The Nature of Life and Death: Every Body Leaves a Trace

The Nature of Life and Death: Every Body Leaves a TraceFrom "the Queen of Forensic Science" (The Wall Street Journal) comes a riveting blend of nature writing and true crime narrative that explores the often shocking cases of a trailblazing scientist and investigator. From mud tracks on a quiet country road to dirt specks on the soles of walking boots, forensic ecologist Patricia Wiltshire uses her decades of scientific expertise to find often overlooked clues left behind by criminal activity. She detects

From "the Queen of Forensic Science" (The Wall Street Journal) comes a riveting blend of nature writing and true-crime narrative that explores the often shocking cases of a trailblazing scientist and investigator.

From mud tracks on a quiet country road to dirt specks on the soles of walking boots, forensic ecologist Patricia Wiltshire uses her decades of scientific expertise to find often-overlooked clues left behind by criminal activity. She detects evidence and eliminates hypotheses armed with little more than a microscope, eventually developing a compelling thesis of the who, what, how, and when of a crime. Wiltshire's remarkable accuracy has made her one of the most in-demand police consultants in the world, and her curiosity, humility, and passion for the truth have guided her every step of the way.

A riveting blend of science writing and true-crime narrative, The Nature of Life and Death details Wiltshire's unique journey from college professor to crime fighter: solving murders, locating corpses, and exonerating the falsely accused. Along the way, she introduces us to the unseen world all around us and underneath our feet: plants, animals, pollen, spores, fungi, and microbes that we move through every day. Her story is a testament to the power of persistence and reveals how our relationship with the vast natural world reaches far deeper than we might think.

Binding Type: Paperback
Publisher: G.P. Putnam's Sons
Published: 09/01/2020
ISBN: 9780525542223
Pages: 304
Weight: 0.65lbs
Size: 8.20h x 5.30w x 0.70d