Scene of the Crime: A Writer's Guide to Crime Scene Investigation (Howdunit Series)

Provides information on how evidence is measured, collected, identified, and analyzed, the timetable of activity at a crime scene, and technical terms and professional techniques used

YA-- A readable, informative guide to aspects of police/law enforcement as they relate to the crime scene. The chapters are thorough and seem to be technically accurate and up-to-date. Wingate uses examples from her career and others to illustrate the various procedures, such as determining cause of death, identifying fingerprints, autopsies, etc. Sure to be enjoyed by suspense fans, and highly recommended for libraries with a demand for mysteries or for creative writing materials.
Copyright 1993 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Anyone who is trying to write a mystery will find these to be useful books, and readers of mysteries will find them equally interesting. Wilson, who is both a medical doctor and a writer, describes various causes of death, detailing both the appearance of the body and the official response to unexpected deaths. Scattered throughout the text are examples from literary works illuminating the use of medical and forensic details to strengthen the writing. Chapters deal with subjects such as time of death, autopsies, determination of murder vs. suicide, and various causes of death. Apt use is made of statistics regarding the frequency of varying causes of death. A glossary and bibliography round out the work. Wingate spent more than six years as a criminal investigator. In this book, she gives detailed descriptions of the crime scene search, methods of firearms investigation, fingerprint identification, identification of human remains, autopsies, and crime labs. The information is peppered with descriptions of cases on which Wingate has worked as a criminal investigator. The information is well presented, and the writing style is personal and energetic. Many books on criminal investigation are available, notably Colin Wilson's Written in Blood (Warner, 1991) and B.A. Fisher's Techniques of Crime Scene Investigation (Elsevier, 1986. 4th ed.). Nevertheless, owing to the moderate price and clear presentation of these books, both are recommended for public libraries and for academic libraries where creative writing programs are supported.
- Denise Johnson, Bradley Univ. Lib., Peoria, Ill.
Copyright 1992 Reed Business Information, Inc.