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Закарбовано на кістках. Таємниці, які ми залишаємо після себе
Кістки � мовчазні свідки людського життя. Кожна частина нашого тіла може розповісти історію. Те, що ми їмо, усе, що робимо, залишає сліди � повідомлення, які терпляче чекають місяцями, роками і навіть століттями, доки судово-медичний антрополог їх розшифрує. Всесвітньо відома судова антропологиня і професорка Сью Блек запрошує читачів у захопливу подорож людським тілом, від маківки до стоп, досліджуючи кістки голови, тулуба й кінцівок та розповідаючи історії людей, яким ці кістки належали. «Нам цікаво, якою була людина, що прожила це життя. Ми хочемо віднайти закарбоване на кістках, щоб розповісти історії тіл, а можливо, навіть повернути загиблим імена». Попри серйозність теми книжка написана з гумором. Кожна історія авторки сповнена поваги до людей і любові до власної справи�
336 pages, Hardcover
First published September 30, 2020
1,429 people are currently reading
21.3k people want to read
About the author
Sue Black
19books444followersProfessor Dame Sue Black is one of the world's leading anatomists and forensic anthropologists. She is also the Pro-Vice Chancellor for Engagement at Lancaster University. She was the lead anthropologist for the British Forensic Team's work in the war crimes investigations in Kosovo and one of the first forensic scientists to travel to Thailand following the Indian Ocean tsunami to provide assistance in identifying the dead. Sue is a familiar face in the media, where documentaries have been filmed about her work, and she led the highly successful BBC 2 series History Cold Case.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 1,061 reviews
June 13, 2021
In the UK there have been more than several undocumented immigrant men claiming to be aged 16 and being a child have to be homed by the local authority, often in a children's home and educated until the age of 18. This is not a good situation because no one wants grown men mixing with 16 year old girls 24/7 in a care home and in school, especially those who come from cultures where there is little respect for women, let alone young girls who all want a boyfriend when they are 16.
Firstly the clavicle, or collar bone, is the very first bone to begin growing in the foetus and the last one to stop growing. Girls clavicles do not grow much after the age of 8, and boys after the age of 12 - male skeletons which are bigger, broader and more dense than women's go on growing for longer, which is one of the reasons why girls and boys are often the same height but girls just stop growing sooner. This is pre-pubertal and will remain for life no matter the influence (or not) of hormones at puberty and afterwards. This is very important in forensic anthropology in order to identify bones as male and female and their age. From a CT scan, Majid's age was put at close to 25, it's that accurate.
Secondly, the hand. The bones of the hand fuse at 17. If men claiming to be children were scanned, which is a fast, non-invasive process, it would at least point to whether the male was really the child he was claiming to be or if it required an assessment of the clavicle. Age and sex can be deduced from a very, very small bone fragment of the hand found in the ashes of a fire.
Something gruesome: (1) When bones are being searched for in a refuse dump, many more ribs will come up than other bones and look human. They aren't, they are spare ribs post Saturday night takeout! (2) In Scotland it is apparently not rare for people to phone the police saying that there is a skeletal hand on the beach, it rarely is, it's the bones of a seal's flipper, which are almost like our own.
The chapters of the book are named for the main areas of the body, the head, the face, the spine etc. And a very detailed description of their formation, their maturation, possible defects and what they will show if they have been damaged during a crime to a forensic anthropologist. It's much more interesting than CSI, those tv shows have a whole fiction of forensics that has become a trope, but it shouldn't be believed. The reality is things take much longer, are much harder and much more interesting.
I really didn't like this author's and dnf'd and 2 starred it. But this is quite different, it's sticking to the point - forensic anthropology - rather than being about the author. So far, it's looking like a 5 star book. Now I've finished it, it's a 10 star, detailed, interesting, thought-provoking and since it is so well-written, very enjoyable to read. This is one of the best forensics books I have read.
Majid was a refugee from Afghanistan who arrived in the UK and was assigned an age of sixteen. He was placed in the care of a local authority home for the remaining two years of his childhood. It was here that he started to groom young girls. Two years after he left the children’s home, he was arrested for the rape and murder of his girlfriend’s best friend and found himself before the courts.However, age can be quite accurately estimated particularly from two parts of the body.
Majid’s records showed that he was now twenty years old. However, his girlfriend told investigators that he had said he was actually twenty-four, and had boasted about having fooled the authorities. If he was twenty-four, then it would mean, of course, that he had been twenty when he moved into the children’s home, not sixteen, and that vulnerable children in care had been exposed to a predatory adult masquerading as a child.
Firstly the clavicle, or collar bone, is the very first bone to begin growing in the foetus and the last one to stop growing. Girls clavicles do not grow much after the age of 8, and boys after the age of 12 - male skeletons which are bigger, broader and more dense than women's go on growing for longer, which is one of the reasons why girls and boys are often the same height but girls just stop growing sooner. This is pre-pubertal and will remain for life no matter the influence (or not) of hormones at puberty and afterwards. This is very important in forensic anthropology in order to identify bones as male and female and their age. From a CT scan, Majid's age was put at close to 25, it's that accurate.
Secondly, the hand. The bones of the hand fuse at 17. If men claiming to be children were scanned, which is a fast, non-invasive process, it would at least point to whether the male was really the child he was claiming to be or if it required an assessment of the clavicle. Age and sex can be deduced from a very, very small bone fragment of the hand found in the ashes of a fire.
Something gruesome: (1) When bones are being searched for in a refuse dump, many more ribs will come up than other bones and look human. They aren't, they are spare ribs post Saturday night takeout! (2) In Scotland it is apparently not rare for people to phone the police saying that there is a skeletal hand on the beach, it rarely is, it's the bones of a seal's flipper, which are almost like our own.
The chapters of the book are named for the main areas of the body, the head, the face, the spine etc. And a very detailed description of their formation, their maturation, possible defects and what they will show if they have been damaged during a crime to a forensic anthropologist. It's much more interesting than CSI, those tv shows have a whole fiction of forensics that has become a trope, but it shouldn't be believed. The reality is things take much longer, are much harder and much more interesting.
I really didn't like this author's and dnf'd and 2 starred it. But this is quite different, it's sticking to the point - forensic anthropology - rather than being about the author. So far, it's looking like a 5 star book. Now I've finished it, it's a 10 star, detailed, interesting, thought-provoking and since it is so well-written, very enjoyable to read. This is one of the best forensics books I have read.
September 13, 2023
"Sometimes, a bone is just a coconut."
Maybe there's something seriously wrong with me, some neurons firing a little too often or something, but I find that sentence hilarious.
I love it so much that I'd possibly get it tattooed somewhere I'll see it a lot. Or maybe it'd be easier to write it on the bathroom mirror like normal people write affirmations for themselves.
I can write "Sometimes, a bone is just a coconut" in pretty calligraphy and laugh and laugh every time I look in the mirror. Maybe I'll add a cute little coconut skull with grinning teeth and coarse, brown hairs sticking out the top.
I haven't asked my partnerwhat she thinks of this.
Anyway, I'm supposed to be reviewing this book but as usual, I find ways to procrastinate.
So... the book (and yes, that sentence is in the book).
The author is a forensic anthropologist and uses forensic cases to demonstrate how it is that people with interesting careers like hers can determine things such as who the dead body belonged to, how and when they died, and even how they lived just from looking at bones, sometimes merely fragments of bones.
She goes through the body, skull to foot, discussing our skeleton and showing what information each bone can give to a skilled person who knows where and how to look. I found it to be incredibly interesting and though there were individual cases and people, it didn't distract from the facts but instead enhanced them.
I'll share of a few for all you fact lovers:
� "The clavicle is the first bone in the human body to start to form... in the fifth week."
