The Forensic Casebook: The Science of Crime Scene Investigation

by Ngaire E. Genge

Filled with intriguing true stories, and packed with black-and-white illustrations and photographs, The Forensic Casebook draws on interviews with police personnel and forensic scientists - including animal examiners, botanists, zoologists, firearms specialists, and autopsists - to uncover the vast and detailed under workings of criminal investigation. Encyclopaedic in scope, this riveting, authoritative book leaves no aspect of forensic science untouched, covering such fascinating topics as securing a crime scene, identifying blood splatter patterns, collecting fingerprints, and feet, lip and ear prints and career paths in criminal science. Lucidly written and spiked with real crime stories, The Forensic Casebook exposes the nitty-gritty that other books only touch upon.

Genres: Nonfiction, True Crime, Science, Reference, Crime, Medical, Social Science

336 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2002

Reviews

[Evander · Rating 4 out of 5]

Actually, it was more in depth than I was expecting, though still accessible to the layman, I think. I liked best reading the anecdotes from various professionals, as of course I either knew or had an idea of the theory anyway. Still, it did more than gloss over techniques, going into a bit of detail about PCR, STRs and so on, and different reagents for lifting fingerprints, etc. A good reference book even for those in the field to a lesser extent, like me. I still haven't decided yet whether to pursue my Masters in forensic science instead of biomedical science, but we'll see!

It didn't read like a textbook to me, more like a basic introduction for the layman to learn some of the information concerned with the field. If you're looking for something comprehensive, this isn't it. There aren't any useful pictures either, just stock photos of fingerprints, magnifying glasses, and the usual. It was a nice quick read for me, to recap some basic stuff. Basically, for me, the anecdotes made the book. You learn in here about the principles of techniques, but less detail of the information, e.g. about using insects to identify time of death and so on, but not details about species, time periods of their life cycles, etc.

[Brandy · Rating 3 out of 5]

“I could see where a bullet had exited through the window directly behind Cross’s bed. The glass fracture was clean and the radial lines even: The shooter had fired from a standing position, directly across the bed”(Thomas Pierce, from James Patterson’s Cat & Mouse, quoted in The Forensic Casebook on page 83). The Forensic Casebook discusses many different cases; some were difficult to solve and others were simple. Whether or not a case seems easy or difficult, a police officer needs to take the same steps in solving that case. A theme that I found in this nonfiction book is: Sometimes in life a person is challenged with something that seems way over their head, when that challenge arrives a person needs to think logically rather than emotionally. I decided to read this book because I have an interest in crime solving. This book is aimed more toward young adults and I would recommend this book for Forensic lovers. I personally found this book to be very informational and easy to understand.

[Chloe Bragança · Rating 4 out of 5]

Overall very interesting read, loved the interview excepts from interviews with real professionals involved in the world of forensics!

Docked a star in comparison to Gallop’s How To Solve A Crime purely because I don’t feel this one flowed quite as well, and the examples were somewhat vague (I’d like to have known names of people involved in cases so I could look them up for further research, for example). Still very good overall though!

[Regan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Excellent resource for forensics--and definitely showed me a few places where I can strengthen my romantic suspense.

[Samantha Larson · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Forensic Casebook: The Science of Crime Scene Investigation by Ngaire E. Genge is one of those books that completely pulls you in from the very first section. It offers an in-depth look into the world of forensic science - the methods, the people, and the incredible stories behind real criminal investigations. Every page is filled with insight into how crime scenes are analyzed and how even the smallest clue can reveal the truth.

What makes this book so enjoyable is how clearly and accessibly everything is explained. Genge does a fantastic job of breaking down complex forensic techniques - like DNA testing, fingerprint analysis, and blood spatter interpretation - and presenting them in a way that’s easy to follow but still richly detailed. It never feels overwhelming or too technical. Instead, it feels like being guided through the process by someone who truly understands and loves the science of investigation.

The inclusion of real-world cases and examples adds so much depth and excitement. Each story helps you see the direct connection between scientific methods and solving crimes, and it’s absolutely fascinating to read about how investigators think, what they look for, and how every piece of evidence plays a role.

This book is perfect for anyone who’s curious about forensic science - whether you’re a student, a true-crime fan, or just someone who loves learning how things work behind the scenes. It’s well-written, well-organized, and full of eye-opening information that makes you appreciate the precision and dedication that go into every investigation.

Overall, The Forensic Casebook is a captivating and educational read that blends science, real-life drama, and storytelling beautifully. It’s the kind of book that leaves you with a deeper respect for the people who work tirelessly to uncover the truth through science.

