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A review by helenephoebe
How to Solve a Murder: True Stories from a Life in Forensic Medicine by Pauline Tremain, Derek Tremain
3.0
A very interesting exploration of the development of forensic medicine through the careers of a couple who met through work and continue to work in forensics today. From a head in a bucket and a vat of acid to the modern forensic imaging and graphic design, through some famous cases and some obscure ones, this is a fascinating look at a field constantly developing.
Some of the scientific and forensic terminology went over my head so I don't think I got as much from the book as I potentially could have done, but it was intriguing how much things seem to have changed in a short space of time and how even something tiny can turn out to have such a huge impact.
It feels a little disjointed in places, jumping from story to story, but I guess it is more like a collection of short stories connected by the authors and their lives, so it didn't bother me too much. The ending was also a disappointment as it didn't end on anything about forensics, which is what the book is about, but on the achievements of their children. That could have been left out, as it didn't add anything and, in fact, detracted from what had been quite interesting.
Some of the scientific and forensic terminology went over my head so I don't think I got as much from the book as I potentially could have done, but it was intriguing how much things seem to have changed in a short space of time and how even something tiny can turn out to have such a huge impact.
It feels a little disjointed in places, jumping from story to story, but I guess it is more like a collection of short stories connected by the authors and their lives, so it didn't bother me too much. The ending was also a disappointment as it didn't end on anything about forensics, which is what the book is about, but on the achievements of their children. That could have been left out, as it didn't add anything and, in fact, detracted from what had been quite interesting.