Product Description

The first edition of Forensic Entomology: The Utility of Arthropods in Legal Investigations broke ground on all levels, from the caliber of information provided to the inclusion of copious color photographs. With over 100 additional color photographs, an expanded reference appendix, and updated information, the second edition has raised the bar for resources in this field, elucidating the basics on insects of forensic importance.

New in the Second Edition:

• A chapter on insect identification that presents dichotomous keys
• Updates on DNA molecular techniques and genetic markers
• Coverage of new standardization in forensic entomological analysis
• Chapters on climatology and thermoregulation in insects
• 100 new color photographs, making available a total of 650 color photographs

Goes Beyond Dramatics to the Nitty Gritty of Real Practice

While many books, movies, and television shows have made forensic entomology popular, this book makes it real. Going beyond dramatics to the nitty gritty of actual practice, it covers what to search for when recovering entomological evidence, how to handle items found at the crime scene, and how to use entomological knowledge in legal investigations.

Customer Reviews (4)

Kindle edition expensive than hardcover??
how is it possible for the kindle edition to be expensive than the hardcover edition?

Crime Scene Investigator
I recently purchased this book as a reference source for the collection of entomological specimens at crime scenes. This book is well written and contains excellent information regarding the collection process and establishing the post-mortem interval. Anyone who deals with processes and/or investigating crime scenes should purchase this book for their permanent library.

Missing a "key" point...
While this book does address a variety of necessary topics and its overall praise is well-deserved there is a gap, which means there is still a need for a textbook in forensic entomology.

For a book of this nature one would expect to be able to identify insects of forensic importance.The numerous color photos are nice to look at, but in most cases do not allow species determination at the adult level (don't even bother asking about immature idenitification!).Short species accounts are given, but much more valuable would have been the inclusion of keys (as in K. Smith's treatment of the European forensic fauna).Unfortunately this means that you have to buy another text in order to identify any specimens that you collect.You will likely have to go the Manual of Nearctic Diptera in order to identify genera of Calliphoridae, Muscidae, Phorids...

In summary, even if you buy this book you'll still need to consult a forensic entomologist and as such, I'd recommend dropping the words "Forensic Entomology" from the title.This book is written for those who do not have formal training in entomology or even a science background (i.e. arthropod, botantist, and invertebrate are all defined in the glossary).

For the authors I would highly recommend adding keys in order to increase the value of this work. Please, for the entomologists' sake place them in an appendix, but do include them.Another suggestion would be to expand the taxa covered in Table 9.1 (insect development times) and move it to the appendix.Thanks!

An Excellent Overview of Forensic Entomology
This work is extraordinarily useful to any death investigation professional.It provides an extensive overview of all aspects of forensic entomology with chapter contributions from the leading forensic entomologists in the United States and Canada.It is expertly written so that the investigator with no formal entomological training can easily understand the context of the book, while still on a level that other formally trained entomologists will find very useful.It is richly illustrated with over 150 color photos of insects of forensic importance.This allows investigators to immediately recognize forensic insects at the scene so that collection can be assured.This book is certain to become an invaluable reference for anyone in the field of forensic entomology, or those involved in the collection of entomological evidence from a death scene.It is a perfect complement to the other works published on the subject by K.G.V. Smith and E.P. Catts. ... Read more

Product Description
This invaluable text provides a concise introduction to entomology in a forensic context and is also a practical guide to collecting entomological samples at the crime scene.

Forensic Entomology: An Introduction:

• Assumes no prior knowledge of either entomology or biology
• Provides background information about the procedures carried out by the professional forensic entomologist in order to determine key information about post-mortem interval presented by insect evidence
• Includes practical tasks and further reading to enhance understanding of the subject and to enable the reader to gain key laboratory skills and a clear understanding of insect life cycles, the identification features of insects, and aspects of their ecology
• Glossary, photographs, the style of presentation and numerous illustrations have been designed to assist in the identification of insects associated with the corpse; keys are included to help students make this identification

This book is an essential resource for undergraduate Forensic Science and Criminology students and those on conversion postgraduate M.Sc. courses in Forensic Science. It is also useful for Scenes of Crime Officers undertaking diploma studies and Scene Investigating Officers. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Who knows?
I might've bought this book if I'd've had a sample. The sample provided covers the table of contents, list of figures, list of tables, and half of the acknowledgements. Gee, thanks. ... Read more

Product Description

Twenty years ago the use of entomology in a crime scene investigation was considered bizarre, despite the solid scientific background and documented historical applications. Today, the use of insect evidence is an accepted sub-discipline in modern forensic science. Nevertheless, forensic entomology is still growing and remains a living scientific discipline with many branches. The present book highlights this diversity by collecting contributions dealing with novel aspects, for example, marine biology, chemical ecology and acarology, as well as the basic disciplines like entomotoxiciology and decomposition. It also offers keys for immature insects, discussions of important pitfalls and introductions to the statistical evaluation of data sets. Many topics are covered in depth for the first time. All the authors are leading experts in their respective fields of research. Their chapters show directions for future research for both new and veteran forensic entomologists. Undoubtedly, forensic entomology will continue to grow and attract new professionals, students, as well as interested observers. This book is written for all of them.

