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No Stone Unturned: The True Story of the World's Premier Forensic Investigators
No Stone Unturned recreates the genesis of NecroSearch International: a small, eclectic group of scientists and law enforcement personal, active and retired, who volunteer their services to help locate the clandestine graves of murder victims and recover the remains and evidence to assist with the apprehension and conviction of the killers. Known early on as "the pig people" because of their experiments in locating graves using the carcasses of pigs (due to their similarities to human bodies), NecroSearch has evolved and expanded into one of the most respected forensic investigation teams in the world.
In No Stone Unturned, New York Times best-selling author Steve Jackson, the author of Bogeyman and Monster, vividly tells the story of this incredible group and recounts some of their most memorable early cases that separately would make great true crime books. Following his participation in a NecroSearch expedition to Russia looking for the remains of a Russian noble in 2013, Jackson was made an honorary member of NecroSearch International in November 2014.
In No Stone Unturned, New York Times best-selling author Steve Jackson, the author of Bogeyman and Monster, vividly tells the story of this incredible group and recounts some of their most memorable early cases that separately would make great true crime books. Following his participation in a NecroSearch expedition to Russia looking for the remains of a Russian noble in 2013, Jackson was made an honorary member of NecroSearch International in November 2014.
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First published January 1, 2002
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About the author
Steve Jackson
19 books208 followers“He writes with both muscle and heart”—New York Times bestselling author Gregg Olsen
New York Times bestselling author and award-winning journalist Steve Jackson has written ten non-fiction books in true crime, history and biography genres; he has also written fourteen crime fiction thrillers for the long-running and Times bestselling "Butch Karp Series" in collaboration with former New York assistant district attorney Robert K. Tanenbaum.
He is currently in the process of writing three more contracted non-fiction books: ALL SECURE (Hachette), FINDING ANASTASIA (Potomac) and SAVING ANNIE (WildBlue Press), as well as working on a sequel to his bestseller NO STONE UNTURNED. He is also finishing a novel, ISLAND OF WOMEN. The publishers of his previous books include: HarperCollins, Simon & Schuster, Pinnacle, Atrium, De Capo, and WildBlue Press.
Steve is also the co-owner of indie publisher WildBlue Press (wildbluepress.com) with partner Michael Cordova. As of July 2018, WildBlue Press will have published more than 75 books by fifty authors in true crime, crime fiction, romance, history, current events, memoir and business genres after less than four years in business. Many of these books have become award-winning bestsellers, and several have been optioned for film and television productions.
The company is rapidly expanding both the number of authors and titles, and will be moving into other genres in the Summer and Fall of 2018.
His first non-fiction book, MONSTER, a true crime, was published in October 1998 and within two weeks became a New York Times bestseller. In 2003, his World War II dramatic narrative, LUCKY LADY, received The Colorado Book Award, best biography/history, from the Colorado Center for the Book; Lucky Lady was also the runner-up that year for the Admiral Samuel Morrison Naval History Award.
In June 2013, Jackson joined forensic investigative team NecroSearch International (the group featured in NO STONE UNTURNED) searching for the remains of the Grand Duke Mikhail Romanov in Perm, Russia as part of his research for an upcoming dramatic narrative history FINDING ANASTASIA.
Honored with NecroSearch membership in 2014, he and the team returned to Russia to continue the search in 2015, 2016, 2017 and will return to conclude their search in June 2018.
Born in 1955, Jackson grew up in Hawaii and Colorado. He graduated in 1979 from Colorado State University with a BA in Journalism.
A newspaper journalist for 25 years, he worked in locales as varied as Montana, Hawaii, Guam, Micronesia, Indonesia, Indiana, Washington D.C., Florida, Oregon and Colorado. During his career with newspapers, he received numerous national and regional awards for feature writing and investigative reporting.
Outside of writing, his interests include backpacking, fly fishing, skiing, guitar, reading, softball, music, wine, beer and spending time with his family and friends.
New York Times bestselling author and award-winning journalist Steve Jackson has written ten non-fiction books in true crime, history and biography genres; he has also written fourteen crime fiction thrillers for the long-running and Times bestselling "Butch Karp Series" in collaboration with former New York assistant district attorney Robert K. Tanenbaum.
He is currently in the process of writing three more contracted non-fiction books: ALL SECURE (Hachette), FINDING ANASTASIA (Potomac) and SAVING ANNIE (WildBlue Press), as well as working on a sequel to his bestseller NO STONE UNTURNED. He is also finishing a novel, ISLAND OF WOMEN. The publishers of his previous books include: HarperCollins, Simon & Schuster, Pinnacle, Atrium, De Capo, and WildBlue Press.
