Customer Reviews

Dissecting Death: Secrets of a Medical Examiner

5 star:		(5)
4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

Frederick Zugibe, M. D., is the former chief medical examiner of Rockland County, a position that he held for thirty-three years. In his book, "Dissecting Death," Zugibe chooses the most noteworthy cases of his career to illustrate how forensic pathologists help prosecutors bring the perpretrators of violent crime to justice. Forensic pathology, says Zugibe, "is as much the study of human ways and human life as it is the dissection of death."

Zugibe presents ten cases, each in a separate chapter. He gives the particulars of each case and demonstrates how he used scientific methods to identify the body and gather clues about who might have committed the murder. Zugibe points out that there is no clear cut and satisfactory solution to every crime. For instance, when a reporter named John Sullivan went missing in El Salvador, the reporter's family wanted nothing more than to identify their loved one's remains. Justice for this young man was never an option.

Using clear and simple language, the author explains how forensic pathologists determine the approximate time of death, why lividity in a corpse is significant, how the modern science of DNA testing has revolutionized our criminal justice system, and the ways in which forensic anthropologists gather crucial information by examining skeletal remains.

Be forewarned. "Dissecting Death" is a dark and, in many ways, depressing book, in which the author graphically describes the appearance and physical condition of decomposed bodies. He also delves into forensic psychiatry, since many of the perpetrators who commit heinous crimes suffer from mental disorders. There are black and white photographs in the center of the book that illustrate some of the points made in the text.

If you enjoy the television show, "CSI: Las Vegas," this book will fascinate you. When the author cracks a case using forensic entomology (the science that uses the knowledge of insects reproductive cycles, nesting habits, and eating patterns to solve homicides), I pictured Gil Grissom in his Las Vegas lab studying his collection of entomology texts and insect specimens. Although all of the CSI programs are fictional and make liberal use of dramatic license, "Dissecting Death" shows that the science on which the programs are based is indeed used every day in forensic laboratories across the country.

Zugibe's writing style is objective and matter-of-fact. For some reason, he uses the present tense when describing crimes that happened years ago, a technique that I found artifical and a bit jarring. Zugibe also adds an unnecessarily sensational postscript at the end of the book in which he offers his opinion on two of the most controversial cases in recent memory--those involving JonBenet Ramsey and O. J. Simpson. However, the author deserves credit for skillfully breaking down complex scientific information into easily digestible snippets, so that even laymen will come away from this book with some basic knowledge of how forensic pathology works.

"Dissecting Death" is not for the squeamish or faint of heart. It is a hard-hitting and uncompromising look at the evil that men and women do to one another and the increasingly sophisticated methods that scientists are using to make sure that justice is done.

Over the years, I have read a great many books on forensic science and this one is clearly one of the very best. The writing style is so engaging that the book is almost impossible to put down. The text is clear and flows by itself; any technical terms that are used are fully explained the first time that they are used; forensic science techniques and various processes, such as what happens to a body after death, are explained as the need arises, depending on the nature of the cases being discussed. Fortunately, each chapter presents a different case; this provides the reader with the opportunity to catch his/her breath and take a break before plunging into the next one. This book will be of great interest, not only to forensic science buffs, but also to anyone interested in thrilling crime stories. Highly recommended!

I read most of the chapter on my sister Joan's case. The author gave the case the right respect and I liked that there were subheadings so I knew what I was getting into. I was able to avoid reading the details of my sister's death. I was also very glad the author included the story of my mother's work to make changes in order to insure children would not get murdered like my sister. The writing was very good and he explained what she has accomplished in a really clear, interesting way that I was able to understand better what she has done. From what I looked at in the rest of the book, I could see that Dr. Zugibe's expertise and I realized that we were lucky he worked on my sister's case.

This is one of the better popular forensics books I've read. Zugibe doesn't display the egotism that you feel seeping into the recently published books of a number of other well-known medical examiners/coroners/forensics experts and that casts some doubt on their conclusions. You have a sense that Zugibe is allowing the facts to speak to him directly, without letting a screen of self-aggrandizement get between him and his subjects.

There are good sections analyzing bullet wounds. There is an interesting chapter summarizing the errors the investigators/prosecutors made in the O. J. Simpson case - errors that could rightfully have cast doubts in the jurors' minds about the validity of the evidence against O.J.

