Scan barcode
Reviews tagging 'Violence'
Lay Them to Rest: On the Road with the Cold Case Investigators Who Identify the Nameless by Laurah Norton
8 reviews
schwelo's review
adventurous
dark
emotional
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
4.5
An insightful exploration of true crime, science and ethics in the story of how a long term unidentified person was given back their identity.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death and Violence
apersonfromflorida's review
dark
emotional
informative
medium-paced
4.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Murder, and Violence
Moderate: Racism, Body horror, and Misogyny
Minor: Abandonment and Transphobia
jhbandcats's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
informative
mysterious
reflective
sad
medium-paced
3.25
This should probably have been marketed as a memoir of a crime researcher than as straight true crime. The great potential of this book was unrealized due to the inclusion of unrelated tidbits about the author’s life - things that had nothing to do with the investigation. Photos of the author and other investigators goofing around, decisions on what kind of toy to buy the author’s son, discussions of vegan vs keto diets. It was a big distraction. Yes, it’s important to see how the author is a part of the process but not to this extent. There were a lot of photos I’d like to have seen. The dog picture was not one of them, no matter how cute he was.
I found the sections about the case more interesting than those about the method, though I can see why the latter were included. (I *did* like the DNA / genealogy section, though.) The author does a good job showing the tedium of wading through the bureaucratic morass between multiple law enforcement agencies and research groups.
It was fascinating that the researchers (of data and of science) were able to identify a 30-year-old severed head from almost no information. The process was so complex. I commend them for following it to a conclusion.
I found the sections about the case more interesting than those about the method, though I can see why the latter were included. (I *did* like the DNA / genealogy section, though.) The author does a good job showing the tedium of wading through the bureaucratic morass between multiple law enforcement agencies and research groups.
It was fascinating that the researchers (of data and of science) were able to identify a 30-year-old severed head from almost no information. The process was so complex. I commend them for following it to a conclusion.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Murder, Death, Gore, Violence, Classism, Racism, Abandonment, Medical trauma, and Grief
annajoyreed93's review
dark
informative
reflective
sad
slow-paced
3.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Murder, and Violence
clarabooksit's review against another edition
dark
informative
medium-paced
3.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death
Moderate: Violence, Kidnapping, Murder, Transphobia, Sexism, and Racism
Minor: Body horror
ninjamuse's review
informative
medium-paced
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Murder
Moderate: Violence and Misogyny
Minor: Transphobia and Abandonment
anarmandameg's review
dark
emotional
informative
mysterious
sad
slow-paced
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Medical content, Murder, Violence, Grief, and Death
rosemaryandrue's review
dark
informative
mysterious
medium-paced
4.0
True crime podcast host Laurah and forensic anthropologist Dr. Amy work to uncover the identity of the Ina County Jane Doe, who has been unidentified since her partial remains were found in 1993.
Though I enjoy the true crime genre, I generally avoid stories which don’t have conclusive endings – I’ve always found mysteries frustrating. Unfortunately, there are many unsolved cold cases in the United States, and the coldest of the cold are often those in which the victim is unidentified, which makes them even harder to investigate.
In this book Norton discusses the history and use of various techniques used in forensic science to solve crimes, showing how they are applied in the eventually successful investigation to uncover Ina Jane Doe’s identity. It’s a particularly effective way to illustrate often complicated science to the reader in an easy-to-grasp manner. Norton’s passion about the case comes across clearly, and I enjoyed her sometimes humorous, always interesting descriptions of the places the investigation takes her and the people she works with.
I did find myself in the weeds at some points regarding the science though, no matter how Norton tried to explain it, and I wondered if some of those sections were overly technical. There’s also some discussion of other unidentified decedents that she and Dr. Amy looked into that we don’t get later updates on, for example not mentioning the results of testing conducted that occurs on page, and without an explanation for the omissions I found myself frustrated.
To read more about Susan Hope Lund, the former Ina County Jane Doe, click here.
Disclaimer: I received an ARC of this book from NetGalley. This is my honest and voluntary review.
Though I enjoy the true crime genre, I generally avoid stories which don’t have conclusive endings – I’ve always found mysteries frustrating. Unfortunately, there are many unsolved cold cases in the United States, and the coldest of the cold are often those in which the victim is unidentified, which makes them even harder to investigate.
In this book Norton discusses the history and use of various techniques used in forensic science to solve crimes, showing how they are applied in the eventually successful investigation to uncover Ina Jane Doe’s identity. It’s a particularly effective way to illustrate often complicated science to the reader in an easy-to-grasp manner. Norton’s passion about the case comes across clearly, and I enjoyed her sometimes humorous, always interesting descriptions of the places the investigation takes her and the people she works with.
I did find myself in the weeds at some points regarding the science though, no matter how Norton tried to explain it, and I wondered if some of those sections were overly technical. There’s also some discussion of other unidentified decedents that she and Dr. Amy looked into that we don’t get later updates on, for example not mentioning the results of testing conducted that occurs on page, and without an explanation for the omissions I found myself frustrated.
To read more about Susan Hope Lund, the former Ina County Jane Doe, click here.
Disclaimer: I received an ARC of this book from NetGalley. This is my honest and voluntary review.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Injury/Injury detail, Murder, and Violence
More...