[Alexa · Rating 5 out of 5]

I highly recommend this book if you are studying forensics or just interested. While it was a little bit of a dry read it did have a lot of very good facts. Grace Tierney, a fellow reviewer, said “...good mix of science with case studies and interviews with people working in the field.” I totally with what shes saying. There was a perfect mix of science but you also got to see some real cases and how they were solved. The book started off with the first steps for an officer to follow once he/she gets to a crime scene. With each paragraph I learned more and more about what it’s like to work on a crime scene. Before reading this i just figured that the officers collected evidence in plastic bags, but they really have to take into account everything that happened and is happening. Throughout the whole book you get to read real life cases. While I read some of the cases I would pause and try to figure it out before reading more. It was very confusing and sometimes i had no idea what to think. One case in the book talking about how a man murdered a family and had a gorilla costume on while doing it, WHO WOULD’VE THOUGHT THAT! I learned a lot from this book,including that dirt can be traced back to a specific place. Also, when a blood spatter is left behind the pattern of it is more helpful than the actual blood. In the future I would like to go into the criminal justice field and this book really helped me learn more about it. There is not one person that I wouldn’t recommend this book to. One of my favorite quotes from the book is, “Even under seemingly perfect conditions, with unlimited time to secure a scene, ...things go wrong.”(10) This quote shows the reality of being the first officer at a crime scene and all the responsibility they have.

[Claire Kibble · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book. I found it did a good job at explaining the roles and techniques used in forensic science but in a plain and simple way. At one point in my life I was considering a career in forensic science and I wish I had read this book then as it gives a good overview of what the different jobs entail and what the expected salaries are (at the time of publishing anyway).

I'm generally very interested in forensics and crime so I did know a fair amount before beginning to read this book. It did elaborate further on topics that I had some knowledge about, so it wasn't boring. My copy was published in 2002, so I'm sure a lot of the things detailed have more modern processes now. I would be interested in reading an updated version of this book (or something similar if anyone knows of a good book).

I really enjoyed how they related the different techniques to real life cases, TV shows and books. Most people's exposure to forensics is usually from true crime, detective shows and crime novels, which often glaze over the nitty gritty to make it all sound so simple (or in the cases of fiction just make it up entirely). having those techniques from TV and books elaborated on and 'corrected' gives a deeper understanding and appreciation of all the work that goes into finding the smallest clues to find some of the worst people.

[Erin Penn · Rating 4 out of 5]

The casebook was originally published 2002 (with the writing portion/going to edits completed shortly after Sept 2001), the book is showing its age. The TV shows mentioned, while having incredibly long legs (15 years in some cases), are now off the air. The computer technology hinted at as exotic - such as digital pictures and cell phones capable of video - are now expected.

Even so, the stories related by the people interviewed by Ms. Genge are amazing and most of the true science of crime scene investigation still is operational today. Pictures still are taken (whether silver plate, film, or digital), fingerprints are gathered, cross-contamination monitored, and cross-examination in a court of law a necessary burden. What needs to be done at crime scenes still pretty much the same: make sure the scene is safe, save any injured people, and then gather the evidence to nail the idiot who did the crime. And it usually is an idiot - sometimes really creepy or weird idiots, but idiots.

I don't know if there are more modern forensic books out there, but I hope they followed this format - entertaining and informative. An engrossing read.

[Brittany Cook · Rating 3 out of 5]

Forensics is an incredibly fascinating field, and I was eager to explore it in greater depth. While this book did provide a comprehensive overview of crime scene investigation, its presentation was rather dry and made the material somewhat difficult to engage with. The author’s writing style—particularly in the way certain cases were conveyed—felt unconventional and didn’t quite resonate with me. Although the content was informative and I certainly gained new insights, I found myself wishing the book had more personality and read less like a traditional textbook.

[Grace Tierney · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this book to research a science activity at a scout camp for teenagers and it was perfect for that as there was a good mix of science with case studies and interviews with people working in the field. Covered good range of topics - trace, blood, hair, dna, finger prints, documents, autopsy, crime scene, soil, botany, weapons, ballistics etc. Not too technical so good for an average reader with some science knowledge but not great for a textbook for someone working in the area.

[Lisa Kucharski · Rating 4 out of 5]

An extremely detailed book about criminal forensics and how each bit of information is processed and used. It does reference the reality vs what you see on tv shows. The process is as much about the person as it is the equipment and even creating ways to preserve evidence. If you are a fan of mysteries or the like, if you just want to know how crime is solved etc this is a great book.

[Crystal · Rating 4 out of 5]

It's a great book for a layman interested in forensic science. It has some nice case studies and anecdotes from real crime scene investigators, some are very funny and bizarre. I'd recommend for students who are interested in a career in criminology etc but aren't sure just what kind because there is lots of information about each job, average wage, and education needed.

[jammaster_mom · Rating 2 out of 5]

This is not what I was looking for. This is more of an introduction to different forensic jobs and what they involve. There is a lot of resource material including various colleges that offer different forensic degrees. I was wanting more stories from those in the different fields. There are grey sections with those stories but there is much more resource material.

[Sarah · Rating 5 out of 5]

An interesting detailed and in depth book. Incredibly informative and included interesting cases which I found the most interesting as a reader. The techniques described are fascinating and really makes you appreciate the subject of forensics. I would say this is very much like a study book that you would use alongside a course in forensics.

[Mars G. · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a textbook. I read this as a casual read.

As a casual read, it's dry as a bone. I found myself reading the same paragraphs several times.

