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Rating:  -
Has a good overview of the science pertaining to crime scenes, university programs, and job availability within the career area. Not what I thought it was which was a scientific approach to crime scene investigation. I would buy it for an adolescent seeking information for a potential career. In fact, I am donating it to a high school library after I write this review.
Rating: -
I looked at the title and thought - Yes this looks great. Then I read the first sentence and came across "blood splatter". Not the correct terminology and an immediate let down. The correct "technical" term is "blood spatter".
This may seem a small matter to some, but it immediately made me dubious to the authenticity of the rest of the material, and whether more of the content portrayed incorrect technical information.
This book maybe a good read, but is not for someone who is looking for CORRECT procedure or technical insight.
Rating:  -
"The Forensic Casebook: The Science of Crime Scene Investigation," by Ngaire E. Genge, NY, Ballantine Books, 2002 ISBN 0-345-45203-8 (hc), 246 p., of text plus 58 p. for Appendices, Bibliography and Index. The author of some 10 (+/-) books on divers subjects as the X-Files, Buffy the Vampire, Urban Legends and the like, has developed a fluent writing skill together with ability to both explain and clarify technical matters in a lively manner without being wordy. The author obtained source input from 427 contributing individuals and also made direct contact with 30 policing agencies, public and private labs, and teaching facilities to be both current and accurate in the rapidly evolving science of forensics.
Using appropriate and at times incredible case studies, this raconteur provides a narrative-type casebook placing it apart from the usual cold or aloof and detached textbooks. There is a helpful contents table listing the 5 chapters covering the scene of the crime, and "working the scene" for evidence, body human, different stages (bombs, computers), and skills (animal and photographic). There are amusing anecdotes, references to TV, book, and movie plots and to some well-publicized crimes and criminals plus helpful illustrations. The bibliography is excellent and the book includes 2 helpful Appendicies listing (A) requirements, duties and salaries for the various specialists in forensics, and (B) a worthy listing of teaching institutions offering instruction in CSI.
The author's use (p. 98-101) of the term "splatter" (Ugh!) for blood stains departs from the accepted and conventional word "spatter" used in the U.S. would suggest possible Canadian influence or naivete. In DNA discussion the reference is made (p. 150) to C,T,A,G as "proteins" -- in reality these are purine or pyramidine bases found in nucleic acids. The discussion of National Geographic's manipulated photo of moving "one of the Great Pyramids a little closer to the other" (p. 217) is incorrect, as the change made involved altering a horizontal format into a vertical format to accomodate a cover photo (to keep the Nat.Geo. Editor happy) so an artificial elongation appeared in height of pyramids and camel (the Editor got bigtime Hell!). Errors are few and minor -- the book is a joy to read and has been admirably researched with good contributors.
Rating: -
This book presents a good overview of forensics but I do find myself hoping for something somewhat more comprehensive. While it offers a good introduction, those who are more sincerely fascinated with forensics will find themselves searching for some more grounded and in-depth explorations of forensics.
Rating:  -
If you look at the March 2004 issue of the International Association of Bloodstain Pattern Analysts, you'll find a very negative review of this book. Given that the reviewer (Herbert Leon MacDonell, the Director of Laboratory of Forensic Science Bloodstain Institute of Corning, New York) and all members of IABPA actively work in the field of forensics, I'd take their word for it. Here's an excerpt from the review, which can be found on the web at http://www.iabpa.org/March2004News.pdf
"Many fine books have been written on the general subject of forensic science but this is not one of them. It only takes reading the first page for the reader to discover that this book is not going to be a source of accurate forensic information."
The reviewer goes on to say:
"...the frightening aspect is that lay persons who purchase such garbage are unaware of how inaccurate the things they are reading really are. It is unfortunate that there are publishers out there who will print a manuscript without having some form of peer review to determine whether there are a few minor errors or is it so bad like this book, that they should trash it."
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