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Forensic Analysis and DNA in Criminal Investigations: Including Cold Cases Solved
In this distinctive book, RJ Parker documents the history of DNA and forensic science; ten notorious cold cases that were eventually solved; infamous criminals who were tried and convicted on forensic analysis; pros and cons of forensic science as it relates to criminology and facts about fingerprinting and ballistics.
400 pages, Paperback
First published October 7, 2015
357 people are currently reading
513 people want to read
About the author
R.J. Parker
84 books177 followersRJ Parker, P.Mgr., MCrim, is an award winning and bestselling true crime author and co-owner with his daughters of RJ Parker Publishing. Inc. He has written 17 true crime books, available in eBook, paperback and audiobook editions, and have sold in over 100 countries. He holds Certifications in Serial Crime and Criminal Profiling.
ALL Paperbacks under RJ Parker Publishing are in the KINDLE MATCHBOOK program: When you purchase any print book, you get the eBook for FREE
Besides gifting books to his cause, Wounded Warriors, and donating to Victims of Violent Crimes, RJ has daily contests on Facebook where he gifts eBooks and autographed books.
Join RJ on Facebook at: http://www.facebook.com/AuthorRJParker
Email - authorrjparker@gmail.com
Website - http://rjparkerpublishing.com/
Member of the Canadian Association of Authors
Member of the Writer's Alliance of Newfoundland
ALL Paperbacks under RJ Parker Publishing are in the KINDLE MATCHBOOK program: When you purchase any print book, you get the eBook for FREE
Besides gifting books to his cause, Wounded Warriors, and donating to Victims of Violent Crimes, RJ has daily contests on Facebook where he gifts eBooks and autographed books.
Join RJ on Facebook at: http://www.facebook.com/AuthorRJParker
Email - authorrjparker@gmail.com
Website - http://rjparkerpublishing.com/
Member of the Canadian Association of Authors
Member of the Writer's Alliance of Newfoundland
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 35 reviews
November 29, 2015
Forensic Analysis and DNA I confess, I already know a good bit about forensic sciences, so I skipped the history and the science and jumped right into the cold cases. While the cases were interesting, the delivery wasn't all that great. At some points it felt like I was reading a term paper; in other places it read like a preachy old man.
Overall, an interesting book, particularly if you're interested in the science and history of forensics and DNA in criminal investigations.
Overall, an interesting book, particularly if you're interested in the science and history of forensics and DNA in criminal investigations.
August 15, 2016
It was an alright book. I have to say that it did teach me a few things I had not heard before. However, I sometimes felt like the writing was directed at a younger audience. To me it seemed very simple. I'm not writing more complicated texts myself, I know that, however, this book just kept repeating itself and I felt like a little kid. Some explanations reminded me of how I tend to explain things to children below the age of 10. Just not something made for adults who want to learn.
I also felt a constant repetition of the same few sentences. Every time a cold case was discussed or a scientist mentioned they "had a huge impact" or were the "most interesting" or "best example" or whatever. Just really got to me after a while as it felt rather childish to me if I'm honest.
Also, a huge pet peeve that cost this book a whole star is Jack the Ripper. I wrote a work on said killer myself before. Fiction and Non-Fiction. I do know a few things about the Whitechapel Murderer and Jack the Ripper. And it really annoyed me whenever they talked about the letters and accredited them not to the journalist who wrote them but to the murderer (who is very likely to have been illiterate!). This lack of knowledge but regular mention just made me very angry, as a quick check of Wikipedia even could have provided the correct information! I'm no expert for Jack the Ripper but I do know more than the average and every single time he was mentioned, I wanted to hit my head against the wall...
So overall, I don't regret reading the book as a did learn a few things, however I also feel belittled by it. Oh and what also bothered me... Why put the collection of forensically important terms at the end of the book? Normally you are supposed to put this at the front. You will be using a lot of those terms in your work, so you should explain them for the reader before you get into the subject. After all you'll be using them the whole time. I knew most that were used even without explanation, but I just feel like it would have been better at the front. Not everyone starts those books with already existing knowledge and they are supposed to be understood by everyone. So a glossary at the front is never a bad idea.
Maybe it was just the eBook that was arranged badly, I don't know.
Mistakes were made by my phone.
I also felt a constant repetition of the same few sentences. Every time a cold case was discussed or a scientist mentioned they "had a huge impact" or were the "most interesting" or "best example" or whatever. Just really got to me after a while as it felt rather childish to me if I'm honest.
Also, a huge pet peeve that cost this book a whole star is Jack the Ripper. I wrote a work on said killer myself before. Fiction and Non-Fiction. I do know a few things about the Whitechapel Murderer and Jack the Ripper. And it really annoyed me whenever they talked about the letters and accredited them not to the journalist who wrote them but to the murderer (who is very likely to have been illiterate!). This lack of knowledge but regular mention just made me very angry, as a quick check of Wikipedia even could have provided the correct information! I'm no expert for Jack the Ripper but I do know more than the average and every single time he was mentioned, I wanted to hit my head against the wall...
