All That Remains- A Renowned Forensic Scientist on Death, Mortality, and Solving Crimes by Sue Black DBE, FRSE

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Web ID: 16836849

Book of the Year, Saltire Literary Awards A CrimeReads Best True Crime Book of the MonthFor fans of Caitlin Doughty, Mary Roach, Kathy Reichs, and CSI shows, a renowned forensic scientist on death and mortality. Dame Sue Black is an internationally renowned forensic anthropologist and human anatomist. She has lived her life eye to eye with the Grim Reaper, and she writes vividly about it in this book, which is part primer on the basics of identifying human remains, part frank memoir of a woman whose first paying job as a schoolgirl was to apprentice in a butcher shop, and part no-nonsense but deeply humane introduction to the reality of death in our lives. It is a treat for CSI junkies, murder mystery and thriller readers, and anyone seeking a clear-eyed guide to a subject that touches us all. Cutting through hype, romanticism, and cliché, she recounts her first dissection, her own first acquaintance with a loved one's death, the mortal remains in her lab and at burial sites as well as scenes of violence, murder, and criminal dismemberment, and about investigating mass fatalities due to war, accident, or natural disaster, such as the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami. She uses key cases to reveal how forensic science has developed and what her work has taught her about human nature. Acclaimed by bestselling crime writers and fellow scientists alike,. All That Remains is neither sad nor macabre. While Professor Black

  • Product Features

    • Suggested age range- Adult
    • Format- Paperback
    • Product dimension- 5.4" W x 8.1" H x 1.1" D
    • Genre- True Crime
    • Publisher- Arcade, Publication date- 11-03-2020
    • Page count- 360
    • ISBN- 9781950691913
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2 years ago
from Wiltshire

The subject of death is discussed with sensitivity

Books about death probably don't sound like a great read and yet, Sue Black's book is a great book about death. When a leading forensic anthropologist writes a book, there is a danger that it might be too inaccessible in terms of specialised vocabulary and an assumption of already known terms and subjects but that is not what you have here. Dame Black is a clear and succinct communicator who touches on topics that are sensitive and taboo to a lot of the more sensitive among us and she discusses death in all its many varied forms with tact and professionalism but also, and this may come as a surprise, warmth. Yes, warmth, which may seem misaligned when talking about a subject which prompts powerful emotions, which are mainly negative: grief, anger, disbelief, pain, vengeance. But Sue Black's presentation of death as a fundamental part of our existence, which, if not to be welcomed, should be accepted, its inevitability one thing about life of which we can be certain, is full of humour and anecdotes and most of all, humanity. The chapters of the book are wide-ranging: from personal experience of death and how she became an anatomist; to the application of her knowledge in the field, doing important, critical work for governments and world-wide organisations and all of the attention that that engenders; to teaching the next generation of forensic anthropologists; to ethical questions about leaving our bodies to science and the importance of anatomy and the dissection of cadavers; to approaching death and how that looks for us; to solving murders and seeking the truth. Throughout the book, Sue Black guides you through her views and experiences and does this with a humanity which is generous. I found myself feeling like I was just listening to a friend talking, albeit an authoritative friend in a niche profession. There was a quietness about her narrative that was comforting - there was no sensationalism in the things that she described, which she had seen. In fact, there was a respectful restraint throughout which told of an acknowledgement of the enormity of what she does and the responsibility that she has to others in what she is being asked to do. I don't know how I would feel about dealing in death every day but I am not sure that I would be such a well-rounded individual as Sue Black.

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Customer review from barnesandnoble.com

2 years ago

Great Read!

Recently bought this book last week and I have not been able to put it down. It is very thorough and intriguing. It’s captivating. Amazing! A must have!

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Customer review from barnesandnoble.com