•T clavicle is the bone most prone to being broken, while the scapula is the least likely.
•Tre is a tiny bone in the ear that "can give scientists information about the food one's mother was eating and the source of the water she was drinking at the time when her baby’s inner ear was forming".
•Cocaine usecan "lead to necrosis and even ultimate collapse of the nose....making it difficult for the person affected to drink normally without expelling the liquid out through their nose". (I don't know how or why anyone would want to put shit up their nose anyway but this is a excellent reason to stop if you do.)
�"Children given antibiotics such as penicillin may be more likely to develop brown stains on their teeth." (This is not a reason to keep life-saving medicine from your child. There are many ways to whiten teeth, as you know if you watch tv for 5 seconds.)
�"Of the 200-plus bones in the adult human skeleton, at least fifty-four of them, over a quarter, are found in the paired hands."
•If you need to determine the sex and age at death, the innominate (hip) bone is your best bone to give you that information.
•T biggest living feet in the world belong to Jeison Hernandez from Venezuela, with a shoe size of US 26/ UK 24. (Amazon's probably the only place that sells his size shoes. I swear you can buy everything on Amazon. I wouldn't be surprised if there's a section for replacement organs.)
�"It is believed that the human skeleton essentially replaces itself every fifteen years."
�"The tail bones of a horse can look like human finger bones."
Another thingI learned in this book is that there's a plus side to eating all the sugar you want.
The more dental work you have, the easier it will be to identify your body should you be eaten by a bear, hit your head on a rock and drown, or some other such thing where your body will be found by unfortunate hikers.
This is also a good reason to get a lot of tattoos.
To sum it up: Cocaine is bad. Sugar and tattoos can be very good, if not for you then at least for those tasked with identifying you.
And sometimes, a bone is just a coconut.
Maybe there's something seriously wrong with me, some neurons firing a little too often or something, but I find that sentence hilarious.
I love it so much that I'd possibly get it tattooed somewhere I'll see it a lot. Or maybe it'd be easier to write it on the bathroom mirror like normal people write affirmations for themselves.
I can write "Sometimes, a bone is just a coconut" in pretty calligraphy and laugh and laugh every time I look in the mirror. Maybe I'll add a cute little coconut skull with grinning teeth and coarse, brown hairs sticking out the top.
I haven't asked my partnerwhat she thinks of this.
Anyway, I'm supposed to be reviewing this book but as usual, I find ways to procrastinate.
So... the book (and yes, that sentence is in the book).
The author is a forensic anthropologist and uses forensic cases to demonstrate how it is that people with interesting careers like hers can determine things such as who the dead body belonged to, how and when they died, and even how they lived just from looking at bones, sometimes merely fragments of bones.
She goes through the body, skull to foot, discussing our skeleton and showing what information each bone can give to a skilled person who knows where and how to look. I found it to be incredibly interesting and though there were individual cases and people, it didn't distract from the facts but instead enhanced them.
I'll share of a few for all you fact lovers:
� "The clavicle is the first bone in the human body to start to form... in the fifth week."
•T clavicle is the bone most prone to being broken, while the scapula is the least likely.
•Tre is a tiny bone in the ear that "can give scientists information about the food one's mother was eating and the source of the water she was drinking at the time when her baby’s inner ear was forming".
•Cocaine usecan "lead to necrosis and even ultimate collapse of the nose....making it difficult for the person affected to drink normally without expelling the liquid out through their nose". (I don't know how or why anyone would want to put shit up their nose anyway but this is a excellent reason to stop if you do.)
�"Children given antibiotics such as penicillin may be more likely to develop brown stains on their teeth." (This is not a reason to keep life-saving medicine from your child. There are many ways to whiten teeth, as you know if you watch tv for 5 seconds.)
�"Of the 200-plus bones in the adult human skeleton, at least fifty-four of them, over a quarter, are found in the paired hands."
•If you need to determine the sex and age at death, the innominate (hip) bone is your best bone to give you that information.
•T biggest living feet in the world belong to Jeison Hernandez from Venezuela, with a shoe size of US 26/ UK 24. (Amazon's probably the only place that sells his size shoes. I swear you can buy everything on Amazon. I wouldn't be surprised if there's a section for replacement organs.)
�"It is believed that the human skeleton essentially replaces itself every fifteen years."
�"The tail bones of a horse can look like human finger bones."
Another thingI learned in this book is that there's a plus side to eating all the sugar you want.
The more dental work you have, the easier it will be to identify your body should you be eaten by a bear, hit your head on a rock and drown, or some other such thing where your body will be found by unfortunate hikers.
This is also a good reason to get a lot of tattoos.
To sum it up: Cocaine is bad. Sugar and tattoos can be very good, if not for you then at least for those tasked with identifying you.
And sometimes, a bone is just a coconut.
April 3, 2021
Written in Bone: Hidden Stories in What We Leave Behind
by Sue Black
This is the second book by the internationally renowned forensic anthropologist and human anatomist Dame Black. She has traveled the world solving cases because of her expertise. In this book she explains how each part of our bodies change, how they change and when, and how that makes it so someone like her can identify a deceased body's age, sex, origin, health, and nationality by finding just a few bones.
The book is organized head to toe and explains all the above with an interesting, intelligent, and professional way. She gives examples of recent and past cases as examples. She also explains how cases were solved before DNA, fingerprints, and the new modern methods of today. Those cases were just as fascinating.
All the cases were amazing! Just how the cases were conducted, the dead person's identity was reasoned by the bones, teeth, etc. was amazing! Some of those cases were so sad and heartbreaking too! I must say I cried a few times. I don't know how she did it.
She also shared personal stories that were both sad and interesting. One was a trip that could have gotten her killed. It was an international trip to see how some people had died in Qatar/Syria.
This book had me transfixed! It was detailed and specific. If you don't like science, this isn't for you! Although Black does a marvelous job of explaining where the part of the body the bone is she is discussing. The book is filled with biological names but don't let that put you off. I do wish there were graphs of the body areas in the book. I think that would help.
I want to thank the publisher and NetGalley for letting me read this book! The review is all my own opinion. I highly recommend!
by Sue Black
This is the second book by the internationally renowned forensic anthropologist and human anatomist Dame Black. She has traveled the world solving cases because of her expertise. In this book she explains how each part of our bodies change, how they change and when, and how that makes it so someone like her can identify a deceased body's age, sex, origin, health, and nationality by finding just a few bones.
The book is organized head to toe and explains all the above with an interesting, intelligent, and professional way. She gives examples of recent and past cases as examples. She also explains how cases were solved before DNA, fingerprints, and the new modern methods of today. Those cases were just as fascinating.
All the cases were amazing! Just how the cases were conducted, the dead person's identity was reasoned by the bones, teeth, etc. was amazing! Some of those cases were so sad and heartbreaking too! I must say I cried a few times. I don't know how she did it.
She also shared personal stories that were both sad and interesting. One was a trip that could have gotten her killed. It was an international trip to see how some people had died in Qatar/Syria.
This book had me transfixed! It was detailed and specific. If you don't like science, this isn't for you! Although Black does a marvelous job of explaining where the part of the body the bone is she is discussing. The book is filled with biological names but don't let that put you off. I do wish there were graphs of the body areas in the book. I think that would help.
I want to thank the publisher and NetGalley for letting me read this book! The review is all my own opinion. I highly recommend!
September 1, 2022
This was just wonderful, and exactly what I needed. I have read the previous book by Sue Black, and I found that equally fascinating, but this one was just the icing on the cake. Sue Black is a forensic anthropologist, and in this book she shows us how bones can be used to identify people, and possible crimes committed.
