Name: Matthew Jackson's review of Traces by Patricia Wiltshire
Item: Traces
Rating: 4
Author: Matthew Jackson

Patricia Wiltshire

In Traces, Professor Patricia Wiltshire will take you on a journey through the fascinating edge-land where nature and crime are intertwined. She'll take you on a journey searching for bodies of loved ones - through woodlands, along hedgerows, field-edges, and through plantations - solving time since death, and disposal of remains, from ditches to living rooms. She will give you glimpses of her own history: her loves, her losses, and the narrow, little valley in Wales where she first woke-up to the wonders of the natural world. And Pat will show you how her work with a microscope reveals tell-tale traces of the world around us, and how these have taken suspects of the darkest of criminal activities to court. From flowers, fungi, tree trunks, and car pedals - to walking boots, carpets, and even corpses' hair: Traces is a fascinating, unique, and utterly compelling book on the universal themes of life, death, and one's indelible link with nature.

Every Body Leaves a Mark

Traces

'Engrossing, emotionally honest and forensically fascinating' - Dr Richard Shepherd, author of Unnatural Causes In Traces, Professor Patricia Wiltshire will take you on a journey through the fascinating edgeland where nature and crime are intertwined. She'll take you searching for bodies of loved ones - through woodlands, along hedgerows, field-edges, and through plantations - solving time since death, and disposal of remains, from ditches to living rooms. She will give you glimpses of her own history: her loves, her losses, and the narrow little valley in Wales where she first woke up to the wonders of the natural world. Pat will show you how her work with a microscope reveals tell-tale traces of the world around us, and how these have taken suspects of the darkest criminal activities to court. From flowers, fungi, tree trunks to car pedals, walking boots, carpets, and corpses' hair, Traces is a fascinating, unique, and utterly compelling book on life, death, and one's indelible link with nature.

The memoir of a forensic scientist and criminal investigator

Izaac Richards

Whether we are murderers or not we leave our paths behind us.

There is too much superstition around. But I do not do magic. This is science.

In my profession, these grains are much more than a stage in the life cycle of a plant or fungus. To me, they are the foundation of the stories I unravel for the police.

Matthew Jackson

This book was perfect to coincide with my new modules and really motivated me in my final year. 

Sam Al-Wahid

An interesting insight into a part of forensic science I had little prior knowledge of. I now know a little bit more about palynology, mycology, botany, and forensic ecology than I did before.

The writing style was a highlight. The mix of childhood and adult personal life, professional career and subsequent move into forensics, and some of the police cases the author worked on - all told in a non-linear fashion, made it a joy to read.

The editing was a bit off though; whole sections repeated, frequent spelling mistakes, odd language, strange tonal notes, and also grammatical errors dampened my enjoyment a touch.

The compelling memoir of a leading forensic scientist and criminal investigator.

The Memoir of a Forensic Scientist and Criminal Investigator

J.N. van Soest

I want to start out with saying that I learned a lot from this book. Not only in the information provided, but also in what I want for myself in the future. Being an 18 year old, I don't know where I want to end up in life. Reading this book gave me more insight in what I can expect in the future and what I want in it. I'm not trying to say that this book gave me all the answers. Just that it, for me personally, helped me in knowing what i want. 

That being said, it was a very fascinating read. I recommend taking your time reading this so that you will be able to understand it completly. 

You get to learn about forensic ecology and read interesting murder casses at the same time. What more could you want?

Matthew Jackson &
Traces by Patricia Wiltshire

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Matthew Jackson &Traces by Patricia Wiltshire

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Matthew Jackson &
Traces by Patricia Wiltshire