Until I picked up this book I had never heard of Sir Bernard Spilsbury, but in his day he was a household name.

Nowadays the forensic pathologist is commonplace in court and people are well aware of the general types of things that they can do with fingerprints, DNA analysis, projectiles and crime scene investigation. But at the turn of the 19th century the English were well behind their continental cousins with regards to ascertaining the facts behind murders and deaths of people.

Spilsbury was an imposing figure, around 6'2", and he brought to this new discipline a rigour and standard that no one else had had until that point.He was top of his game from four decades, and covered up to 300 cases in a year at times. He developed items like the murder bag that had all the necessary instrument in that a pathologist would need at a crime scene, and he kept detailed records of every case that he worked on.

When in court he explained the facts in clear and simply terms and was responsible for the convictions of many murderers. As his reputation grew he was involved with professional clashes with a couple of other up and coming pathologists. his work ethic meant that he was rarely at home, and in later years his marriage suffered. Towards the end of his life, he suffered a number of person tragedies before dying at the age of 70. ( )

Enjoyed this collection of "true crimes" very much and the development of forensic investigation under Spilsbury. Imagine my surpise when one of the cases involved a family member, and the guilty party was the heir to the J.R. Reynolds tobacco fortune. Well written and interesting, and light on the deep science! ( )

Evans’ biography of Spilsbury is devoted more to the scientific and titillating than to the personal. His painstaking research on the many cases that made Spilsbury’s career as a criminal pathologist (later known as forensic scientist) is immaculate. Before him, the state of English forensic science was shambolic; after him, revered around the world. Evans does, however, sometimes get a little too clever and thesaurus-happy with his writing and this becomes distracting at times. But, all in all, this is a very enthralling book. ( )

Absorbing. A fascinating story about a fascinating man. ( )

This is a chiefly professional history of the life and work of Sir Bernard Spilsbury, one of the great forensic scientists in English history. When he began his career, forensic science was beginning to develop, but was regarded with skepticism in England. A master of self-presentation, as well as a brilliant scientist, Spilsbury's courtroom appearances, combined with the excellent work of himself and his colleagues, convinced the courts and public of the value of forensic science.

Colin Evans focuses on some of his most famous cases. One thing that I particularly appreciated was his notes in which he updated the information. In some cases, for examples, things that could not be tested for then can be detected now. In addition, forensic work has once again fallen out of favor owing to contentious expert-witness testimony.

A very interesting read for people interested in forensics, and a good explanation of the care and dedication required for such work. Not so very useful as a personal biography of Spilsbury. ( )