Take a photo of a barcode or cover
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
I am a big fan of a NCIS, NCIS is the naval crime investigative service and on the fictional tv show they oddly enough investigate murders. Ducky is the forensic pathologist, he works in the mortuary and establishes the often odd causes of death, in the show Ducky often has conversations with the deceased, and treats them with the upmost respect. I get the impression Dr Richard Shepherd (not to be confused with Dr Derek Shepherd, he from Grey’s Anatomy, a tv show to watch if you enjoy crying and watching all your favourite characters invariably suffer catastrophe or death) may well be a real life ducky although with slightly more marital problems.
Unnatural Causes is essentially a memoir of a forensic pathologist, one who has been involved in quite a few cases you will likely have heard of (hi Princess Diana, side note: apparently not a conspiracy, I’m still blaming Charles though, because he’s such a frickin bellend, and also all of France). It is a compelling read, and also really very interesting. It is for the most part about death, but not is a morbid sort of a way, Shepard manages to convey the greatest of horrors without dragging you down into a pit of despair. It is also conveys the respect he has for every person who he autopsies, in that respect it is quite comforting, that you can be treated with warmth even after you’ve long gone cold.
With such a career and dealing with aftermath of massacres, terrorism, and serial killers there is as you’d imagine a price to pay, and Dr Shepherd goes into some detail regarding the PTSD he developed late on his career and also the toll on his marriage from trying to remain unemotional in the face of the sadness and tragedy encountered through his line of work, not to mention the unequivocal horror that humans wreak on others.
A range of topics are covered, more than you might think. It’s not just a here’s my top interesting deaths. He goes into how prisoners are restrained and why this can be so dangerous (something we know all too well from America of late, but it’s more than common in the UK too). There’s the legal side, the way Defense consul attempt to manipulate autopsy reports to their own advantage, also the legalities involved in SIDS (sudden infant death syndrome) it is often extremely difficult to determine why the littlest of humans die, for a time SIDS was used as a catch all, then Louise Woodward came along and it was all the shaken babies, and then the tragedy of Sally Clarke who had two children die both determined as SIDS and a very poor statistician decided the odds this was 1 in 73 million (he is not good at sums) so they imprisoned her and eventually they realised she actually wasn’t to blame but by that stage she was too sad to continue with life.
It’s full of interesting trivia too, strangulation doesn’t necessarily mean someone asphyxiated, infact they dont really know exactly what it is that caused death in the case of strangulation. You can think you’re too warm in the late stages of hypothermia. You can die from bruises, but there needs to be a lot. Women tend to stab people, not all women mind, but if you’re going to murder someone and you’re a female you’re probably going to stab them. Knifes are handy and obviously we are always in the kitchen. The police dont always listen to science or reason (which is of no real surprise, often times I share the opinions of NWA re the Po Po) and humans are often fairly terrible to each other.
It says a lot for this book that he’s able to write about the murder of Samantha Bissett (I wouldn’t recommend googling that one) in such a way that he could so very easily conveyed what happened in a gratuitous violent way but instead he sciences it and shields the reader from the details that would be particularly tough to read, and also in a way it’s as though he is showing Ms Bissett the upmost respect too, people can be turned into the victims someone makes of them but he never does that here, with Samantha or any of those he has post mortem’d.
For those of you who love true crime, I know there is quite the trend for dramatisations of real life murders etc, or for those like me who enjoy the slightly less gruesome NCIS (I cant watch the true life things, I live on my own, I get serious heebie jeebies) then this book will have a lot to merit your time. And your time will be monopolised by it for it is one of those rare books that is a struggle to put down.
Unnatural Causes is essentially a memoir of a forensic pathologist, one who has been involved in quite a few cases you will likely have heard of (hi Princess Diana, side note: apparently not a conspiracy, I’m still blaming Charles though, because he’s such a frickin bellend, and also all of France). It is a compelling read, and also really very interesting. It is for the most part about death, but not is a morbid sort of a way, Shepard manages to convey the greatest of horrors without dragging you down into a pit of despair. It is also conveys the respect he has for every person who he autopsies, in that respect it is quite comforting, that you can be treated with warmth even after you’ve long gone cold.
With such a career and dealing with aftermath of massacres, terrorism, and serial killers there is as you’d imagine a price to pay, and Dr Shepherd goes into some detail regarding the PTSD he developed late on his career and also the toll on his marriage from trying to remain unemotional in the face of the sadness and tragedy encountered through his line of work, not to mention the unequivocal horror that humans wreak on others.
A range of topics are covered, more than you might think. It’s not just a here’s my top interesting deaths. He goes into how prisoners are restrained and why this can be so dangerous (something we know all too well from America of late, but it’s more than common in the UK too). There’s the legal side, the way Defense consul attempt to manipulate autopsy reports to their own advantage, also the legalities involved in SIDS (sudden infant death syndrome) it is often extremely difficult to determine why the littlest of humans die, for a time SIDS was used as a catch all, then Louise Woodward came along and it was all the shaken babies, and then the tragedy of Sally Clarke who had two children die both determined as SIDS and a very poor statistician decided the odds this was 1 in 73 million (he is not good at sums) so they imprisoned her and eventually they realised she actually wasn’t to blame but by that stage she was too sad to continue with life.
