Reviews tagging 'Suicide'

Unnatural Causes by Richard Shepherd

14 reviews

bobinsbooknook's review against another edition

dark informative reflective medium-paced

4.5

 

This book is insightful and full of knowledge in a way that is easy to follow without downplaying the difficulties which naturally come with a job such as this. The fascinating cases kept me hooked and is not a book I will likely forget. 

I enjoyed hearing about the progression of pathology cases from his first autopsy as a resident, general pathologist and forensic pathologist and how they were impacted by technological advancements and  social pressures. The cases he has chosen to share were incredibly harrowing yet insightful and include some of the wider known unnatural deaths. 

Chapter 19 almost felt like a Sherlock investigation. Very interesting and methodical. Even though he must be very confident in his findings, he doesn’t come across as arrogant or self-serving when proving himself right to detectives.

The Marchioness disaster on the river Thames was so harrowing and this book provides a unique and valuable perspective into the challenges of identifying so many bodies and how the nature of the investigation of body count and informing loved ones comes into play. 

Throughout this book you can see Dr Shepherd show the vulnerability around his personal and professional concerns - 

the loss of his parents, miscarriages and PTSD diagnosis

- which really adds a level of humanity to a profession which seems very grim. 

Overall, would recommend to anyone who enjoys a strong medical memoir. 

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Child death and Suicide

Minor: Miscarriage, Death of parent, Child abuse, and Rape

lapuce1006's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional funny informative inspiring mysterious reflective fast-paced

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Cancer, Alcohol, Child abuse, Car accident, Suicidal thoughts, Medical content, Mass/school shootings, Gore, Child death, Death, Death of parent, Suicide attempt, Blood, Suicide, Self harm, Rape, Police brutality, Mental illness, Medical trauma, Grief, Dementia, Sexual content, Racism, Physical abuse, Panic attacks/disorders, Injury/Injury detail, Hate crime, Sexual violence, Sexual assault, Murder, Alcoholism, and Addiction

pageswithamber's review against another edition

emotional informative reflective sad medium-paced

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Mass/school shootings, and Medical content

Moderate: Violence and Physical abuse

Minor: Police brutality, Suicide, Alcoholism, and Suicidal thoughts

siobhanward's review against another edition

informative medium-paced

4.0

 This was a really interesting read and I loved the attention and care that was given to each case. Shepherd was also very open and honest about his experience with PTSD, including noting that it wasn't tied to a specific case, just to the experience of being a pathologist in general. I could have used a little less of his personal life, but I do get why it was included. This was a great read that really covered an interesting period in the UK's history through the lens of a forensic pathologist, which was definitely a unique perspective. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Murder, Suicide, Medical content, and Death

allara_emily's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional informative inspiring medium-paced

4.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child death, Gore, and Death

Moderate: Mental illness, Sexual assault, Chronic illness, Suicide, and Terminal illness

katiej's review against another edition

emotional informative sad fast-paced

4.5

Interesting and intriguing book. Learnt lots and enjoyed the stories. Some sad parts and very well known cases which really fascinated me 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death and Child death

Moderate: Suicide, Murder, and Injury/Injury detail

Minor: Car accident, Blood, and Body horror

emily_p1's review

dark informative mysterious medium-paced

3.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Child death, Death, Domestic abuse, Hate crime, Injury/Injury detail, Mass/school shootings, Medical content, Murder, Physical abuse, Racism, Sexual assault, and Sexual violence

Moderate: Cancer, Car accident, Death of parent, Drug use, Gore, Grief, Gun violence, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Rape, Self harm, and Suicide

Minor: Infertility, Miscarriage, Suicidal thoughts, and Mental illness

lhaigh's review against another edition

dark informative inspiring reflective fast-paced

5.0

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Murder and Suicide

Minor: Rape

jen_abrahall's review against another edition

dark funny reflective medium-paced

5.0

I absolutely loved this book, despite the ‘big book fear’ i absolutely loved this one. i perhaps have an unhealthy interest in true crime but this left me satisfied that i’d understood the complexities of the cases from a pathological perspective. Admittedly a little graphic at times but i fear without this the enormity of Dr Shepard’s work and career would be lost on the reader. thoroughly interesting and enjoyable.

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Addiction, Violence, Toxic relationship, Suicide attempt, Suicide, Sexual violence, Self harm, Police brutality, Physical abuse, Panic attacks/disorders, Murder, Mental illness, Medical trauma, Medical content, Mass/school shootings, Hate crime, Gun violence, Grief, Fire/Fire injury, Emotional abuse, Drug use, Domestic abuse, Death of parent, Death, Child death, Child abuse, Car accident, Cancer, Alcoholism, and Alcohol

Minor: Adult/minor relationship

ymer's review

challenging dark emotional informative reflective slow-paced

4.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Suicide, Sexual violence, Police brutality, Panic attacks/disorders, Murder, Medical content, Gun violence, Drug use, Drug abuse, Domestic abuse, Child death, and Blood

Moderate: Death of parent, Gore, Grief, Hate crime, Homophobia, Mass/school shootings, and Self harm