Product Description
How the hot new science of forensic ecology is cracking some of the world's toughest criminal cases.

When detectives come upon a murder victim, there's one thing they want to know above all else: When did the victim die? The answer can narrow a group of suspects, make or break an alibi-even assign a name to an unidentified body. But outside the fictional world of murder mysteries, time-of-death determinations have remained infamously elusive, bedeviling forensic pathologists throughout history. Scientists are doing their best to right this situation, using DNA testing and other high-tech investigative methods. But as Jessica Snyder Sachs argues in Corpse, this is one case in which nature might just trump technology: plants, chemicals, and insects found near the body are turning out to be the fiercest weapons in our crime-fighting arsenal. In this highly original book, Sachs accompanies an eccentric group of entomologists, anthropologists, and botanists-a new kind of biological "Mod Squad"-on some of their grisliest, most intractable cases. She also takes us into the courtroom, where "post-O.J." forensic science as a whole is coming under fire and the new multidisciplinary art of forensic ecology is struggling to establish its credibility. Corpse is the fascinating story of the 2000-year-old search to pinpoint time of death. It is also the terrible and beautiful story of what happens to our bodies when we die.Amazon.com Review
In 44 B.C., a physician named Antistius examined the fresh corpse of Julius Caesar and, in science journalist Jessica Sachs's words, "announced that he knew which of the would-be emperor's twenty-three stab wounds had proved fatal," thus giving birth to a new science.

In making his announcement "before the forum"--the origin of the term forensics--Antistius relied on the medical knowledge of the day, which was none too developed. His modern counterparts have much better science at their disposal to account for causes of death, which, Sachs notes, tend to be "usually more than obvious to every police officer responding to the scene." Less obvious, and far more elusive, is the exact time death occurred, the datum that forensic pathologists seek to obtain but usually have to guess at, hampered "by death's infinite variations." Examining a dozen case studies that touch on the contents of Nicole Brown Simpson's stomach, a felled Confederate soldier's skull, the methods of an English serial killer, and the contribution of an Indiana-based student of maggots to the forensic ecology of human remains, Sachs explores the means by which pathologists measure the interval between death and a body's discovery--a determination with often profound implications.

Sachs's book is a lucid, oddly fascinating work of popular science, though it's not for the queasy of stomach or the faint of heart. --Gregory McNamee ... Read more

Customer Reviews (30)

Great non-fiction!
Jessica Snyder Sachs weaves a great tale of the search for time of death, seamlessly integrating statistics, data, and knowledge.She paints a beautiful portrayal of the chief players of scientist who have undertaken this effort, and details many intriguing real life cases.Anyone even mildly interested in forensics will appreciate Corpse for the knowledge, and Jessica Snyder Sachs for her language.

elusive time
book is very interesting with some good and interesting history. Shows how long things take from conception to application, very long time, with almost anything it seems. Very good read, very interesting.

I loved it - but it's not for the squeamish!
I bought this book originally because I teach a forensics class for high school seniors and I was trying to better educate myself.But I found the book to be such an entertaining read that I now require all my students to read it.They say there are boring parts, and some of the information is a bit dry, but for the most part it is entertaining enough for them - and they are REALLY tough critics!If you are into shows like "CSI" or "Bones" and you want a little historical background on how the time of death is determined, you will love this book.

corpse
This is an interesting history of the methods by which detectives, medical examiners, coroners, and crime scene investigators determine the time of death of a murder victim.It started with the three traditional methods: rigor mortis, algor mortis, and livor mortis.Rigor mortis is the stiffening of the body after death; algor mortis is the cooling of the body, and livor mortis is the lividity or discoloration of the body as the body fluids settle in the direction of gravity.These three methods date back to the ancient Greeks and Egyptians.The scale developed by the Greeks and Egyptians is simple and still used as the first step in determining time of death:

Warm and not stiff: Not dead more than a couple hours
Warm and stiff: Dead between a couple hours and a half day
Cold and stiff: Dead between a half day and two days
Cold and not stiff: Dead more than two days.