She works her way down the body from head to feet, describing different historical cases she has been involved with over the years, and how studying bones has enabled her to solve them. Of course, not all cases were solved, but they were still most intriguing to hear about, all the same.
Some of these crimes were borderline disturbing, but as I have a morbid curiosity, I just couldn't help myself but read on. Particularly horrific crimes that were committed against children were difficult to read about, but I'm glad Black was involved to help sentence the murderers.
This was such an well-written book, and I'm quietly hoping that Black will write another book just to feed my curiosity.
She works her way down the body from head to feet, describing different historical cases she has been involved with over the years, and how studying bones has enabled her to solve them. Of course, not all cases were solved, but they were still most intriguing to hear about, all the same.
Some of these crimes were borderline disturbing, but as I have a morbid curiosity, I just couldn't help myself but read on. Particularly horrific crimes that were committed against children were difficult to read about, but I'm glad Black was involved to help sentence the murderers.
This was such an well-written book, and I'm quietly hoping that Black will write another book just to feed my curiosity.
January 16, 2025
Why I chose to listen to this audiobook:
1. I enjoy reading books about biology, and specifically in this case, about human anatomy;
2. after reading GR friend, Jenna's intriguing review (/review/show...), I added it to my WTR list; and,
3. January 2025 is my "A and B Authors" Month!
Praises:
1. author and narrator , a forensic anthropologist, takes us section by section over the human skeleton, explaining each region's purpose, and what information can be gleaned about a person's identity, life, and death;
2. Black includes several personal anecdotes from her line of work, sharing with us what various bones revealed in her observations;
3. I was fascinated to learn:
- our skeleton (even parts of it) can reveal our age range, height, gender, and ethnicity;
- why walking on two legs is such an amazing feat, considering how the spine works;
- a specific investigation has confirmed Black's contention to not be misled by various "obvious" clues about gender identity, such as clothing, hair, etc. (a bigger issue several years ago), but that the proportion of hormones must be tested to determine the sex of an individual;
- how the clavicle (collarbone), which is hugely absent from most other animals, is extremely helpful in determining approximate age;
- how "stone babies" are formed;
- how limb dominance is not always accurate during investigations; and,
- the bones in our hands disclose so much information!
4. the specific cases of a UK surgeon who tried to conceal his murders of two women through diligent destruction of bodily evidence (btw, it didn't work), and, although very disturbing to listen to, the investigation into the death of a 5-year-old boy who suffered physical abuse throughout his short life - both captured my attention; and,
5. due to my own issues with leg length, a hip replacement, and surgery for a broken tibial plateau, the section about hips, legs, and feet spoke to me personally.
Niggles: None!
Overall Thoughts:
A most thorough and captivating resource for anyone interested in learning about the hidden messages within our bones! Great for fans of nonfiction, human anatomy, and true crime!
1. I enjoy reading books about biology, and specifically in this case, about human anatomy;
2. after reading GR friend, Jenna's intriguing review (/review/show...), I added it to my WTR list; and,
3. January 2025 is my "A and B Authors" Month!
Praises:
1. author and narrator , a forensic anthropologist, takes us section by section over the human skeleton, explaining each region's purpose, and what information can be gleaned about a person's identity, life, and death;
2. Black includes several personal anecdotes from her line of work, sharing with us what various bones revealed in her observations;
3. I was fascinated to learn:
- our skeleton (even parts of it) can reveal our age range, height, gender, and ethnicity;
- why walking on two legs is such an amazing feat, considering how the spine works;
- a specific investigation has confirmed Black's contention to not be misled by various "obvious" clues about gender identity, such as clothing, hair, etc. (a bigger issue several years ago), but that the proportion of hormones must be tested to determine the sex of an individual;
- how the clavicle (collarbone), which is hugely absent from most other animals, is extremely helpful in determining approximate age;
- how "stone babies" are formed;
- how limb dominance is not always accurate during investigations; and,
- the bones in our hands disclose so much information!
4. the specific cases of a UK surgeon who tried to conceal his murders of two women through diligent destruction of bodily evidence (btw, it didn't work), and, although very disturbing to listen to, the investigation into the death of a 5-year-old boy who suffered physical abuse throughout his short life - both captured my attention; and,
5. due to my own issues with leg length, a hip replacement, and surgery for a broken tibial plateau, the section about hips, legs, and feet spoke to me personally.
Niggles: None!
Overall Thoughts:
A most thorough and captivating resource for anyone interested in learning about the hidden messages within our bones! Great for fans of nonfiction, human anatomy, and true crime!
May 8, 2022
Updated 16/02/22
I purchased a copy and so now I am able to review this book properly. In the genre of true crime, forensic anthropologist, Sue Black made the story of human bones come alive. Or I guess it kept me mesmerized over my supper time readings these last few nights. Infused with humour and entertaining stories about real crime scenes this was a good read.
Thanks to NetGalley and Skyhorse Publishing for an egalley in exchange for an honest review
Unfortunately, I failed to register that my download hadn't gone on my device and then the license expired and I missed my chance to read it. So I am not going to rate it as that would be unfair to the author and publisher.
Publication Date 01/06/21
ŷ review 07/06/21
I purchased a copy and so now I am able to review this book properly. In the genre of true crime, forensic anthropologist, Sue Black made the story of human bones come alive. Or I guess it kept me mesmerized over my supper time readings these last few nights. Infused with humour and entertaining stories about real crime scenes this was a good read.
Thanks to NetGalley and Skyhorse Publishing for an egalley in exchange for an honest review
Unfortunately, I failed to register that my download hadn't gone on my device and then the license expired and I missed my chance to read it. So I am not going to rate it as that would be unfair to the author and publisher.
Publication Date 01/06/21
ŷ review 07/06/21
July 8, 2022
When are we getting another book by Sue Black though??
January 5, 2022
First review of the year, and it's a DNF at 75% of a book that has a 4.37 average rating on ŷ. Off to a great start!
I requested this from Netgalley last year because it sounded super freaking interesting. I love true crime, and I love forensics, and so this seemed right up my alley. But here I am, nearly midnight, trying to chip away at this book that I've now been reading for a full month and a day, and... I'm just over it. My Kindle informs me that I have just over 2 hours and 10 minutes of reading time left in the book, and 25% to go, and I just find myself increasingly frustrated and annoyed by the writing, and more particularly, the tone of this book.
It's not the anatomy lessons, which are detailed and informative and interesting. It's not the "I was called in to investigate..." segments, which I was hoping would be "riveting" as the cover blurb promises, but... weren't. It was the weirdly condescending judgemental tone I felt underneath the writing about people - often victims - who lived lives presumably different from her own. This was then juxtaposed with her exceedingly considerate redemptive hope for the perpetrators of heinous crimes.
I'm not saying that she should be all "OFF WITH THEIR HEADS!!" or anything, and I find it commendable that she's able to have compassion for killers and violent offenders. (Though I find it odd that she was so gleefully smug about the arrest of a tattooed man who did nothing violent -yet anyway - but disassembled and reassembled a gun on video.) But there was just something about how she phrased certain passages or sentences about innocent people who live differently that really rubbed me the wrong way, especially in light of the compassion shown elsewhere.
Here are some of the standouts:
On women found mutilated, murdered, and buried: "This was now a murder inquiry, and when, in the summer of 1995, a farmer found a sack containing a mutilated female corpse on land near Stevanin's house, the investigation escalated and heavy digging equipment was brought in to search the farm thoroughly. The badly decomposed remains of four more women were discovered, some with bags over their heads and ropes around their necks. The most pressing question was: who were they? Sex work can be a transient trade, and a haphazard lifestyle often goes with the territory. Girls appear on a particular "patch" for a while and may then move on without warning. Few will notice a missing prostitute, and their fellow sex workers are reluctant to talk to the police for fear of inviting trouble."