Steve is also the co-owner of indie publisher WildBlue Press (wildbluepress.com) with partner Michael Cordova. As of July 2018, WildBlue Press will have published more than 75 books by fifty authors in true crime, crime fiction, romance, history, current events, memoir and business genres after less than four years in business. Many of these books have become award-winning bestsellers, and several have been optioned for film and television productions.
The company is rapidly expanding both the number of authors and titles, and will be moving into other genres in the Summer and Fall of 2018.
His first non-fiction book, MONSTER, a true crime, was published in October 1998 and within two weeks became a New York Times bestseller. In 2003, his World War II dramatic narrative, LUCKY LADY, received The Colorado Book Award, best biography/history, from the Colorado Center for the Book; Lucky Lady was also the runner-up that year for the Admiral Samuel Morrison Naval History Award.
In June 2013, Jackson joined forensic investigative team NecroSearch International (the group featured in NO STONE UNTURNED) searching for the remains of the Grand Duke Mikhail Romanov in Perm, Russia as part of his research for an upcoming dramatic narrative history FINDING ANASTASIA.
Honored with NecroSearch membership in 2014, he and the team returned to Russia to continue the search in 2015, 2016, 2017 and will return to conclude their search in June 2018.
Born in 1955, Jackson grew up in Hawaii and Colorado. He graduated in 1979 from Colorado State University with a BA in Journalism.
A newspaper journalist for 25 years, he worked in locales as varied as Montana, Hawaii, Guam, Micronesia, Indonesia, Indiana, Washington D.C., Florida, Oregon and Colorado. During his career with newspapers, he received numerous national and regional awards for feature writing and investigative reporting.
Outside of writing, his interests include backpacking, fly fishing, skiing, guitar, reading, softball, music, wine, beer and spending time with his family and friends.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 349 reviews
January 5, 2017
The title led me to think it was about individuals who were particularly excellent at forensics. But it isn't. It's about Necrosearch International. A company of volunteer specialists who search for the graves of murder victims, recover and investigate the remains and any localised evidence. Necrosearch operates worldwide, not just in the discovery of the graves and bodies, but in training law enforcement in outdoor forensics. Why the book was not given a more accurate title is a mystery to me.
It was all quite interesting, some of the cold-case murders they solved particularly, but it is not really a book about forensics at all.
It was all quite interesting, some of the cold-case murders they solved particularly, but it is not really a book about forensics at all.
December 2, 2018
"They burn their victim, they blow him up, they toss him in the ocean, they bury him in the desert, they throw 'em to wood chippers. Sometimes, you know, years go by. They relax. Then they start living their lives like they didn't do anything wrong, like they didn't spend somebody else's life in order to get what they got. They think they're safe from retribution. You make those bastards unsafe." - Booth to Brennan on the TV show Bones, here appropriated because it's an absolutely perfect way to express my admiration for what these people do.
No Stone Unturned tells the story of the formation of Necrosearch, a collective made up of people at the top of their various fields, and those with unique skills to offer (such as the self-titled slobberologist who works with bloodhounds). It also goes through a few of their milestone cases, as well as touching on cases handled by some of the individual members.
Initially it's a sprawling narrative, seguing off as each member connects to another, diverting into that member's own cases and history. But gradually, the narrative and the group start to pull together into a more cohesive and refined whole, and the last half (ish) of the book focuses more into those big cases that they've handled. This edition also contained updates from 2015, 8 years since the book was originally published.
It really is a fascinating read. Initially dubbing themselves the PIG people (Pigs In Ground), the group started with a few people who knew a few people, who had wondered if their fields of expertise might be used to help police locate remote or hidden graves. As the name suggests, they began by burying dead pigs on a piece of land donated by a county sympathetic to their ideas, and used that to establish parameters for different conditions. As they discovered more, they added more members to their group, and began to make truly groundbreaking (pardon the pun but I couldn't resist) leaps in their newly-created field.
The book didn't shy away from their learning experiences (the group was determined from the start not to classify success as the determination of the location of a burial, but rather something learned), but instead presented them just as the group took them - as educational and interesting. And as well as knowledgeable, the members of this group are presented as immensely caring and human people. And given they donate what free time they do have, to try and keep the loved and lost coming home, I feel they're thoroughly worth the respect the author of this book uses to portray them.
