Never Suck A Dead Man's Hand: Curious Adventures of a CSI - Softcover

Kollmann, Dana

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0806528230 ISBN 13: 9780806528236

Publisher: Citadel, 2008

Synopsis

Informative, witty. . .Kollmann delivers terse commentary and gory detail while puncturing common misconceptions about forensics. --Booklist

Step past the flashing lights into the true scene of the crime with this frank, unflinching, and unforgettable account of life as a crime scene investigator. Whether explaining rigor mortis or the art of fingerprinting a stiff corpse on the side of the road, Dana Kollmann details her true, unvarnished experiences as a CSI for the Baltimore County Police Department.

"Riveting." --M. William Phelps, author of Murder in the Heartland

Unlike the popular crime dramas proliferating on today's television networks, these forensic tales forgo glitz for grit to show what really goes on. Kollmann recounts stories that the cops and the CSI's usually leave in the field, bringing the sights, smells, and sounds of a crime scene alive as never before.

"Raw and real." --Connie Fletcher, author of Every Contact Leaves a Trace

Unveiling the process and science of crime scene investigation in all its can't-tear-your-eyes-away fascination, Never Suck a Dead Man's Hand takes you into the strange world behind the yellow tape, offering a truly eye-opening perspective on the day-to-day life of a CSI.

"Gritty, witty, and heartfelt . . . a must-read." --Aphrodite Jones, New York Times bestselling author of A Perfect Husband

About this title

From the Publisher

Praise for Dana Kollmann and NEVER SUCK A DEAD MAN'S HAND

"Riveting and irreverently honest . . . Dana Kollmann entertainingly walks readers through her life on the front lines of one of the most misunderstood professions today... a candid, educational thrill ride true crime fans will devour."
--M. William Phelps, author of Murder in the Heartland

"Gritty, witty, and heartfelt . . . Dana Kollmann gives insight into her work as a highly trained CSI specialist who, unlike her `TV perfect' counterparts, must deal with gruesome evidence, complete with blood, corpses, and maggots. Graphic and action-packed, it's a must-read for anyone curious about real crime scene investigation techniques."
--Aphrodite Jones, New York Times bestselling author of Red Zone

"Informative, hilarious, and impossible to put down . . . Kollmann breaks down stereotypes about forensic investigation fed to us by popular TV shows and reveals that the truth is stranger - and much funnier - than fiction."
--Corinne Botz, author of The Nutshell Studies of Unexplained Death

"If you enjoy `Bones,' but want to know the truth behind the fiction, read this book. Dana Kollmann is the real deal!"
--Austin S. Camacho, author of the Hannibal Jones mystery series

From Publishers Weekly

Fans of CSI and Court TV, your book has arrived: a chronicle of the most unusual, macabre and malodorous experiences from 10-plus years of crime scene investigation. Baltimore Police Department CSI Kollman has the enthusiasm, wit (she dedicates the book "to all the bugs I've loved before") and natural storytelling ability to make this memoir sparkle-not easy for a text devoted largely to death and decay. Kollmann aims to educate those with "a Hollywood mentality about a Hell's Kitchen kind of job," and to that end she accentuates glamourless, largely drama-free case-solving. Thankfully, however, there's no lack of adventure: Kollman gets her title from a mishap she suffered while trying to get prints on a bitterly cold night, huffing on the fingers of an accident fatality. At another scene, a rotating ceiling fan flings down grisly bits of a suicide victim's head; at another, maggots are already devouring a body as Kollman tries to get photos. Amid consideration of office politics and her long-suffering family ("literally sickened by my job"), crime-scene anecdotes can get bogged down in details; luckily, Kollman's bright prose, which achieves an approachable, chick-lit tone without sounding flip, makes this squirm-inducing tale highly enjoyable. Photos.
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About this edition

• Publisher: Citadel
• Publication date: 2008
• ISBN 10: 0806528230
• ISBN 13: 9780806528236
• Binding: Paperback
• Number of pages: 304