A review by azzies_bookshelf
Unnatural Causes by Richard Shepherd

5.0

brilliantly written book which is part personal biography and part professional memoirs. Forensic sciences have always intrigued me, although pathology of any kind has never been a profession I took much notice of beyond watching CSI. Dr. Shepherd has been involved with cases ranging from mundane ilness to devastating terrorism, and they are fascinating to read about. He writes about them in an informative way, explaining the post-mortem process in detail, expanding on definitions which really help to understand medical and scientific terms you often hear without knowing what they mean. Although he goes into great detail about many cases, he also treats them with a sensitivity that is respectful of the victim and their families (names have been changed in all but the most notorious and well-known cases). He is honest about his personal flaws and the emotional distance which caused difficulties in his private life, and the crossover between home and work. An informative and interesting read that explores a part of life many of us choose to ignore - death.