My first thought reading the first half of this section was that obviously these women, who were in their early-to-mid 20s, were sex trafficked and then murdered. But then I got to the second half, and when the possibility of trafficking was not even mentioned, and when the "haphazard lifestyle" was casually tossed out there, and when "their fellow sex workers are reluctant to talk to the police for fear of inviting trouble" I was literally like "Seriously? It's 2021, and she doesn't even CONSIDER that they may have been trafficked back then? Even if she didn't think so at the time??" (Edit to add: These women were identified as Eastern European, which is a key reason for my belief that they were trafficked, and which I neglected to mention during my 1am ranting last night.)
Even more annoying is that she then goes on to talk at length about the SHOCKING way that the Italian police just causally laid out crime scene photos in a cafe (A PUBLIC CAFE!), and then her HORRIFIC ordeal of having to fly (COMMERCIAL) to Scotland with the disembodied and decomposing heads of two of the women, and the *gasp* looks of horror from the airport and airline and customs staff when they learned what was in her carry-on. She was put in Business Class... BY HERSELF. "Far from receiving special treatment, I was effectively quarantined for the entire flight. Not so much as an offer of a glass of water."
THE HORROR. A whole TWO HOUR flight? It's amazing she survived. Snark aside, I mean, yeah. I get it. That's probably a less than enjoyable situation, but it's not one that I'm particularly empathetic about.
And then there was this, which is about a different case and trying to find the identity of a dead woman: "There is some irony in the fact that, once a name has been assigned to a body, our natural inclination is to anonymize the victim out of respect for them and their family. But while a body remains unidentified we do the opposite: we publicly spread all the information we have in the hope that a name might one day be forthcoming.
The challenge is often tougher when a victim either originates from, or has chosen to live within, a transient or chaotic community."
I read that last line and literally thought "What the fuck is THAT supposed to mean?" It struck me as VERY victim-blamey. As though she was implying that had the person made better choices, they wouldn't have died... or at least would have people who cared enough to identify them if they did. And thinking back to the former section I quoted, about the "prostitutes" and their "haphazard lifestyles", it bothered me all the more.
Then there's a section referring to a Trans Woman... "Yvonne, whose birth name had been Martin, was a prostitute who worked the red-light district picking up gay men -- a specialist known by the clients in those days, rather crudely and offensively, as a 'chick with a dick'. She had apparently been a heavy heroin user and substance abuse had indeed been suggested by the evidence visible on her rib ends." [...] "The bones in her chest told us some of her story, guided the police down the right track to find out who she was and allowed her to be buried with both her names, old and new.
I was initially a little surprised that Black correctly gendered Yvonne here, despite the "birth name" thing - which I get is necessary for context for the reader and was critical to the investigation. But then the last line - the "allowed her to be buried with both her names, old and new" really irritated me. I get that when this took place (which wasn't specified) "deadnaming" may not have been a thing - but it sure is now, and considering how progressive and considerate the rest of the section is toward referring to Yvonne as she clearly wanted to be known - as a woman called Yvonne - the satisfied tone of that last part really irked me. This felt to me like someone so proud of their aiding the identification that they dismissed that person's EXPRESSED identity in favor of getting the last word on who they are.
Finally, much later in the book, this: "The skin and soft tissue covering the limbs, as well as the bones beneath, can aid with identification. The most common part of the body chosen for tattoos is the forearms in men and the shoulder or hip in women. As for the designs themselves, we like to think our inkings are unique but in reality most people go into a tattoo parlour and either pick one from a catalogue or ask the artist to copy something they've seen on someone else."
LOOOOOOOOOONG SIGH. I can't comment on the "most common" location for tattoos, because I haven't yet completed my survey of all the tattooed people, but that second part irritated the fucking shit out of me.
First of all, Judgy McFucking Judgerson, IN REALITY it is none of your business or concern why or where someone gets the tattoo they get - even if they simply pick it off the flash art wall. Mind your fucking business and be happy that someone may have made your job easier if you ever have to identify their rotting tattoo canvas. It is THEIR body.
SECONDLY, it's very much frowned upon and therefore extremely unlikely that any reputable "artist" (YOUR WORD) would be willing to COPY SOMEONE'S TATTOO onto another person, OR that someone would ask for that in the first place. Does it happen? Sure, but there is an etiquette in the tattoo community just like there is everywhere else. The impugning of an entire artform and industry and the professionality of tattoo artists, AND all tattooed people, is bullshit and you should be goddamned ashamed of yourself.
Sue Black, tattoo expert, then goes on to talk about identifying the tattoos of a BAD MAN: "I compared the tattoos in the video with those sported by the accused. The ever-popular 'Madonna with a rose' on his left forearm could be seen above the top of his [gloves]. On his right forearm, his Celtic cross tattoo had been inked right next to a very prominent nevus (birthmark), and both the top of the cross and the birthmark were visible above the right glove. So we could match not only the tattoos to our bold hero but his birthmark, too, which led to him being detained at Her Majesty's pleasure."
I literally can't with this tone right here. Religious symbolism is very popular for tattoos, yes. Wonderfully observant! Just as it is very popular in ART. And in every fucking thing else. Bumper stickers. Candles. Inspirational posters. THE LIST GOES ON. But apparently this man, being tattooed, is beyond the reach of the compassion she showed for sex offenders or murderers she hopes can be rehabilitated. Tattoos are forever, you see. Sigh, it's just too late for him. OFF WITH HIS HEAD!!
Ugh. Anyway. This is where I gave up and drew my line. I was already growing tired of trudging through this book, and her smug self-congratulatory pedantry, and her shade-casting at other "less scrupulous" forensic anthropologists who CUH-LEAR-LY aren't on her level, and so on. At one point she lapses into weird second-person narrative style, ("You will be" doing such and such, and wearing this thing etc). I'm over it.
It's late and I have to be up early, so I'm calling it on this review too. I was gonna try to end on a more positive note, so... At least I didn't pay for it. There we go. I did it!
I requested this from Netgalley last year because it sounded super freaking interesting. I love true crime, and I love forensics, and so this seemed right up my alley. But here I am, nearly midnight, trying to chip away at this book that I've now been reading for a full month and a day, and... I'm just over it. My Kindle informs me that I have just over 2 hours and 10 minutes of reading time left in the book, and 25% to go, and I just find myself increasingly frustrated and annoyed by the writing, and more particularly, the tone of this book.
It's not the anatomy lessons, which are detailed and informative and interesting. It's not the "I was called in to investigate..." segments, which I was hoping would be "riveting" as the cover blurb promises, but... weren't. It was the weirdly condescending judgemental tone I felt underneath the writing about people - often victims - who lived lives presumably different from her own. This was then juxtaposed with her exceedingly considerate redemptive hope for the perpetrators of heinous crimes.
I'm not saying that she should be all "OFF WITH THEIR HEADS!!" or anything, and I find it commendable that she's able to have compassion for killers and violent offenders. (Though I find it odd that she was so gleefully smug about the arrest of a tattooed man who did nothing violent -yet anyway - but disassembled and reassembled a gun on video.) But there was just something about how she phrased certain passages or sentences about innocent people who live differently that really rubbed me the wrong way, especially in light of the compassion shown elsewhere.
Here are some of the standouts:
On women found mutilated, murdered, and buried: "This was now a murder inquiry, and when, in the summer of 1995, a farmer found a sack containing a mutilated female corpse on land near Stevanin's house, the investigation escalated and heavy digging equipment was brought in to search the farm thoroughly. The badly decomposed remains of four more women were discovered, some with bags over their heads and ropes around their necks. The most pressing question was: who were they? Sex work can be a transient trade, and a haphazard lifestyle often goes with the territory. Girls appear on a particular "patch" for a while and may then move on without warning. Few will notice a missing prostitute, and their fellow sex workers are reluctant to talk to the police for fear of inviting trouble."