Then there is an interesting chapter refuting the factual basis of Mel Gibson's movie "The Passion of the Christ." I was just thinking how relatively level-headed and normal Zugibe was in comparison with some of the prima donnas in the field, when he revealed that he had studied crucifixion for fifty-two years, and so was well-qualified to pronounce on the accuracy of Gibson's movie. Fifty-two years studying crucifixion? That gave me pause. Nevertheless, the information he presents is telling. He says that from a medical point of view, Jesus could not humanly have remained alive, much less conscious, during the punishment he's shown receiving in this movie. Zugibe also found other inaccuracies, some of which are more common in movies about Jesus. For example, he says that Roman crucifixion never entailed having the victim drag his entire cross through the streets. The weight of the actual crosses would have made that impossible. Rather the Romans just had the victims shoulder one partial beam. I didn't expect to find this bonus of history in a book of forensic case studies.

Zugibe also has a few things to say about the Jon Benet Ramsey case that I hadn't read before. However this chapter shows again how much of forensics is still an inexact science. There can be as many interpretations of the evidence as there are forensic scientists. So while each analysis here is enlightening and adds to the picture, the main lesson you'll probably learn from this book is - you can't take any one scientist's opinion as gospel.

If you have any interest at all in forensic investigations, like to watch CSI, Foresnsic Files, Cold Case Files or Law and Order, this book is a MUST BUY. I literally could not put it down until I was finished! Easy read, ten case files that will have you riveted page after page. Ends with blunders in investigations.

As a homicide and forensic expert I thoroughly enjoyed reading Dr. Zugibe's Dissecting Death: Secrets of a Medical Examiner. I found it well-written and loaded with professional medicolegal axioms that illustrate the importance of continuing education and collaboration with fellow experts in the field of forensic investigation.

The sophisticated forensic enthusiast will be thrilled to have this book as their reference as they delve into the intricacies of the medicolegal mysteries presented in television programming such as CSI, Special Victims, Law and Order.

Dr. Zugibe combines his experiences and background of scientific analysis, medical practice and forensic pathology into a compelling book, which can only be described as an exemplar of professional medicolegal accomplishment.

Dr. Zugibe with his Ph. D. in scientific analysis coupled with his medical and forensic pathology experience has created an extremely informative work. The book provides the reader with an in-depth analysis of the many disciplines involved in the medicolegal investigation. The subject of the anatomy of decomposition is textbook as are the descriptions of wound patterns, and injuries, trace evidence and signature injuries.

For all those forensic and true crime junkies, Dr. Zugibe has created the literary "Fix."

I enjoyed this book. I havent decided if I want to keep it for the library, so that eliminates it as a contender for 5 Stars; but it satisfies all of my criteria for a good read. The subject is interesting, the writing is good and it holds your attention. Plus there is none of the implausible-improbable stuff nor any 'what in hell was THAT all about?" moments. Zugibe comes across as a yeoman medical examiner doing a consistently competent job.

Using eleven of his most challenging cases, Dr. Zugibe takes readers through the analytic process followed by good pathologists. He then concludes "Dissecting Death" with reflections on two major murder cases that did not result in conviction - Jon Benet Ramsey, and O.J. Simpson.

Zugibe also points out that until the early 1960's, most crime-solving bureaus in the U.S. worked under the old coroner system - staffed mainly by pharmacists, laymen, general practitioners, or even undertakers. Most of the high-tech equipment routinely used today had not yet been invented. Then major leaps were made in analyzing fingerprints, body fluids, tissues, and trace materials. My major "take-away" from "Dissecting Death" is that a competent pathologist is essential to good law enforcement, and that we are fortunate to have them.

As for the Jon Benet Ramsey case, the most important failing raised by Dr. Zugibe was the delay in allowing the medical examiner to enter the scene and examine the body. However, it is also doubtful that this would have made much, if any difference. The O.J. case, however, suffered from at least three major prosecutorial blunders: 1)Requesting that O.J. try the suspected murder glove on - despite the fact that moisture makes leather shrink and it was very unlikely to have fit. 2)Trying to educate the jury on DNA with too many details. 3)Failing to admit that there had been some evidence-handling errors and that there were problems with Fuhrman's racial beliefs - and then insisting that the key issue was the fact that DNA evidence was the key - it DOES NOT provide false positives!

This book is very interesting. I love Forensic Files and all shows on the Investigation Discovery channel. This book tells many stories and is full of fascinating details. It's like the TV shows because it starts with the background story and then introduces suspects. It gives details about cases, autopsies, and how many procedures/tests are done during the autopsy.

Amazing book from begin to finish. If you thought The Crucifixion of Jesus was a good book, you really gotta check this one out. Dr.Zugibe is in his prime here; and the cases presented make this book a must for any forensic professional or just lay people that can find the subject attractive. A page turner!