An “excellent” collection of case studies and stories from the forensic anthropologist who founded Tennessee’s “Body Farm” (Charleston Post & Courier). A pioneer in forensic anthropology, Bill Bass created the world’s first laboratory dedicated to the study of human decomposition—three acres on a Tennessee hillside where human bodies are left to the elements. His research at the Body Farm has revolutionized the field, helping crack cold cases and pinpoint time of death. But during a forensics career that spans half a century, Bass’s work has ranged far beyond the gates of the Body Farm. In this riveting book, the bone sleuth explores the rise of modern forensic science, using fascinating cases he’s worked on to take readers into the real world of C.S.I. Some cases rely on the simplest of tools and techniques, such as reassembling—from battered torsos and a stack of severed limbs—eleven people hurled skyward by an explosion at an illegal fireworks factory. Other cases hinge on sophisticated techniques Bass couldn’t have imagined when he began his career: harnessing scanning electron microscopy to detect trace elements in knife wounds, or extracting DNA from a long-buried corpse, only to find that the murder victim may have been mistakenly identified a quarter-century before. Beyond the Body Farm follows Bass as he explores the depths of a lake with a twenty-first-century sonar system in search of an airplane that vanished thirty-five years ago; exhumes a fifties pop star to determine what injuries he suffered in the plane crash that killed three rock and roll legends; and works to decipher an ancient Persian death scene. Witty and engaging, Bass dissects the methods used by homicide investigators every day on an extraordinary journey into the high-tech science that it takes to crack a case. “Case studies and anecdotes from the field of corpse identification [with] careful attention to detail and the occasional darkly humorous aside.” —Publishers Weekly “The real crimes and mysteries here are just as or more intriguing than any fictional crime drama . . . offers a real-life understanding of forensic anthropology and the science behind it.” —Knoxville News-Sentinel

Diane France loves bones. Why? Because they talk to her. Every skeleton she meets whispers secrets about the life-and death-of its owner. Diane France can hear those secrets because she's a forensic anthropologist, a bone detective. She has the science skills and know-how to examine bones for clues to a mystery: Who was this person and how did he or she die? Bones tell Diane about the life and times of famous people in history, from a Russian royal family to American outlaws and war heroes. They speak to her about murders, mass disasters, and fatal accidents. One day she's collecting skeletal evidence at a crime scene. A phone call later she's jetting to the site of a plane crash or other unexpected tragedy to identify victims. Young readers will be captivated by the thrilling real-life story of this small-town girl full of curiosity and mischief who became a world-famous bone detective.

Please note: This is a companion version & not the original book. Sample Book Insights: #1 I had a memorable experience in 1964, when I was an eager assistant professor of anthropology at the University of Kansas at Lawrence. I was excavating skeletons in the ancient hilltop citadel of Hasanlu, in northwestern Iran. #2 I was invited to Iran in 1964 to help excavate ancient graves at Hasanlu. I found the skeletal remains of three men who had died while at a dead run, their arms and legs frozen in perpetual near-motion. The object cradled in their arms was a bowl made of solid gold. #3 I was asked to help answer the question of who the three men in the bowl were. I thought I could, but it would not be easy. I needed to travel to Iran and dig up the bones of soldiers from both ancient armies, and compare their measurements to those of the area’s modern inhabitants. #4 I developed a case of diarrhea in Tehran, which was not bad, but I took some Imodium tablets to help. After a couple of nights in Tabriz, we finally hit the road for Hasanlu.

An “excellent” collection of case studies and stories from the forensic anthropologist who founded Tennessee’s “Body Farm” (Charleston Post & Courier). A pioneer in forensic anthropology, Bill Bass created the world’s first laboratory dedicated to the study of human decomposition—three acres on a Tennessee hillside where human bodies are left to the elements. His research at the Body Farm has revolutionized the field, helping crack cold cases and pinpoint time of death. But during a forensics career that spans half a century, Bass’s work has ranged far beyond the gates of the Body Farm. In this riveting book, the bone sleuth explores the rise of modern forensic science, using fascinating cases he’s worked on to take readers into the real world of C.S.I. Some cases rely on the simplest of tools and techniques, such as reassembling—from battered torsos and a stack of severed limbs—eleven people hurled skyward by an explosion at an illegal fireworks factory. Other cases hinge on sophisticated techniques Bass couldn’t have imagined when he began his career: harnessing scanning electron microscopy to detect trace elements in knife wounds, or extracting DNA from a long-buried corpse, only to find that the murder victim may have been mistakenly identified a quarter-century before. Beyond the Body Farm follows Bass as he explores the depths of a lake with a twenty-first-century sonar system in search of an airplane that vanished thirty-five years ago; exhumes a fifties pop star to determine what injuries he suffered in the plane crash that killed three rock and roll legends; and works to decipher an ancient Persian death scene. Witty and engaging, Bass dissects the methods used by homicide investigators every day on an extraordinary journey into the high-tech science that it takes to crack a case. “Case studies and anecdotes from the field of corpse identification [with] careful attention to detail and the occasional darkly humorous aside.” —Publishers Weekly “The real crimes and mysteries here are just as or more intriguing than any fictional crime drama . . . offers a real-life understanding of forensic anthropology and the science behind it.” —Knoxville News-Sentinel