Well worth the read for anyone with an interest.
No Stone Unturned tells the story of the formation of Necrosearch, a collective made up of people at the top of their various fields, and those with unique skills to offer (such as the self-titled slobberologist who works with bloodhounds). It also goes through a few of their milestone cases, as well as touching on cases handled by some of the individual members.
Initially it's a sprawling narrative, seguing off as each member connects to another, diverting into that member's own cases and history. But gradually, the narrative and the group start to pull together into a more cohesive and refined whole, and the last half (ish) of the book focuses more into those big cases that they've handled. This edition also contained updates from 2015, 8 years since the book was originally published.
It really is a fascinating read. Initially dubbing themselves the PIG people (Pigs In Ground), the group started with a few people who knew a few people, who had wondered if their fields of expertise might be used to help police locate remote or hidden graves. As the name suggests, they began by burying dead pigs on a piece of land donated by a county sympathetic to their ideas, and used that to establish parameters for different conditions. As they discovered more, they added more members to their group, and began to make truly groundbreaking (pardon the pun but I couldn't resist) leaps in their newly-created field.
The book didn't shy away from their learning experiences (the group was determined from the start not to classify success as the determination of the location of a burial, but rather something learned), but instead presented them just as the group took them - as educational and interesting. And as well as knowledgeable, the members of this group are presented as immensely caring and human people. And given they donate what free time they do have, to try and keep the loved and lost coming home, I feel they're thoroughly worth the respect the author of this book uses to portray them.
Well worth the read for anyone with an interest.
August 13, 2015
I found this book fascinating. I was most interested in all the various scientific specialties that were utilized and the basic research done by the group.
Necrosearch was founded in 1991 as a not for profit forensic investigation team. They specialize in homicide cold cases where a body cannot be produced.
The team members are from a wide range of experts, from chemists, geophysicists, behaviorists, medical examiners, forensic anthropologist, photography, retired police officers to cadaver dogs. Jackson reveals in the book the burden of scientific proof with exciting stories of forensic field work and basic police work.
Steve Jackson is a crime journalist based in Colorado. He is now a member of the team. His first book was a true crime story called “Monster” written in 1998. He also writes fiction along with New York ADA Robert K. Tanenbaum for a series called Butch Karp.
The first part of the book provides the history of forensics. I was surprised to learn that the French police were the first to us forensics and teach it in police training.
The middle part of the book is about the original members of Necrosearch telling about the expertise and how it was first used by the group. The group’s research teams used pigs buried in different ways and depths to learn about the changes in graves over time so that they have provable information to look for such as changes in the soil, plants, insects, animals and in the electrical flow and chemical gases of graves. I found this absolutely fascinating.
The last half of the book is about some of the field projects they under took such as the discovering the body of Michael Wallace who disappeared near Gunnison Colorado. The author covered this in depth from her disappearance, search and police work at the time to the Det. Young working it as a cold case twenty years later. Jackson covers the step by step work Young did to narrow the search area so Necrosearch had a reasonable search area. The author then covered the step by step procedures of the search and then the detailed work after the found parts of the body to local the entire body. Jackson then covered in depth the trial of the murderer and the role the team played in helping toward the conviction. Jackson covered a number of other cases in almost as much detail as the Wallace case.
The book is well written and moves at a fast pace. I understand another book about the team is on the way. I read this as an audiobook downloaded from Audible. Kevin Pierce narrated the book.
Necrosearch was founded in 1991 as a not for profit forensic investigation team. They specialize in homicide cold cases where a body cannot be produced.
The team members are from a wide range of experts, from chemists, geophysicists, behaviorists, medical examiners, forensic anthropologist, photography, retired police officers to cadaver dogs. Jackson reveals in the book the burden of scientific proof with exciting stories of forensic field work and basic police work.
Steve Jackson is a crime journalist based in Colorado. He is now a member of the team. His first book was a true crime story called “Monster” written in 1998. He also writes fiction along with New York ADA Robert K. Tanenbaum for a series called Butch Karp.
The first part of the book provides the history of forensics. I was surprised to learn that the French police were the first to us forensics and teach it in police training.
The middle part of the book is about the original members of Necrosearch telling about the expertise and how it was first used by the group. The group’s research teams used pigs buried in different ways and depths to learn about the changes in graves over time so that they have provable information to look for such as changes in the soil, plants, insects, animals and in the electrical flow and chemical gases of graves. I found this absolutely fascinating.