In the nineteenth century, scientists began experimenting to find a more exact method of determining time of death.The use of maggots and other insects developed slowly but, by the 1930s, the FBI was bringing insects to the Smithsonian for identification.In the 1980s, a group of entomologists formed a group they called the Dirty Dozen and began a new sub-specialty - forensic entomology.They were subsequently joined by a group of forensic anthropologists who were also finding themselves called to crime scenes to help identify bodies that are too decomposed for traditional identification and a group of botanists whose skills were also discovered to be useful.Thus began a new specialty - forensic biology.(Enter the character of doctor of entomology Gil Grishom of CSI: Crime Scene Investigations and the spin-offs of CSI: Miami, CSI: New York, NCIS, Without a Trace, and so forth.)

A highly recommended & extremely detailed history
A seriously good read for those interested in the subject matter. Had I of known the whole midsection of the book would focus on the life cycle of flies and maggots in extreme detail then I may not have decided to read it - but I'm pleased I didn't put too much thought into it beforehand (although it should have been obvious that it would play a major part in a book like this!). It's extremely well written and highly detailed, but not a difficult or dry read at all. The history of forensic development and how advanced it was at certain points in time puts highlighted crimes and Bill Bass's work (the most detailed account I had read up to this point in time) into perspective. Whilst there are a few gory bits, a person who has read a lot of crime before would not be bothered. ... Read more

Product Description
Insect-related evidence is one of the most powerful, least understood examples of modern forensic science. Entomology and the Law is a detailed roadmap from crime scene to courtroom--for entomologists, law enforcement personnel and lawyers preparing for trial. Part I focuses on carrion flies as forensic indicators, exploring relevant biology clearly and concisely illustrated by real-life cases. Part II is a thorough examination of the law of scientific evidence worldwide, complete with caselaw, applicable code provisions, and legal issues relevant to the admissibility and use of forensic entomology in litigation. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (6)

Entomology and the Law
An excellent reference and a must have for forensic entomology.A good read.Includes a technical, species-level diagnostic key to the eggs, larvae, and adults of those flies common to the dead body party.

Forensic Entomology made understandable!
This is a superb work of immense scope and brilliance.The authors leave no aspect of forensic entomology a mystery.Splendid for experts, both scientists and lawyers alike.

This is what CSI is really about!
Bugs are excellent crime solvers.This terrific book explains how and why, in a way everyone can understand.Great for everyone from experts to novices.

Comprehensive?Hardly�
Entomology and the Law by Greenberg and Kunich was promoted to be "the first comprehensive book on forensic entomology."This book certainly does not live up to that description, though it is a decent book in its own rights.At [the price], the book seems a little thin and incomplete.

The first section of the book, written by Dr. Greenberg, deals with the history, biology, identification, and use of forensically important flies.Dr. Greenberg's knowledge of flies is indeed extensive, and he has included keys to species of adults and larvae (pupae are ignored) of carrion flies from many parts of the world.Note that only flies are covered in this book, and all of the other forensically important insects are ignored.Also there is no mention of insect succession on the corpse outside of the preface to the first section of the book.This aspect alone limits the application of this book to the early postmortem interval.

The second section of the book, written by John Kunich, focuses on the legal applications of forensic entomology.This section deals with the laws behind scientific evidence, the admissibility of insect evidence, and how to optimize the use of such evidence.Placing the legal aspects into the prospective of forensic entomology made this section useful to the scientist who is interested in that aspect of the criminal justice system alone.

This book is far from being comprehensive.Nowhere are the details of the collection of entomological evidence presented, successional patterns of insects are largely ignored, and the temperature information included in the book is incomplete.Though lawyers and entomologists with experience in the field of medicocriminal entomology will benefit from this book, the curious lay person or law enforcement official should save their money and purchase either Catts & Haskell or Byrd & Castner.

Entomology and the Law
This book has it all.If ever a book crossed the lines of genre from a working guide for a professional in his field to an interesting read for the inquisitive mind, this book is it.This book is for the professional who has anything to do with a murder scene or wrongful death situation.This book is for everyone who watches television because "Entomology and the Law"is the marriage of a great murder mystery crossed with an investigatory courtroom drama.This book is for every litigator who wants to effectively use the law of scientific evidence in the courtroom.This book is for the layman who wants to know more.You see, it's about bugs.Gross bugs.Flys actually, and the fact that flys can be accurately used to identify the time and location of death.Interesting?Yes.Easy read?No.Necessary read?DEFINITELY. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

