Real Crime Scene Investigations: True-life Experts Reveal the Evidence Behind Their Most Challenging Cases by Connie Fletcher (Chichester: Summersdale, 2006)

From publisher's description: "Forensic science is increasingly important in solving crime, and millions of people all over the world are captivated by the TV programmes CSI: Miami and CSI: New York currently being shown on Channel 5. In this fascinating book, experts such as homicide detectives, forensic scientists and crime lab specialists reveal the stories behind their most challenging cases. Just what secrets can a decomposed corpse reveal? Discover how an investigator found grounds for conviction in a single fibre as long as a fingernail."

Nowhere To Hide by John McShane (London: John Blake Publishing, 2008)

From publisher's description: "A gruesome string of murderers, rapists and master-crooks who laughed at the law for years are at last being brought to justice through DNA profiling. The revolutionary techniques of 'genetic fingerprinting' has meant convictions, long after they committed their crimes, for the evil men who mistakenly thought they had escaped detection. Cases that have ended with guilty men standing in the dock are chronicled in this fascinating examination of the past two decades of forensic crime-fighting and how it had finally put the villains where they belong - behind bars. From the sensational, groundbreaking case of bakery worker Colin Pitchfork who murdered two teenage girls near his Leicestershire home to the historic conviction of teenage shop assistant Craig Harman - tracked down by his brother's DNA for slaying an innocent lorry driver by hurling a brick at him from a motorway bridge - this engrossing book details the crime, the criminals and the men and women who brought them to justice. Acclaimed author John McShane also analyses the hunt for and capture of the M25 rapist who carried out a series of terrifying attacks on young women. He traces the DNA trail that led from London to Korea and back to convict a bloodthirsty landlords who killed his female tenants and callously dumped their bodies in a cupboard and a suitcase. A catalogue of other gruesome cases where the DNA analysis caught the criminals involve are re explained in a clear, jargon free manner. This book also highlights and explains the astonishing future that lies ahead for DNA research. Every crime was unique. Every one looked unsolvable. Many remained so for years. These gripping accounts covering the past 20 years at last reveal the true stories behind the headlines and send out a chilling message to the criminal underworld. Now there really is nowhere to hide."

The Killer Catcher by Brian J. Heard (London: John Blake Publishing, 2008)

From publisher's description: "The life of a forensic scientist isn't confined to the lab. As Brian Heard reveals in this book, it is thrilling and terrifying work that most certainly is not for the fainthearted. Intelligence, nerve and a strong stomach are essential. As Britain's top forensic detective, over the past 38 years he has been involved in some of the most high profile and brutal cases in criminal history. When the Krays were active during the sixties he was in charge of finding out which gangs were responsible for which bodies. And when the notorious Triads made a hit, it was his skill and keen eye that established who the culprits were. With a mixture of humour, sadness, violence, cunning and human tragedy, this is a fascinating memoir that will take the reader on a nail-biting journey through a side of the underworld that few ever see. Written in language that anyone can understand, The Killer Catcher details the incredible techniques that are used to fight crime and is essential for anyone who has ever wondered how our nation's horrific mysteries are solved."

Toxicological Risk Assessment of Chemicals: A Practical Guide by Elsa Nielsen, Grete Ostergaard & John Christian Larsen (New York: Informa Healthcare, 2008)

From publisher's description: "Unlike many existing books on toxicology that cover either toxicity of a particular substance or toxicity of chemicals on particular organ systems, Toxicological Risk Assessment of Chemicals: A Practical Guide lays out the principle activities of conducting a toxicological risk assessment, including international approaches and methods for the risk assessment of chemical substances. It illustrates each step in the process: hazard identification, a dose response assessment, and exposure assessment. The book also summarizes the basic concepts of interaction of chemicals in mixtures and discusses various approaches to testing such mixtures."

