Customer Reviews

Forensic Science of CSI

5 star:		(4)
4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(3)

 

 

this book tells you everything you need to know about forensics. It is the best science text i have ever read. from the scene to the autopsy table, it has it all. if you like the show CSI and the CSI books by Max Allen Collins, you'll love this! it gives you real life examples, lists , and explanations on every page. it also has an awesome glossary and reference. LOVE IT!!!!!!

I found this book to be marginal at best. That may have something to do with my education and the amount of reading I have done in real forensics books. It would be a good read for teens interested in a possible career in this field, or for adults whose primary exposure is through the TV series. I'm sure that the writer knows much more than is in this book, and I would like to see a more in-depth coverage written for those who aren't in medicine or law enforcement but who have a genuine interest in the science. If your teen likes the show, it might be an excellent way to get them interested in reading science outside of that dull text from high school.

This book, part series guide; part primer on forensic science, gives some of the scientific background to C.S.I.. (Crime Scene Investigation) and now, also, C.S.I. Miami, as well as other movies and shows; where science and criminology meet. Gives fairly good explanations, although some are left out, maybe because anyone who watches these shows has heard terms, for example, "bindle" [a piece of paper or some small envelope, used for evidence collection]. Some of the "real life" cases, as contrasted to some of the episodes, are pretty gruesome and not recommended for everyone. Great for fans of the shows [like me] or anyone moderately curious about how some crimes are solved.

this book is interestin and educational, especialy to kids who watch the show, csi or want to be a forensic scientist when they get older.

This book is really an episode guide to "CSI" with some forensic science information added. Episodes of the show are referenced by title, so someone who hasn't seen all of the show may be lost. If you want a little more information on forensics or a procedure seen on the show, or if you have no additional knowledge about forensics, then this book is adequate. Otherwise, pass on it; there are much better introductory forensics books for the general public available, such as Hidden Evidence by David Owen or The Casebook of Forensic Detection by Colin Evans.

While the overall book is good, the subject matter involving a brutle murder to harvest liver/organ parts for a porphyria victim was erroneous. The portrayal of a mentally deranged sicko demeans countless numbers of porphyria patients around the world. Had the author taken the time to learn about porphyria...and it's many types, and the treatment thereof, her bizarre tale would never have been aired. Shame on the author!
You owe apologies to thousands upon thousands who inherited this inherited metabolic disease and live in constant pain and misunderstanding.

While the overall book is good, the subject matter involving a brutle murder to harvest liver/organ parts for a porphyria victim was erroneous. The portrayal of a mentally deranged sicko demeans countless numbers of porphyria patients around the world. Had the author taken the time to learn about porphyria...and it's many types, and the treatment thereof, her bizarre tale would never have been aired. Shame on the author!
You owe apologies to thousands upon thousands who inherited this inherited metabolic disease and live in constant pain and misunderstanding.

This book is an attempt to cash in on the popularity of the CSI series. However, you should note that it is "not affiliated with the show or its producers"

There are several things I found annoying about the book. First, while I am a fan of the show and I think I have seen most of the episodes, the episode name dropping got annoying. Its fine if you want to say in such-and-such an episode there was an example of this, but I don't know all of the episodes by name. Perhaps an episode guidee would have helped here.

Another annoying recurring theme in the book is the vague references (with too little detail and too little information) to "real" crimes from around North America. I know these are used to describe what happens, but I think there would have been a much more effective way to present them.

My main complaint about the book is that it is scattered all over the place. While much of the information on forensics is there, it gets a bit repetitive and mish-mashy at times. The book is organized along themes, but the themes tend to cross-cut meaning that the author refers back to the same principles on more than one occasion.

If you are truly interested in forensics, there are lots of good books out there. Just don't fall into buying this one because of its link with CSI

This book is a clear attempt at cashing in on CSI's popularity. It is (if you note the fine print on the cover) not affiliated or sanctioned by anyone with CSI.

The most annoying thing about the book are the constant cryptic references to episodes. If the author wanted to reference episodes, an episode guide would have been helpful. I enjoy the show very much, but could rarely tell you the name of any episode.

I also found the book very scattered in terms of what it was talking about. It jumped all over the place, from topic to topic.

If you are truly interested in forensic science, keep shopping. If you are a CSI junkie, this book might be for you.

"The Forensic Science of C.S.I." by Katherine Ramsland, ISBN 0-425-18359-9 (ppb), Berkly Blvd. Books 2001 - is a 242 page exposition by established writer (15 books plus masters in forensics) cleverly utilizing the characters, plots and forensics presented in the popular TV series "C.S.I."

It is helpful (but not essential) to have followed "CSI" on TV as Ramsland's reference to the TV shows' titles and characters is merely a ploy in her easy-to-read presentation of basic modern forensics. Indeed, she skillfully introduces and outlines, in a series of 11 chapters, the crime scene and the elements of crime scene reconstruction including criminal logic, deceptions, and forensic puzzles & methodology in up-to-date evidence collection. Indeed, the last chapter "Evidence Response" is especially well presented.

Aside from the oft encountered confusion in definition of "trace evidence", the book is excellent from the standpoint of crime scene coverage, categorization of forensic methodologies, and readability. It has an excellent glossary (13 p.), consequential references (4 p.), and helpful index (11 p.). The book is informative, well organized, priced fairly and is thusly recommended.