Book Review: Corpse...

Corpse – Nature, Forensics and the Struggle to Pinpoint Time of Death, by Jessica Snyder Sachs, explains the various methods – some of which are brand new and still developing – by which one can ascertain time of death. The methods involve a variety of fields – from entomology to botany and Ms. Sachs gives us a fascinating look not only at the processes by which each field contributes this knowledge, but also those individuals who first developed – and in some cases, continue to refine - those processes.

This is not a dry (no pun intended) read at all, nor is it inaccessible for non-scientists. I really enjoyed reading about those scientists (some of whom are real characters) who had these ideas and their own specialty, and used both to define aspects of the postmortem scene to elucidate the interval after death. Why am I interested in this you ask (if you’re just tuning in to Ergonomic Zester)? Because in little over a month, I start my studies in forensics and find it illustrative to read about the personalities attracted to such work. Furthermore, it was helpful to learn about how different fields contributed a better understanding of what happens after death and how that translates into a time interval…and how that knowledge may help you catch and prosecute the bad guy (or gal). This book definitely has a high Ick Factor, so if you’re squeamish, don’t bother. But, if you’re at all curious and can put your “Ew!” on hold, it’s worth a read.