Unnatural Causes
The Life and Many Deaths of Britain's Top Forensic Pathologist
Published on 18. April 2019
Book
Paperback/Softback
464 pages
978-1-4059-2353-8 (ISBN)
Description
THE TRUE CRIME BOOK OF THE YEAR AND SUNDAY TIMES TOP 10 BESTSELLER
'One of the most fascinating books I have read in a long time. Engrossing, a haunting page-turner. A book I could not put down' The Times, BOOKS OF THE YEAR
__________
Meet the forensic pathologist, Dr Richard Shepherd.
He solves the mysteries of unexplained or sudden death.
He has performed over 23,000 autopsies, including some of the most high-profile cases of recent times; the Hungerford Massacre, the Princess Diana inquiry, and 9/11.
He has faced serial killers, natural disaster, 'perfect murders' and freak accidents.
His evidence has put killers behind bars, freed the innocent, and turned open-and-shut cases on their heads.
Yet all this has come at a huge personal cost.
Unnatural Causes tells the story of not only the cases and bodies that have haunted him the most, but also how to live a life steeped in death.
Thoughtful, revealing, chilling and always unputdownable, if you liked All That Remains, War Doctor and This is Going to Hurt you'll love this.
And catch Dr Richard Shepherd's new book THE SEVEN AGES OF DEATH out now
__________
'Gripping, grimly fascinating, and I suspect I'll read it at least twice' Evening Standard
'A deeply mesmerising memoir of forensic pathology. Human and fascinating' Nigella Lawson
'An absolutely brilliant book. I really recommend it, I don't often say that but it's fascinating' Jeremy Vine, BBC Radio 2
'Puts the reader at his elbow as he wields the scalpel' Guardian
'Fascinating, gruesome yet engrossing' Richard and Judy, Daily Express
'Fascinating, insightful, candid, compassionate' Observer
'One of the most fascinating books I have read in a long time. Engrossing, a haunting page-turner. A book I could not put down' The Times, BOOKS OF THE YEAR
__________
Meet the forensic pathologist, Dr Richard Shepherd.
He solves the mysteries of unexplained or sudden death.
He has performed over 23,000 autopsies, including some of the most high-profile cases of recent times; the Hungerford Massacre, the Princess Diana inquiry, and 9/11.
He has faced serial killers, natural disaster, 'perfect murders' and freak accidents.
His evidence has put killers behind bars, freed the innocent, and turned open-and-shut cases on their heads.
Yet all this has come at a huge personal cost.
Unnatural Causes tells the story of not only the cases and bodies that have haunted him the most, but also how to live a life steeped in death.
Thoughtful, revealing, chilling and always unputdownable, if you liked All That Remains, War Doctor and This is Going to Hurt you'll love this.
And catch Dr Richard Shepherd's new book THE SEVEN AGES OF DEATH out now
__________
'Gripping, grimly fascinating, and I suspect I'll read it at least twice' Evening Standard
'A deeply mesmerising memoir of forensic pathology. Human and fascinating' Nigella Lawson
'An absolutely brilliant book. I really recommend it, I don't often say that but it's fascinating' Jeremy Vine, BBC Radio 2
'Puts the reader at his elbow as he wields the scalpel' Guardian
'Fascinating, gruesome yet engrossing' Richard and Judy, Daily Express
'Fascinating, insightful, candid, compassionate' Observer
Reviews / Votes
Unnatural Causes gives a sense of the toll that dealing with so many dead bodies takes. It's a very human book that looks at the cases he has been involved with, from the Hungerford massacre to the murder of Stephen Lawrence * The Times (Books of the Year, 2018) * An unputdownable record of an extraordinary life * 100 sizzling summer books, Daily Mail * One of the most fascinating books I have read in a long time. Engrossing, a haunting page-turner. A book I could not put down * The Times * Fabulous . . . The UK's top pathologist investigating high-profile deaths such as that of Diana, Princess of Wales * The Sunday Post * Puts the reader at his elbow as he wields the scalpel * Guardian * Insightful, candid and compassionate * Observer * Fascinating, gruesome yet engrossing * Richard and Judy, Daily Express * Heart-wrenchingly honest * Professor Sue Black, author of All That Remains * Darkly fascinating * Daily Mirror * A deeply mesmerising memoir of forensic pathology. Human and fascinating * Nigella Lawson *More details
Language
English
Place of publication
London
United Kingdom
Target group
College/higher education
Professional and scholarly
Product notice
Paperback (UK-B)
Dimensions
Height: 195 mm
Width: 126 mm
Thickness: 35 mm
Weight
322 gr
ISBN-13
978-1-4059-2353-8 (9781405923538)
Copyright in bibliographic data and cover images is held by Nielsen Book Services Limited or by the publishers or by their respective licensors: all rights reserved.
Schweitzer Classification
Other editions
Additional editions
E-Book
09/2018
1st Edition
Penguin Books Ltd
€14.99
Available for download
Person
Richard Shepherd was born in West London but grew up in Watford. He was introduced to a medical textbook smuggled into the classroom by a friend which opened his eyes to the world of crime and murder, setting him on a lifelong quest to understand death in its many forms. He trained as a doctor at St George's Hospital medical school at Hyde Park Corner, qualifying in 1977 and then completed his postgraduate training as a forensic pathologist in 1987. He immediately joined what was then the elite forensic department at Guy's Hospital.
He has been involved nationally and internationally in the forensic investigation of thousands of deaths from unnatural causes, from headline-making murders to mass natural disasters.
He has been involved nationally and internationally in the forensic investigation of thousands of deaths from unnatural causes, from headline-making murders to mass natural disasters.