I enjoyed the behind the scenes look at what all goes into determining the identity of a John or Jane Doe. The statistics were interesting as well.

This was an interesting read. I live in New Hampshire so it was interesting that this research happened so close to home. A lot goes on behind the scenes that you don’t even realize.

In "Lay Them to Rest," Laurah Norton delivers a captivating and scientifically rich exploration of cold case investigations. With research and compelling storytelling, Norton provides readers with a profound understanding of the complexities involved in identifying nameless victims. Through specific examples woven throughout the book, she demonstrates the transformative impact of forensic science on these unsolved mysteries.

Norton introduces readers to the world of cold case investigations by recounting the gripping story of a long-unsolved murder. Through careful examination of forensic evidence, including DNA analysis and advanced forensic imaging techniques, the investigators are able to finally identify the victim and bring closure to the grieving family. This example highlights the power of scientific advancements in solving cases that were once considered hopeless.

One of the most riveting aspects of "Lay Them to Rest" is Norton's vivid portrayal of forensic anthropology. She takes readers to crime scenes where skeletal remains have been unearthed, guiding them through the meticulous process of analyzing bone structure, dental records, and other identifying features. Norton's attention to detail and her ability to convey the significance of each piece of evidence create a sense of suspense and intellectual intrigue.

In a particularly moving chapter, Norton focuses on the dedicated work of forensic artists. Through their meticulous reconstruction techniques, she illustrates how clay sculpting and facial approximation can give a face to the forgotten. Norton's description of a reconstructed face leading to the identification of a long-lost victim serves as a testament to the transformative power of art and science combined.

Throughout the book, Norton emphasizes the importance of DNA analysis in cold case investigations. She showcases groundbreaking advancements in genetic genealogy, highlighting how DNA profiles can be used to identify unknown individuals by tracing familial connections. Norton presents cases where genetic genealogy has led to the identification of victims and the apprehension of long-elusive perpetrators, offering hope and closure to families who have endured years of uncertainty.

By interweaving these specific examples into the narrative, Norton effectively highlights the profound impact of forensic science on cold case investigations. Her writing not only educates readers on the intricacies of the scientific techniques employed but also evokes a deep emotional connection to the victims and the tireless individuals committed to uncovering the truth.

"Lay Them to Rest" illustrates the dedication, resilience, and unwavering pursuit of justice exhibited by cold case investigators. Norton's meticulous research and powerful storytelling create an immersive reading experience, shedding light on the scientific advancements that have transformed the field of cold case investigations. Through specific examples, she brings the realities of these unsolved cases to life, leaving readers with a profound appreciation for the impact of forensic science on the quest for justice.

This informative and interesting book pulls back the curtain on true crime podcasts and popular TV shows to explain the science of forensic anthropology and genealogy. The author alternates between chapters on the methods of identifying unknown decedents with chapters highlighting how those methods were applied to a specific case, Ina Jane Doe, which has been a cold case in Illinois for over 20 years. The book highlights the author's interactions with many dedicated and talented individuals who work to identify Jane/John Does. I have a newfound respect for forensic scientists and I'll be checking out the author's podcast, The Fall Line.

Many thanks to NetGalley and the author/publisher for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

A BIG thank you to Netgalley, & Laurah Norton for sending me an advanced reader copy in exchange for an honest review.
As a true crime podcast enthusiast, I was really looking forward to this book and it is PHEMONAL. Laurah wrote this book with the upmost respect and compassion for the victims and their families. A truly impressive and captivating book giving names back to the nameless, and really taking a deep dive into how research is done for Jane/John Doe victims.

Great! Laurah does a great job of guiding the reader through the process of solving a cold case and identifying the body by actually doing it. The dental stuff was bit long-winded, but other than that a wonderful read.

I am completely obsessed with True Crime stories and this book was absolutely amazing. I greatly enjoyed this book and read it late into the night. I found alot of the information very interesting and it was very detailed. I absolutely loved this!! This book is what every true crime lover needs on their shelf!
I just reviewed Lay Them to Rest by Laurah Norton. #NetGalley
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This book was captivating and fascinating. As a true crime junkie, I’ve listened to podcasts, read books, and devoured documentaries, but I’ve never encountered a book like this. Norton walks us step by step through solving the mystery of who Ida Jane Doe was. She breaks down the methods and the maze of information that surrounded them as they tries to identify her. She describes and explains everything with as much detail and description as needed so that the reader is not lost in the process or the science. Norton teaches through this novel so much about how cases are solved, the role of internet sleuths, the way remains and memories of the dead should be treated. This was just an all around great book!

Thank you Netgalley for the ARC of this book. This was a fantastic read. This was not your typical true crime read. This book was written with such empathy and care for the victim and family. The science and research were well done and very well explained. Highly recommend. Very informative

This was a great forensic science book, it had everything that I enjoyed from the true crime nonfiction book. It was written perfectly and I could tell the author knew what they were talking about. I’d be happy to read more from Laurah Norton.

First of all thank you so much for the opportunity to read this before the release date. Reading what science and technology is capable of in todays capacity was mind blowing. I highlighted a lot of interesting facts and had to take a few breaks to reread what I had just read. The journey to find the identity of single head was a journey that I won’t forget. I my wish for the book would be that the parts in the book I wanted to skip would have been more interesting.