It’s full of interesting trivia too, strangulation doesn’t necessarily mean someone asphyxiated, infact they dont really know exactly what it is that caused death in the case of strangulation. You can think you’re too warm in the late stages of hypothermia. You can die from bruises, but there needs to be a lot. Women tend to stab people, not all women mind, but if you’re going to murder someone and you’re a female you’re probably going to stab them. Knifes are handy and obviously we are always in the kitchen. The police dont always listen to science or reason (which is of no real surprise, often times I share the opinions of NWA re the Po Po) and humans are often fairly terrible to each other.
It says a lot for this book that he’s able to write about the murder of Samantha Bissett (I wouldn’t recommend googling that one) in such a way that he could so very easily conveyed what happened in a gratuitous violent way but instead he sciences it and shields the reader from the details that would be particularly tough to read, and also in a way it’s as though he is showing Ms Bissett the upmost respect too, people can be turned into the victims someone makes of them but he never does that here, with Samantha or any of those he has post mortem’d.
For those of you who love true crime, I know there is quite the trend for dramatisations of real life murders etc, or for those like me who enjoy the slightly less gruesome NCIS (I cant watch the true life things, I live on my own, I get serious heebie jeebies) then this book will have a lot to merit your time. And your time will be monopolised by it for it is one of those rare books that is a struggle to put down.
informative
reflective
medium-paced
challenging
emotional
informative
fast-paced
I stumbled upon this book by chance - I was flicking through the audiobook catalogue from my local library when I saw this title and tapped on it. It sounded interesting, so I looked it up on Goodreads. And it had good reviews, so I requested it.
When I first started listening to it, I was fascinated by the narration, the intimate details, the feeling that this was more a memoir than a book on forensic pathology. And it is. And it isn't.
The writing is sound, the way it's been structured works very well and the cases he covers are all interesting in different ways. From this book I've learned many things, such how sometimes marriages die over the span of 30 years, or how the truth is sometimes a lot harder to identify than we may think. It touches upon a wide range of topics such as governmental response in a crisis, academia and politics, court, parenthood, trends in medical diagnosis, medicine in general, PTSD and the different ways in which a body - slowly - dies, and the variables that interact with that process.
It was all in all an excellent book, and an interesting surprise.
When I first started listening to it, I was fascinated by the narration, the intimate details, the feeling that this was more a memoir than a book on forensic pathology. And it is. And it isn't.
The writing is sound, the way it's been structured works very well and the cases he covers are all interesting in different ways. From this book I've learned many things, such how sometimes marriages die over the span of 30 years, or how the truth is sometimes a lot harder to identify than we may think. It touches upon a wide range of topics such as governmental response in a crisis, academia and politics, court, parenthood, trends in medical diagnosis, medicine in general, PTSD and the different ways in which a body - slowly - dies, and the variables that interact with that process.
It was all in all an excellent book, and an interesting surprise.
4.5 Stars
Before anything else, there should be some trigger warnings. It describes murders involving sexual assaults, obviously description of graphic scenes, etc.
This book was such an interesting read that talked from a mass massacres all the way to how Policing and Health & Safety completely changed in the 90s. It's not an easy read - the cases brought up aren't flowers and rainbows, but it is so incredibly interesting to read.
If you're into those kind of books where they interview sociopaths, murderers etc, or just crime documentaries; you'll definitely enjoy this book.
Before anything else, there should be some trigger warnings. It describes murders involving sexual assaults, obviously description of graphic scenes, etc.
This book was such an interesting read that talked from a mass massacres all the way to how Policing and Health & Safety completely changed in the 90s. It's not an easy read - the cases brought up aren't flowers and rainbows, but it is so incredibly interesting to read.
If you're into those kind of books where they interview sociopaths, murderers etc, or just crime documentaries; you'll definitely enjoy this book.
informative
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
Anledningen att jag plockade upp den här boken är att jag någonstans i bakhuvudet hade en bild av alla rättsläkare som figurerat i deckarserier och var nyfiken på hur yrket och yrkesutövarna ser ut i verkligheten. (Kanske inte helt oväntat, men helt normalt folk generellt). Boken i sig var rätt spännande eftersom den å ena sidan täckte yrkets utveckling över tid, men det var också en slags överblick i nutidshistoria i katastrofer och dödsfall (börjar med Hungerford och slutar med Prinsessan Diana).
Personligen var jag beredd på att avsluta boken om den visade sig vara för magstark för mig när det gäller gore, men det är den inte. Texten känns väldigt klinisk. (Förutom när han "mördade" söndagsstekar eller testade knivhuggningshypoteser på kuddar).
Personligen var jag beredd på att avsluta boken om den visade sig vara för magstark för mig när det gäller gore, men det är den inte. Texten känns väldigt klinisk. (Förutom när han "mördade" söndagsstekar eller testade knivhuggningshypoteser på kuddar).
slow-paced
I couldn’t stop reading, this was so good and so interesting! It is written really well. The cases read like a thriller and he had so many interesting reflections throughout the book about his job, the way forensic pathology changes over the years of his practicing and how his view on it changes. He also reflects really well on his relationships, with his wife and children and the most important one for him: his job. What does it do to someone to have such a direct contact with death every day? Can you keep emotional distance from your work and emotionally invested in you family?