So overall, I don't regret reading the book as a did learn a few things, however I also feel belittled by it. Oh and what also bothered me... Why put the collection of forensically important terms at the end of the book? Normally you are supposed to put this at the front. You will be using a lot of those terms in your work, so you should explain them for the reader before you get into the subject. After all you'll be using them the whole time. I knew most that were used even without explanation, but I just feel like it would have been better at the front. Not everyone starts those books with already existing knowledge and they are supposed to be understood by everyone. So a glossary at the front is never a bad idea.
Maybe it was just the eBook that was arranged badly, I don't know.
Mistakes were made by my phone.
January 24, 2019
Horrible writing
This book reads like an extended high school essay by an average student. My advice to the authors would be to do a lot more reading of high-quality writing and rewrite, rewrite, rewrite. A few quotes follow. If these excerpts are not like nails down the chalkboard to you, then perhaps you will enjoy the book. Ph. D. 's are evidently not what they used to be.
"In those days, forensic experts were not certified or accredited; many were self-proclaimed charlatans... "
"Spilsbury first came into the public eye when he successfully identified the unidentifiable remains of a human body by analyzing a piece of scar tissue."
"Another common misconception that has become common as a result of depictions of forensic analysis on TV is that all evidence obtained at a crime scene is absolutely pristine and can be undoubtedly used to tie a suspect to the scene of the crime and later be used in court to convict the perpetrator of the crime that has been committed."
This book reads like an extended high school essay by an average student. My advice to the authors would be to do a lot more reading of high-quality writing and rewrite, rewrite, rewrite. A few quotes follow. If these excerpts are not like nails down the chalkboard to you, then perhaps you will enjoy the book. Ph. D. 's are evidently not what they used to be.
"In those days, forensic experts were not certified or accredited; many were self-proclaimed charlatans... "
"Spilsbury first came into the public eye when he successfully identified the unidentifiable remains of a human body by analyzing a piece of scar tissue."
"Another common misconception that has become common as a result of depictions of forensic analysis on TV is that all evidence obtained at a crime scene is absolutely pristine and can be undoubtedly used to tie a suspect to the scene of the crime and later be used in court to convict the perpetrator of the crime that has been committed."
October 7, 2015
I am blown away by this book. Most of the world has heard of DNA but few people understand it. To those who watch CSI-type programs, it seems more like magic than science.
This book explains DNA and its history in understandable terms. It shows how DNA is collected and tested as an investigative tool. It clears up some common misconceptions people have about DNA.
Forensic science is also traced to its roots and explored at various stages of its advancement and development. There are a few surprises along the way which influenced the acceptance and utilization of forensic science in criminal investigation.
Examples are given of people exonerated and cold cases solved with DNA and forensic science. All in all, this book is both interesting and informative.
This book explains DNA and its history in understandable terms. It shows how DNA is collected and tested as an investigative tool. It clears up some common misconceptions people have about DNA.
Forensic science is also traced to its roots and explored at various stages of its advancement and development. There are a few surprises along the way which influenced the acceptance and utilization of forensic science in criminal investigation.
Examples are given of people exonerated and cold cases solved with DNA and forensic science. All in all, this book is both interesting and informative.
October 24, 2015
This book gives a basic look at what DNA and Forensic Analysis can and cannot do. The author discusses its history, the various fields associated with DNA, and gives a listing of terms that are used in the book. The most interesting part is the cold cases that have been solved due to forensic analysis. He also includes some famous cases which led to convictions as well as mentioning a few cases where DNA manipulations caused problems. It was an interesting book, but left me with the feeling that it never intended to do more than scratch the surface. I did not need great depth, but sometimes the author just put a statement out there which needed more elaboration.
October 16, 2015
If you are interested in forensic's this is the book for you. An interesting look at the beginning of forensic's and how they have grown into the tools used to solve crimes today. Some of the case studies I was unfamiliar with and found them fascinating. I read this book in one day.
December 25, 2019
The only reason I gave this book two stars is that the cases related, though not related in depth, are interesting. The title in no way reflects the content in my humble opinion, as there is little to no explanation of forensic technique. What the book contains is mostly a history of forensics, focusing on the developers and not the techniques, and a lengthy segment of brief overviews of various cases in which forensics played a part. There is very little on DNA forensics, and what is presented is simplistic. I would not recommend this book for anyone wanting a general overview of forensic technic, and certainly not any one wishing to understand DNA forensics.
