The captivating investigation of "The Secret History of the Rape Kit" by Pagan Kennedy reveals the story of Marty Goddard, a courageous and enigmatic woman who revolutionized forensic evidence collection for rape cases.

In the early 1970s, volunteering at a crisis hotline, Marty witnessed a heartbreaking reality: countless sexual assault survivors, especially young girls, grappling with shame and a justice system that failed them. Fueled by a desire to make a difference, Marty embarked on a mission to transform how these crimes were investigated. By the decade's end, she had not only championed for better treatment of survivors but also spearheaded the creation of the rape kit. This groundbreaking forensic tool would become a cornerstone of rape investigations nationwide.

However, Marty allowed another to take credit for her invention despite her unwavering dedication to women's rights. Years later, journalist Pagan Kennedy embarks on a quest to unearth the truth about Marty and her pivotal contribution. This journey not only sheds light on Marty's mysterious disappearance but also delves into the complex history of forensic science in America.

"The Secret History of the Rape Kit" transcends a true crime story. It's a powerful call to action.
Kennedy masterfully weaves together two compelling narratives: Marty's fight for justice and Kennedy's own investigation. The book shines a light on the previously untold story of a woman who made a significant contribution to law enforcement, only to be forgotten. Kennedy's insightful and empathetic writing explores the historical context of sexual assault and forensics, reminding us of the ongoing struggle for better treatment of survivors and the crucial role of forensic evidence in securing justice. This is a must-read for anyone interested in social justice, women's history, or the fascinating world of forensics.

I have read Pagan Kennedy's work for decades now but I was surprised by how much about her own life she put into the book. I know she does write a lot of personal essays and her experiences did relate but I was hoping for a little bit more of a straight history and story of Marty Goddard. There is a real trend lately of blending what I would think of as a memoir and history and I don't feel like it works most of the time. The book was fine but she is such a great researcher, I wish she had divided the work into two books, a memoir, and a history. I felt like combining the two diminished both. I think she was too close to the subject matter to write about it objectively which is understandable but also made it hard to read and know what part of the history was true--she admits she has a lot of bias.

Well-written book. Well-researched, provides cross-categorical insights and learnings, and great pacing.

The in-depth research the author found on the actual history of the invention of the rape kit was fascinating and intriguing. I admire Pagan Kennedy for having the courage to share her own experiences with the very sensitive subject matter she covers in her book. A great book to share for all who have been sexually assaulted to help heal and for everyone else to learn how not to be dismissive of the assaulted and to look outside of themselves.

An important history for women everywhere. It's not just about this kit and its actual inventor but also about how women have been treated medically, past and present. It's sad, even horrifying in places, but essential reading if we want things to improve. I liked the story about looking for this "vanished" woman as a frame - it helped me move along through the book to the end.

Marty Goddard, your righteous anger combusted into a heroic blaze, and we should all be thankful for your light.

What a fascinating dual narrative- the history of the rape kit, as well as the story of its long-forgotten inventor. For sure, you need go into this understanding it's about both things, Marty AND the kit. If you're expecting more of one rather than the other, you're going to feel short-changed. I did sometimes hunger for more about Marty, then flip to wanting more about the rape kit's history. But, I was ultimately very satisfied with what Pagan Kennedy delivered in less than 300 pages.

Heavy trigger warnings on this one (I mean, look at the title); but when you're ready for it, be prepared to scream in frustration and cheer in awed jubilation.

3.50/5 rounded down to 3/5 stars.

Thank you NetGalley and Knopf, Pantheon, Vintage, and Anchor Publishing for the advance reader's copy.

This was a fascinating book from start to finish. Little did I know that the rape kit that is used to empower survivors has such a fascinating history. It is mind-boggling that Marty Goddard was able to pull off what she did considering this was the 1970's where it was a man's world no matter where you turned. Pagan Kennedy emphasized how this technology was created to better the treatment of those who reported sexual assault was extraordinary as Marty Goddard's kit pre-dated DNA forensics and it allowed the readers to see who Marty was as a person.

My major criticism of this book is when Pagan started turning away from unsupported evidence and began making inferences but made them seem as fact with how it was written with certain aspects of Marty's life (the miniature houses section). I felt as though there needed to be more of an emphasis during these sections that this was Pagan's beliefs and assumptions. Another point in the book that did not sit right with me was the wording and approach that Pagan took with Marty's mental health. It felt strange to read how delicate and purposeful the writing was during this whole book when it came to sexual assault and rape, but it seems to just steamroll over the complexities of Marty's mental health. I am hoping that since this book is set to be released in January 2025, there is time to take a look at these points in the book and make changes if the author sees fit to do so.

Fascinating and infuriating! Lots of great information and I learned a lot. The only reason i didn’t give it 5 stars was because the story jumped around a lot in a way that didn’t make much sense to me personally. Beautiful writing though. Highly recommend if you’d like to educate yourself while becoming enraged at all the injustices.

3.5/5 stars. The subject matter of 'The Secret History of the Rape Kit' was incredibly interesting - and important. Like many other innovations, the rape kit's invention is often credited to a man; however, it was really a woman who saw a problem and sought to fix it. And, once the rape kit was implemented, still other problems persisted leading subsequent trailblazers to seek out additional solutions like at-home rape kits.

While, again, the subject matter of this book was interesting, I thought the writing of this book lacked a clear trajectory. Kennedy makes it clear that her inspiration for this book was Marty Goddard, the true inventor of the rape kit, but only focuses in on Marty about 60% of the time. It seems that, towards the latter half of the book, once we move further along in history to subsequent rape kits and sexual assault victim advocacy, the book similarly moves away from Marty Goddard. While this made sense chronologically, Kennedy makes clear attempts to draw the reader back to Marty, which - in my opinion - missed its mark. The saving grace to this mild disorganization was that the book itself is rather short, allowing further disorganization to be avoided.

Overall, I did enjoy this book and was able to get through it fairly quickly, which is sometimes not the case with dense history/non-fiction books. I would recommend it to other readers who enjoy non-fictions, but would caution them that, because this is a rather niche section of history that is still riddled with challenges, the scope of this book is rather narrow. and can sometimes feel repetitive.

This book is a MUST read - it is not only the history of the rape kit, but also the history of women and treatment of said women in the mid 20th century. Being a Forensic Scientist I was very intrigued to read this from the forensic standpoint, but this book brought forth so much more.

The history of the rape kit was intriguing and informative. With a little mystery to keep it entertaining while detailing a very difficult subject. Marty Goddard created the rape kit in the early 1970’s and this takes a deep dive into where and how the kit got its start. A pioneer of her times, Marty was all go, go, go until she seemed to disappear. In the end, the mystery is solved. Thank you NetGalley for the advance copy.

Incredibly informative and devastating at the same time. Truly a painful but necessary read - I tore through it, feeling a relatable pang most other women will as they read

I found this to be so fascinating and informative and gives insight to something many people don't think twice about. The stories that led up to the rape kit invention is so sad and upsetting but it's reality, and I think it's something everyone, men and women, should learn and study

This is the story of an unsung heroine: Marty Goddard. It is likely that, until the reader has consumed this text (and it is compelling reading), this name will be unfamiliar. Considering Goddard's mission and accomplishments, her name should be commonly known; however, even her creation, the first rape kit, was named for another person, a male police officer, not Marty Goddard.

This book is one author's search into the illusive life of Marty Goddard, a woman who single-handedly pushed the first domino to set off a string of reactions, the beginning of great change for women and their right to respect on all levels. We read, though, how change for Marty, as for women in general, does not and did not move forward in great leaps and bounds.

In this novel, the author adds her own history as well as Marty's. She presents the history of respect for women, the evolution of the definition of rape, how accusations of rape were mishandled and ignored, the evolution of rape kits, and more. The novel moves up through time into the MeToo movement and beyond. The novel does not end with Marty's death, but, after it, as the author has been compelled to find and interview Marty's relatives and friends still living.

I teach a university course on the rhetorical strategies used to present serial killers to the public as icons of popular culture. While the course is not true crime, the content lends itself easily to the patterns and practices of actual serial killers--and to the profile created by the FBI's Behavioral Unit. This book adds insight and vital information into this profiling, filling in many gaps.

Marty Goddard is an unsung hero. Kennedy's book must be read! Do not miss it.

Wow. Very interesting book, especially reading it in the POV of a woman in today's age. It is heartbreaking to read about what women went through to get to the point that they're at now, for example being judged whether or not she asked for it before anything would be investigated. Absolutely heartbreaking. Very heartbreaking that a guy would take credit for the work of what a woman did.
Very poignant book with an interesting history.

This book is dutifully researched, incredibly well-written, and utterly unforgettable.

In this book, Kennedy delves into the history of the rape kit's invention and implementation in 1970's Chicago by Marty Goddard. Through intricate descriptions and lengthy research, Kennedy achieves a high standard of journalistic writing that celebrates both the tenacity and intrigue behind one woman's journey of changing the way sexual assault is handled in America.

Though Goddard's history often relies on threads of speculation by friends, family, and interviewers alike, the core legacy of her contribution to forensics remains, elevating her to a high status that she never achieved during her lifetime.

Though this book is often upsetting due to its unflinching depictions of negligence and ignorance that survivors suffered through, it offers a coherent history of the life and contribution of one woman who changed the course of forensics for the better.

Thank you to the publisher for this e-arc; this book will be published on January 14, 2025.

The subject matter of this book is really tough but I thought the author did a great job in writing about the history of forensics and the use of the rape kit for investigating sexual assaults. The writing was propulsive and I learned a lot. Thank you to the author and publisher for this advanced reader copy. 4 ⭐️

A fascinating look at an unfairly forgotten feminist hero, Marty Goddard, whose determination, grit, and empathy led her to develop the rape kit. Pagan Kennedy does an excellent job of bringing Marty to life.

Content warnings: extensive descriptions of sexual assault, including graphic recollections of the author's own trauma.

Fascinating and forgotten aspect of feminist history- I really enjoyed how Kennedy shared historical accounts of rape in the 70s and 80s and why Marty had to use a typical "male" name to get through doors that were otherwise shut for women. I also appreciated the exploration of race and rape/police violence (big sigh that things have barely changed). The historically rooted accounts were fascinating to read, however, Kennedy's exploration and own story kind of missed the mark for me. Because the history of the rape kit is not well known and wasn't well documented, I can see why Kennedy needed to include their own stories and adventure to track down Marty. I just feel that Kennedy's account took away a bit from the purpose of the novel. Kennedy's accounts made the novel read as a "let's find this person" rather than a "here's how we arrived at our present date rape kit". When I read the historical accounts, I was incredibly fascinated and engaged with the text, otherwise it fell short for me.

A fascinating study of the history of the rape kit.a extremely important investigative tool in rape investigations.A mix of a memoir and a scientific study I was fascinated by this story.#netgalley #knopf