More about bugs than pollen
Mason Crest Publishers is producing a new series of books on forensic science, which are written mostly for children at the junior or senior high school level. There are currently 12 books in the forensic science series ranging in topics from psychological profiling, to fingerprint and DNA analysis, and their latest edition on entomology and palynology. As stated in the introduction, this series was prompted by the recent demand for more information on forensics, the rapidly growing interest fanned by TV (CSI and the Forensic Files on TV, high-profile court cases, & forensic evidence used to catch terrorists), and the role forensics plays in the apprehension and conviction of criminals.
The book is well-written with little use of technical jargon, nicely illustrated, simple to understand, and covers the topics of forensic entomology and palynology with a very broad "brush" leaving out many details, which one would expect to find in a journal article or professional book on these subjects.
It is obvious from reading the book that the author is interested in and is more versed on the field of entomology than palynology. Three-fourth of her book is devoted to discussions of entomology and only one-fourth of the book is reserved for forensic palynology. In addition, it is obvious that she obtained about 95% of all her information about forensic palynology from articles published in our Proceedings of the IX International Palynological Congress: Houston, Texas, USA, 1996, from articles in our journal Palynology, from articles in the AASP Contribution Series # 33, and from articles printed in the AASP Newsletter. The only major forensic source she missed was the recent book by Lynne Milne (A Grain of Truth). For those of us who have written these original articles, we can see our "fingerprints" and almost direct quotes from our articles scattered liberally throughout her discussions of palynology.
For those of you who are curious about how forensic entomologists use insects (mainly types of flies and maggots) to determine the time of death, whether or not the victim had been using prescription or illegal drugs (i.e. maggots grow much faster if feeding on a victim who used cocaine), and sometime even where the crime occurred, even if the body has been moved (i.e. urban flies and maggots are often different from those living in rural areas), then this book would provide a brief and easy-to-read overview.The book also provides a brief historical look at the development of forensic entomology from its apparent beginning in A.D. 1235 in China, when a farm worker was convicted of a murder because flies were attracted to the fresh blood on his sickle used to kill his victim.
The book is a quick read and will provide you with the basics of how and why both forensic entomology and forensic palynology are effective tools in the search for and apprehension of criminals. If you are a palynologist, I doubt that reading this book will expand your currently knowledge of palynology very much. However, if you study pollen and spores but have no previous knowledge about how pollen and forensics are becoming effective tools in criminal investigations, then you might enjoy the section on palynology.I think it is a great book for children who might want to know more about forensics and might encourage some of them to consider forensics or even palynology as a future career.My major complaint about the book is that throughout the entire section on forensic palynology she makes no mention of the names of the individuals (Mildenhall, Graham, Jarzen, Wiltshire, Bryant, Jones, Horrocks, etc.) who had written the works that she uses to discuss the subject.I also found it amazing that in the book's section listed as, "Further Reading," there is not a single reference to any article, chapter,book, or web site pertaining to forensic palynology!

Brief and generalized overview written at teen/young adult level
This book is part of a series of forensic science books and gives a brief, general, overview of what forensic entomology and palynology are.It is written at young adult comprehension level and is found in that section in my local library.The book provides the reader with an idea of what entomology and palynology are, who practices these areas, and common uses for them as they relate to forensics.It also provides examples, caes studies, and short histories of the fields, but doesn't really get into specifics about techniques or technical details.If you are looking for an in-depth book or one with techniques and procedures, this is not the book for you.In fact, I "Googled" forensic entomology and in the first 3 or 4 websites found virtually everything that this book had within it.On the positive side, this book could be used as a reference source and does list websites, agencies, and resources where one could find more information. Overall, this is an enjoyable, light read on the subject.If you want details, look elsewhere. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

entertaining
The book is entertaining and informative, but not an essential addition to an entomologist's library.Makes a nice coffee table book. ... Read more

Product Description
The science of forensic entomology-the application of insect biology to the investigation of crime-is extremely specialized, combining as it does an expert knowledge of entomology with keen powers of observation and deduction.Dr. Erzinclioglu has been a practitioner for over twenty-five years and has been involved in a great number of investigations, including some recent high-profile cases, where his evidence has been critical to the outcome.

A great admirerer of Sherlock Holmes, Dr. Erzinclioglu compares his own techniques with those of his fictional hero, and takes the reader behind the often gruesome but deeply fascinating scenes of a murder investigation.This absorbing book ranges over cases from history, prehistory and mythology to the present day and is as gripping and readable as a good thriller.Amazon.com Review
Death is rarely pretty. It is decidedly unappealing when a body, made available to nature, is colonized and consumed by insects, worms, and other animals--unless, like Zakaria Erzinçlioglu, you have an appreciation for this "magnificent and highly nutritious resource."