March 31, 2020
As a biologist, I was hoping for an insight into DNA as a forensic tool. I liked the history of forensics at the beginning, and the glossary at the end (although I wanted far more detail). The middle was just a brief description of cases where forensics were important. The book seemed to be set up to argue forensics are important to crime scenes, but I can't imagine anyone would disagree with that. DNA was mentioned as being important, but no details on how. It was too general and lacking in details for me. That middle section I can Google myself or watch the documentaries popping up everywhere.
September 6, 2017
Poorly written
I can't get past the egregious grammar and ignorant usage... If the writing were fascinating enough, the poor semantics could be overlooked, perhaps. But it's too boring in style to overcome its other faults.
I can't get past the egregious grammar and ignorant usage... If the writing were fascinating enough, the poor semantics could be overlooked, perhaps. But it's too boring in style to overcome its other faults.
March 4, 2019
Interesting introduction into DNA and it's use in cold cases
Enjoyed this book because it goes through the history of DNA and how through it developing, cold cases can be useful and in a lot of cars and
Enjoyed this book because it goes through the history of DNA and how through it developing, cold cases can be useful and in a lot of cars and
March 27, 2019
A good book ruined by bad writing
A very interesting book worthy of four or five stars made almost unreadable by bad writing. Syntax and vocabulary of an untutored writer. He write as he speaks but he is no Daman Runyon. This is a serious subject and deserves better treatment.
A very interesting book worthy of four or five stars made almost unreadable by bad writing. Syntax and vocabulary of an untutored writer. He write as he speaks but he is no Daman Runyon. This is a serious subject and deserves better treatment.
January 5, 2017
I have never read a book on Forensics and I found this book very interesting. I especially enjoyed reading about the solved cold cases!
March 6, 2017
an education
i really enjoyed this book...i learned a lot.
the author gives textbook details with real life stories.
i hope to find more by Parker like this one
i really enjoyed this book...i learned a lot.
the author gives textbook details with real life stories.
i hope to find more by Parker like this one
October 6, 2017
A very interesting, if somewhat dry text. For readers interested in the history of forensics it is a very good listen/read.
February 9, 2018
Eh, it was okay. There was some solid information but the organization was a bit off and seemed to have the book repeating or doubling back on itself a number of times.
January 8, 2019
Useless as anything beyond a source for a 5th grade book report.
February 17, 2019
Awful
400 and odd pages and 50 of them was a reference. It was basic brutal to read and quite frankly boring. I normally enjoy books like this but this wasn't much fun to read.
400 and odd pages and 50 of them was a reference. It was basic brutal to read and quite frankly boring. I normally enjoy books like this but this wasn't much fun to read.
October 23, 2023
This is pretty much personal taste. The information was good, it just felt like I was reading an academic paper or essay instead of a novel.
September 21, 2016
Fans of the CSI TV series and other popular cop shows probably think that forensic analysis of crime scenes is something new, a 20th century innovation in police work. In fact, examining trace evidence dates back to the ancient Greeks and Chinese. It was only with the discovery of DNA that police forensic work became as pervasive, and sometimes accurate tool for solving crimes, or proving innocence.
Forensic Analysis and DNA in Criminal Investigations by R. J. Parker and Pete Vronsky is an examination of forensics, with extensive chapters on the ancient history of criminal investigation. Most of the book, though, focuses on the use of DNA to catch the guilty and free the innocent. The authors trace forensics from its ancient roots, looking at methods that were groundbreaking, and some that were tantamount to torture, moving to the current era and the use of DNA in crime scene forensics. In addition to pointing out its value, they also discuss failures.
Several sections are devoted to cold cases, some solved through analysis of DNA trace evidence. This is a fascinating book for anyone interested in studying criminal cases, or for understanding how criminal investigations are conducted. Technical terms are explained in laymen’s terms. I assure you that you’ll come away from reading this book with a better understanding of how crimes are investigated—and, it’s not like on TV.
Forensic Analysis and DNA in Criminal Investigations by R. J. Parker and Pete Vronsky is an examination of forensics, with extensive chapters on the ancient history of criminal investigation. Most of the book, though, focuses on the use of DNA to catch the guilty and free the innocent. The authors trace forensics from its ancient roots, looking at methods that were groundbreaking, and some that were tantamount to torture, moving to the current era and the use of DNA in crime scene forensics. In addition to pointing out its value, they also discuss failures.
Several sections are devoted to cold cases, some solved through analysis of DNA trace evidence. This is a fascinating book for anyone interested in studying criminal cases, or for understanding how criminal investigations are conducted. Technical terms are explained in laymen’s terms. I assure you that you’ll come away from reading this book with a better understanding of how crimes are investigated—and, it’s not like on TV.
July 9, 2019
Interesting
I found this book interesting because it explains how forensic science for started plus it was written were an average person could understand it.