Hunting Terrorists: A Look at the Psychopathology of Terror by Joe Navarro (Springfield, Ill.: Charles C. Thomas, 2005)

From publisher's description: "[t]he goal of this book is to help the reader understand the makeup of a terrorist, what they universally share in common, what is part and parcel of their personalities, what is in their heads, and how they will behave in furtherance of their ideology. Hunting terrorists is no easy task. It requires a keen intellect, the capacity to recruit sources, observational skills, the ability to interview and deal with the reluctant, as well as the willingness to intercede when necessary in a dangerous realm. Terrorists must be identified, penetrated, disrupted, and neutralized before they act out. Divided into two parts, the first part summarizes the prevalence of terror in history, including America's history, its practicality and how it is defined, and how it has morphed over the last forty years into what it is today: A form of "politics by other means." The terrorist types discussed in great detail include the solo, state, nationalist, coalition, and religious. The second part delves into the recognition of features common to terrorists and their pathological minds: irreconcilable fear, passionate hatred, prescribed violence, and functional isolation. These principal co-morbid pathologies of terror are explored in detail, highlighting how they combine to make a terrorist, both here and abroad, and how well we do the job of identifying and neutralizing these terrorists. This book is a unique melding together of psychology and practical investigative experience that will benefit students and law enforcement professionals."

Introduction to Forensic Science and Criminalistics by Robert E. Gaensslen, Howard Harris, and Henry C. Lee (New York: McGraw-Hill, 2007)

From publisher's description: "Written by authors with close to one hundred years of forensic experience combined, this introductory text features comprehensive coverage of the types of forensic work done by crime laboratories for criminal cases and by private examiners for civil cases. The book's unifying vision of the role of forensic science in the justice system and of the role of the professional forensic scientist is clearly introduced in the first two chapters and reinforced throughout the text. Each chapter discusses a key case in the field and references other 'real world' applications of the techniques described. The text's premise is that being a scientist is not required for understanding and using forensic science, but that a greater understanding of science lends itself to better use of the techniques of forensic science."

Forensic Accounting by William Hopwood, George Richard Young and Jay Leiner (Boston: McGraw-Hill/Irwin, 2007)

From publisher's description: "Grounded firmly in real-world practice, Forensic Accounting provides the most comprehensive view of fraud investigation on the market. Where other books focus almost entirely on auditing and financial reporting, Hopwood includes a vast range of civil and criminal accounting fraud and related activities, from false business valuations and employer fraud to information security and counter-terrorism. The author team's experience in fraud investigation lends the book a real-world perspective unmatched by any other textbook."

Skeletal Trauma: Identification of Injuries Resulting from Human Rights Abuse and Armed Conflict by Erin Kimmerle and Jose Pablo Baraybar (Boca Raton: CRC Press, 2007)

From publisher's description: "Based on solid research and extensive practice in the field, this timely and necessary work provides critical guidance and valuable tools for clinicians, forensic scientists, investigators, and activists confronted with physical trauma in areas of violent conflict. It underscores the importance of differential diagnosis based on types, number, and sequence of wounds and fractures, providing examples from human rights violations, ethnic conflicts, and modern warfare across the world. A CD is included containing photographs, illustrations, and forms for use in the field. This unique work will greatly aid those scientists and humanitarian workers committed to giving a truthful voice to the dead."

Forensic Biomechanics by Patrick Hannon & Kerry Knapp (Tucson: Lawyers & Judges Publishing Company, 2006)

From publisher's description: "This new reference explains the role of biomechanics, the study of the mechanics of the living body, and the forces acted upon it, in accident and injury cases. This book gives you an in-depth look at the area of human injury biomechanics. It also discusses the role of the biomechanist and when and how he or she can help with your investigation. The authors discuss biomechanical causation versus medical causation, the basic principles of biomechanics, approaches to the use of biomechanics in investigation, and application of biomechanical principles to impact injuries. They also provide detailed information on the biomechanics of the human body including bone tissue, articular cartilage, soft tissue, blood and fluids, spinal cord and nerve tissue, joints, and extremities. This book contains over 300 diagrams and images plus a CD-ROM of cadaver photos illustrating the principles discussed. This book is invaluable if you are working on an accident or injury case, and need to understand the principles of the biomechanics behind the injury."