Blood Secrets reveals how forensic experts read the story of a murder told in the traces of blood left behind, providing crucial evidence that has helped convict criminals who might have otherwise walked free.When Rod Englert began his career in law enforcement, virtually no police force in the world knew how to correctly examine blood spatter. He spent years studying and testing how blood behaves, pioneering a vital new tool that is now a part of any criminal investigation. In Blood Secrets he demonstrates how detectives and forensic experts use blood-spatter analysis to solve real cases.How can the police tell what type of murder weapon was used when the body is missing and all that's left is a trace of gore? How can they tell if a victim was moved, or which person in a room fired the fatal shot? Englert lays out what he's learned on a variety of intriguing cases, from puzzling murders in tiny, remote towns to the highest-profile celebrity trials--including O. J. Simpson, Robert Blake, and many others.Filled with fascinating details of forensic science and real-life CSI stories, Blood Secrets shows the techniques and tools used to decipher blood spatter's code.From Publishers WeeklyProving that one person's bloody mess is another's treasure trove of clues, blood spatter analyst Englert takes readers on a fascinating journey into the study of crimson drops. Englert's first encounter with blood—and the stories it can tell—came when, as a young cop, he mistakenly assumed a bloody corpse had been the victim of an ax attack; in reality the victim had succumbed to a particularly nasty case of bleeding ulcers. He educated himself about the behavior of blood by recreating crime scenes in his Oregon barn using cow's blood and attending every available seminar on the subject. Englert presents case studies for each principle he discusses, from the varying velocities of blood spatter to the trajectory of a killer's bullet. It's easy to see why he's a favorite expert witness of prosecutors around the country, even in celebrity cases like O.J. Simpson's and Robert Blake's. With the help of reporter Passero, Englert deftly balances real-life examples and detailed scientific analysis, giving readers a richer understanding of this developing avenue of forensic science. 11 b&w photos. (Apr.) Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved. From BooklistThis book is rather less colorful and intriguing than the ghastly Jackson Pollock look-alikes with which blood-spatter analyst Englert works. Still, it’s highly instructive about his methods, which are the opposite of a perp’s, hence more like Pollock-boosting critic Clement Greenberg’s than the painter’s. Painter and perp are each telling stories through apparently random spattering; critic and analyst are each trying to read them. An early chapter relates how Englert’s acquisition of a cattle-raising operation inspired his interest in blood patterns. With Passero’s aid, he writes lovingly of the intricate splatter patterns resulting from slaughtering, which, once he noted them, he studied. Readers may be challenged by this particular bit of scene-setting, but plowing through it stands one in good stead when discussion turns to the case histories of famous bloody cases. Pretty good as entertainment, this book also has backgrounding value for true-crime and crime-fiction fans in its revelatory detail about the particular component of criminal investigation on which it focuses. --Mike Tribby Views: 26
Real stories. Real teens. Real consequences. An innocent teen becomes a hostage stuck in the middle of a dangerous drug-fueled feud in this third book in the chilling Simon True series.On Sunday, August 6, 2000, fifteen-year-old Nick Markowitz was grabbed off the street on the orders of a local drug dealer named Jesse James Hollywood. Nick was taken as collateral because his brother Ben owed Jesse money. He was an innocent victim who became a pawn in an increasingly high-stakes feud between the two that ended with Nick's brutal murder. A dozen or more people saw Nick over the course of the next fifty-nine hours, but no one stepped forward to say anything. No one thought to report the crime to the police. Some of them were scared of Hollywood, while others simply didn't want to get involved. When the news of Nick's murder finally broke, they all had to confront what they'd done—or hadn't done. As for Hollywood, he ordered the hit, but he wasn't... Views: 26
The war with France ended in 1818 and Captain Adam Bolitho is given command of the newly commissioned frigate Onward. He is sent to North Africa on a diplomatic mission to accompany the French frigate Nautilus in a show of solidarity. He knows he is lucky—the voyage should be easy—but Adam longs for a chance to marry the beautiful Lowenna and settle down on the Bolitho estate in Cornwall. Instead he must deal with the envy and ambition of his officers, hidden agendas among his men, and the former enemy’s proximity. Then the Nautilus becomes a sacrificial offering, and the hunt is on for a treacherous foe. Suddenly every man must discover for himself whether the brotherhood of the sea can transcend old hatreds and an ocean of blood. Views: 26