My first thought reading the first half of this section was that obviously these women, who were in their early-to-mid 20s, were sex trafficked and then murdered. But then I got to the second half, and when the possibility of trafficking was not even mentioned, and when the "haphazard lifestyle" was casually tossed out there, and when "their fellow sex workers are reluctant to talk to the police for fear of inviting trouble" I was literally like "Seriously? It's 2021, and she doesn't even CONSIDER that they may have been trafficked back then? Even if she didn't think so at the time??" (Edit to add: These women were identified as Eastern European, which is a key reason for my belief that they were trafficked, and which I neglected to mention during my 1am ranting last night.)
Even more annoying is that she then goes on to talk at length about the SHOCKING way that the Italian police just causally laid out crime scene photos in a cafe (A PUBLIC CAFE!), and then her HORRIFIC ordeal of having to fly (COMMERCIAL) to Scotland with the disembodied and decomposing heads of two of the women, and the *gasp* looks of horror from the airport and airline and customs staff when they learned what was in her carry-on. She was put in Business Class... BY HERSELF. "Far from receiving special treatment, I was effectively quarantined for the entire flight. Not so much as an offer of a glass of water."
THE HORROR. A whole TWO HOUR flight? It's amazing she survived. Snark aside, I mean, yeah. I get it. That's probably a less than enjoyable situation, but it's not one that I'm particularly empathetic about.
And then there was this, which is about a different case and trying to find the identity of a dead woman: "There is some irony in the fact that, once a name has been assigned to a body, our natural inclination is to anonymize the victim out of respect for them and their family. But while a body remains unidentified we do the opposite: we publicly spread all the information we have in the hope that a name might one day be forthcoming.
The challenge is often tougher when a victim either originates from, or has chosen to live within, a transient or chaotic community."
I read that last line and literally thought "What the fuck is THAT supposed to mean?" It struck me as VERY victim-blamey. As though she was implying that had the person made better choices, they wouldn't have died... or at least would have people who cared enough to identify them if they did. And thinking back to the former section I quoted, about the "prostitutes" and their "haphazard lifestyles", it bothered me all the more.
Then there's a section referring to a Trans Woman... "Yvonne, whose birth name had been Martin, was a prostitute who worked the red-light district picking up gay men -- a specialist known by the clients in those days, rather crudely and offensively, as a 'chick with a dick'. She had apparently been a heavy heroin user and substance abuse had indeed been suggested by the evidence visible on her rib ends." [...] "The bones in her chest told us some of her story, guided the police down the right track to find out who she was and allowed her to be buried with both her names, old and new.
I was initially a little surprised that Black correctly gendered Yvonne here, despite the "birth name" thing - which I get is necessary for context for the reader and was critical to the investigation. But then the last line - the "allowed her to be buried with both her names, old and new" really irritated me. I get that when this took place (which wasn't specified) "deadnaming" may not have been a thing - but it sure is now, and considering how progressive and considerate the rest of the section is toward referring to Yvonne as she clearly wanted to be known - as a woman called Yvonne - the satisfied tone of that last part really irked me. This felt to me like someone so proud of their aiding the identification that they dismissed that person's EXPRESSED identity in favor of getting the last word on who they are.
Finally, much later in the book, this: "The skin and soft tissue covering the limbs, as well as the bones beneath, can aid with identification. The most common part of the body chosen for tattoos is the forearms in men and the shoulder or hip in women. As for the designs themselves, we like to think our inkings are unique but in reality most people go into a tattoo parlour and either pick one from a catalogue or ask the artist to copy something they've seen on someone else."
LOOOOOOOOOONG SIGH. I can't comment on the "most common" location for tattoos, because I haven't yet completed my survey of all the tattooed people, but that second part irritated the fucking shit out of me.
First of all, Judgy McFucking Judgerson, IN REALITY it is none of your business or concern why or where someone gets the tattoo they get - even if they simply pick it off the flash art wall. Mind your fucking business and be happy that someone may have made your job easier if you ever have to identify their rotting tattoo canvas. It is THEIR body.
SECONDLY, it's very much frowned upon and therefore extremely unlikely that any reputable "artist" (YOUR WORD) would be willing to COPY SOMEONE'S TATTOO onto another person, OR that someone would ask for that in the first place. Does it happen? Sure, but there is an etiquette in the tattoo community just like there is everywhere else. The impugning of an entire artform and industry and the professionality of tattoo artists, AND all tattooed people, is bullshit and you should be goddamned ashamed of yourself.
Sue Black, tattoo expert, then goes on to talk about identifying the tattoos of a BAD MAN: "I compared the tattoos in the video with those sported by the accused. The ever-popular 'Madonna with a rose' on his left forearm could be seen above the top of his [gloves]. On his right forearm, his Celtic cross tattoo had been inked right next to a very prominent nevus (birthmark), and both the top of the cross and the birthmark were visible above the right glove. So we could match not only the tattoos to our bold hero but his birthmark, too, which led to him being detained at Her Majesty's pleasure."
I literally can't with this tone right here. Religious symbolism is very popular for tattoos, yes. Wonderfully observant! Just as it is very popular in ART. And in every fucking thing else. Bumper stickers. Candles. Inspirational posters. THE LIST GOES ON. But apparently this man, being tattooed, is beyond the reach of the compassion she showed for sex offenders or murderers she hopes can be rehabilitated. Tattoos are forever, you see. Sigh, it's just too late for him. OFF WITH HIS HEAD!!
Ugh. Anyway. This is where I gave up and drew my line. I was already growing tired of trudging through this book, and her smug self-congratulatory pedantry, and her shade-casting at other "less scrupulous" forensic anthropologists who CUH-LEAR-LY aren't on her level, and so on. At one point she lapses into weird second-person narrative style, ("You will be" doing such and such, and wearing this thing etc). I'm over it.
It's late and I have to be up early, so I'm calling it on this review too. I was gonna try to end on a more positive note, so... At least I didn't pay for it. There we go. I did it!
April 20, 2024
Recommend listening to the audiobook as it is like a podcast experience. This book is heavy on facts and details which is great, but this makes it more digestible in audio format. As it’s narrated by the author, a forensic anthropologist, it’s delivered in the way she intended - intelligently, honouring the people/bodies she speaks of, and with the right balance of education, story telling and emotion.
The method of teaching about each bone of the body, and pairing it with a forensic, true crime where that bone assisted in solving the case, was brilliant.
If you like listening to true crime podcasts, but also learning as you go, this is the audiobook for you!
The method of teaching about each bone of the body, and pairing it with a forensic, true crime where that bone assisted in solving the case, was brilliant.
If you like listening to true crime podcasts, but also learning as you go, this is the audiobook for you!
September 7, 2020
I was so excited when I saw that Sue had another book coming out that I emailed her and asked if it was possible to get an advanced copy and share my honest review to my bookstagram. I was even happier when she said yes! #gifted
For anyone who doesn’t know, Sue Black is one of the WORLD leading forensic anthropologists - studier of human remains to aid the judiciary system, specifically bones.
This is her second book - the first, All that Remains, is an autobiography of sorts, sprinkled with some true cases and anatomical facts.
#writteninbone is more educational and anatomical as it takes you through each main group of bones in the body from skull to toes, and allows the reader to see what information a forensic anthropologist could take from every bone. The book is heavily sprinkled with fascinating real life crime and cases that Sue has worked on, allowing the reader to really see how even the tiniest mark on the tiniest bone could be helpful.
Whilst this book is more anatomically based, I believe it would be great for anyone with an interest in anatomy, forensics, true crime or even murder mystery’s because despite its slight educational content, the book has a unique factor: the voice of Sue Black that runs throughout.
