On Death's Bloody Trail: Murder and the Art of Forensic Science

by Brian Marriner

Traces the development of forensic science from the late 1800s to today and details the latest techniques used by scientists to trap pathological killers, from fingerprinting to ballistics to sophisticated computer profiles. Original.

Genres: True Crime, Nonfiction, Crime

298 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1993

About the author

Born in London in 1937, the author spent the years 1962 - 1965 in prison for armed robbery. After his release, he devoted himself to the study of the psychology of violence. He wrote several books on crime but A Splinter of Ice was his only novel.

Until his death in 1999 Brian Marriner was one of Britain's leading true crime authors whose work is published all over the world. An expert in criminology and forensic science he was a regular contributor to the top non-fiction crime magazines 'True Detective', 'True Crime' and 'Master Detective'. He has also written for editions of 'Murder Casebook'. What distinguishes Brian Marriner's work is his uncanny knack of probing the motives and thinking behind the crimes, while introducing the most grusesome elements with calm scientific interest.

Reviews

[Stacy Simpson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow this book had everything in it. Very well explained and it gave me a few options of other books I want to pick up. Bonus!!!

Recommend to anyone interested in criminal behavior and or forensic medicine buffs like myself. Excellent read

[Fishface · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a good read, although it would have been better earlier in my TC reading career -- many of the cases are purely review for me. Some of them are new, though, and many of the details of these otherwise familiar cases are new as well. The author also provides a long list of other books to read, most of which are utterly new to me. Yay!

[Bradley · Rating 3 out of 5]

A fascinating history about modern forensics. Great stuff. =)