The last half of the book is about some of the field projects they under took such as the discovering the body of Michael Wallace who disappeared near Gunnison Colorado. The author covered this in depth from her disappearance, search and police work at the time to the Det. Young working it as a cold case twenty years later. Jackson covers the step by step work Young did to narrow the search area so Necrosearch had a reasonable search area. The author then covered the step by step procedures of the search and then the detailed work after the found parts of the body to local the entire body. Jackson then covered in depth the trial of the murderer and the role the team played in helping toward the conviction. Jackson covered a number of other cases in almost as much detail as the Wallace case.
The book is well written and moves at a fast pace. I understand another book about the team is on the way. I read this as an audiobook downloaded from Audible. Kevin Pierce narrated the book.
November 4, 2015
Some of the best parts were involving the description of the science involved. I enjoyed listening to them work through the entire scientific process to figure out different problems posed. There were many scientific first in this book, and I absolutely love hearing about the first time a scientist finds a questions, and then goes about discerning the truth in the best way they can.
I think this narration by Pierce was right on point. He has the right kind of cadence and inflection for a book focusing on science, case studies, but also the stories about the people behind the science. It was articulate throughout, and I never once had a problem understanding everything he said.
I found the entire book packed with interesting science and stories. The backstories about the people involved were just as interesting as the science itself. The only part that kind of slowed me down and I didn't enjoy as much was the second to last story about the meth dealers - The author spent WAY too much time setting up the entire scene, and by the time the actual forensic got involved it was over in a couple minutes. I would have cut this story and included one that was more science focused.
I received the audible version of this book for free in exchange for an honest review.
I think this narration by Pierce was right on point. He has the right kind of cadence and inflection for a book focusing on science, case studies, but also the stories about the people behind the science. It was articulate throughout, and I never once had a problem understanding everything he said.
I found the entire book packed with interesting science and stories. The backstories about the people involved were just as interesting as the science itself. The only part that kind of slowed me down and I didn't enjoy as much was the second to last story about the meth dealers - The author spent WAY too much time setting up the entire scene, and by the time the actual forensic got involved it was over in a couple minutes. I would have cut this story and included one that was more science focused.
I received the audible version of this book for free in exchange for an honest review.
April 3, 2024
This is non-fic about forensic investigations. It can be roughly separated into three parts: a history of forensic (when was a fingerprint officially used for the first time as a proof of who committed the crime?); a story of a group of professionals, who attempted to set crime investigations on a more scientific basis, Pig People, later NecroSearch intl; several real life cold cases, where scientists helped to convict rapists and murderers.
For me the history part (it isn’t clearly outlined as a part, more a piece here and there) was the most interesting, how technical knowledge that seems quite unrelated can help solve a crime. E.g. In March 1932, the 20-month-old son of aviation hero Charles Lindbergh was kidnapped from his second-story bedroom in the family’s rural New Jersey home. The kidnapper was found after a xylotomist (a specialist in the field of botany, specifically, the growth patterns and cellular structure of wood) was able to link a wood ladder used by the kidnapper to a specific location.
The story of Pig People (because they buried pig corpses to find out how they will decompose under different conditions) is interesting, reminded me of Bones TV series. They used not only scientists but search dogs (bloodhounds) and photographers… an interesting group of committed people.
The cases are overly detailed and stress not only use of science but emotions of both investigators and victims.
For me the history part (it isn’t clearly outlined as a part, more a piece here and there) was the most interesting, how technical knowledge that seems quite unrelated can help solve a crime. E.g. In March 1932, the 20-month-old son of aviation hero Charles Lindbergh was kidnapped from his second-story bedroom in the family’s rural New Jersey home. The kidnapper was found after a xylotomist (a specialist in the field of botany, specifically, the growth patterns and cellular structure of wood) was able to link a wood ladder used by the kidnapper to a specific location.
The story of Pig People (because they buried pig corpses to find out how they will decompose under different conditions) is interesting, reminded me of Bones TV series. They used not only scientists but search dogs (bloodhounds) and photographers… an interesting group of committed people.
The cases are overly detailed and stress not only use of science but emotions of both investigators and victims.
May 27, 2017
Subject matter was interesting but the writing wasn't awfully dynamic...
March 21, 2025
Very interesting.
Very interesting. Sometimes a little slow. The real cases were good illustrations of how their methods worked. I'm glad I read it.
