Crime Scene Investigation

Lovers of CSI and Law and Order who want a better understanding of the crime-investigation process will find much to enjoy in this volume by noted forensic pathologist Wecht, a coroner for Allegheny County, Pa. Drawing on notable real-life cases (such as Charles Manson and Ted Bundy), Wecht's book takes readers step-by-step through an investigation: from the crime scene to the inquiry and forensic analysis to the arrest and trial. Along the way it explains what the role of a criminalist is, how time of death is determined, how fingerprints are classified and how samples of a suspect's hair can be microscopically compared with hair found on the victim. There's a chapter on forensic psychology (understanding criminal motives and the role of psychosis), and sidebars offer first-person accounts of""a day in the life of"" a wide range of people involved in criminal investigation, including a forensic photographer, a criminal intelligence analyst and a crime reporter. With lots of photos and illustrations, this book is about as close as you can get to an actual criminal investigation without joining the police force.