Customer Reviews

The Forensic Casebook: The Science of Crime Scene Investigation

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If you look at the March 2004 issue of the International Association of Bloodstain Pattern Analysts, you'll find a very negative review of this book. Given that the reviewer (Herbert Leon MacDonell, the Director of Laboratory of Forensic Science Bloodstain Institute of Corning, New York) and all members of IABPA actively work in the field of forensics, I'd take their word for it. Here's an excerpt from the review, which can be found on the web at http://www.iabpa.org/March2004News.pdf

"Many fine books have been written on the general subject of forensic science but this is not one of them. It only takes reading the first page for the reader to discover that this book is not going to be a source of accurate forensic information."

The reviewer goes on to say:

"...the frightening aspect is that lay persons who purchase such garbage are unaware of how inaccurate the things they are reading really are. It is unfortunate that there are publishers out there who will print a manuscript without having some form of peer review to determine whether there are a few minor errors or is it so bad like this book, that they should trash it."

This book has a lot of information. Outlines of procedures for securing a crime scene and collecting various types of forensic evidence. Detailed information about fingerprint evidence, gun forensic evidence, forensic photography, use of police dogs to collect evidence, and autopsy evidence. Forensic stories from a number of professionals in the field are presented. This book has some nice features- it gives a feel for what it is like to work as a professional in the field of forensics (the hours, the pay, what the work involves, and even some example employment listings for actual jobs). It also discusses getting started in the field and lists a number of degree programs around the country. I enjoyed the examples of forensic cases from popular TV shows and novels that were discussed.

I recently decided to begin pursuing and researching a career in Forensic Science. This book, more than any I came across, gave a very clear introduction to vast variety of fields of forensics, from Crime Scene Investigation, pathology, anthropology (and others) as well as the process and procedure of a crime investigation from first arrival on scene, to collection of evidence, to processing the evidence all the way through to presenting evidence and expert testimony in court.

There is enough case studies to enlighten and entertain, enough science to intrique, and enough details to interest. This is a tremendous introductory and honest book for anyone interested in pursuing a career in Forensics.

"The Forensic Casebook: The Science of Crime Scene Investigation," by Ngaire E. Genge, NY, Ballantine Books, 2002 ISBN 0-345-45203-8 (hc), 246 p., of text plus 58 p. for Appendices, Bibliography and Index. The author of some 10 (+/-) books on divers subjects as the X-Files, Buffy the Vampire, Urban Legends and the like, has developed a fluent writing skill together with ability to both explain and clarify technical matters in a lively manner without being wordy. The author obtained source input from 427 contributing individuals and also made direct contact with 30 policing agencies, public and private labs, and teaching facilities to be both current and accurate in the rapidly evolving science of forensics.

Using appropriate and at times incredible case studies, this raconteur provides a narrative-type casebook placing it apart from the usual cold or aloof and detached textbooks. There is a helpful contents table listing the 5 chapters covering the scene of the crime, and "working the scene" for evidence, body human, different stages (bombs, computers), and skills (animal and photographic). There are amusing anecdotes, references to TV, book, and movie plots and to some well-publicized crimes and criminals plus helpful illustrations. The bibliography is excellent and the book includes 2 helpful Appendicies listing (A) requirements, duties and salaries for the various specialists in forensics, and (B) a worthy listing of teaching institutions offering instruction in CSI.

The author's use (p. 98-101) of the term "splatter" (Ugh!) for blood stains departs from the accepted and conventional word "spatter" used in the U.S. would suggest possible Canadian influence or naivete. In DNA discussion the reference is made (p. 150) to C,T,A,G as "proteins" -- in reality these are purine or pyramidine bases found in nucleic acids. The discussion of National Geographic's manipulated photo of moving "one of the Great Pyramids a little closer to the other" (p. 217) is incorrect, as the change made involved altering a horizontal format into a vertical format to accomodate a cover photo (to keep the Nat.Geo. Editor happy) so an artificial elongation appeared in height of pyramids and camel (the Editor got bigtime Hell!). Errors are few and minor -- the book is a joy to read and has been admirably researched with good contributors.

I bought this book for my daughter. The idea was that she was really into forensics and wanted to learn more about the subject. Unfortunately, this book was so bad, she never finished it. I gave it to her as a research tool, and within a few weeks, she'd discovered so much from other sources that she started to doubt how informed this book was. She said it started out interesting, but as she learned more, the factual errors and inconsistencies drove her away from the book. She's still following forensics, but this book is not on her reading list.

This book was presented in a way that was easy to understand and was written in a very logical manner. If you, like myself, have little knowledge on how forensics are used in police work, then I think that this would be an excellent book for you. You get a basic overview filled with useful information and terrific case studies. It may be a little too 'elementary' for people who already have some knowledge of forensics, but, for me it was a very intriguing read.

