Reviews tagging 'Medical content'

The Science of Murder: The Forensics of Agatha Christie by Carla Valentine

4 reviews

bridge_to_narnia's review

adventurous dark informative lighthearted reflective relaxing slow-paced

4.25

A very interesting insight into forensic analysis as well as the dedication to such knowledge that Agatha Christie must have had to craft her works. A very good detailed overview, though there is definitely missing knowledge. The work itself is well written in a style of a conversation from a friend who is very interested in the topics. The author states forensic facts, the knowledge that Agatha Christie comparatively displayed in that field and then at points interjects her thoughts and experiences in the field as well.

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Content Warnings

Minor: Animal death, Gun violence, Medical content, and Injury/Injury detail

This book deals with murder and works backwards on how that happened. There are mentions of strange forensic techniques like

degloving the skin from the hand to preserve fingerprints and the old method of tasting various liquids (like stomach contents) to determine if there is poison in it

. These are never written in great detail, mentioned in a matter of fact type of way, rather than disturbing, but if you are sensitive to bodily wet work, I would have someone read the book and then give you the cliff notes.

anniereads221's review against another edition

informative reflective

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Gore, Violence, Blood, Medical content, Murder, and Injury/Injury detail

jhbandcats's review against another edition

challenging dark informative mysterious slow-paced

4.0

I love mysteries and I loved Carla Valentine’s memoir, The Chick and the Dead. I was really excited about this book, eagerly awaiting its release in the US. 

Unfortunately, I found it slow. Because I hadn’t read any Agatha Christie in many years, I was unfamiliar with the books she mentioned. I read several of Christie’s mysteries concurrently with this book, and that helped, but overall I found it a bit of a slog. 

Valentine’s research is top-notch and she includes witty anecdotes, background on real murder cases Christie would have known, and information on the development of forensics. Christie wrote for more than fifty years so there were lots of changes that were reflected in her tales. 

I think I just didn’t find it as exciting as I’d expected. Others will likely enjoy it because it’s so well-written. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Gore, Violence, Blood, Medical content, and Murder

jomarches_22's review

dark informative lighthearted reflective medium-paced

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Gore, Excrement, Medical content, Murder, and Injury/Injury detail