Very interesting. Sometimes a little slow. The real cases were good illustrations of how their methods worked. I'm glad I read it.
January 10, 2021
This is a diamond in the rough for fans of true crime. It’s often overlooked in true crime lists, and that’s a shame because it is interesting, accessible, and emotional; signs of a good true crime book.
The beginning starts with the founding of Necrosearch International in the 1980s (the name came along in 1991.) You bet I gave it a goog, and, yes, it’s still going strong, and, yes, you’ll recognize some of the names after reading this book. The birth of the group is both endearing and hopeful; people who see a problem and work together to solve it, each one using their expertise in law enforcement or science. At one point I was thinking of them as an Avengers/Justice League kind of group, using their technology and experience to find clandestine graves.
Steve Jackson writes about the science in an accessible way, and looks at their efforts through the lens of law enforcement and science coming together in (then) rare teamwork. I used the word hopeful before, and that’s really what these individuals working as a team gave me: hope, and I attribute some of that feeling to the author’s way of telling their story.
And you’re going to need hope because once Jackson starts talking about individual cases the tone changes. He is really, really good at paying tributes to the victims and their families. He’s so good it’s difficult to read because of the level of emotion. But that’s part of what makes this book good. You should be identifying with the victims; not the perpetrators.
The beginning starts with the founding of Necrosearch International in the 1980s (the name came along in 1991.) You bet I gave it a goog, and, yes, it’s still going strong, and, yes, you’ll recognize some of the names after reading this book. The birth of the group is both endearing and hopeful; people who see a problem and work together to solve it, each one using their expertise in law enforcement or science. At one point I was thinking of them as an Avengers/Justice League kind of group, using their technology and experience to find clandestine graves.
Steve Jackson writes about the science in an accessible way, and looks at their efforts through the lens of law enforcement and science coming together in (then) rare teamwork. I used the word hopeful before, and that’s really what these individuals working as a team gave me: hope, and I attribute some of that feeling to the author’s way of telling their story.
And you’re going to need hope because once Jackson starts talking about individual cases the tone changes. He is really, really good at paying tributes to the victims and their families. He’s so good it’s difficult to read because of the level of emotion. But that’s part of what makes this book good. You should be identifying with the victims; not the perpetrators.
August 3, 2015
We've been brainwashed into thinking that murder investigation always start with a body found. Not so. How then, do we go about finding the body? Ghostbusters won't answer the call, but nowadays, NecroSearch is the organization to call. A fine group of science nerds and cadaver dogs have adapted and utilized technology usually known to us only through archaeology. In this edition, the early cases which prodded the ideas resulting in a mobile team to provide what most departments cannot afford to keep on retainer are expanded upon and epilogues provided. Like the medical examiners, this organization aids law enforcement to speak for the dead, assists in providing justice for them, and bring closure to the grieving.
KP takes audio performance tips from Joe Friday? Excellent delivery which makes it quite clear that this is reality, not fiction.
Thank you so much, AudioBook Blast for giving me the opportunity to learn.
KP takes audio performance tips from Joe Friday? Excellent delivery which makes it quite clear that this is reality, not fiction.
Thank you so much, AudioBook Blast for giving me the opportunity to learn.
May 2, 2016
Gripping!
As a lover of the tv show 'Forensic Files', I knew I had to read this book after seeing it on the show. This is the story of a group of scientists that put their efforts into finding clandestine graves. The book covers several cases that are each amazing! From the use of sonar equipment to blood hound dogs, this group uses all sorts of methods to reach their conclusions. It is a real group that are called into real cases to bring closure to otherwise cold cases. Amazing and addicting. I couldn't put it down for long
As a lover of the tv show 'Forensic Files', I knew I had to read this book after seeing it on the show. This is the story of a group of scientists that put their efforts into finding clandestine graves. The book covers several cases that are each amazing! From the use of sonar equipment to blood hound dogs, this group uses all sorts of methods to reach their conclusions. It is a real group that are called into real cases to bring closure to otherwise cold cases. Amazing and addicting. I couldn't put it down for long
September 6, 2017
This is a great book!! I loved learning how technology is being used to help solve crimes today and how the group, Necrosearch, helped facilitate many of the methods used today. The methods used are constantly evolving. To be honest, when I downloaded it I thought it was a mystery. :) It kinda is, in a sense, in that past unsolved crimes are the mysteries in this book. I would recommend this book to anyone interested. I am not in law enforcement in any way, I found the book compellng, interesting, and a very easy read. Enjoy!
