Autopsies

by Geoff Symon

Want to add an autopsy that won’t kill your story? Death swings its scythe in every genre, from family funerals to crime scenes to creatures that won’t stay buried. This user-friendly, illustrated reference digs into all things posthumous and postmortem.

Presented as a research manual for the experienced writer, this “Forensics for Fiction” title offers practical approaches and realistic details by covering:

¤ Terms and techniques used during autopsy procedures
¤ Different postmortem professionals and their specialties
¤ The stages of decomposition in different environments
¤ Methods used to estimate the time of death
¤ Case studies in which autopsies cracked the crime
¤ Examples of how to use autopsies in any popular genre

Whether you’re writing about dissection or resurrection, this guidebook covers it all from cadaver to slab as an easy-to-understand resource for dead-on storytelling.

Genres: Writing, Nonfiction

Paperback

Published December 1, 2017

Reviews

[Leslie Langtry · Rating 5 out of 5]

This has become one of my GO TO research books - but AUTOPSIES can be read for fun too! Not gory or blindingly technical - this book is wonderful, informative and fun!

[Paula · Rating 5 out of 5]

Does your story or book use forensic science? Do you want your story to be as accurate as possible for your readers?

Forget what you've seen on NCIS or CSI: Miami. Autopsies, the third installment of the Forensics for Fiction series, is a small book packed with information. The language is written so that anyone interested in basic information about autopsies would understand the correct terms to use for dialogue and exposition. Other books are suggested if the reader wishes to dig deeper. A glossary of medical terms and a summary chart are provided at the back of the book.

I highly recommend the book as well as the Forensics for Fiction series for those who seek basic and accurate information.

[Emily Stone · Rating 5 out of 5]

Autopsies is THE IDEAL resource for writers of crime novels or thrillers or even procedural enthusiasts. It's entertaining and fun to read while brimming with real life cases and all the detailed information you need to write a believable autopsy scene. If you aren't a writer, this book (especially combined with Symon's other books, Blood Spatter and Crime Scenes) will turn you into an arm-chair investigative expert so you can solve crimes along with or even before your fave characters. The prose is bright and fluid and enjoyable. Yet another great writing resource and engaging read from Geoff Symon.

[Alex Haasky · Rating 5 out of 5]

Um. I picked this up during a certain recent true crime investigation, as I was curious to learn more about how the cause, manner, and mechanism of death is determined. It did go briefly into that, but I got a lot more information than I was originally looking for about autopsies in general. It was very, interesting, and a quick read. Definitely helpful for writing.