An exceptional true crime novel about a cold case. The amount of lessons in this book about forensic methods makes this book a good mine. Not to mention the care, empathy, and dedication the author/investigator put forth.

This was a phenomenal book on true crime, it definitely was an enjoyable read. It felt highly researched and was very informative. Definitely recommend for any true crime junkie out there.

4/5 stars

Loved how the author shows how much she cares for the John and Jane does while talking about their cases , and how DNA as will as the new sciences we are coming up with can also help solve and bring back their names .

I honestly can say that I wish there were more people like Norton who truly got into the crime scene technology because they wanted to make a difference. Wanted to help solve those crimes that some thought were unsolvable. As a Dr I can tell you that forensic pathology is how we speak to the dead. How we find clues that no one else could see because they are not always trained to see it. I loved doing my time in the morgue although now I am a trauma surgeon who listens to books instead of music while in the OR, that does not always go so well btw. I unfortunately am not familiar with her podcast, but will certainly look for it now, I had no idea what I was going to read with this book. I knew the subject matter but was not sure if the chapters were going to be told in a podcast type of way or as someone who knew more about the forensics side of the murders/mysteries. Each chapter brought a new case and the information the reader learned was more than just what someone could look up online to get. I was fully invested by the first page and really love the writing ability from this author.

5 out of 5 stars


Thank you to NetGalley as well as the author /publisher for giving me the opportunity to read this book in exchange for my unbiased and honest review.

This was a really good book on true crime. Each chapter told a different case. The book was well researched. Highly recommend if you enjoy reading true crime.

I’ve recently become obsessed with true crime and podcasts about true crime. I loved learning about this cold case and the forensics behind these type of things. It was very interesting and insightful.

An intriguing look at cold cases and the methods used to solve them. Many crime-related books tend to be sensationalized and "back burner" the victims, but this is an empathetic exception. A must for any true crime aficionado's bookshelf.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC that I received in exchange for an honest review.

"At the risk of sounding like an absolute twenty-first-century cliché...it all started with a podcast." (loc. 68*)

Norton got involved in true crime by accident: a writer and professor by training and trade, she started a podcast as preparation for a course she was teaching...and it took on a life of its own. Into the world of true crime and cold cases Norton went. In "Lay Them to Rest", she describes an effort between various true-crime nonprofessionals, police, and scientists to uncover the identity of "Ina Jane Doe", a woman whose partial remains were found in 1993 in Illinois and had never been identified.

"This is not an episode of Bones. Not unless Dr. Temperance Brennan is willing to spend an entire episode taking tiny measurements in a quiet lab, with the cliffhanger coming just before she begins to fill out her paperwork." (loc. 1440)

We're used to 45-minute episodes wrapping things up easily—those hours and hours of measurements and tests and applying precisely sized eraser bits to skulls summed up in a montage—but this was a case that would take months and years. The advent of genealogical DNA research has made it possible to solve cases that might previously have been unsolvable, but it's not as easy as chucking all the unsolved cases into a database and letting the computer do its thing. Remains need to have usable DNA, and to have enough of it in good shape for the right kinds of tests, and for enough relatives of sufficient closeness to have put their own DNA into the right databases. And it takes money—money that most departments can't afford to spend on decades-old cold cases.

"There are so many ways to tell [her story], and all of them are important. But each way paints a very different picture and leads down a different road." (loc. 4581)

I'd actually heard of Ina Jane Doe before (on a true crime YouTube channel), so I was somewhat familiar with the case. (The YouTube channel, perhaps predictably, gave the case a pretty cursory overview.) What is most fascinating to me here are the forensic sketches and reconstructions—if the book sounds interesting to you, hold off on Googling until you've read it—which are part science and part art and the sort of thing that...that can help or hinder a case, let's say. But Norton gives some really helpful context and perspective on those reconstructions, and I'm left wondering where the future of such forensic sketches might go.

This is one for true-crime aficionados, but it also reminds me a lot of Andrea Lankford's "Trail of the Lost"—while "Lay Them to Rest" is about non-professionals helping to solve a Jane Doe case, "Trail of the Lost" is about non-professionals trying to solve several known missing-persons cases. In both cases, slow—agonizingly so for the families—but sustained efforts to put the pieces together, to answer some of the many questions that remain.

Thanks to the author and publisher for providing a review copy through NetGalley.

*Quotations are taken from an ARC and may not be final.

“Lay Them to Rest” has been on my radar since I am familiar with the author’s podcast The Fall Line. Laurah Norton has written a fascinating narrative non-fiction account of the forensic processes used to identify Jane and John Does. New developments in this area (especially genetic genealogy) have changed the field dramatically in recent years.

We follow Norton’s life during the investigation of one particular case: “Ina Jane Doe.” Norton, a writer and researcher, weaves the methodology and history of these forensic investigations with her own story of collaborating with scientists, researchers and law enforcement, to solve this case.

From the smallest DNA molecule to the larger scope of societal racism and sexism, Norton explains the background of the different steps that must be taken in order to increase the chance of identifying these people. Not only that, she also discusses what could be changed in order to improve future investigations. The grisly details are difficult to read but necessary to understand how this research is done. There was just a tad too much day-to-day details of Norton’s life, which distracted from the focus of the book, and some scientific details became a bit overwhelming at times, but otherwise, this is a very good memoir and true crime readers will be very interested in reading it.