September 9, 2015
The Development of a Branch of Forensics - How to Find a Body...
Even though this book was written in 1998, it gives a real life view into how many of the forensic techniques for finding dead bodies were developed by the nonprofit NecroSearch International. The book gives a concise history of forensics, then goes on to explain how the nonprofit developed out of a monthly discussion of three law enforcement officers in a coffeehouse in Colorado, who needed a better way to find where bodies were buried. They invited scientists from different disciplines as well as other law enforcement officials. The result was a group who did research on the best ways to determine the location of a grave and how to excavate it once it is found.
Starting with pigs, they buried in various conditions - they later gave a seminar, using a pig in a Sherlock Holmes costume, and became known to law enforcement as "the Pig People". The group included: aerial photographers, archeologists, botanists, dog handlers, geologists, geophysicists, naturalists and many others. This list doesn't include the criminalist personnel from the different Crime Labs of law enforcement. Working as a team, they developed best practices for finding bodies and unearthing them.
Later, the group would hire out to law enforcement, to help on specific cases where a body needed to be found, or the suspect would not face prosecution. The majority of the book follows not only NecroSearch, but also the detectives who worked the cases. By doing this, Jackson provides a well rounded and realistic picture of the frustrations, roadblocks and lengthy cases that face the police and sheriffs, as well as the victim's families. In some cases decades go by without closure, but not for lack of effort.
While science has achieved much more since this book was written, it is clear that no one simply waves their CSI wand and solves a case, as they do on television. People who are interested in forensics, real crime, cold case solutions or those who love solving puzzles will appreciate the work that Jackson went through to add atmosphere, character and humanity to many chilling stories of violence and murder.
Jackson updated this edition in 2015 with notes regarding the status of people involved and any relevant facts he thought were pertinent to each case. He is coming out with a sequel this year. I will definitely read it.
Even though this book was written in 1998, it gives a real life view into how many of the forensic techniques for finding dead bodies were developed by the nonprofit NecroSearch International. The book gives a concise history of forensics, then goes on to explain how the nonprofit developed out of a monthly discussion of three law enforcement officers in a coffeehouse in Colorado, who needed a better way to find where bodies were buried. They invited scientists from different disciplines as well as other law enforcement officials. The result was a group who did research on the best ways to determine the location of a grave and how to excavate it once it is found.
Starting with pigs, they buried in various conditions - they later gave a seminar, using a pig in a Sherlock Holmes costume, and became known to law enforcement as "the Pig People". The group included: aerial photographers, archeologists, botanists, dog handlers, geologists, geophysicists, naturalists and many others. This list doesn't include the criminalist personnel from the different Crime Labs of law enforcement. Working as a team, they developed best practices for finding bodies and unearthing them.
Later, the group would hire out to law enforcement, to help on specific cases where a body needed to be found, or the suspect would not face prosecution. The majority of the book follows not only NecroSearch, but also the detectives who worked the cases. By doing this, Jackson provides a well rounded and realistic picture of the frustrations, roadblocks and lengthy cases that face the police and sheriffs, as well as the victim's families. In some cases decades go by without closure, but not for lack of effort.
While science has achieved much more since this book was written, it is clear that no one simply waves their CSI wand and solves a case, as they do on television. People who are interested in forensics, real crime, cold case solutions or those who love solving puzzles will appreciate the work that Jackson went through to add atmosphere, character and humanity to many chilling stories of violence and murder.
Jackson updated this edition in 2015 with notes regarding the status of people involved and any relevant facts he thought were pertinent to each case. He is coming out with a sequel this year. I will definitely read it.
October 25, 2016
This book suffers a little from not being sure whether it's the history of NecroSearch International or the history of the major cases NecroSearch had (by publication in 2002) helped solve. From a true crime perspective, it's interesting to read the course of the investigations and how the detectives searching for Michele Wallace, Diane Keidel, Cher Elder, and Christine Elkins came to the point of asking NecroSearch for help, but from a history-of-NecroSearch perspective, I'm actually way more interested in the experiments with pigs and the forensics of all their cases, not just these big dramatic success stories.
Other than that, this is competently written and engaging and certainly well worth reading.
Other than that, this is competently written and engaging and certainly well worth reading.
January 22, 2016
Gripping story of a multidisciplinary team, including rescue workers, naturalists, criminalists, police, you name it -- who solve tough criminal cases by doing whatever it takes to find the evidence. Not a single dull story in here!
