How to Solve a Murder: True Stories from a Life in Forensic Medicine by Derek Tremain, Pauline Tremain

Narrators: John Sackville , Kim Hicks

It will be strange to say that a book about forensic medicine was soothing to listen to. Even at 1.5x, the narrators sounded calm and methodical and set the tone for the narrative.

This is a story of two people in the forensic industry who have been worked with, been involved in, and even changed a few things about how crime scenes are analysed for decades. It was fascinating to hear about how both of them ended up working in forensic labs through different avenues. It was a throwback to another time and place. They discuss a few cases and their personal lives, but for the most part, the book is about the processes, the science and the smaller titbits that go with investigations. I enjoyed the beginning parts a lot, but my interest petered out towards the end because I saw the narrative coming to an end. I felt like I wanted ‘more’. What part I wanted more of I cannot say exactly, but there was something.

The authors did a pretty good job in making their working lives and knowledge clear in the pages, and the narrators did an equally great job in conveying the information to me, the audience. If there was to be another book by the authors with further details and maybe more case histories, I would definitely pick it up.
I received an ARC thanks to NetGalley and the publishers, but the review is entirely based on my own listening experience.