She has such a respect for the dead, and even manages to make the book funny - at times I was literally laughing out loud.
If nothing else this book shows what an incredible women Sue is, and it’s a book I will be recommending for years to come.
Thanks to Sue and @doubledaybooks for the opportunity to read it early
For anyone who doesn’t know, Sue Black is one of the WORLD leading forensic anthropologists - studier of human remains to aid the judiciary system, specifically bones.
This is her second book - the first, All that Remains, is an autobiography of sorts, sprinkled with some true cases and anatomical facts.
#writteninbone is more educational and anatomical as it takes you through each main group of bones in the body from skull to toes, and allows the reader to see what information a forensic anthropologist could take from every bone. The book is heavily sprinkled with fascinating real life crime and cases that Sue has worked on, allowing the reader to really see how even the tiniest mark on the tiniest bone could be helpful.
Whilst this book is more anatomically based, I believe it would be great for anyone with an interest in anatomy, forensics, true crime or even murder mystery’s because despite its slight educational content, the book has a unique factor: the voice of Sue Black that runs throughout.
She has such a respect for the dead, and even manages to make the book funny - at times I was literally laughing out loud.
If nothing else this book shows what an incredible women Sue is, and it’s a book I will be recommending for years to come.
Thanks to Sue and @doubledaybooks for the opportunity to read it early
February 21, 2023
A BOOK THAT IS SURE TO STAY WITH ME FOR A REALLY LONG TIME �
This book got under my skin so fast. I have been fascinated by forensic anthropology (FA) for a long time and have attempted to read other books on the subject before finally finding this one. Now I will forever be recommending this to anyone with a similar interest in FA - or anyone slightly interested in true crime.
� What I loved �
Educational: I was instantly taken in by the amazingly methodical structure of the book. Black takes you through the entire human skeleton, starting at the top of the head and all the way down. It was insightful and very educational. I really felt like Black had taken my hand and given me a thorough walk through of all her vast knowledge.
Writing: Even if you known next to nothing about the human skeleton, you will be able to follow this book. Black is genius at taking her specialized and extensive knowledge and making it accessible for outsiders. It was very easy for me to follow along and soak up all her wisdom.
Humorous: Now, the human skeleton might sound like a very dry subject. But Black makes the subject surprisingly fun and humorous. Her own voice shines through and gives sarcastic comments or dry, witty remarks throughout the book. It made the subject appear a lot more accessible and easy to get into.
Stories: Throughout this book Black not only goes through pretty much every bone in the human body. She also tells you relevant, insightful and very interesting stories from her own life and experiences about most of the bones. Black has worked on many cases and is great at finding relevant stories to support her insightful instructions. There are cases from this book, that will remain with me for a long time. And I frequently cite this book and the cases in conversations with friends and family - they might be a bit tired of it by now, but who cares?
ARC provided by the publisher through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review
Follow me for more book loving content!
� Facebook � �
This book got under my skin so fast. I have been fascinated by forensic anthropology (FA) for a long time and have attempted to read other books on the subject before finally finding this one. Now I will forever be recommending this to anyone with a similar interest in FA - or anyone slightly interested in true crime.
� What I loved �
Educational: I was instantly taken in by the amazingly methodical structure of the book. Black takes you through the entire human skeleton, starting at the top of the head and all the way down. It was insightful and very educational. I really felt like Black had taken my hand and given me a thorough walk through of all her vast knowledge.
Writing: Even if you known next to nothing about the human skeleton, you will be able to follow this book. Black is genius at taking her specialized and extensive knowledge and making it accessible for outsiders. It was very easy for me to follow along and soak up all her wisdom.
Humorous: Now, the human skeleton might sound like a very dry subject. But Black makes the subject surprisingly fun and humorous. Her own voice shines through and gives sarcastic comments or dry, witty remarks throughout the book. It made the subject appear a lot more accessible and easy to get into.
Stories: Throughout this book Black not only goes through pretty much every bone in the human body. She also tells you relevant, insightful and very interesting stories from her own life and experiences about most of the bones. Black has worked on many cases and is great at finding relevant stories to support her insightful instructions. There are cases from this book, that will remain with me for a long time. And I frequently cite this book and the cases in conversations with friends and family - they might be a bit tired of it by now, but who cares?
ARC provided by the publisher through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review
Follow me for more book loving content!
� Facebook � �
July 14, 2022
The author really knows her stuff. I have no trouble believing that she's among the foremost forensic anthropologists in the world, and possibly in the #1 spot of that small society.
I learned a lot from her. I did not realize that, at my age, it is quite likely that a lot of the cartilage in my knee is turning into bone; that the reason I am embarrassingly unlimber when I attempt to do yoga may be that, at my age, I am significantly ossified, literally turning to stone, or bone. The author is adept at explaining the differences between male and female skeletons, teenagers vs people in their twenties, and newborns vs. fetuses. Given a small scrap of bone nearly burned up in a fire, she's often able to tell whether it's human or not, and even which particular bone it was. The parts of the book where she shares her wealth of anatomical knowledge were first rate.
My three star rating stems entirely from the fact that nearly all of the stories in this book center around murder victims, and her efforts to bring the perpetrators to justice, or at the very least identify the body so the families and loved ones of the deceased no longer are in limbo. This just doesn't interest me. It's not the authors fault -- she wrote the book she wanted to write, and wrote it pretty well -- but it's just not the book for me.
I learned a lot from her. I did not realize that, at my age, it is quite likely that a lot of the cartilage in my knee is turning into bone; that the reason I am embarrassingly unlimber when I attempt to do yoga may be that, at my age, I am significantly ossified, literally turning to stone, or bone. The author is adept at explaining the differences between male and female skeletons, teenagers vs people in their twenties, and newborns vs. fetuses. Given a small scrap of bone nearly burned up in a fire, she's often able to tell whether it's human or not, and even which particular bone it was. The parts of the book where she shares her wealth of anatomical knowledge were first rate.
My three star rating stems entirely from the fact that nearly all of the stories in this book center around murder victims, and her efforts to bring the perpetrators to justice, or at the very least identify the body so the families and loved ones of the deceased no longer are in limbo. This just doesn't interest me. It's not the authors fault -- she wrote the book she wanted to write, and wrote it pretty well -- but it's just not the book for me.
September 28, 2022
Another very interesting read from this author. I really loved her first book and she is someone who manages to make her subject matter very accessible to the lay person. This one focuses on our bones. The chapters deal with different sets of bone fairly thoroughly. Initially she explains how the bone develops (in a number of cases allowing ageing) and then moves on to how the bone is significant to her investigations.
As part of this there are stories about a number of her cases and of other significant cases where investigation of bone has been a real factor in dealing with the case. Certainly some of these stories are not for the faint hearted. Our ability to hurt others is not pleasant at times. Again there are aspects of this book that are personal to Sue Black. I have to confess to being a fan of hers and I found parts of this so compelling. That said this sometimes feels a more "academic" book that her previous one. This is not a complaint merely a comment. An excellent and accessible read to anyone with an interest in these matter and a must for fans! 4.5/5
As part of this there are stories about a number of her cases and of other significant cases where investigation of bone has been a real factor in dealing with the case. Certainly some of these stories are not for the faint hearted. Our ability to hurt others is not pleasant at times. Again there are aspects of this book that are personal to Sue Black. I have to confess to being a fan of hers and I found parts of this so compelling. That said this sometimes feels a more "academic" book that her previous one. This is not a complaint merely a comment. An excellent and accessible read to anyone with an interest in these matter and a must for fans! 4.5/5
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April 19, 2022Forensic pathology memoir, arranged by bones. Fascinating on how the skeleton grows, what it does, and the many ways it and the body it holds up can be abused. What we do is written in our bones, to be read after or death (if we're unlucky).
