Hidden Evidence
Forty true crimes and how forensic science helped solve them
by David Owen
preface by Kathy Reichs
foreword by Thomas T. Noguchi, M.D.
Hidden Evidence takes you to the scenes of 40 infamous crimes and into the heart of the forensic investigations. These are the true crime shockers that have grabbed headlines and aroused public passions. David Owen explains the scientific procedures that helped crack every one of these cases -- from the gathering of elusive physical clues to the examination of weapons and bodies, to the use of sophisticated scientific analysis.
Threaded throughout the book is the history of forensic science and the technologies that support it, including:
fingerprinting / autopsies / handwriting analysis / ballistics / hair sampling / blood typing / DNA testing / dental records / gas chromatography / mass spectrometry / compound and electron microscopes / toxicology
The high-profile cases David Owen used to illustrate forensic developments are from as early as 1775, when Paul Revere used dentures to identify a slain soldier, to the latest developments in the Oklahoma bombing. Most will be familiar to readers, such as:
The Lindbergh Kidnapping / Pan Am Flight 103 / The Kennedy Investigation / The Hitler Diaries / Wayne Williams / Ted Bundy / Jeffrey MacDonald / Dr. Josef Mengele / Robert Maxwell's suicide / Tsar Nicholas II / The World Trade Center bombing
David Owen presents the facts, steering clear of speculation. Comprehensive in scope, thoroughly researched and expertly compiled, Hidden Evidence is, in the words of former Los Angeles County Coroner Thomas T. Noguchi, "a fascinating book... [and] an excellent mini-encyclopedia of widely discussed, high-profile cases."
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Silent Witness
How Forensic Anthropology is Used to Solve the World's Toughest Crimes
by Roxana Ferllini
foreword and case study by Dr. Cyril Wecht
Bones have an uncanny knack of holding important clues as to the fate of the individuals to whom they belonged.
As portrayed in mystery novels and more than nine television shows including CSI: Crime Scene Investigation, American Justice and City Confidential, forensic anthropologists work in an environment where the stakes are high, the pressure is intense, and their findings are vital in criminal investigations. It's a fascinating and often dramatic world.
Go behind the scenes with forensic anthropologists and learn about their techniques, how they locate a body, how they carefully uncover evidence, and how the unique characteristics of each body bears silent witness to age, sex, cause of death and clues as to who or what was responsible.
With 29 real-life case studies and more than 350 color photographs and illustrations, Silent Witness is a fascinating read for anyone interested in the world of forensics.
