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Forensic Science: Evidence, Clues, and Investigation
Describes how a forensic scientist can find crime-scene clues in the fibers of a rug, in the way a bone is broken, or in a DNA "fingerprint," and how those clues can help police apprehend criminals.
135 pages, Library Binding
First published May 1, 1999
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Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
March 28, 2026
“What happened? Who did it? How? Why?”
The summary from the introduction is as complete as anything I could write:
“FORENSIC SCIENCE provides a fascinating look at the various types of physical evidence as well as the various forensic techniques and technologies used in law enforcement.”
One wouldn’t expect such a short book to be exhaustive, of course, but the list of techniques that Ms Marshall touches on is darn impressive – serology, toxicology, odontology, ballistics, anthropology, pathology, entomology, geology, microscopy, graphology and linguistics, dactyloscopy, blood spatter analysis, photo- and mass spectrometry, profiling, psychiatry and psychology, chromatography, DNA testing, and more. Elucidating, informative, and interesting, FORENSIC SCIENCE will appeal to readers of all ages. Each technique is explained and then illustrated with an appropriate true crime example from the annals of police cases over the entire history of the development of forensic science. Speaking of which, the science of each technique is presented in an accessible way without being patronizing so young readers and those readers less comfortable with matters scientific will have to pay attention. But knowledge, of course, is the reward.
Recommended easy-reading non-fiction for all ages.
Paul Weiss
The summary from the introduction is as complete as anything I could write:
“FORENSIC SCIENCE provides a fascinating look at the various types of physical evidence as well as the various forensic techniques and technologies used in law enforcement.”
One wouldn’t expect such a short book to be exhaustive, of course, but the list of techniques that Ms Marshall touches on is darn impressive – serology, toxicology, odontology, ballistics, anthropology, pathology, entomology, geology, microscopy, graphology and linguistics, dactyloscopy, blood spatter analysis, photo- and mass spectrometry, profiling, psychiatry and psychology, chromatography, DNA testing, and more. Elucidating, informative, and interesting, FORENSIC SCIENCE will appeal to readers of all ages. Each technique is explained and then illustrated with an appropriate true crime example from the annals of police cases over the entire history of the development of forensic science. Speaking of which, the science of each technique is presented in an accessible way without being patronizing so young readers and those readers less comfortable with matters scientific will have to pay attention. But knowledge, of course, is the reward.
Recommended easy-reading non-fiction for all ages.
Paul Weiss
September 13, 2023
I can’t tell you why I found this book of interest. My GR friend Paul Weiss wrote a review that caught my attention.
Chapters include Hard Evidence/Body Materials & Fluids/The Autopsy/Objects & Clues/Impressions Evidence/High-Tech Tools/Behavioral Profiling & The Future of Forensic Science.
In 135 pages (including an Index) it provides a wealth of fascinating information about forensic sciences overall all in easy to understand language.
“…….sometimes invisible variations among objects can make all the difference…. unlike everyday life is not to group like objects together, but to individualize them.”
One of the surprises was finding that many of the tools used today began way back when:
“The history of fingerprints for identification is as old as the T’ang dynasty, which ruled China from A.D. 618-906.”
With all the available tools which now include the use of DNA and computers there should be no excuse for a culprit to escape detection. Unfortunately that is not the case. The lack of funding is restricting the timely use of many of these essential tools and the required staff all of which should be a cause of concern for the public.
I believe this book would be of special interest to a young person thinking of going into police work and also for any aspiring author wanting to write a who-done-it murder mystery.
Thanks Paul, I enjoyed this one.
Chapters include Hard Evidence/Body Materials & Fluids/The Autopsy/Objects & Clues/Impressions Evidence/High-Tech Tools/Behavioral Profiling & The Future of Forensic Science.
In 135 pages (including an Index) it provides a wealth of fascinating information about forensic sciences overall all in easy to understand language.
“…….sometimes invisible variations among objects can make all the difference…. unlike everyday life is not to group like objects together, but to individualize them.”
One of the surprises was finding that many of the tools used today began way back when:
“The history of fingerprints for identification is as old as the T’ang dynasty, which ruled China from A.D. 618-906.”
With all the available tools which now include the use of DNA and computers there should be no excuse for a culprit to escape detection. Unfortunately that is not the case. The lack of funding is restricting the timely use of many of these essential tools and the required staff all of which should be a cause of concern for the public.
I believe this book would be of special interest to a young person thinking of going into police work and also for any aspiring author wanting to write a who-done-it murder mystery.
Thanks Paul, I enjoyed this one.
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September 22, 2008I am the author of this book.
December 3, 2015
Easy read, informative, nice pictures.
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews