Just because you don't have all the tools and training of a full-time medical examiner doesn't mean you can't learn your way around a crime scene.

In Forensics, award-winning author and TV show consultant D.P. Lyle, M.D., takes each area of forensics€"from fingerprint analysis to crime scene reconstruction€"and discusses its development, how the science works, how it helps in crime solving, and how you as a writer might use this technique in crafting your plot. This comprehensive reference guide includes:

• Real-life case files and the role forensic evidence played in solving the crimes
• A breakdown of the forensics system from its history and organization to standard evidence classification and collection methods
• Detailed information on what a dead body can reveal€"including the cause, mechanism, and manner of death
• The actual steps taken to preserve a crime scene and the evidence that can be gathered there, such as bloodstains, documents, fingerprints, tire impressions, and more