Beating the Devil’s Game

An authoritative history of forensic science and the evolution of criminal investigation, from the author of The Forensic Science of C.S.I. and The Human Predator.

Today, the basic scientific precepts of criminal investigation-fingerprinting, DNA, ballistics, and more-are widely known among professionals and lay people alike. But behind each of these now-commonplace concepts is a compelling story of the evolution of science and law, spearheaded by innovative thinkers, many of whom risked their careers and reputations for the sake of justice. Dr. Katherine Ramsland traces that development from thirteenth-century Chinese studies of decomposition rates through the flowering of science during the Renaissance, up to the marvels of the present day and beyond.