I have previously reviewed two encyclopaedias of forensic science in these columns, Tilstone et al. (2006) (RR 2006/327) and Lerner and Learner (2006) (RR 2007/35); another I use is Houck and Siegal (2000). However, this one stands apart from these, for this is specifically aimed at forensic laboratories and their scientific staff. One indication of this is that the editors in chief worked with 11 other editors, each covering specific areas, who managed 330 contributors providing about 370 subject entries. Contributors come from a wide range of countries, and one editor in chief is from the USA and the other from the UK. A quick skim through the pages would also convince you of the intended market – there are excellent colour pictures of crime scenes, injuries, apparatus, and computer deep code and there is a considerable amount of mathematics; much of this would not be appropriate in a book aimed primarily at the public. The range of subject matter also indicates the market. Because the entries are alphabetical the first two are on accreditation, a topic unlikely to interest the casual reader but one that is becoming increasingly important for forensic science. In commenting further below I have picked a variety of topics that I hope will show the range, the strengths and the minor weakness of the encyclopaedia.
The topic of bullet wounds is one where a comparison can be made with other encyclopaedias. Two that I looked at had no illustrations. This one has many colour illustrations, most of entry points on cleaned corpses. Bullet entry points are smaller than one might guess.
The section on web resources contains many useful resources including several that are new to me. There are some free online journals that I will include in FORS, the bibliographic database I manage. FORS is briefly described; although the database started in 1976, as the authors mention we include any earlier publications that are required for casework. I will be telling my investigating colleagues about the subject specific web sites.
Alcohol, covered in several articles on general physiology, analysis, biological effect and dependency and abuse, occupies over 50 pages. There is a useful table of factors that affect rate of uptake of alcohol by the body. A couple that could be added to this is alcohol from sparkling drinks which is absorbed faster, as is alcohol with sugar free mixers.
Bloodstain pattern analysis is well described with many photographs. One technique of analysis that I had not come across before is to copy the pattern onto a (live) model. In one of the two cases described the body had been moved after the killing and the model was used to describe the position of the victim at the point of assault. The other case is that Nicole Brown Simpson, where the blood spatter marks had been washed off before examination, but where crime scene photographs permitted an accurate reconstruction.
Crime scene management is covered by several sections. This is an important topic as poor management of the crime scene can lead to loss of evidence, disturbance and possible confusion and misinterpretation. The section on crime photography is described from a US perspective, but a lot of what it says would apply to all photography, as well as any crime scene. There is more on photography in a section on photography of marks and traces, where again much of what is said would apply to the accurate photography of objects across the arts and sciences. The various sections on microscopy and methods of analysis are also of wider application. But it is very useful to have them here as the methods can sometimes seem like a black box.
The articles vary somewhat in aim. “Footwear and feet impressions: comparison and identification” is an update of existing guidelines and are the official instructions for the Dutch forensic service. At the other end of the spectrum the article on “Arson investigation: misconceptions and mythology” sets out to correct widely published (and believed) errors, some of which have appeared in official guidelines. Sometimes the variation in depth depends on the ease of finding more detailed information. So, sections on analysis describe the general aspects and uses because there are many books on analytical techniques and the literature is wider than forensic science. At the other extreme the chapter on writing implements showing how to tell, for example roller ball from gel pens, is something that will only be of interest to a document examiner and, although there are books on document examination, having the photographs of sample writing from various pens brought together is very useful. There are number of sections that deal with the social aspects of the use of illicit substances with cannabis getting its own section, which may reflect the US input into the book.
I checked the index for graphology and got a reference to a section on handwriting that states clearly that graphology is not a forensic technique. That would get the endorsement of my document examiner colleagues. Another controversial topic is lie detection, and this gets a balanced discussion in articles on interrogation, behavioural science evidence and confessions.
I asked a colleague, who requested some background information on DNA testing, to comment on some of the entries on the topic. She found the background information interesting, but commented that the most up‐to‐date techniques had not been discussed. In an area where the technology is moving fast this is always likely to be a problem. And with a publication like this it is almost inevitable when some authors respond quickly and others take their time.
In choosing sections to comment on I have selected those that I would use as one of the information team at the Forensic Science Service in the UK. There are entries on psychological testing, jury behaviour, treatment of offenders, sentencing and a range of other legal and social topics. I have read or browsed a number of these and I found them well written, easy to understand, and informative. In the end I took each volume in turn on my journey to work and leafed through all the pages (whilst avoiding the pages likely to alarm my fellow passengers!).
The various examples and comments I have made should give a feel for the subject matter covered by the book. What it does not cover are forensic accountancy and related topics beyond the usual examination of altered or fraudulent documents. Nor does it cover forensic engineering beyond the material sciences which is needed for marks and traces examination. Environmental forensics, like identifying origins of oil spills or monitoring pollution, gets only peripheral mention in some articles. However, none of the topics are generally part of the work forensic laboratories that work for the police or the state prosecution services. These areas are usually covered by special enforcement authorities or civil litigation. When needed experts from these fields can be brought in for criminal cases.
The book has over 25 pages of abbreviations and acronyms, which are very useful, and a brief introduction to SI units. Mosenssen's brief note on the citation of cases is helpful, but as he indicates this an area plagued with inconsistency and, I would add, made obscure by the way they are cited by cryptic abbreviations. These sections are repeated in each volume; I am not sure that this is necessary. There is a glossary in the last volume which includes some abbreviations. There is also an index of authors which I have not used. With several senior colleagues contributing to the book I have commented on articles without consideration of who the author is. There are about 100 pages of index. Despite the length I found it occasionally somewhat selective. I was hoping to find the spot test for adrenaline, but the one index reference to the substance took me to a structural formula, for which I would not have used this book as a source (the internet is usually good for these). An electronic version of the book was scheduled at the time of review which will make it easier to look for small points that might be included in the text. Alternative titles to articles are given; for example Arson Investigation: Pyromania refers you to Fire Setting. The articles have cross‐references to other articles, a full list of references and occasionally suggestions for further reading.
It is clearly the intention of the editors and the publishers that this book will be revised. It will have to be as the techniques, like the methods of DNA analysis, used in forensic science are becoming more precise, and new techniques are being developed. The editors asked for any omissions to be pointed out, and I would suggest stable isotopes. There are mentions of these in tracking biological agents and profiling drugs. The techniques deserve an entry of their own. They have been used in a few major UK investigations in recent years and have been particularly valuable. My other comment towards the next edition is some way of making the book easier to use; perhaps a listing of sections under themes? For example, questioned documents would include paper analysis, writing instruments and printing devices and so on.
As I said at the beginning, this is the encyclopaedia for professional forensic scientists. This is a difficult market to address as the experts will be ahead of the field while those seeking background information to understand what colleagues are doing/could be doing may want a little less. However, overall this is a useful compilation of facts, comments and critiques of forensic science practice as it is at the present. The more social and legal articles do provide good background information. On the whole I would see this as a useful addition to the library of an organization doing forensic science, despite my librarian quibbles about indexing, and experts demand for more information. Those who use the outcome of forensic science, lawyers, politicians and those from other parts of the criminal justice system, will find this a useful reference work. Outside these areas the publication will also be of value to institutions that teach forensic science; and the work should get wider use than the forensic science students as the general analytical sections are of wide application and some of the specific methods are of use in archaeology and art history. I am sure crime fiction writers, the interested public, and crime scene investigation fans would find much of interest in this book. They might also realise how difficult and time consuming some methods in forensic science really are.