February 12, 2023
Fascinating subject matter. A group of experts in their field come together to help law enforcement solve murders and disappearances. I'm not rating this higher however because I personally felt it was too wordy. I wanted to read more about the investigations and less about the personal history of the murderers and researchers. 3.5 stars
December 2, 2023
“There’s no statute of limitations on murder, and there’s no statute of limitations on grief”
March 4, 2024
Pretty interesting book - but I somehow expected more mystery and twists :(
July 7, 2015
NO STONE UNTURNED was a good listen on the basis of forensics. It was informative on how forensic science came about and what it entailed. The story involved a group of hardworking, dedicated individuals who never gave up in the search for missing people who were murdered and the evildoers who killed them. Despite multiple road blocks they had gotten lucky in several cases.
The book follows Diane France and others throughout the process which at first began as Project Pig, enlisting a group of trustees who played an integral role with Davenport in the start up of the grassroots beginnings of Necrosearch and NecroSearch International. (It was somewhat humorous when the trustees made up puns such as the pigs committing sooie-cide and Dr. Ke-porkian). A little humor goes a long way in a book such as this. I suspect they most likely had many hard days and nights where jokes and funny puns were welcomed in the light of the circumstances, however they took their jobs seriously. Jokes aside, through their hard work they got the job done.
More of this review can be found at Sixth Dimension Audiobook Reviews.
Audiobook received in exchange for an honest review.
June 22, 2016
Very interesting. Opens with a general history of the origins of professional police investigators and the development of forensics in the late 19th/early 20th century. Continues into the more specific history and growth of an eclectic group of scientists/academics with a wide set of backgrounds and experience to become the world's premier forensic search team, Necrosearch. Using their diverse set of skills to help locate missing bodies in cold cases. As they say, there's no device or technology to locate a missing body, but by looking for anomalies in in the ground, or water, in forests, etc to determine the best places to start a search. Closes with some of their most important cases, keeping alive the hopes of police and family members of cold case victims. Their goal is not necessarily an a conviction or acquittal of a case, but to locate missing victims to bring a sense of closure for surviving families and the investigators dedicating years to these cases. Necrosearch's motto sums it all up: There is no statute of limitations for murder. There's also no statute of limitations for grief.
June 24, 2016
Not my usual reading genre, but I did enjoy this book. I did not realize that the forensic investigators involved in criminology was such a young science, started informally in the late 1980's. Seeing the CSI and like- type shows having been around what seems like forever, I assumed the science had been older than it really is. This book explained how people sharing different expertise's in various scientific fields began gathering and collaborating as NecroSearch Internationaland how it changed the way police investigations were done. The one fact that jumped out at me in the beginnings of the book that only about 1/3 of the murders in this country are solved. I had no idea that number was so low! Although this book was written in the early 2000's, that number has not changed much. The cases that were described in the book were updated; the author revisited the people or cases in 2015, which was nice to see some of the follow-up. It made me particularly appreciate and respect those in involved in both dogged police work and the experts that team up in NecroSearch International.
December 9, 2020
Overall: 2.5 stars. A book with some really interesting forensics cases, bogged down with a little too much focus on recreating conversations
As I’ve mentioned in other reviews, I have been interested in forensic science and forensic anthropology since I was a kid, so this book’s subject is a great fit for me. Although the book covers some interesting cases and cool advances in forensics technology and approaches, the general narrative is thrown off by a dedication to recreating conversations word-for-word. That kind of approach can work really well in sections or for entire books if you really zoom in on particular investigations or people, but since this book covers multiple cases over several years, the direct quote interview style recreations of conversations becomes tedious after a while. I think this content could have been better delivered in a more narrative-based, summary approach rather than as mini-biographies/character studies of the scientists, but the cases themselves were quite interesting nevertheless
As I’ve mentioned in other reviews, I have been interested in forensic science and forensic anthropology since I was a kid, so this book’s subject is a great fit for me. Although the book covers some interesting cases and cool advances in forensics technology and approaches, the general narrative is thrown off by a dedication to recreating conversations word-for-word. That kind of approach can work really well in sections or for entire books if you really zoom in on particular investigations or people, but since this book covers multiple cases over several years, the direct quote interview style recreations of conversations becomes tedious after a while. I think this content could have been better delivered in a more narrative-based, summary approach rather than as mini-biographies/character studies of the scientists, but the cases themselves were quite interesting nevertheless
May 11, 2016
I just want to rave about this book. It has thoroughly pulled me in and shown me just how much interest I have in this topic. The author is very capable of drawing the reader in to experience the nature and work of Necrosearch. An incredible team, having this opportunity to see through their eyes is invaluable. The book goes into great detail about the cases that it profiles. And it does not focus singularly on the work of the team, but also on the emotional and physical challenges leading up to and after their work. It expresses motivation that the reader can share. It also does not press too hard on fine detail to the exclusion of the experience, as one might fear. Instead, it presents well-balanced, easily readable scenes that can pull you in before you realize it.
