The Mystery Starts Here

If you don’t believe me, read "Forensics and Fiction" by D. P. Lyle, M.D. I so enjoyed his, "Howdunit Forensics" that I rushed to Amazon and brought this book, too. In it, Dr. Lyle answers questions posed by both published and prepublished mystery writers and some of the questions are downright weird. Here’s a sample: Can a corpse be bled? (No -they ooze) What items were used to stop bleeding in the 1900’s? (mud, eggs, herbs and tabacco - euuu) Can my bad guy be severely burned in a tanning bed? (yup)  and one of my favorites - Could my character hide inside a corpse? (it’s possible!!!) If that one doesn’t give you nightmares, nothing will.

The book is divided into five sections, with a list of each question and its page number in the front of the book so it’s easy to flip to something of particular interest. This will also help in future if you want to go back and re-read a certain question, perhaps to think up one of your own.

Dr. Lyle answers each question completely in language anyone can understand. The questions and answers in "Forensics and Fiction" are sure to trigger a bunch of ‘what-if" questions for your mysteries. If you want to find out more about Dr. Lyle or his books, visit his website at:  www.dplylemd.com

I bought "Howdunit Forensics" from Writer’s Digest Books to use as a reference tool when writing my own mysteries. No one was more surprised than me when I wound up reading it like a novel. Why? Because it’s fascinating. The book is broken down into three large categories: The Forensics System, The Coroner and the Body, The Crime Scene and the Crime Lab. There are numerous sub-categories under each main heading and believe me, Lyle covers everything you would ever need to know when writing a mystery. Even if you’re not a writer, but simply a lover of good mysteries, you’ll enjoy this book.

Lyle writes in a style that is easy for anyone to understand and not too technical. Who else but a mystery writer or reader would enjoy reading the steps in doing an autopsy? You can in this book, Chapter 3, The Autopsy: A look Inside the Body. Want information on trace evidence? Chapter 15: Trace Evidence: Sweating the Small Stuff. I especially liked the blue-back grounded side bars citing real cases and telling how forensics helped solve the crime and convict the bad guys.

Lyle writes in a style that is easy to read and not too technical  Besides being a working doctor, he has published mysteries, and worked as a consultant to several television crime shows including Law & Order, CSI:Miami, Women’s Murder Club and Homicide,

If you write mysteries this is the one reference tool you must have on your shelf.