An Expert Witness

*A NEW SCIENTIST BEST NEW SCIENCE BOOK OF THE MONTH*

From the UK’s leading forensic scientist and Sunday Times bestselling author of All That Remains and Written in Bone: a gripping exploration of forensic science, told through often shocking real cases to assess its triumphs, failures, and future.

‘No scientist communicates better.’ Val McDermid, award-winning author of the Detective Karen Pirie series

Exploring historic poisonings and modern sexual offences, miscarriages of justice and ground-breaking convictions, Black traces the evolution of forensic science from early fingerprinting to her own vein identification research, and unpacks the emerging role of artificial intelligence in criminal investigation.

Professor Dame Sue Black is no stranger to cross examination in the witness box. Time and time again she has placed her research and reputation on the line in the name of justice.

Now in An Expert Witness she puts forensic science itself on trial.

Fascinating and revelatory, Sue uses shocking landmark cases to expose both the strengths and weaknesses of forensic science in court: In which cases did we get it right? In which did we get it wrong? What should we fight to preserve? And why does this book mark an end for this part of her extraordinary career.

Praise for Professor Dame Sue Black:

‘Gripping from the start . . . fascinating in its detail of real life cases and written with a narrative that propels you forward to the next page.’ Dr Richard Shepherd, forensic pathologist and author of Unnatural Causes

‘Dame Sue Black writes about life and death with great tenderness [and] with impeccable science lucidly explained . . . I am genuinely glad I read this book.’ Lee Child, bestselling author of the Reacher series

‘Part meditation, part popular science and part memoir . . . fascinating’ Sunday Times

‘Black writes with rare precision and compassion’ Evening Standard