Investigating suspicious deaths #crime

We tend to think of investigations into suspicious deaths as being a fairly modern science, but this isn’t the case. The Coroner (originally Crowner) was established during the reign of Richard the Lionheart in 1149.

This is a great article showing how the office evolved to the one we know today as the final say on whether or not a death was suspicious.

As for the earliest written treatise on forensics, believed to be published in 1248, it is amazingly still in print! The Washing away of Wrongs: Forensic Medicine in Thirteenth-Century China covers the responsibilities of the official, outlines the procedures to be followed for a medical examination and gives advice on how to question suspects (warning investigators about false accusations), and how to interview family members. The next section shows how to begin an investigation of suspicious deaths, examining the body, including orifices, looking at ways of determining whether the corpse was moved and clues to possible causes of death.

I doubt there are many books published today that will still be in print nearly 800 years in the future!

Don't forget, if you would like a FREE e-copy of Bad Moon Rising, all you need to do is sign up for the monthly newsletter.

Real Life Criminal Minds #crime

I've found another great blog to add to the True Evil category. I'm sure many of you have watched Criminal Minds and wondered about the mindset of people who come up with such grisly plots and evil perpetrators, but did you know some of those episodes were inspired by real life events?

As someone who is able to get inside the heads of her criminals as they torture and kill, even I was shocked by the brutality of these cases behind six episodes of Criminal Minds.

Click here to read up on the real life events and victims.

If you would like to receive a free copy of the first in my series, Bad Moon Rising, simply subscribe to the newsletter and I'll send you the ebook to suit any e-reader.