As a textbook, it is very informative. There's probably an updated version somewhere out there, though.

[Bec · Rating 2 out of 5]

This was ok. There were some sections that were far too detailed (for example the numerous fingerprinting chemicals) but other parts were very interesting. I think it could have done with more anecdotes to demonstrate the techniques, rather than solely relying on technical information.

[Claudia · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great introduction to forensics.

[Jessica · Rating 3 out of 5]

I thought this book would be a little more in-depth than it was, but it still turned out to be fairly informative.

[Abigail · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.5 stars

[Becky B · Rating 4 out of 5]

N.E. Genge takes the armchair sleuths on a tour of what real life crime scene investigation involves and the various jobs of people who work the scenes and evidence. The tour involves interviews with numerous real investigators and scientists and examples from real cases. The book includes appendixes that give overviews of the various jobs available and recommended schools for those seriously interested in pursuing those fields.

A very interesting, down-to-earth look at a field that is sometimes overly-glamorized by Hollywood. Anyone really interested in going into this field should definitely pick up this book along with some of the other autobiographies of famous forensic scientists. I like that Genge takes the time to go over the requirements of all the various main jobs. I can see this book saving someone who likes CSI or Bones a lot of time and money before diving into the field of study only to find out that it involves a ton of paperwork and boredom and frustration not frequently covered in the shows. I do hope that Genge is working on a revised edition of this book soon. It is over 10 years old, which is enough time that some of these fields (primarily forensic photography) have evolved a bit since the book was written. Still, most of the basics of the jobs are the same. Armchair sleuths who aren't ready to try out their hand in the field but still like to read about real life forensic investigations will find enough stories included in here to entertain (or seriously freak out...the killer icicle one makes me glad I live in a tropical climate).

Notes on content: No language issues that I remember. Anatomical terms and things are kept scientific and professional. Rape cases are sometimes mentioned, but no graphic details. Obviously, there's a lot of death and violence mentioned.

[Karen · Rating 5 out of 5]

A liberal sprinkling of real-life anecdotes makes ‘The Forensic Casebook’ a very readable and engrossing account of the practical and scientific aspects of investigating crime scenes.

Quotes and examples from seasoned professionals in the field, job descriptions, and resources for crime scene investigators, combine to create a book that serves as both a layman’s introduction to the subject and an overview for the rookie policeman.

Notable stories illustrating the challenges facing crime scene investigators include the perpetrator who tried to make it look as though a gorilla had ransacked an apartment using a costume to create ‘gorilla’ fingerprints, the bullet that was eventually found in the bicycle tyre of a cyclist who had been passing when the gun was fired, and the ‘disappearing’ murder weapons.

Some of the most fascinating chapters describe the development of fingerprinting and other bodily impressions left at a crime scene, handwriting analysis and entomology or the law enforcement side of the study of insects.

N E Genge has succeeded in writing an interesting book which is easy to read and understand, providing a fascinating insight into the complex world of crime scene analysis.

[Page · Rating 4 out of 5]

While I consider this to be a reference book, I still read it front to back. It's starting to show its age and is ripe for a second or revised edition. However, that aside, it is a fascinating and detailed look into the many angles of forensics, from tire impressions to autopsies and everything between.

Real people in the field were interviewed and there are real cases to show examples throughout. The author also notes where television shows get things wrong -- and in some cases where they get things right. The appendixes include a long list of where you can study forensics and the bibliography is a great resource if you want even more detail on a given specialization within the field.

If you intend to write crime fiction, this book will get dog-eared in a hurry.

[Natalie · Rating 3 out of 5]

I was into forensic science years before CSI - so bite me.

There is a current glut of books on the market to sate the appetite of dilettants who have no comprehension that DNA checks can take weeks and sometimes months to process, but that's okay with me - I've been interested in this stuff for years and wasn't able to read much about it til recently.

This one's pretty by-the-numbers, but I'm not much of a scientist.

[Drew (graysonsyd) · Rating 3 out of 5]

An altogether informative casebook that's essentially been given the James Cameron treatment: substance and style over depth of content. Good for beginners starting out in the forensic discipline but it will seem shallow and superficial to the more hardened scientist.

[Tracy · Rating 4 out of 5]

It is a nice overview of forensics. I liked the plain language discussions of the various disciplines within the field of forensics. It even provides information of job types and educational opportunities for those interested in entering the profession.

[Balthazar Lawson · Rating 1 out of 5]

I didn't find this engaging enough to enjoy and like. It wasn't what I was expecting and so often it felt like a career guide to working in forensics than being a book about cases. At the same time it was also offering reviews on TV crime shows and crime novels.

[Kirsten Uhler · Rating 4 out of 5]

A great resource if your interested in forensic science.

[Leighann · Rating 3 out of 5]

all the science described my only problem is that some cases are too gruesome to use in class

[Mandy Huot · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really interesting book! It's almost like a textbook without vocabulary words! I enjoyed reading it.

[Kelsey Jordan · Rating 4 out of 5]

A good start for researching a future WIP.