Now for something fun and educational, a review…fitting too since as Christians we are concern about justice.
Elizabeth A. Murray. Forensic History: Crimes, Frauds, and Scandals. Chantilly, VA: The Teaching Company, January 1st 2014. 12 hours, 18 minutes, 7 seconds.
5 out of 5
Purchase: Amazon
Are you interested with forensics science as it really is? In these lectures produced The Teaching Company forensic anthropologist and also Professor of Biology at Mount St. Joseph University Elizabeth A. Murray delivers 24 fascinating lectures on various aspects of forensics science both in terms of what forensics science do and also its history. Every lecture is interesting in its own right!
Topics in these lectures include “Decomposition and confusing interpretation,” “Frauds and Forgeries” and “Motive and Kidnapping.” I love the series discussion of history including an entire lecture on Jack the Ripper, the Black Dahlia murder and the Romanovs. I also appreciated that this lecture also cover topics on the limitation of forensic science and times when investigators made mistakes. “Crooked Cops and Bad Convictions” was a very emotionally riveting lecture of an actual case example. I also enjoyed the author sharing some of her own personal experience as an expert in the field. The one on genocide was very interesting lecture in of itself but for her to share her own experience investigating a human rights crime scene overseas was very illuminating.
I learned a lot from these lectures. This include the lecturer’s discussion of area that I haven’t really thought about forensics science such as Lance Armstrong’s doping scandal and also the truth behind false confessions. Part-history, part-science and part-psychological (in the sense of talking about criminal’s motivation and outlook) this is an incredibly fascinating series.
TY:)
You’re welcome! I was listening to this audio series as I was driving and stuck in California traffic on my way to ministering to people. Was sort of a mental break that’s needed. Hope you are having a blessed Thursday thus far Maw-Maw!
You also, my favorite Grand.:)
If there’s something I love more than CSI TV shows it is learning about how Forensics and Criminalists really work. Going to subscribe to audible to listen to this.
Wow, this looks really fascinating brother!
Thanks! Just a random thought in light of your comment: For your podcasts it would be neat to have book discussions with your husband from time to time. What do you think?
I LOVE that idea!!! It’s really awkward when I do episodes just by myself to be honest, I feel like I’m talking to the wall. So I’ve been planning some episodes with him between the interviews and this would really change things up!!! Any book recommendations for it?
It might be good to start off with a shorter book that’s good. This was my favorite short book I read with my wife this year and it’s on prayer: https://veritasdomain.wordpress.com/2019/05/20/two-short-spiritual-booklets-recommended-from-my-devotionals-with-my-wife/
What do you think of that idea?
The first one or the one by Sproul? Either would be really awesome to read with him and talk about. I think it’s a great idea to start out with a smaller book option too so we can fit the talk into one episode. 😀
Forensics is an amazing science.
Thanks for this review. This sounds really enjoyable and informative. Such an interesting field. This brought to mind the infamous O.J. Simpson double-murder trial. The forensic evidence against O.J. was overwhelming and irrefutable, yet O.J.’s “dream team” legal cohort was able to overcome the forensic evidence (they were helped by the bumbling prosecutors).
I was a kid when the OJ Simpson trial was going on but I remembered watching the trial on TV. That seems a long time ago to me…I remember finding a comic book recently that’s from the 80s and had an ad on it with OJ Simpson and I thought how different things were then…compared to later. Good night for now brother!
Have a good sleep, night owl!
Interesting review. Forensic science has always fascinated . I used to watch all the crime shows on TV. Such as CIS crime scene, Crossing Jordan, Quincy, Forensics You decide, Bones, rated among my favourites.😊
Wow learned a little more about you through this! I’m fascinated with forensics but haven’t seen any of the shows you mentioned though I do enjoy documentaries on this topic! I’m sure you have seen documentaries on the science of criminal investigations =)
Yes, I have seen many documentaries on the subject. Have you ever heard of Ivan Milat?
I have not…tell me more!
*Edit: Wow I just looked him up, glad he’s caught…crazy. I hope you weren’t anywhere near him during those time he operated.
He lived in the same suburb I used to live at the time when all this was happening. One of his brothers was a customer of the company I used to work for.
There is a video I posted at The Question Evolution Project the day before I saw this. It is on the Answers in Genesis account at YouTube, “The Forensic Science Behind God’s Fingerprint Design”. Just under an hour. I found it very interesting, and the woman who presented it has forensic experience.