Crime Labs (Forensic Science Investigated)

Keeping pace with the surge of CSI-related television series and films, titles in the Forensic Science Investigated series stand out not only for their thorough overviews of how forensic science is practiced today but also for their fascinating historical perspectives. Each title begins with a basic “What Is Forensics?” chapter that includes similar examples: Julius Caesar’s 44 BCE death, the first recorded example of forensic medicine; a Chinese text from 1248, His duan Yu, recognized as the world’s first forensic manual. Subsequent chapters delve further into the history of each discipline before moving on to modern-day accounts. Crime Labs introduces nineteenth-century Frenchman Edmond Locard, creator of the world’s first forensic lab. The modern-day details are just as gripping as the historical insights, and numerous color photos and digital illustrations, as well as appended lists of resources, add further interest. These strong series titles on a hot topic will find a wide readership among both students and recreational readers alike. Grades 6-9. --Gillian Engberg