I've had this book for quite a while, and had flipped through it a few times, but only recently actually read it straight through.
After reading it, I am not surprised to find that N.E. Genge's other writing credits include books about "Buffy the Vampire Slayer", "Charmed" and "The X-Files". The appendix containing information about the different universities and colleges offering programs in forensic science is, by far, the most informative aspect of the book.
The book itself is absolutely riddled with errors.
The obvious errors? For starters, there is no such thing as a "Ford Cougar". The Ford Motor Company has, in the past, manufactured a car known as the "Cougar", however, that was under the Mercury brand. Likewise, Genge confuses two major plane crashes, when she claims that "victims of TWA Flight 800's crash in the Everglades were identified" by the STR process of DNA analysis. I have no idea if those victims were (or weren't) identified by that process, but I DO know for CERTAIN that TWA Flight 800 crashed off of Long Island, New York, and NOT in the Everglades.
It is mind-boggling that a mistake like this could find its way into a published work.
Less obvious to those unfamiliar with forensic science are the errors that appear in other parts of the book.
Incorrect terminology is used in many instances; the most obvious being "blood splatter". The correct term is "spatter", and much of the information given about it is incorrect. The size of blood droplets has nothing to do with how fast the blood was traveling.
Genge fails to accurately explain the properties of a "cartridge", and confuses the term "jacket" with a casing (otherwise known as a "shell" or "brass") in the description. A cartridge is made up of a casing (brass), a slug (lead... or "jacketed with a harder metal to make it resist deformation, thus penetrating armor OR to simply reduce lead build-up in the barrel), gunpowder (propellant) and an impact-sensitive primer. The phrase "surrounding or partially surrounding a metal core" seems to have been lifted directly from a text describing a jacketed round, and then incorrectly applied to the components of a cartridge.
When discussing photographing cyano-fumed evidence for prints, Genge writes "in the print, building up a white substance that can be photographed directly if the object is white..." Huh? A white substance on a white object can be photographed?
Overall, the lack of information and sheer amount of factual errors make this book anything but a definitive "casebook" of forensic science.

I looked at the title and thought - Yes this looks great. Then I read the first sentence and came across "blood splatter". Not the correct terminology and an immediate let down. The correct "technical" term is "blood spatter".

This may seem a small matter to some, but it immediately made me dubious to the authenticity of the rest of the material, and whether more of the content portrayed incorrect technical information.

This book maybe a good read, but is not for someone who is looking for CORRECT procedure or technical insight.

This is a 'how to' book: how to secure a crime scene; how to collect fingerprints (and feet, lip, and ear prints); how to identify blood splatter patterns, etc. It's not quite detailed enough to be considered a text book, unless the teacher uses supplementary material, but it is packed full of real-life examples, which is why I read it.

This book is divided into five sections:

"The Scene of the Crime"--some crime scenes are impossible for the first responder to completely protect, e.g. the Alfred P. Murrah Building in Oklahoma City after it had been bombed. For one thing, people had to be rescued from the ruins. Some of the more interesting examples in this book involve the movement of evidence off of the scene, e.g. a bullet that passed through a victim and lodged in a passing bicycle.

I was also interested to discover that many states employ 'civilian' forensic technicians (it's cheaper than paying for another police officer). The swab-wielding cop is slowly fading from the American crime scene.

"Working the Scene: the Evidence"--One of the best prints from a nightmarish crime scene came from a Christmas chocolate. Evidently the murderer didn't like nuts and put the chocolate back into the box, along with a beautiful print of his thumb.

Criminals who stage crime scenes are often the easiest ones to catch. One man murdered three people, then dressed up in a gorilla costume and wrecked the house, just the way he imagined an enraged gorilla would have wrecked it, including a swing from the ceiling fan that ripped it to the floor.

At first, the ident officer, Patricia McGuire was puzzled by the print of a four-inch finger tip. After the murder scene was thoroughly analyzed, it became obvious to her forensic team that it had been staged. They checked with the local costume shop, found out who had recently rented a gorilla suit, and arrested him for murder.

"Working the Scene of the Body Human"-- One of the most surprising items in this section is how little DNA is still extracted and processed from crime scenes. Hopefully, as DNA becomes quicker and easier to process, it will become a major focus of a crime scene. One challenge of processing DNA from a crime scene is that it is so easy to contaminate the surroundings with the forensic team's DNA.

Forensic Odontology is another fascinating tool. Be sure to check out the anecdote of the perp who bit himself in an effort to mislead the police.

"Working the Scene: Different Stages"--A short section covering explosives and computers. Even as DNA can reveal a criminal's physical presence, so his computer can reveal the presence of his shoddy little mind, whether it be through pornographic photographs, bomb making instructions, or internet scams.

"Working the Scene: Different Skills"--Another short section which includes the contributions of K-9 units and forensic photographers. Digital photography has actually made a criminalist's job harder because of the ease by which digital photographs can be altered.

This book's numerous appendices delve into the qualifications needed, and types of jobs that are available to people who are interested in a career in forensics. "The Forensic Casebook" is a good overview for future criminal investigators, and could also be considered supplemental reading for TV 'true crime' fans (Hint: Columbo and the various CSI programs really take a beating for their sloppy investigative work).

This book presents a good overview of forensics but I do find myself hoping for something somewhat more comprehensive. While it offers a good introduction, those who are more sincerely fascinated with forensics will find themselves searching for some more grounded and in-depth explorations of forensics.