I am A. D. Smith, an auth—I’m sorry but I cannot disclose this information. I’ve taken a major chance in just revealing my name. They may be watching. They could be anywhere, even as you read this. But I must tell the story as it was told to me. Now would you believe… There are those among us who are not as they appear. Demons walk this earth as mortal men. They are persuading many to join their uprising. The Persuaded have infiltrated every sector of society. Doctors, lawyers, politicians. They all wear the Shadow, and they bear the Mark. But every few generations, God chooses Three to assist Him in battle. Some even say Jesus’ inner circle—Peter, James, and John—were the first. The Three are bestowed extraordinary powers beyond belief. The power to See, the power to Hear, the power to Heal, and the power to Fight. They are The Assigned.Tre Turner, Zeek Myers, and Gloria Torres are three young strangers from completely different walks of life until sickness, death, and family secrets find a way to unite them. Their lives are turned upside down as they deal with personal calamity, burgeoning relationships, as well as their newfound Gifts. Will this new Three of Three rise beyond personal anguish and accept their calling as warriors? Or will doubt and temptation slowly consume them?This story must be told. We must—shhh, I hear footsteps approaching, possibly two men. I’ve said too much… Views: 25
Despite the best efforts of the newly created Murder Investigation Taskforce, a notorious serial killer continues to prowl the streets of Cardiff. Preying on young girls, he tears out his victim’s eyes, before raping and murdering them. After suffering months of his relentless bloodlust it becomes clear this killer will never stop. Unless someone stops him. The streets are awash with a new designer drug. Plug is more potent than ecstasy, more addictive than heroin and has already claimed too many lives. A detective who has felt the burn of its touch quickly becomes obsessed with tracking down the drug’s elusive source. But is his investigation fuelled by a desire for justice, or revenge? A former soldier, haunted by his past and struggling to adjust to life outside the service is caught up in escalating circumstances, leaving him trapped in the middle of an earth-shattering terrorist plot he can’t possibly hope to prevent...About the AuthorAaron Fisher first studied Multimedia at college then went onto complete a Bachelor of the Arts with honours in Film and Video at the International Film School of Wales. Having always been an avid writer in his spare time, Aaron wrote many of the scripts for the short films he made during his studies, including The Thief of Tomorrow, which was nominated for Best Fiction at the Ffresh Film Festival. Aaron then took a gap year out to work in the industry. It was during this time that he wrote Exit Wounds. Since then Aaron has also obtained a Master of the Arts, won the Stephen Leather "What happens next?" short story writing competition and is currently hard at work on the follow up to his first book, Blowback. Views: 24
Bartlett's Poems for Occasions, an entertaining, thought-provoking companion to the bestselling Bartlett's Familiar Quotations, is the book to turn to for any circumstance-from birth to death and everything in between. Under the direction of esteemed poet and writer Geoffrey O'Brien, Bartlett's Poems for Occasions will inspire you to turn to poetry to celebrate a new baby or marriage, toast a colleague, cheer a graduate, honor a birthday, deliver a eulogy, or add zest to a holiday party. It is the perfect solution to the age-old question, What should I say? Views: 23
Four girls at a southwestern boarding school discover they have amazing feline powers and must unite to stop an ancient evil in this riveting adventure.Ana’s average, suburban life is turned upside down when she’s offered a place at the exclusive boarding school in New Mexico that both of her late parents attended. As she struggles to navigate the wealthy cliques of her new school, mysterious things begin to occur: sudden power failures, terrible storms, and even an earthquake!Ana soon learns that she and three other girls—with Chinese, Navajo, and Egyptian heritages—harbor connections to priceless objects in the school’s museum, and the museum’s curator, Ms.Benitez, is adamant that the girls understand their ancestry. It turns out that the school sits on top of a mysterious temple, the ancient meeting place of the dangerous Brotherhood of Chaos. And when one of the priceless museum objects is shattered, the girls find out exactly... Views: 22
Four girls at a southwestern boarding school discover they have amazing feline powers and must unite to stop an ancient evil in the second riveting adventure of the Hunters of Chaos series.Ana's life changed dramatically when she accepted a position at an exclusive boarding school in New Mexico. She found three great new friends—Shani, Doli, and Lin—and together, they discovered that they each had the power to turn into a wildcat. Their new friendship and powers were put to the test in a battle against the god Anubis and his newly resurrected Brotherhood of Chaos. After defeating the Brotherhood, Ana learns that her aunt and uncle have gone missing. Her friends are ready to help her find them, but then Shani is accused of vandalizing school property and expelled. While Ana and the others head to Mexico to search for her family, Shani travels to Mumbai to stay with her father. But strange things are happening in the Indian city. Has she stumbled upon another... Views: 20