A thoughtful and really interesting read with a lot to think about, and some humour. Particularly the long and horrendous/hilarious amount of the author taking two decomposing human heads from Italy to Scotland, via commercial air travel, concealed in Gucci shopping bags. Yeesh.
A thoughtful and really interesting read with a lot to think about, and some humour. Particularly the long and horrendous/hilarious amount of the author taking two decomposing human heads from Italy to Scotland, via commercial air travel, concealed in Gucci shopping bags. Yeesh.
July 25, 2021
Sue Black is an eminent forensic anthropologist, and in this book she looks (mostly) at the human skeleton, and how we live our lives and how sometimes how we die can be seen by looking at our bones. There is just the right amount of fascinating and detailed information interspersed with short sections showing how the examination and analysis works in practice. My only niggle (and it applies really to most if not all popular science books) is that the author sometimes complains about people in other professions getting things wrong - the police, pathologists etc. The only time she or her department gets something wrong, the anecdote is written as 'we'. It's never first person. It's not that I particularly want to read about what Sue Black or anyone else got wrong in their job, but there's a lack of humility which makes it a slightly less enjoyable read.
July 27, 2021
This was an erudite and entertaining look at the human body (and particularly the skeletal system) and the stories it can tell about life and death. The author is clearly an expert in her field and has lots of entertaining stories about criminal cases involving the body parts she covers in each chapter, and these stories both deflate CSI myths and make the academic knowledge concrete and relevant. That said there is a lot of anatomical detail in this book, and I'm honestly not sure how much I'll remember in a few months. But even if I forget the details, the general themes were really interesting!
**Thanks to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for a free copy in exchange for an honest review.
**Thanks to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for a free copy in exchange for an honest review.
February 6, 2025
Fascinating, humane, educational. A recommended read if you are interested in how one can read bodies to learn things about the death of the bones' owners, but perhaps more importantly about their lives.
June 23, 2021
I love books like this. I work in pathology and cut and stain human tissue. I’m always amazed by what a pathologist can determine, especially from a autopsy.
This was a down right deep look at bones and what they can tell us. Sue Black is a forensic anthropologists and she explains what happens to our bones during the course of a human life span and what can be determine by it. She thinks our life experiences are written in our bones. Stating that they’re many questions to ask. What’s the sex? Did they bear children? Is there arthritis? Are they left or right handed? And so much more. These can be answered from bones alone. Isn’t that amazing? I think so.
The book starts from the head and works its way down. She will discuss some disturbing crimes to show how she determined her findings. I found all of it done well. I listened to this as an audiobook and the author narrated it. She did a wonderful job.
Things I found fascinating:
� The inner bones of an ear
� Face transplant
� DNA hair and eye color
� Waterloo dentures
� Importance of the clavicle bone
� Stone babies
� Making a big toe a thumb
� Lotus feet
I highly recommend this and hope you give it a try.
Thanks Dreamscape Media via Netgalley.
This was a down right deep look at bones and what they can tell us. Sue Black is a forensic anthropologists and she explains what happens to our bones during the course of a human life span and what can be determine by it. She thinks our life experiences are written in our bones. Stating that they’re many questions to ask. What’s the sex? Did they bear children? Is there arthritis? Are they left or right handed? And so much more. These can be answered from bones alone. Isn’t that amazing? I think so.
The book starts from the head and works its way down. She will discuss some disturbing crimes to show how she determined her findings. I found all of it done well. I listened to this as an audiobook and the author narrated it. She did a wonderful job.
Things I found fascinating:
� The inner bones of an ear
� Face transplant
� DNA hair and eye color
� Waterloo dentures
� Importance of the clavicle bone
� Stone babies
� Making a big toe a thumb
� Lotus feet
I highly recommend this and hope you give it a try.
Thanks Dreamscape Media via Netgalley.
August 19, 2023
Written in Bone is a guided tour of the human skeleton, as told by Sue Black, a British forensic anthropologist and the author of . Black leads the reader through the skeleton and provides case examples and information on how each part of the skeleton can be used to identify the deceased and the way in which they died.
I'm a big fan of medical non-fiction, and especially of non-fiction about end of life. I think it's such an interesting, important area of work, and as a social worker with a background in hospice, I think quite a bit about it. Written in Bone was good - I enjoyed it - but it was a little bit dry for the subject matter. I found it a little hard to get into and the organization by section of the body felt more academic. Sue Black is clearly an empathic, deeply effective forensic pathologist, and this book taught me a lot. Definitely recommended for those interested in non-fiction and end of life.
Thank you so much to Sue Black and Skyhorse Publishing for this ARC through NetGalley! Written in Bone is available now.
I'm a big fan of medical non-fiction, and especially of non-fiction about end of life. I think it's such an interesting, important area of work, and as a social worker with a background in hospice, I think quite a bit about it. Written in Bone was good - I enjoyed it - but it was a little bit dry for the subject matter. I found it a little hard to get into and the organization by section of the body felt more academic. Sue Black is clearly an empathic, deeply effective forensic pathologist, and this book taught me a lot. Definitely recommended for those interested in non-fiction and end of life.
Thank you so much to Sue Black and Skyhorse Publishing for this ARC through NetGalley! Written in Bone is available now.
February 24, 2023
This review can also be found at
I really enjoyed reading this book! My family is probably glad that I finished it since I wouldn’t stop talking about it on the days that I was reading it. Of all of the classes I took in college, the ones that have stayed with me are the ones dealing with the anatomy of the human body. For some reason, it has always been fascinating to me. I jumped at the chance to read this book and found it to be both informative and entertaining.
I liked the way that the book was laid out with each chapter being dedicated to a section on the body. The author uses real cases to illustrate the topic being discussed which I found incredibly interesting. A few of the situations that were highlighted in the book were stranger than anything that I could imagine and I enjoyed the explanations regarding how science could both identify an individual and their cause of death. I felt like the author presented the information in a manner that would work well for the average reader.
I would recommend this book to others. I don’t read a lot of non-fiction but this book was definitely my kind of book. I applaud the author for sharing parts of her own life and for giving me something to think about. I would not hesitate to read more of Sue Black’s work.
I received a digital review copy of this book from Skyhorse Publishing.
I really enjoyed reading this book! My family is probably glad that I finished it since I wouldn’t stop talking about it on the days that I was reading it. Of all of the classes I took in college, the ones that have stayed with me are the ones dealing with the anatomy of the human body. For some reason, it has always been fascinating to me. I jumped at the chance to read this book and found it to be both informative and entertaining.
I liked the way that the book was laid out with each chapter being dedicated to a section on the body. The author uses real cases to illustrate the topic being discussed which I found incredibly interesting. A few of the situations that were highlighted in the book were stranger than anything that I could imagine and I enjoyed the explanations regarding how science could both identify an individual and their cause of death. I felt like the author presented the information in a manner that would work well for the average reader.
I would recommend this book to others. I don’t read a lot of non-fiction but this book was definitely my kind of book. I applaud the author for sharing parts of her own life and for giving me something to think about. I would not hesitate to read more of Sue Black’s work.
I received a digital review copy of this book from Skyhorse Publishing.
February 24, 2021
I have so many things to say about this book, but I'll start off by saying that I made the mistake of starting this at 10 PM last night, and I stayed up all night to finish it. It's was certainly a quad-shot kind of coffee day for me this morning.
In this book, Sue Black isn't just writing about what our bones can say about us from a scientific perspective, she's telling us about a story that we ourselves don't even know we're writing. Each one of us writes an autobiography of sorts into our bones, and it's the job of forensic scientists to pick apart that story and translate it after we've passed. This book is captivating and brings an element of beauty to the study of skeletons and human history.