Erzinçlioglu, a forensic scientist with three decades' experience in solving all manner of grisly crimes, gives a lighthanded if sometimes creepy account of what happens to the human body in death, and of how scientists can deduce from the succession of insect life, among other signs, just what happened to bring about that demise. As he ranges across the annals of wrongdoing, crime buffs will learn much from his observations on, among other matters, the outright stupidity of many murderers, who "seem to think that the last place a criminal investigator is likely to look is under the floorboards," and the many odd twists and turns that a scientific investigation can take while ferreting out the truth.

Erzinçlioglu's book makes a sharp-witted companion to such recent works as Jessica Snyder Sachs's Corpse and Richard Conniff's Spineless Wonders, adding to a growing--and oddly fascinating--library devoted to the coroner's art. --Gregory McNamee ... Read more

Customer Reviews (8)

Some Specialists SHOULDN'T Write thier memoirs
Some years ago I read a very interesting book by the former doorkeeper to the senate of the United States of America.Now keeping the door at the senate chamber may not sound like a very interesting job,nor might it sound like it would yeild up a whole lot of fascinating tales,but the book was great.Being a specialist,in most fields,should provide at least some very interesting material and,if written with style & flair,the collected material should make up an interesting book.
Alas,although Dr.Erzinclioglu does indeed have a lot of interesting material,he is consistently unable to make any of it interesting.In the murder cases he writes about,the good doctor fails to provide much in the way of details except for his own particular field and contribution...this is much like looking a one piece of a jigsaw puzzle,in that one might have a clue as to the overall picture but,without all of the other pieces one cannot fully appreciate it.The Doctor's writing style might best be described as dry...Boring also comes to mind,but,seemingly,the majority of scientists writing memoirs seem not to understand that the mass market audience likes factual accounts to read like fiction.In the case of"Maggots,Murder & Men"the writing is so choppy,so tepid,so infested with personal asides and thinly disguised political opinions,it would seem to me that the writing style,whatever it might be,would not help the book one bit.

Don't judge a book by it's cover...
The title seemed promising enough. And sure, the beginning was a bit slow...forensic books can be that way sometimes, since there's a lot of technical information to convey. But, Dr. Zak's pompous biography never became even mildly interesting. The language was impossibly thick and the Sherlock Holmes references grew tiresome very quickly. Furthermore, Dr. Zak outlined cases in brief and cryptic passages, faling to inform (I believe I only learned the names of ten or so insects, unlike M. Lee Goff's book, where I found myself bombarded with fascinating information). Dr. Zak is highly subjective, melodramatic and conceited - even outlining cases in which he had absolutely no involvement - and seems like a petty novel compared to M. Lee Goff's "A Fly For the Prosecution".
My advice? If you're truly interested in the field, read "A Fly..." and leave "Maggots" to those who seek boredom, not information.

A Fine Collection of Anecdotes and Opinions
The secondary title of Maggots, Murder, and Men by Zakaria Erzinçlioglu is accurate-- Memories and Reflections of a Forensic Entomologist.Dr. Zak, as he is known to those unwilling to pronounce his name, has compiled an anthology of anecdotes and opinions accumulated over his long career of examining bugs for the British criminal justice system.I chose to read this book because I wanted to learn more than I already knew about forensic entomology, but I did not want to shell out the bucks to purchase an appropriate textbook.Maggots, Murder, and Men is a fine introduction to the basics; Dr. Erzinçlioglu explains quite nicely the logic of using flies, fly larvae and other creepy-crawlies to determine the time of death of a body.He provides a bit of the fly life cycle and discusses the ecology of various species, but the entomology ends there.There are no identification keys or the like.

The book is well written and entertaining.Besides bug stories, there is also a fair bit of exposition on such subjects as the criminal justice system, hypothesis testing, shady people (from both sides of the law), and Sherlock Holmes.I am quite sure that while one is picking through many tedious piles of insect samples a jillion odd thoughts pop to mind.I am thankful that Zakaria Erzinçlioglu chose to commit some of his to posterity.

"Maggots, Begetter Flies & Etc. in the Justice System"
"Maggots, Murder, and Men"...is a 256 page treatise written by a notable forensic entomologist with more than 25 years of experience with Cambridge University academia, research at Durham University, and administration of criminal law in England.

The book is scholarly and extraordinarily well-written with innumerous factual details on a variety of maggots, begetter flies and a medley of insects which, to the trained scientist, can provided desirous and often crucial information and evidence that otherwise may be lacking regarding the time of day, season and place(s) of death. Such information is often critical in indicting and convicting or dismissing suspects in deaths from natural, accidental, suicidal, unknown, or homocidal causes.