Body farms are anthropological research centers dedicated to the study of decomposition. Knowing rates and conditions of decomposition helps solve several details on homicide cases. This book details the tools and techniques used by scientists who work on body farms. Students will learn how forensic study unravels the clues in the tiniest bits of evidence. Sidebars offer step-by-step explanations of scientific and legal processes. An annotated bibliography of age-appropriate resources is included.

This two-volume Encyclopdia - through multidisciplinary and international contributions and perspectives - organizes, defines and clarifies more than 300 death-related concepts.

Notorious criminals have captured our imaginations for years and years. But we don't forget, either, the many people and organizations who fight back. J. Edgar Hoover and Eliot Ness have entered into the American psyche as two of our most aggressive and successful crime fighters. Still, there are others who have risen to the occasion, combating crime in all its manifestations. From the U.S. Marshals, FBI agents, and Secret Service to Rudy Giuliani, John Walsh— host of America's Most Wanted—and Joseph Pistone (aka Donnie Brasco), this set highlights some of the nation's bravest crime stoppers. Icons of Crime Fighting will enlighten the curious mind with a comprehensive overview of the most successful, the most well-known, and the most important crime fighters in recent American history. Part of our national culture, these figures represent all that is good about the American justice system. Moreover, they exemplify how individuals in the criminal justice system have made a real difference in law enforcement. These titans of law enforcement are profiled in this important and timely set. Those covered in the set include: Gun Fighters: U.S. Marshals of the Old West; Allan Pinkerton; The Texas Rangers; August Vollmer; J. Edgar Hoover and the FBI; Thomas Dewey; Robert Kennedy; Jim Garrison; Buford Pusser; Eddie Egan and Sonnie Grosso; Bob Woodward and Carl Bernstein; Francisco Vincent Serpico; Joe Pistone, aka Donnie Brasco; Vincent T. Bugliosi; John Walsh; FBI Profilers; Sheriff Joe Arpaio; Mark Fuhrman; Rudolph Rudy Giuliani; Curtis Sliwa; Dr. Henry Lee; and Dr. Bill Blass.

THE #1 NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLING KAY SCARPETTA NOVEL FROM PATRICIA CORNWELL When an eleven-year-old girl is found murdered, Kay Scarpetta, Chief Medical Examiner for the Commonwealth of Virginia, gets another chance at stopping one of the most heartless and horrifying serial killers of her career: the demented Temple Gault.

When human remains are found at a crime scene, forensic anthropologists examine them to determine the time and cause of death, as well as the identity of the victim. How do they know the answers to these questions? Body farms are facilities where specialists can study the ways bodies decompose under different conditions, which helps forensic anthropologists solve crimes more effectively. Informative fact boxes, full-color photographs, and engaging sidebars offer a closer look at these little-known research facilities. Readers are sure to be captivated by stories of farms unlike any they have ever heard of before.

Memoirs, autobiographies, and diaries represent the most personal and most intimate of genres, as well as one of the most abundant and popular. Gain new understanding and better serve your readers with this detailed genre guide to nearly 700 titles that also includes notes on more than 2,800 read-alike and other related titles. The popularity of this body of literature has grown in recent years, and it has also diversified in terms of the types of stories being told—and persons telling them. In the past, readers' advisors have depended on access by names or Dewey classifications and subjects to help readers find autobiographies they will enjoy. This guide offers an alternative, organizing the literature according to popular genres, subgenres, and themes that reflect common reading interests. Describing titles that range from travel and adventure classics and celebrity autobiographies to foodie memoirs and environmental reads, Life Stories: A Guide to Reading Interests in Memoirs, Autobiographies, and Diaries presents a unique overview of the genre that specifically addresses the needs of readers' advisors and others who work with readers in finding books.