Forensics

What Bugs, Burns, Prints, DNA, and More Tell Us About Crime

By: Val McDermid

Narrated by: Sarah Barron

Length: 11 hrs and 20 mins

Publisher's summary

The dead talk - to the right listener. They can tell us all about themselves: where they came from, how they lived, how they died, and, of course, who killed them. Forensic scientists can unlock the mysteries of the past and help serve justice using the messages left by a corpse, a crime scene, or the faintest of human traces. Forensics draws on interviews with some of these top-level professionals, groundbreaking research, and Val McDermid's own original interviews and firsthand experience on scene with top forensic scientists.

Along the way McDermid discovers how maggots collected from a corpse can help determine one's time of death; how a DNA trace a millionth the size of a grain of salt can be used to convict a killer; and how a team of young Argentine scientists led by a maverick American anthropologist were able to uncover the victims of a genocide. It's a journey that will take McDermid to war zones, fire scenes, and autopsy suites and bring her into contact with both extraordinary bravery and wickedness as she traces the history of forensics from its earliest beginnings to the cutting-edge science of the modern day.

©2015 Val McDermid (P)2015 HighBridge, a division of Recorded Books

The narration is distracting...and disturbing

Would you recommend this book to a friend? Why or why not?

I would not recommend the audiobook only because the narrator uses different voices when she reads dialogue and comments from experts in the field. Using distinctive voices in fiction enhances the listener's enjoyment, but not so in nonfiction. It was---I hate to say this---downright weird hearing the narrator vary her inflection, tone, cadence, and so forth when she reads a quote from, say, a scientist or detective. At times, that made the book sound like a spoof. It was such a distraction that I gave up on it early on.

Were the concepts of this book easy to follow, or were they too technical?

I have no idea, because the narration interfered with the content of the book. I think I would like the print book, but I'm not so sure I want to read it now. I'd probably keep hearing those bizarre voices in my head.

Who would you have cast as narrator instead of Sarah Barron?

Barron is probably fine as a narrator---unless she's the one who made the decision to vary the voices. I'm blaming the producer for now.

If this book were a movie would you go see it?

N/A

Any additional comments?

I would suggest not buying the audio version. The print edition is probably worthwhile, though. I gave only three stars in the overall category because the narration so drastically overshadowed the content. And of course, "story" doesn't apply to nonfiction, but I gave it three stars because I think the writing is better than the narration indicates.

Scottish Accent makes it hard to listen

Would you listen to Forensics again? Why?

Not sure. It was hard to listen to because the performer reads it in Scottish English, and her accent is thick as treacle.

What did you like best about this story?

It is more like a set of short stories that deal with different aspects of Forensics, the history of Forensics and land mark cases.

What didn’t you like about Sarah Barron’s performance?

She was hard for me to understand. I speak American English, and a London accent is not hard to listen to - but Sarah's accent is thick..years ago, I was told that it takes a half hour for someone to listen to someone speaking in an accent before you can understand them clearly. But I found that I still had to replay parts of her book, even after listening for a half hour.

If you could give Forensics a new subtitle, what would it be?

A UK Centric view of Forensics. It was very clear that not only the reader had an accent that was more at home on the other side of the Atlantic, but I learned way more than I care about regarding the structure of what labs serve local UK police departments and how. Some US stuff is covered, as is some stuff from other countries, but the detail about who reports to who and how and who is called out and so forth was very UK centric.

Any additional comments?

Had I listened to the audio sample, I would not have purchased this book. The reader can do an American accent where she was quoting Americans. I think that she could have read the book in a London accent and it would have been easier to listen to.

Forensics

A great easy listen. Most interesting for me as I’m i am interested in forensics. Well written and read.

Fascinating history lesson

I am a huge fan of the original CSI TV series and this book tells how we got to that point. I loved the history of each of the systems we use now and their almost always rocky beginnings.

Loved this book

Filled with stories and history of Forensics. I really liked it and will listen to it again.

An excellent resource and inspiring!

A well-written, well-read book worth insightful examples and detailed knowledge of Forensics- from science to psychology, law to learned scholar.

Very insightful and detailed

If you could sum up Forensics in three words, what would they be?

great scientific investigators

Who was your favorite character and why?

not really characters in this real life world of Forensics investigators. But there are details to this side of investigations that I would never have known if it weren't for this book. These people really should be admired for all they see and all the real hard work they add to helping catch those that are pure evil.

What about Sarah Barron’s performance did you like?

I will admit it i bought this audio book because of the sample of hearing her accent and that wonderful female voice. However her wonderful voice added so much to getting me to really like this story of something I knew little about.

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

Yes, I listened to it pretty much over two days. I was hooked by what they must go through and what they must see. Sarah's Voice aided in telling there story or Val's story. Just an amazing interesting listen

Any additional comments?

Get it for the Great accent in Sarah's voice and stay for the VERY interesting story on what Forensics is truly all about.

curiosity folfilled

I have always been interested in forensics and this audio book has stoked my interest even more. truly enjoyable and captivating listen!

engaging!

certainly holds your interest, and you learn a lot, in a fun way. I love the different perspectives.

Great Read for Crime Fans

Covers all facets of forensic investigation with interesting historical background for each topic. Great voice.