Customer Reviews

Howdunit Forensics

5 star:		(8)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
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The Howdunit Forensics book covers everything from DNA testing, to forgery, to asphyxia, and it covers it thoroughly.
For testing methods (i.e. paternity, DNA, etc.), the book will give you procedures, uses, how long they take, what kind of materials can be used to carry out the tests, the shortcomings of each test, and more.
For murder situations such as asphyxia and gunshot wounds, "Forensics" covers different types of strangulation and goes into how investigators can tell them apart. It's very specific, very informative, but not so informative that the reference feels like a textbook. There were times when I looked up a couple of things on the internet to supplement the information in the book, but it's a reference book, and in that regard, it does its job extremely well. And it definitely makes research a lot easier.
I really don't have anything to complain about with the book. Great for writers, easy to read/understand, just an all around good reference book.

Have you ever read a book, and you know a certain detail is wrong? It can bring the entire story to a quick stop. You may even feel the author has violated that covenant between writer and reader.

DP Lyle has provided a wonderful assest to writers. His book helps a writer get it right. Those pesky forensics details that can bring a story up short are presented herein. No longer do writers have to worry about the process of preparing DNA or what blood splatter should look like from a certain distance.

Even moreso, the book is fascinating to read. It provides just enough of the science for anyone to understand without going so deep a lay person gets lost. This book should be on the bookshelf of every mystery/thriller writer. And if you have a child who has an interest in science, this book can only increase their interest in science.

I've been writing and publishing mysteries for over ten years, and this is one of the best reference books I've come across. The index is clear and the book easy to manuver around - I read it cover to cover and now it sits by my computer for easy access. Love it!

"Howdunit: Forensics" is a basic course in forensics. Though the subtitle says it's a guide for writers, there's a lot more information in it than an author could use in a novel without bogging the action down (though I do highly recommend they read this!). It's actually a book for anyone interested in learning the basics of forensics. It doesn't say things like, "In your novel, you could do this..." but simply gives real life examples of how everything works or how real criminals act.

The book was well-written and interesting. I never had a problem following what the author was explaining even though it did get technical at times. A wide range of topics were covered with enough depth that most people would learn all they cared to know. Brief, real case files or made-up examples were used to demonstrate how a certain technique is used to reconstruct the crime scene or help identify a criminal. The book covered murders, but also theft, arson, and forgery. It talked about determining if a death was from natural causes, accident, suicide, or homicide. The author also gave a little history about how various techniques were developed and improved over the decades.

Overall, I'd highly recommend this book to anyone who wants to know more about forensics.


Topics covered: Medical examiners versus coroners; gathering evidence; the steps involved in an autopsy and what can be discovered; how to discover the identity of a dead body; determining the time of death; determining how the victim died; identifying what caused the wounds; what to look for in suffocation cases (including hanging and strangling); using blood and bodily fluids to help identify the criminal; using DNA to identify the criminal; how to identify when toxic substances (including drug overdose and poisons) caused death; fingerprints; using bloodstains to reconstruct the sequence of a crime; finding, preserving, and using impressions (of shoes, tires, tools, and fabric); finding and using trace evidence (hairs, fur, etc.); identifying the gun type and specific gun used in a crime from bullets, etc.; arson investigation; handwriting and forgery examination; and profiling. The appendix contained more information about the various tools used in forensics.

I'm primarily a sci-fi writer, but I love incorporating elements of other genres into my stories to make them more believable and entertaining. If you are writing about any type of murder investigation or crime scene, you would benefit from this book. It's very concise and straightforward as a reference, but it's also interesting just to sit down and read. I highly recommend it.

This book has greatly exceeded the expectations as a reference guide for my writing adventures. It is very detailed, organized and well thought out. It is very detailed and not for the faint of heart... so if in depth details about an autopsy or evidence collection is too much for you, you shouldn't read this.

I also place this book beyond a wrtiers guide. Though this is not a "textbook" by any means, this is great for anyone interested in a possible career in forensics as this would be a good way to learn about some generalized topics.

A great resource to have on your bookshelf, it is full of practical information that will help with writing mysteries. It is very easy to read and I am glad I have it when I need some forensic info. Great book.

I have been looking for books about Forensic Science, and this book brings the material down to a level that can be understood by all.

The way the material is presented is done very well. It's organized in a manner that makes it a big advantage over the other books I've read on this subject. Presented in a manner that makes it interesting, this book lies nearby for reference as well. Recommend.