Every Contact Leaves a Trace : Scientific Detection in the Twentieth Century (Hardcover)

by Zakaria Erzinclioglu (Author)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description
For all those interested in the science of solving crimes, this spellbinding book si sure to inform and entertain in equal measures.

About the Author
Dr Zakaria Erzinclioglu is a leading forensic scientist who has carried out more than 500 murder investigations in Britain and abroad. A former Senior Research Associate at the University of Cambridge and Director of the Forensic Science Research Centre at the University of Durham, he is currently an Affiliated Researcher at the University of Cambridge and an Honorary Lecturer at the University of London. He was advisor, co-writer and presenter of the TV programme "The Witness Was a Fly", produced by BBC Bristol, and is the author of Maggots, Murder and Men. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 288 pages
• Publisher: Carlton Books LTD. (March 1, 2001)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1842221612
• ISBN-13: 978-1842221617
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 6 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 3.6 out of 5 stars See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #1,835,393 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Forensics, August 7, 2004

By	S. J Parker (Edmond, Ok) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

This review is from: Forensics: True Crime Scene Investigations (Hardcover)

Starting from the fundamental principle of forensics, that "every contact leaves a trace", this book presents a fascinating study of the techniques that we have all heard about in countless trials and on television dramas and crime reconstruction, but which until now have remained mysteries to the outsider. Chapters on poisons including alcohol and drugs, documents and handwriting, sudden death, fire, blood and other body fluids, identity, trace and contact evidence, ballistics, time of death, criminal psychology and the handling of forensic evidence present a complete picture of a science which involves much more than post-mortems.

Recent and earlier famous cases are covered in detail, including those in which Dr. Erzinqlioglu was himself an expert witness. If you've ever wondered how the pattern of blood splatters can yield so many clues, or why it is so difficult to establish exact time of death, you will find the answers here.

The author is a leading forensic scientist who carried out more than 500 murder investigations around the world.

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Scholarly Work, February 22, 2002

By A Customer

Over the years, I have read many books on forensic science. Some are popularizations aimed at the general public, some are textbook-like and aimed at professionals in the field while many others are aimed at various levels somewhere in between those two extremes. I would classify this book in the third category - just short of being a textbook (although I can see this book being recommended as supplementary reading in forensic science courses). The author discusses the basic principles of forensic science. He covers different techniques used in much of the field and offers his professional opinion on many cases that everyone is familiar with. The book has been written with a careful choice of words which is indicative of a careful scientist. Reading this book was both a great pleasure for me as well as a learning experience. It's a real page-turner that is difficult to put down and I strongly recommend it.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars What You Won't See On Television, July 21, 2001

By	Robb Walker (South Florida) - See all my reviews

The first time I saw this book was on a shelf in a bookstore. It piqued my curiosity and I ordered it. At first I was skeptical, thinking to myself another book that someone cooked up about the field of Forensics; an field known well by those who practice it as being full of myths, misinformations, and misconceptions. I can tell you that this is not the case with this text. Dr. Erzinclioglu has done an outstanding job with not limiting himself to addressing the usual hum-drum subject matter you find in police related publications, but taking it a step further into additional topics. My only complaint is that some of the examples he uses seem to be out of place or long-winded for what they needed to be, and that in some topics he does not devote enough time to them. Be that as it may, this is truly a unique book written from a unique perspective, a perspective of experience and academic savvy, not a formula commonly seen. This is more a publication for the professional, not for the layperson in my estimation. There is subject matter contained in the book that without real world experience probably would make little sense. I have enjoyed reading the book and re-reading many parts of it. Oh one more thing, for a hardback the price is very attractive too.