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1.56k reviews for:
Holtak vallatója: Nagy-Britannia első számú törvényszéki kórboncnokának emlékei – avagy élet a halál közelében
Richard Shepherd
4.22 AVERAGE
1.56k reviews for:
Holtak vallatója: Nagy-Britannia első számú törvényszéki kórboncnokának emlékei – avagy élet a halál közelében
Richard Shepherd
4.22 AVERAGE
dark
emotional
informative
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
challenging
informative
reflective
medium-paced
I still have a couple nonfiction books on my list to read this year, and I'll be very surprised if any of them captures me as much as "Unnatural causes" did.
I went in expecting a series of mysteries, but this isn't a book about solving crimes: it's about a life spent serving the dead and the bereaved, and about the dignity and respecr every human deserves, no matter who they are or how their life comes to an end. It's also about the slippery meaning of the word "truth", in mortuaries and courtrooms, and in the evolving landscape of British public services, which hasn't always changed for the better.
Yes, some of the content could be classed as graphic. It isn't any more graphic than anything you've seen if you ever watched CSI, and because this isn't a TV drama, there's never a detail that feels exaggerated for shock value. I may be off base (not a medical student or professional), but can imagine a lecture delivered with the tone and level of detail in this book. Sensitivity and scientific curiosity shine through, making it a much more informative, even inspirational, read than any true crime I've read before.
"True crime" was helpful for this last comparison, but doesn't quite describe the book. Several cases brought Dr Shepherd to investigate the pathology of infant death, so you can expect a few chapters dedicated to this, although legal and social factors play as important a part in the events. There is one crime I'm sure could have pushed me to stop reading, and Shepherd does not spend more than a paragraph setting the context, sharing with readers his reluctance to give any more upsetting details.
Not every narrative is perfectly formed. The Stephen Lawrence case feels underdeveloped (with hints of Shepherd's involvement that don't get as fully detailed as his other encounters with knife crime), and some of the content on deaths in custody might have felt more progressive at a different time. Reading Joy Gardner's case today, my focus shifted from how safely the police could have operated, to the (lack of) humanity of the UK's policy of forced deportation as a whole.
All this to say that even the sections that convinced me less provided important cues to consider ethical questions. Another strength lies in the autobiographical narration, which blends professional and personal life very smoothly. Once the reader begins to get a sense of the demands the author's commitment to the deceased and bereaved places on him, it's just as easy to consider the toll it all takes on relationships and mental health. The mounting sense of pressure and dread will feel familiar even to people with jobs less demanding or steeped in proof of man's inhumanity, and so the author's internal struggle feels intensely relatable, even though Shepherd's line of work isn't one everyone would see themselves in, or like to think about.
"Unnatural Causes" is a perfect example of how books can transport you into a territory that couldn't be farther removed from your experience, and push you to find insights that broaden the way you see people and the world. For me, it was definitely this year's most rewarding read.
I went in expecting a series of mysteries, but this isn't a book about solving crimes: it's about a life spent serving the dead and the bereaved, and about the dignity and respecr every human deserves, no matter who they are or how their life comes to an end. It's also about the slippery meaning of the word "truth", in mortuaries and courtrooms, and in the evolving landscape of British public services, which hasn't always changed for the better.
Yes, some of the content could be classed as graphic. It isn't any more graphic than anything you've seen if you ever watched CSI, and because this isn't a TV drama, there's never a detail that feels exaggerated for shock value. I may be off base (not a medical student or professional), but can imagine a lecture delivered with the tone and level of detail in this book. Sensitivity and scientific curiosity shine through, making it a much more informative, even inspirational, read than any true crime I've read before.
"True crime" was helpful for this last comparison, but doesn't quite describe the book. Several cases brought Dr Shepherd to investigate the pathology of infant death, so you can expect a few chapters dedicated to this, although legal and social factors play as important a part in the events. There is one crime I'm sure could have pushed me to stop reading, and Shepherd does not spend more than a paragraph setting the context, sharing with readers his reluctance to give any more upsetting details.
Not every narrative is perfectly formed. The Stephen Lawrence case feels underdeveloped (with hints of Shepherd's involvement that don't get as fully detailed as his other encounters with knife crime), and some of the content on deaths in custody might have felt more progressive at a different time. Reading Joy Gardner's case today, my focus shifted from how safely the police could have operated, to the (lack of) humanity of the UK's policy of forced deportation as a whole.
All this to say that even the sections that convinced me less provided important cues to consider ethical questions. Another strength lies in the autobiographical narration, which blends professional and personal life very smoothly. Once the reader begins to get a sense of the demands the author's commitment to the deceased and bereaved places on him, it's just as easy to consider the toll it all takes on relationships and mental health. The mounting sense of pressure and dread will feel familiar even to people with jobs less demanding or steeped in proof of man's inhumanity, and so the author's internal struggle feels intensely relatable, even though Shepherd's line of work isn't one everyone would see themselves in, or like to think about.
"Unnatural Causes" is a perfect example of how books can transport you into a territory that couldn't be farther removed from your experience, and push you to find insights that broaden the way you see people and the world. For me, it was definitely this year's most rewarding read.
This gets very close to 4 stars for me, but ultimately it was just a bit too autobiographical to my liking for me to fully grant it the 4 stars. Not that I don't enjoy learning more about authors' lives, but it sometimes felt a bit like a chapter to "get through" in order to get to the next interesting pathology chapter.
Nevertheless, I really enjoyed this read and thought it was fascinating, very educational, and quite well-written, too.
Nevertheless, I really enjoyed this read and thought it was fascinating, very educational, and quite well-written, too.
challenging
dark
informative
medium-paced
dark
emotional
informative
medium-paced
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death, Death, Terminal illness
Moderate: Addiction, Alcoholism, Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Drug use, Gun violence, Panic attacks/disorders, Self harm, Sexual violence, Violence, Grief, Mass/school shootings
informative
mysterious
medium-paced
dark
emotional
informative
slow-paced
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death, Death, Blood, Medical content, Grief
Moderate: Child abuse, Drug abuse, Drug use, Genocide, Gore, Gun violence, Hate crime, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Sexual violence, Suicide, Police brutality, Mass/school shootings
Terrorism - content warning
A deep look into the life of a forensic pathologist. Gripping read if it is something that interests you
Enjoyed it, but I was expecting it to read more like Adam Kay's book (diary entries) rather than autobiographically
emotional
informative
reflective
slow-paced