More than a potpourri of intensely interesting forensic cases solved or confirmed by forensic entomology, the author provides 10 chapters which move from discussion of entomology, maggots, flies, to the identification of human remains and the nature of crime, criminals and the justice system.Chapter 4 "Foul, Strange and Unnatural" describes some grisly cases and the author muses about those evils perpetrated today contrasted to those in times long gone and proffers that "meaningless violence now occurs during times of peace and prosperity," and that the modernday vandal "derives pleasure from distress it causes others."He is loathe to openly discuss the feral things he has seen done to children.He is aghast at those who give "serious talk about the 'rights' of paedophiles to indulge their desires" and who assert these paedophiles "are yet another persecuted minority."He is concerned about societal fragmentation by the agency of moral relativism.Dr. Erzinclioglu regards some values/actions as "sacrosanct and inviolable."

Reference is given to the initial application of DNA using PCR in Chapter 7 and of the "coffin" scuttle fly Conicera tibialis which can locate a corpse 6 feet underground, and he provides comnmentaries in Chapter 8 "Past Times" of the four plagues of Egypt (O.T.), and coverage of myiasis (obligate and/or facultative parasitic maggot feeding on live flesh) with specific references to King Antiochus IV Epiphanes (Syria), Herod the Great, King Herod Agrippa (Judea), Pheretima, etc., and reviews some of the unique problems of myiasis in domesticated versus indigenous mammals of different continents.

The Medicinal application of maggot therapy is well-covered in Chapter 9 that is replete with major tropical maladies, parasitology, and of the scientists who made discoveries leading to effective treatments and observations of maggot infestation in the Napoleonic, American Civil and the Great Wars.

In the final 25 pages, Chapter 10, the author articulates those perceived flaws and weaknesses he detected within the forensics of the Criminal Justice System (CJS), an adversarial system betwixt barristers.Elements of corruption on occasion were observed within the police system regarding creditability of evidence.The Home Office Forensic Science Service (HOFSS) under the CJS evolved into a 'privatized' FSS agency where cost factor by and by ordained the extent and type of forensic studies available to the prosecution. Frumpy & unqualified "muddy-water" consultants emerged as "specialists", plying their expertise through defence barristers.Since April 1999 scientific witnesses within the British Civil Justice System are no longer adversarial but answerable to the judge alone: This is not yet the case within the Criminal Justice System.

All in all, there is much more to this book than reviewed above.It is a scholarly work, written in a style which does not yield to cursory reading but with provoking commentary on those societal, judicial, and scientific issues that should insure a large audience for this exposition.

I would have liked to have seen a few illustrations of the various commonly encountered flies and maggots that were discussed, but references are provided for me to do so.A mystery to this reviewer is substitution of Pica pica with a member of the Muscidae family. To wit: the book's opening quotation taken from 'Who Killed Cock Robin?' Anon. is given as 'Who saw him die?', 'I' said the Fly...'is at variance with my library version which reads 'I', said the Magpie, 'with my little eye, I saw him die' from "Poor Cock Robin" printed in "Favorite Poems for Children" Ed. by Holly Pell McConnaughy. From cover to cover this is one of those books that simply can't get any better.It is underpriced and a "must read" that puts forensics in perspective.

Dr. Bugs Talks About Shirley Holmes
This book was worth the read, but it took a lot more effort to pay attention to than other forensic books I've read.The author is a forensic entomologist meaning he studies the life cycle of bugs on the dead to help estimate time of death and also connect the type of insect with the place of the homicide.This book had very small print and the author tended to refer back to a lot of Shirley Holmes stories (which made me want to buy some Shirley Holmes books because he never finished the whole story).Also, he tended to jump around a lot and not stay focused on one crime scene enough to give good details.The stories of the crime scenes and the insects found were not very detailed, and I really thought he would explain more about the different types of insects and get into more detail about them.The book was definitely worth the insight into the field of forensic entomology, but I just would have liked it better if his explanations of the crime scenes were more detailed and the insect identification was more detailed.Also, there were no pictures at all (other than fly sketches here and there), so that was definitely a bummer.The author is very knowledgable about his field, but book writing and story telling are not his forte. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

it has everything
This is the end all be all of forensic entomology books. It was the first written in its field, and the science and knowledge within its pages still holds true today. It is highly reccomended for anyone involved in crimescene investigation or entomology. It is really not for the squeemish,however. ... Read more