As this was an update to a previous edition, I just want to say I'm waiting eagerly for the next edition or additional stories.
As this was an update to a previous edition, I just want to say I'm waiting eagerly for the next edition or additional stories.
December 28, 2015
I found this to be a compelling book for the use of sciences in our investigation of the truth in justice.
This is well written for the average person to just pick up and read. The real situations are handled with passion, and considering the cases with where in the investigation certain scientific research may come to the aid of law enforcement. This a story of a group of scientists that do research for better understanding in helping locate bodies and help the forensics be the best it can. They are independent from law enforcement and are a non-profit group and every case is taken on only if the police have done a lot of work and the group thinks it can help in some way. I thought it was very interesting and informative.
This is well written for the average person to just pick up and read. The real situations are handled with passion, and considering the cases with where in the investigation certain scientific research may come to the aid of law enforcement. This a story of a group of scientists that do research for better understanding in helping locate bodies and help the forensics be the best it can. They are independent from law enforcement and are a non-profit group and every case is taken on only if the police have done a lot of work and the group thinks it can help in some way. I thought it was very interesting and informative.
May 28, 2016
If you have any interest in the history of forensics this is a great read. They begin by discussing how they created a group; each person a specialist in their field (botanists, geophysics, etc) in order to use each skill set to enhance the ability to find bodies determined by the needs of each case. They move into how those forensics are used and then follow with actual cases applying the forensics and how they create the teams for the most efficient use of man power and resources. A very enjoyable and informative read. They build the characters enough to give it a personal touch throughout the growth and development of the group.
September 26, 2019
I really enjoyed the structure of this book; it lended itself to adequate background of the organization and scientists while also providing sufficient time spent on the cases covered. Jackson does a great job at tying together the viewpoints, opinions, and experiences of many different people in a way that is clear and concise. I would recommend picking up this book if you:
a) Enjoy the field of forensics and the various fields of science it takes into consideration
b) Are interested in true crime & how cases can turn from cold to hot real fast
c) Like hearing about the people involved with forensics, their experiences and how they cope with their job
d) All of the above
a) Enjoy the field of forensics and the various fields of science it takes into consideration
b) Are interested in true crime & how cases can turn from cold to hot real fast
c) Like hearing about the people involved with forensics, their experiences and how they cope with their job
d) All of the above
December 12, 2015
The real life CSI and how it got started. The book starts off with the history of fingerprints and microscope analysis of bullets, but mainly happens in 70's-90's. There was a tiny bunch of people who wondered if they could bury pigs to find out how the cadavers and the ground behaved while time went by. In time the bunch grows, while they add geologists, botanists etc. The book has several (was it seven?) cases that had gone cold and the PIG-people come to save the day. Really fun read, I would read a sequel also.
August 4, 2018
Fascinating true story of the beginnings and notable cases of the forensic investigation firm, Necrosearch Intl. The level of detail and dedication exhibited by the various scientists involved in the searches for the bodies of the missing is truly impressive. Bonus: many of the cases and scientists are Colorado-based and the crimes and localities were familiar to me. If you love true crime, read this.
September 21, 2015
Fascinating accounts of the founding of necrosearch, a group of people who try to find the bodies of victims with the hope of catching the killer, or in some cases ensuring the police and the courts have the evidence to close a case.
The work sounds harrowing and yet rewarding when they get the results everyone is hoping for.
The work sounds harrowing and yet rewarding when they get the results everyone is hoping for.
didnt-finish
December 20, 2015I didn't like this enough to continue listening to it. I'm not sure what it was about it exactly, because the concept is interesting and I liked the narrator just fine, but I couldn't make myself focus on the words for more than a minute or two at a time. It was a useless endeavor, in the end, so I have to give up and move on to something else.
March 31, 2017
I'm so glad that Necrosearch exists because it is a little relief to know that good people exist in this world. It's sad to know that a crime like this happened but I'm glad that it was able to be solved.
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