A review by tildafin16
Unnatural Causes by Richard Shepherd

4.0

I was very gripped by this book from the second chapter in, but then I am fascinated by this kind of thing anyway. The descriptions of forensics pathology are very graphic, and Dr Shepherd has been present at most of the major disasters in the UK and some internationally over the past three decades. I was fascinated to learn about how the field is changing and becoming bureaucratised and privatised along with everything else at the moment. it’s such a shame that they have been pushed out of universities by the new research framework. How can that happen to such a profession? It was also useful to hear Dr Shepherd to talk about the long-term emotional impact of his work, and the complex PTSD he now lives with. The only things I didn’t enjoy so much about this book were the details of his marriage breakdown, which just didn’t feel (to me) like they needed to be there and felt a bit intrusive to me as a reader. I’m certain from the tone that Dr Shepherd had discussed all of this with his ex wife before publishing, it just didn’t feel like it fitted with the rest of the book to me. A minor thing though overall which didn’t spoil my enjoyment of this book (if enjoyment is quite the right word for the subject matter).