Product Description
Gilbert "Gil" Grissom, Ph.D. is a fictional character portrayed by William Petersen on the American TV crime drama CSI: Crime Scene Investigation. Grissom was a forensic entomologist and the night-shift supervisor of the Clark County, Nevada CSI (forensics) team, investigating crimes in and around the city of Las Vegas. He was the show's protagonist from seasons 1 to 9, when Petersen left the show as a regular, and was replaced by Laurence Fishburne as Dr. Raymond Langston. CSI: Crime Scene Investigation producer and writer Carol Mendelsohn considers Grissom the center of the show, and in the first seven years of the show he appeared in every episode, with the exception of "Hollywood Brass", from season five, "Gum Drops" and "The Unusual Suspect" from season six, and "Sweet Jane" and "Redrum" from season seven. In early season 6 he became romantically involved with subordinate CSI Sara Sidle. Grissom has received positive responses from critics, ranking number 82 on Bravo's list of Greatest Television Characters of All Time, along with Catherine Willows. Grissom's final episode drew over 23 million viewers. ... Read more

Product Description
Chapters: Home Stored Product Entomology, Forensic Entomology and the Law, Forensic Entomologist, Sarcophaga Bullata, Muscina, Forensic Entomological Decomposition, Hydrotaea, University of Tennessee Anthropological Research Facility, Insect Indicators of Abuse or Neglect, List of Schools and Organizations Related to Forensic Entomology, Use of Dna in Forensic Entomology, Megaselia Scalaris, Sarcophaga Haemorrhoidalis, Patient and Mortuary Neglect, Synthesiomyia Nudiseta, Calliphora Loewi, Insect Development During Storage, Sarcophaga Africa, Wohlfahrtia Magnifica. Source: Wikipedia. Pages: 174. Not illustrated. Free updates online. Purchase includes a free trial membership in the publisher's book club where you can select from more than a million books without charge. Excerpt: Forensic entomology is the application and study of insect and other arthropod biology to criminal matters. Forensic entomology is primarily associated with death investigations; however, it may also be used to detect drugs and poisons, determine the location of an incident, detect the length of a period of neglect in the elderly or children, and find the presence and time of the infliction of wounds. Forensic entomology can be divided into three subfields: urban, stored-product and medico-legal/medico-criminal entomology. Historically there have been several accounts of vague applications for and experimentation with forensic entomology. The concept of forensic entomology dates back to at least the 1300s. However, only in the last 30 years has forensic entomology been systematically explored as a feasible source for evidence in criminal investigations. Through their own experiments and own interest in arthropods and death many people have helped to lay the foundations for today's modern forensic entomology, these include Song Ci, Francesco Redi, Bergeret dArbois, Jean Pierre Mégnin and the German doctor Hermann Reinhard. Song Ci (also known as Sung Tz...More: http://booksllc.net/?id=61289 ... Read more

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High Quality Content by WIKIPEDIA articles! Forensic entomology deals with the collection of arthropodic evidence and its application, and through a series of tests and previously set of rules, general admissibility of said evidence is determined. Ultimately, the admissibility of forensic evidence is left up to the judgement of the court. To provide a strong basis of admissibility for the evidence, accurate documentation is essential so that there is no room for speculation as to the authenticity of the evidence. Given that admissibility is granted, expert witnesses may be called to a courtroom to either support or refute the conclusions that are derived from the evidence. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (5)

Great Fun and Intererest for the Amataur & Pro
This book is great!While this book is geared towards the real professional, such as a MD, ME, or Police investigator, (not me) this book is totally readable, interesting for the layperson or student of entomology.This is one of my favorite, if not my favorite entomological text!!While I am not normally morbid, this book brings out my morbid side - death & bugs can be fun and interesting!!!

Entomology & Death:A Procedural Guide
Entomology & Death:A Procedural Guide edited by Neal H. Haskell and E. Paul Catts, is a compilation of information collected from well known experts in the field of forensic entomology.In addition to editing thetext, several chapters were written by the editors.Their work as well asthe other contributing writers' works is well written and organized and themanual is superbly illustrated with line drawings.The introductorychapter covers background information on terminology, definitions, andeducational requirements for those who practice medicolegal or forensicentomology.Also, the manual contains historically significantentomological research that provides a foundation for applying itstechniques to legal investigations.Concise case histories are used toillustrate how insects significantly contribute to criminal investigations. The manual describes some basic structural biology, metamorphic processes,habitats, and other environmental factors that affect the development offorensically important arthropods.There is an excellent discussion ofblow fly development and how it may be used as a time of death indicator. In addition, entomological data analysis from evidence collected at thescene is discussed.Some information regarding death scene procedures,security and the treatment of evidence is covered as well.Propercollection techniques and preservation methods are discussed and also givenis a detailed list of materials and equipment needed by the investigator. Useful reference information such as several formulas for mixing standardkilling and preserving solutions are discussed.Also, presented arelaboratory procedures for raising insect larvae.The manual concludes withsome information on ethics, guidelines for testifying in court and ahelpful glossary complete with numerous references cited.This manual isan exemplary text, and I would highly recommend it for police officers,crime scene technicians, investigators, medical examiners, and forensicscientist.Presently, published information on forensic entomology isextremely limited.This manual definitely fills a void in the field offorensic entomology.

