Skeletons in the Closet: Stories from the County Morgue [Hardcover]

Tobin T. Buhk (Author), Stephen D. Cohle (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: March 18, 2008

A mother calls 999 because her child, despite a foetal monitor, stopped breathing. She didn't know it, but the foetal monitor her doctor prescribed had a memory chip. Would the monitor's memory chip preserve evidence of a tragic accident or a murder? A young couple's marriage is crumbling, but they decide to take one last family trip. She will never return home. A pool of blood suggests she died from injuries caused by an accidental fall from a boat dock. So how did she wind up face down in the lake? For more than two decades, Dr. Stephen D Cohle has been solving vexing forensic mysteries as the medical examiner for Kent County, Michigan. As a whole, the cases he considers represent a cross-section of crime in mid-America, often committed by a macabre cast of characters: 'Jekyll and Hyde' alcoholics who turned homicidal; killers who resorted to the most bizarre methods in concealing their crimes; and the rarest species in the zoo of criminology, a two-woman team of serial killers. Based on his work with Dr Cohle, true-crime writer Tobin T Buhk recounts twenty-one riveting, real-life stories, each with a unique forensic twist. Offering a glimpse into strange sights, sounds, and smells of the county morgue, these tales of intrigue, deception, and murder will fascinate true-crime buffs, fans of CSI, and readers of mystery and detective stories.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"A good read for the C.S.I. and true-crime buff. High school and adult readers who are interested in forensic studies will be intrigued with these brutal cases. Overall, a good addition to the library on a topic that is very popular" --SWON (SouthWest Ohio and Neighboring) Libraries ROYAL Reviews, Jan. 12, 2009

About the Author

Tobin T. Buhk (Grand Rapids, MI) is a freelance writer and the coauthor (with Stephen D. Cohle, MD) of Cause of Death. In preparation for writing this book, he observed and assisted Dr. Cohle and his forensic team in more than thirty-five autopsies.

Stephen D. Cohle, MD (Grand Rapids, MI), a nationally recognized figure in the community of forensic medicine, is the chief medical examiner for Kent County, Michigan, and a forensic pathologist for Laboratory Pathologists, PC. He is the author (with Tobin T. Buhk) of Cause of Death and (with R. Byard) of Sudden Death in Infancy, Childhood, and Adolescence.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 408 pages
• Publisher: Prometheus Books (March 18, 2008)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1591026032
• ISBN-13: 978-1591026037
• Product Dimensions: 9.2 x 6.3 x 1.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.5 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #960,069 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Discover books, learn about writers, read author blogs, and more.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars An easy book to put down., December 28, 2008

By 

Sarah Williams (Ludington, MI) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Skeletons in the Closet: Stories from the County Morgue (Hardcover)

My uncle gave me this book because I have been to numerous autopsies and have had internships with various county forensics crews in SW Michigan. I was excited to read the book at first, but quickly became frustrated with the author's writing style. Each case appeared to be written as a stand alone section with only a little thought given to the fact that it would be part of a book. A lot of the terminology was repetitive; if he explained it once, he explained it three times. I think the thing that was most annoying was his repetition of the buzz words "macabre" and "red herring." A little variety would have been nice. I also felt related cases were stuck in just because he could or to show that "hey, I did research-here it is!" It broke up the flow of the reading and at times became confusing switching between the real case and the "bonus" cases.

The cases themselves were interesting. Especially for anyone that is familiar with Michigan. One incident actually took place less than a mile from my mom's house. The chapter entitled "Things ain't always what they seem" was great. It was quick, to the point and didn't stray from the case at hand. The addition of the color photo section in the middle was also a nice touch.

There are many good qualities about the book, but the writing style and use of the buzz words is the reason I'm only giving it 3 stars. If the flow had been better with less reptition, I would have scored it higher.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Puzzling forensic mysteries, June 8, 2008

By 

Midwest Book Review (Oregon, WI USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Skeletons in the Closet: Stories from the County Morgue (Hardcover)

Skeletons in the Closet: Stories from the County Morgue covers puzzling forensic mysteries culled from a range of co-author Stephen Cohle's cases as medical examiner for Kent County, Michigan: his accounts will appeal to a broad audience, from health and criminal justice studies college-level libraries to public lending libraries. Over twenty riveting, real-life stories offers a forensic mystery and twist, making for a striking collection.

3.0 out of 5 stars Who killed the Ice Woman, September 14, 2011

By 

Gary Wood - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Skeletons in the Closet: Stories from the County Morgue (Hardcover)

I read this book and "Who killed the Ice Woman" because it is about my ex-wife Kathy. I never knew the whole story until I read Skeletons in the Closet. I find that the author done his best to present the story to his fullest knowledge and I appreciate all he has done. I found it interesting and as others have said a bit reputitious, but I did enjoy it. My questions are Why has no more been done to put the sorry SOBs in prison for the death of my ex-wife and mother of our 5 children!! I seriously believe he new husband William had a lot more to do with her death, seeing how he owned the gun!! I would love to see a better investigation done by Unsolved Mysteries or Unsolved Murders or even Cold Case Files to find that the Police and DA done a LOUSY Job when making their deals, and letting all involved go damn near free.