I half expected to open this and find a dry, science-based textbook that isn't really quite a textbook - if you've read any number of science-based non-fiction novels, I'm sure you know exactly what I'm talking about. I really honestly expected to read a few pages and then go to sleep and come back to it at a later time. And this is less a complaint about the dry type of science books (as I have learned some very valuable information from them) and more a complement to Sue's storytelling abilities.
As we progress through the book, it's separated into sections based on the bones. Sue not only explains the biology of the bone, how they're formed, different types of markings and characteristics that give away small details, but she also tells stories about previously solved cases involving those bones, bringing an element of True Crime into a book that I otherwise expected to be mostly based on characteristics of the skeleton.
I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book and can't wait for my copy of All That Remains (Sue Black's previous novel) to get here. As I'm sure you've guessed already, I couldn't help myself from ordering it after reading this one.
I would recommend this book for anyone who is interested in True Crime, biology, forensics, or who wants to get into books on these topics but doesn't know where to begin. I myself struggle with overly technical or investigative True Crime novels and the way Sue broke down this book, including multiple different elements, kept me engaged and interested throughout the entire book.
In this book, Sue Black isn't just writing about what our bones can say about us from a scientific perspective, she's telling us about a story that we ourselves don't even know we're writing. Each one of us writes an autobiography of sorts into our bones, and it's the job of forensic scientists to pick apart that story and translate it after we've passed. This book is captivating and brings an element of beauty to the study of skeletons and human history.
I half expected to open this and find a dry, science-based textbook that isn't really quite a textbook - if you've read any number of science-based non-fiction novels, I'm sure you know exactly what I'm talking about. I really honestly expected to read a few pages and then go to sleep and come back to it at a later time. And this is less a complaint about the dry type of science books (as I have learned some very valuable information from them) and more a complement to Sue's storytelling abilities.
As we progress through the book, it's separated into sections based on the bones. Sue not only explains the biology of the bone, how they're formed, different types of markings and characteristics that give away small details, but she also tells stories about previously solved cases involving those bones, bringing an element of True Crime into a book that I otherwise expected to be mostly based on characteristics of the skeleton.
I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book and can't wait for my copy of All That Remains (Sue Black's previous novel) to get here. As I'm sure you've guessed already, I couldn't help myself from ordering it after reading this one.
I would recommend this book for anyone who is interested in True Crime, biology, forensics, or who wants to get into books on these topics but doesn't know where to begin. I myself struggle with overly technical or investigative True Crime novels and the way Sue broke down this book, including multiple different elements, kept me engaged and interested throughout the entire book.
March 18, 2021
This might be even better than ‘All that remains� - it differs in that it contains less real life police cases and more personal experiences that Sue has been through, some of them very private and honest.
This lady is someone all women should look up to, she is professional, extremely intelligent, diligent, and seems to balance all of that responsibility with a normal family life.
I am in awe of her.
A brilliant read if you have any interest in anthropology, forensics, science, crime, policing... or just if you are a naturally inquisitive person about people and how we are made.
This lady is someone all women should look up to, she is professional, extremely intelligent, diligent, and seems to balance all of that responsibility with a normal family life.
I am in awe of her.
A brilliant read if you have any interest in anthropology, forensics, science, crime, policing... or just if you are a naturally inquisitive person about people and how we are made.
March 13, 2024
I liked the stories so much more then the rest. I felt like it got bogged down in the naming of the bones sometimes. It was almost too smart for me.
Read
July 12, 2022This was a fascinating book about the stories our bones tell and what forensic anthropologists do (Black is that and an anatomist). I kept repeating fun little facts over to anyone who would listen. As someone who loves anatomy and the human body, this was a compelling and immersive experience. Do note there is much discussion of physical, emotional, and sexual trauma, so go in knowing that it's not a light-hearted romp.
The audio was fine. Black performs it herself and her Scottish accent meant I had to really listen slowly. That did not detract from the experience but required a little more work on my end. For some readers, that will be the selling point!
The audio was fine. Black performs it herself and her Scottish accent meant I had to really listen slowly. That did not detract from the experience but required a little more work on my end. For some readers, that will be the selling point!
January 6, 2022
One of the interesting book i have read on Biology in non-fiction genre.
August 11, 2021
Sue Black is a renowned forensic anthropologist. In Written in Bone she works her way down the body from crown to sole. She goes over different crime cases and historical mysteries and how the bones have helped her to solve them. In some cases there is resolution. In others, the findings bring about more questions. But that is how the process of science works. Every case though was intriguing and I enjoyed how she not only takled about the bones but included her personal experience as a woman in science dealing with authorities and the criminal justice system. '
As an anatomy instructor what I think that a student just starting my course would have a hard time following the audiobook as there are some differences in pronunciation between the US and the UK. In print the level of detail may be more accessible to beginning learners and laymen allowing to follow along with diagrams or look up anatomical terminology.
For me, the level of detail was spot on. I appreciated that Black demonstrated how science is a communicative field that requires different people and their specialities working together.
When I was granted this audiobook through NetGalley, I picked it up intending to only listen to one chapter. Next thing I knew I was halfway through the book. This was an enjoyable listen and I hope to add the print edition to my library.
As an anatomy instructor what I think that a student just starting my course would have a hard time following the audiobook as there are some differences in pronunciation between the US and the UK. In print the level of detail may be more accessible to beginning learners and laymen allowing to follow along with diagrams or look up anatomical terminology.
For me, the level of detail was spot on. I appreciated that Black demonstrated how science is a communicative field that requires different people and their specialities working together.
When I was granted this audiobook through NetGalley, I picked it up intending to only listen to one chapter. Next thing I knew I was halfway through the book. This was an enjoyable listen and I hope to add the print edition to my library.
September 6, 2022
This excellent book focuses on the body section by section, it starts with your head and works its way down to your toes. Each chapter gives you an insight into the fascinating world of a forensic anthropologist. What an adventure 🖤💀
'Our bones are the silent witnesses to the lives we lead. Our stories are marbled into our marrows.' 🖤🖤🖤
'Our bones are the silent witnesses to the lives we lead. Our stories are marbled into our marrows.' 🖤🖤🖤
August 11, 2024
This book turned out to be nothing like I expected it to be, more forensic science than the anatomy book I imagined it to be, but it definitely wasn’t bad. A bit chaotic and gory on occasion but definitely worth a read.
September 20, 2024
‘Written in Bone� is a captivating journey into the world of forensic anthropology. Black's expertise shines through every page, as she unravels the stories hidden within human remains with both scientific precision and profound humanity.
This is not just an educational read; it's a testament to the power of forensic science in solving mysteries and bringing closure to families. Black's warm personality permeates the narrative, making readers feel as if they're right beside her in the lab, piecing together skeletal puzzles.
This book is a must-read for anyone interested in forensic science, anthropology, or simply appreciating the stories our bodies can tell.
Rating: 5/5 stars. A brilliant, insightful, and deeply human exploration of forensic anthropology by a true master of the field.� I’ll stand you a 🍺 Sue if I ever get the pleasure of meeting you. Bravo!
This is not just an educational read; it's a testament to the power of forensic science in solving mysteries and bringing closure to families. Black's warm personality permeates the narrative, making readers feel as if they're right beside her in the lab, piecing together skeletal puzzles.
This book is a must-read for anyone interested in forensic science, anthropology, or simply appreciating the stories our bodies can tell.
Rating: 5/5 stars. A brilliant, insightful, and deeply human exploration of forensic anthropology by a true master of the field.� I’ll stand you a 🍺 Sue if I ever get the pleasure of meeting you. Bravo!
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