The anatomy of crime

Val McDermid takes up the scalpel to unravel the secrets of forensic science, from the crime scene to the courtroom. Winner of the Anthony Award for Best Critical/Nonfiction Book, The Anatomy of Crime reveals details of gruesome and challenging cases that shocked the world.

The dead speak. At least to the right listener, they tell everything: who they are, how they died, and who killed them. Forensic scientists can uncover the mysteries of the past and help bring justice based on clues left on a corpse, at a crime scene, or based on the smallest human remains.

The Anatomy of Crime traces a journey from the beginnings of forensic science to the height of modern science, drawing on interviews with renowned professionals, groundbreaking research, and the author's own field experiences to reveal the secrets of this fascinating science. Val McDermid investigates how maggots on corpses can help determine the time of death, how a DNA trace the size of a grain of salt can be used to convict a murderer, and how a team of young Argentine scientists, led by an American anthropologist, identified victims of a genocide.

In her crime novels, Val McDermid's protagonists solve complex crimes and face unimaginable evils. Now, the real people who work in this field take center stage in this book. In *The Anatomy of Crime* , the author takes us to war zones, fire scenes, and autopsy rooms. True crime like you've never seen before.

“Blood flies, exhumed stomachs and voluntary rigor mortis: Val McDermid looks at how the intriguing tools of forensic science have solved grisly murders over the years.” The Guardian

"Fascinating. Val McDermid is one of the most skilled crime writers around, exceeding all expectations by writing as a true authority on the facts behind horrific events." The Washington Post