I loved every second of this book!
I loved every second of this book!
I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
When I saw this on Netgalley, I was intrigued. I was already reading a book on the concept of death and what comes after for bodies ([b:Stiff: The Curious Lives of Human Cadavers|32145|Stiff The Curious Lives of Human Cadavers|Mary Roach|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1347656489s/32145.jpg|1188203]) so I was fascinated to read about the work of a pathologist in a world that still feels very inaccessible to the general public. The book encompasses many famous cases that Richard Shepherd has been directly involved with during what could be called the ‘golden age’ of pathology, as well as examining the personal troubles pathologists may face in the course of their career.
My first thought while reading was just how ‘human’ Richard Shepherd came across in his writing. He treats his patients with obvious care, and has a great passion for the profession and with passing that knowledge on. It was lovely to read about an individual who actively seeks to improve their profession, not only for their own benefit, but for the greater good. His writing certainly made the concept of post mortem more acceptable and less ‘scary’ or morbid.
I found the content itself rather mixed. I think this is a result of the fact it was written over a long period of time, and is full of information, but unfortunately not all of it is that compelling. I loved the chapters based around his work and cases, which ranged from mass disasters like the Marchioness sinking to famous cases such as the Stephen Lawrence murder and Princess Diana. These cases are often described quite clinically, with a detached scientific approach, of how the autopsies are carried out and the processes and agencies involved. It’s empathetic and to the point but without getting too personal. The earlier sections also include some almost ‘Sherlock Holmes’ style deductions to cases that helped determine what happened to the deceased, which I really enjoyed. However, these become less frequent as the book progresses due to the changing nature of pathology as a profession and the introduction of DNA evidence.
There are also some truly heartbreaking chapters dedicated to the difficult, and often controversial, subject of child autopsies. The subject is dealt with delicately, with a range of cases explored, while still managing to convey the emotional difficulties encountered by all involved.
I would say that the book does tend to jump from case to case quite rapidly, sometimes disrupting the overall flow of the book. As it progresses these examples of cases also become less frequent, which was a shame as I found them so interesting. However, the latter half is compelling on a more personal level, as we see the harsher realities of experiencing so much death, as well as the often unnerving cross examinations in court which can lead to self doubt and PTSD. I personally would have preferred less focus on the author’s private life as I was less interested in it, however it does make him feel more approachable.
A thoughtful insight into a closeted world that’s told with obvious passion and extensive knowledge of the subject.
When I saw this on Netgalley, I was intrigued. I was already reading a book on the concept of death and what comes after for bodies ([b:Stiff: The Curious Lives of Human Cadavers|32145|Stiff The Curious Lives of Human Cadavers|Mary Roach|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1347656489s/32145.jpg|1188203]) so I was fascinated to read about the work of a pathologist in a world that still feels very inaccessible to the general public. The book encompasses many famous cases that Richard Shepherd has been directly involved with during what could be called the ‘golden age’ of pathology, as well as examining the personal troubles pathologists may face in the course of their career.
My first thought while reading was just how ‘human’ Richard Shepherd came across in his writing. He treats his patients with obvious care, and has a great passion for the profession and with passing that knowledge on. It was lovely to read about an individual who actively seeks to improve their profession, not only for their own benefit, but for the greater good. His writing certainly made the concept of post mortem more acceptable and less ‘scary’ or morbid.
I found the content itself rather mixed. I think this is a result of the fact it was written over a long period of time, and is full of information, but unfortunately not all of it is that compelling. I loved the chapters based around his work and cases, which ranged from mass disasters like the Marchioness sinking to famous cases such as the Stephen Lawrence murder and Princess Diana. These cases are often described quite clinically, with a detached scientific approach, of how the autopsies are carried out and the processes and agencies involved. It’s empathetic and to the point but without getting too personal. The earlier sections also include some almost ‘Sherlock Holmes’ style deductions to cases that helped determine what happened to the deceased, which I really enjoyed. However, these become less frequent as the book progresses due to the changing nature of pathology as a profession and the introduction of DNA evidence.
There are also some truly heartbreaking chapters dedicated to the difficult, and often controversial, subject of child autopsies. The subject is dealt with delicately, with a range of cases explored, while still managing to convey the emotional difficulties encountered by all involved.
I would say that the book does tend to jump from case to case quite rapidly, sometimes disrupting the overall flow of the book. As it progresses these examples of cases also become less frequent, which was a shame as I found them so interesting. However, the latter half is compelling on a more personal level, as we see the harsher realities of experiencing so much death, as well as the often unnerving cross examinations in court which can lead to self doubt and PTSD. I personally would have preferred less focus on the author’s private life as I was less interested in it, however it does make him feel more approachable.
A thoughtful insight into a closeted world that’s told with obvious passion and extensive knowledge of the subject.