Hard to Find!
It took me a couple years to get this book since it was out of print and all.Glad I found it.Great guide and actually some very good reading. This book made me reconsider getting back into this field.Scrapingmaggots off the dead can be fun!

An Excellent Work
As said before, this book is one of the best all-around and in-depth reviews of this field.

A must read for anyone interested in forensic entomology!
If you are looking for books on forensic entomology, this is the book for you. Several of America's most well-known forensic entomologists has joined their efforts and produced this brilliant, one-of-its-kind book.

The only negative thing I have found is that the book is spiral-bound. My book is becoming rather well used, at this point, and some of the pages are rather loose.

Several drawings.

Contents

Chapter 1 - Medicocriminal entomology
Chapter 2 - Case histories of the use of insects in investigations
Chapter 3 - Arthropod basics - Structure and biology
Chapter 4 - Standard techniques and procedures at the death scene
Chapter 5 - Collection of entomological evidence at the death scene
Chapter 6 - Entomological collection techniques at autopsy and for specific environments
Chapter 7 - Procedures in the entomological laboratory
Chapter 8 - Analyzing entomological data
Chapter 9 - The paper trail: case records and reports
Chapter 10 - Being an expert witness: testimonial guidelines
Chapter 11 - Report/Witness ethics

Glossary of common terms in forensic entomology

References cited

Appendix

Index

... Read more

Product Description
This digital document is a journal article from Forensic Science International, published by Elsevier in 2006. The article is delivered in HTML format and is available in your Amazon.com Media Library immediately after purchase. You can view it with any web browser.

Abstract:
This article presents Chrysomya nigripes Aubertin as a blow fly species of forensic importance in Thailand, and morphological observation of fly puparia using scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Morphologically, we focused on the characteristics of puparia used to accurately identify fly species. Numerous puparia of C. nigripes were found aggregated, adhering side by side, on the tibia of a skeletonized corpse, which was recovered from a forested area of Chiang Mai, northern Thailand. In the triangular shape of the anterior end of the puparia, three thoracic segments and broad hairy patches beginning dorsolaterally at the sixth segments were distinguishing characteristics. This study, showing pupariation of the flies along the bone of a corpse as well as morphological features, provides important guidance in identifying C. nigripes puparia. A key to differentiate puparia of C. nigripes from the other flies of forensic importance in Thailand is given. ... Read more

Product Description
This digital document is a journal article from Forensic Science International, published by Elsevier in 2006. The article is delivered in HTML format and is available in your Amazon.com Media Library immediately after purchase. You can view it with any web browser.

Abstract:
Protophormia terraenovae is a forensically important fly whose development time is studied by forensic entomologists to establish the time elapsed since death (post-mortem interval, PMI). Quantity and nature of ecdysteroid hormones present in P. terraenovae pupae were analysed in order to determine if they could be correlated to the age of pupae found on corpses and thereby could give information on the PMI. Ecdysteroid levels were quantified during the pupal-adult development of synchronised animals using enzyme immunoassay (EIA), a sensitive method allowing acurate quantification in one pupa. Two types of pupae were compared: ''fresh'' pupae, kept frozen until analysis and ''experimentally dried'' pupae, which were left for several weeks at ambient temperature. A peak of ecdysteroids was detected between 36 and 96h after pupariation in fresh animals. It was not observed in ''experimentally dried'' pupae. High-pressure liquid chromatography (HPLC) analyses combined with EIA showed that 20-hydroxyecdysone (20E) was the major free ecdysteroid at various pupal ages. Enzymatic hydrolysis experiments revealed the presence of apolar conjugates at all ages tested. However, neither qualitative nor quantitative difference was detected between early and late pupae. This study gives precise information on the nature and quantity of ecdysteroids in the course of pupal development of a calliphorid fly. The limits of using ecdysteroid measurement as a tool in forensic entomology are discussed. ... Read more

Product Description
The Forensic Files subset examines the forensic sciences behind the most fascinating solved and unsolved cases, from autopsies to facial reconstruction, and more. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Not a "must have" book
When I bought this book, I was not expecting library quality reference text.However, I was expecting coffee table novelty reading entertainment.The graphics meet this standard, but the writing is sub-par and left me disappointed.Reminded me of a poorly written, poorly edited online news article with good pictures.Perhaps a reader with attention deficit would appreciate this book, but I found the writing disconnected and incongruent.I would not consider this book a "must have" in any entomology library. ... Read more