As a (beginning) horror writer, I found some of the descriptions of police procedure and forensic techniques useful for a story I’m working on. I think I’m going to get a physical copy to use as a reference for future writing projects.

Throughout the text, there are excellent photographs, many of them from crime scenes (nothing too graphic) to help illustrate the procedures and techniques discussed. In addition, real cases are discussed in Crime Files interspersed throughout the text, offering examples of how forensics has been used to catch (or failed to catch) violent criminals. For example, the Crime File on Lee Harvey Oswald explained how forensic science was used to analyze the bullet wounds JFK and Governor John Connally sustained, and determine that only two bullets were fired, both from behind, both by Oswald.

For me, a nonfiction book succeeds when it presents new information in an enticing way that helps it stick in the reader’s head. Bodies of Evidence succeeds in doing this, and what I’ve learned will stay with me. For example, did you know that there’s an entire field for examining teeth and dental records to determine someone’s identity? It’s called forensic odontology, and it’s crucial for identifying victims of violent crime and disasters.

In general, this book revealed how far forensic science has come, and how advanced it is today. It left me wondering why more violent crimes aren’t solved (a question the book never really addresses). I can only conclude that there must be a lack of resources or knowledge when it comes to implementing these advances.

I wish the book had a conclusion. Introductions are excellent for giving an overview, but I’ve found that conclusions in non-fiction books are almost as helpful. Additionally, I’d recommend purchasing this book in physical, not digital, form. It was a little awkward to read on a tablet, and it’s clearly designed to be accessed and referenced as a physical book.

Overall, a great read! I recommend it to anyone interested in forensics.

I whipped through this book. I think I missed my calling in life as a death investigator. The cover may be a bit misleading. This isn’t a book set in the autopsy room.
This book talks you through the different investigations needed in a death. Along side is case studies from crimes over the years.
Very informative and interesting perfect for any budding Quincey.
Many thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the opportunity to see an arc

Do not let the title scare you away from reading this book because this was one of the best forensic science books I've read this year! It is a treasure trove of information on topics like serology, toxicology, fingerprinting, facial identification, forensic ballistics, voiceprint evidence, psychological profiling, DNA fingerprinting and many more.

Each chapter (seventeen in total) discusses the forensic methods and how the cases were solved by forensic evidence. I am not familiar with most of these intriguing cases as they were mostly from UK and Scotland. But there were also some more well-known ones like Richard Ramirez (The Night Stalker), Theodore Kaczynski, (Unabomber), Ted Bundy, O. J. Simpson, etc. In the psychological profiling part, you will come across FBI profilers like Howard Teten and Robert Ressler, and Dr. James Brussell, the psychiatrist who pioneered criminal profiling.

There were a lot of sidebars scattered throughout the book and I absolutely loved them! Pictures. There are a lot of pictures in this book (some are pretty graphic) and definitely saves me some time to have to search them in the internet! Forensic entomologist and psychological profiling were most probably two of my favourite topics. Albeit the engaging writing, I did struggle a bit in a couple of chapters. There were a bit sciency for me.

Overall, this was one fantastic read and I learned A LOT of new information. I think I am ready to be a forensic investigator now! Just kidding!


Pub. Date: Nov 14th, 2021

***Thank you Amber Books Ltd, authors Brian Innes, Lucy Doncaster and NetGalley for this gifted review copy. All opinions expressed are my own.***

Informative And Engaging..
Informative and engaging study of the science of forensics. Includes studies of various cases of interest and also lists those with significant contributions to the field. A comprehensive guide.

I enjoyed this book. The writing style is simple and conversational; the subject matter is interesting. Most of the science is well-explained except for some of the information on forensic hardware, but I suspect that to do justice to this topic would take a full other book. But the book isn’t all science and the authors do a good job of tying the science into real cases. The photos are also very good. Thank you to Netgalley and Amber Books for the advance reader copy.

I received a copy of this e-arc in exchange for an honest review thanks to NetGalley and Amber Books Ltd.

I find anything forensic related fascinating so was super excited to read this book!

I knew quite a bit of forensics history and information from previous books i’ve read but I still enjoyed it!

I loved the crime files throughout the book - very interesting! I wasn’t fussed on the pictures though I did like having them alongside the crime files to help illustrate the cases.

The main thing that I struggled with was the fact files and crime files being placed with a body of text - it would’ve been better having all the text for that chapter followed by the files to make it easier to read.

this was so so interesting! I’m going to be recommending this to all of my fellow true crime lover friends. The macabre always seems so off limits therefore making it all the more addictive and devourable, and this was just so interesting!! Don’t have anything negative to say about this one, i thoroughly enjoyed it & the illustrations were super helpful understanding the content.

As a CSI groupie and 20-year retired medical transcriptionist, I was excited about this book. I was no disappointed. Well-researched with an easy to read and understand format I thoroughly enjoyed this book. Not for the faint of heart but truly appreciated by those who are fascinated by forensic science. Thank you NetGalley. I received an e-book from NetGalley in return for an unbiased review.

I received an advance copy of, Bodies of Evidence, by Brian Innes: Lucy Doncaster. This is a very informative book. Case files and examples of evidence. Bruises and how or why the victim died.

Wow what a great book to read especially if your big in reading about forensic science works and how it plays a part in case. Or if your just into anything that deals with true crime then you need to check this one out.