I have always been concerned over whether there was a gap in the market of excellent books that cover forensic document examination. However, I was convinced that for students, in particular, there was a need for a book showing how the practical side of the speciality was grounded in a robust theoretical framework. The journey from theory to practice is, in my experience, not always an easy one for students to make as they don't have the daily immersion in a subject that a trainee forensic document examiner would have, for example.
I therefore have been very fortunate to have the views of a recent student and now fully qualified document examiner responding to my question: Would this book have been helpful to you as a student? I am extremely grateful to Hannah Pocock for her enthusiastic help in making sure that this book keeps its focus on its intended audience and will, I hope, be beneficial to their studies. In addition, I am very grateful to Dr Andy Platt at Staffordshire University for looking over and suggesting some amendments particularly to Chapter 7. But, of course, I take full responsibility for the content of the book, not as daunting as taking responsibility for giving evidence in court as an expert witness, but daunting nonetheless knowing that attaining perfection and pleasing all readers is impossible!
I am very grateful to those at Wiley Blackwell who have helped me along the way in the, to me, new venture of book writing, in particular Rachael Ballard, Fiona Seymour, Audrie Tan, Delia Sandford and Rachel Roberts.
It goes without saying, but I will say it anyway, that without the cooperation of my family and especially my wife Karen, finding the time to write the book would have been that much more difficult.