I found this book interesting because it explains how forensic science for started plus it was written were an average person could understand it.
Read
November 20, 2015WOW!! Extremely informative!!
If you watch shows like Criminal Minds, CSI, and BC IS, you probably have some understanding of how a forensics team gathers evidence and uses things like fingerprints and hair samples for DNA to solve a crime. This book is so much MORE than what we see on our little one hour crime solving shows!!
Authors RJ Parker and Peter Vronsky help us understand more by teaching is the history of Forensic Analysis and DNA from its beginnings up to current times! They also tell us how some of these methods were used to solve cold cases!
Even though the "read time" on the Kindle said 3hours 51 minutes, and I normally read fairly quickly, this was by no means a short read! It was very well written and packed full of information! I also liked the end notes at the back of the book.
If you watch shows like Criminal Minds, CSI, and BC IS, you probably have some understanding of how a forensics team gathers evidence and uses things like fingerprints and hair samples for DNA to solve a crime. This book is so much MORE than what we see on our little one hour crime solving shows!!
Authors RJ Parker and Peter Vronsky help us understand more by teaching is the history of Forensic Analysis and DNA from its beginnings up to current times! They also tell us how some of these methods were used to solve cold cases!
Even though the "read time" on the Kindle said 3hours 51 minutes, and I normally read fairly quickly, this was by no means a short read! It was very well written and packed full of information! I also liked the end notes at the back of the book.
August 10, 2016
If you're a CSI fan (or similar TV shows), this is a good book for you. It is a good introduction to forensic science and DNA as used in criminal cases. The introduction to the science gives a good overview history that is not too scientific for the average person to understand. Then it details several cold cases and famous cases which were helped to be solved through forensic science. I didn't read every single case as I wasn't interested in all of them. There are several cases which everyone will recognize -- Ted Bundy, OJ Simpson, Boston Strangler, and BTK Killer just to name a few. If you want to dig a little deeper than CSI and learn more about forensic science, this book is a good introduction that doesn't require a medical degree.
July 6, 2016
Fantastic book about the history of forensic science, and how it evolved and became of use in solving crimes. From the earliest uses of forensics to modern day techniques, this is a read that will be useful to a variety of readers. Those studying criminology or a career in law enforcement will appreciate the background and practical uses of forensics discussed. True crime fans will also find many things of interest and will help in understanding what's involved behind the scenes and what you don't see on TV. Highly recommend it!
August 3, 2016
This book has a lot of learning in it, besides short stories of people arrested. The first few pages were really hard for me to understand . It tells how some forensic science things were designed or found. Then it tells famous stories and how and what forensic or DNA caused this person to get caught. The ending part is a glossary of kinds of forensic analysis meanings and very interesting to known. I would advise anyone that is interested in forensic science and DNA to check this book out first.
May 9, 2016
I thought this book would be alot more interesting, but it read sort of like a boring textbook. The writing style just didn't grab me, and while the cases described could've been interesting - they were written about in a sort of monotonous tone - no personal stories of "ah ha" moments, and long stretches of just describing things in a sterile way. Couldn't wait to finish it and move on to something better.
September 7, 2016
This a really nice introduction to some of the aspects of forensics. It covers the history, famous people, and how it's assisted in cold cases. However, it is extremely introductory. It seems to assume you have watched CSI and that is why you got interested in this book. For someone like that, it's probably a really great intro to some deeper, more complex topics. For anyone else, it was too simplistic.
October 20, 2015
I can honestly say I love love love reading about forensics! I will not claim to fully understand it, but this book by RJ Parker writes it in such a way that you can understand how forensic science works. The fact that cold cases get solved is always the most amazing to me. Thank you for writing this well researched and well written book.
June 21, 2018
Interesting and slightly informative
If you are novice to the field of forensic science, criminal justice, and criminology this book has a good amount beginner facts and terms. However, I found that the layout of the chapters and writing to be very disorganized. It jumped a lot from topic to topic.
If you are novice to the field of forensic science, criminal justice, and criminology this book has a good amount beginner facts and terms. However, I found that the layout of the chapters and writing to be very disorganized. It jumped a lot from topic to topic.
January 9, 2016
DNA
Fascinating scientific explanations on the subject of the birth of DNA. Several true crime stories she DNA has played a major part in the closing of the cases. Thoroughly enjoyed this book had highly recommend!
Fascinating scientific explanations on the subject of the birth of DNA. Several true crime stories she DNA has played a major part in the closing of the cases. Thoroughly enjoyed this book had highly recommend!
January 10, 2016
Very interesting for anyone who has an interest in true crime stories. The only thing I did not care for us that the ending seemed rushed. This was fascinating from a historical perspective because I was unaware of the history of Forensic science.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 35 reviews