Forensic History: Crimes, Frauds, and Scandals

De: Elizabeth A. Murray, The Great Courses

Narrado por: Elizabeth A. Murray

Modern history is filled with terrible crimes, baffling hoaxes, and seedy scandals. The infamous Jack the Ripper slayings. The alleged survival of Anastasia Romanov, the youngest daughter of the murdered Tsar. Seven-time Tour de France winner Lance Armstrong's public fall from grace. The Chicago Tylenol poisonings and the copycat crimes that followed.

Step into the world of forensic science and study the most fascinating crimes and mysteries from the last two centuries in the 24 lectures of Forensic History: Crimes, Frauds, and Scandals. Professor Murray, a forensic anthropologist with nearly 30 years of experience in the field, has crafted lectures that are a remarkable blend of storytelling and science - a whirlwind tour that takes you from the gas-lit streets of Victorian London to small-town America. As you journey around the world and into the past, you'll re-examine modern history's great crimes and scandals using the tools and insights of forensic science. In doing so, you'll learn how cutting-edge advancements in science and technology are applied to investigations and how to evaluate evidence and think like a forensic scientist.

Using her extensive background in the field and her skill at weaving riveting stories, Professor Murray invites you peer over the shoulders of investigators as they examine some of the most famous crimes in history, as well as cases that shed light on what happens when the justice system goes awry. Whether they're controversial or by-the-book, solved or unsolved, hot or cold, these cases are an opportunity to gain deeper insight into the historic and cutting-edge methods and tools forensic scientists use on the job. Having participated in hundreds of investigations in America and abroad, Professor Murray intersperses these historical examinations with some of her own, equally intriguing, personal experiences.

PLEASE NOTE: When you purchase this title, the accompanying reference material will be available in your Library section along with the audio.

©2014 The Teaching Company, LLC (P)2014 The Great Courses

was expecting more details and less history

nothing new . old cases that don't give you real idea about forensic work now days or how a forensic expert approaches a case . in other words only really vague general concepts are given but no appropriate methodology .
the presentor lacks charisma . trying to show excitement in the wrong situations .

Interesting and not like a lecture

Any additional comments?

This was more like an audiobook written by an expert than a series of lectures. I can think of a number of cases I would have hoped she would have discussed, but nevertheless it was very interesting. The professor had a great deal more background information than the reader could have gleaned from the newspapers and also details of later happenings (person found innocent decades after imprisonment or -sadly - execution).

Interesting

If you are an armchair detective you will love this! It’s very clear and concise. Enjoy!

Good but not great

Any additional comments?

She goes over a broad range of forensic topics and while most are interesting, my attention started to wander a few times towards the end. I would have liked it more if it had been shorter. She stumbles over words every so often which is distracting. It should have been edited out. I learned about some interesting cases I had never heard of but I didn't learn any new forensic information. If this were a real college course, it would be Introduction to Forensics.

Headline crimes revisited.

An Interesting take on some of the crime stories of yesterday and today. enjoyed listening.

compelling review of classic crimes

This course looked at primarily well known crimes through a forensic science lens. An interesting perspective on familiar cases with a few less familiar ones thrown in.

Good. Slower sometimes, enjoyable throughout.

When books aren't super flashy, there's a tendency to label them as sub-5-star. I am on the fence because, while this was a good book, it's not actually a book... It's an audiobook only. So the onus is on the publisher to make an ear-popping, mind boggling experience that the general audience will enjoy akin to a good book. Anyway, the narrator read clearly, concisely, and fed in her own experiences on the topics (she's a practicing professional). Content was interesting, very general (to cater to the non-science minded individual), but touched on a number of areas of crime and cases. Some case topics were more my flavor, some less. But that's to be expected in a very overview-style attack to such a large field as crime/forensics/anthropology. I think I'd read it again.

Good narration. Interesting stories.

Good narration. Interesting stories.
It's the tip of the iceberg ... but still VERY interesting.

Lecture Series Lacks Forensic Insight Depth

I found this lecture series somewhat disappointing. While some chapters were distressingly graphic, my main issue was the lack of in-depth exploration into forensic science and technology. I had hoped the book would delve into how these disciplines help decipher the messages that killers may be trying to convey through the methods they use to murder their victims. Instead, the content offered a historical overview of various solved and unsolved crimes, with details that seemed no more comprehensive than one might find on Wikipedia. Although Dr. Murray's narration was clear and her voice quite pleasant, the book ultimately left me wanting a richer, more detailed examination of forensic insights and their applications in solving criminal cases.

very interesting look into forensic science

forensic science has come a long way. this lecture had me looking up cases and binge watching forensic files