Murder: 'Whatdunit'

by Robin Odell and J.H.H. Gaute

Book Overview

Murder Whatdunit: An illustrated account of the methods of murder. By J.H.H. Gaute and Robin Odell This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0330281690
• ISBN13: 9780330281690
• Release Date: January 1984
• Publisher: Pan Books
• Length: 464 Pages
• Weight: 0.60 lbs.

Customer Reviews

Fantastic book

Instead of concentrating on the criminals, this book looks at the various techniques that people have employed to knock off unloved ones. Starting with "acid" and working through "bacterial poisoning", "cannibalism", "gassing", "lividity", "quicklime", "strangulation" and ending on "XYY chromosomes"; altogether 142 subjects are covered. With plenty of photographs and illustrations to drool over, this book is an absolute mine of information.

Don't let this give you any ideas....

For anyone who has the idea of offing a loved one, unloved one, etc. -- saying: "YOU ARE THE WEAKEST LINK...GOODBYE!"... think again!! Murder 'WHATDUNIT' isn't a textbook on how to get rid of friends, relatives or Congressional interns but a wonderful collection explaining, as the authors put it, "the mechanics of murder, its investigation and detection." In other words, it lists terms, explains them (often with specific cases) then shows you how the method, deed, or act is detected. How can this be of use to a reader? This book is: a)a GREAT read that you'll want to re-read again, b)a MUST for anyone who has any plans to ever write any kind of fiction (it'll save you months of research), c)something you can send to your nephew who has been eyeing you strangely since he just learned you made out your will making him a beneficiary. He will realize he can be caught.. Have you been dying (SORRY..wrong word!) to find out more about strangulation, death certificates, embolisms, dominance theory, lie detectors, body disposal, dismemberment, cyanide, etc.? If so, it's all HERE in this well-written meticulously researched book. The authors are experts on murder and the forensic sciences. Not one word of this book is padded. All solid info -- a fascinating read!!

A must for the true crime buff

Other books specialise in giving case studies in crime. This book, on the other hand, examines what might be called the technical side behind the murders. Want to know what Mens Rea is, the various definitions of homicide, or the principles behind ballistics? Then this is *the* book to have. It fills in all the little details that you might have ever wanted to know, a compilation of information from hundreds of different references. If true crime is your subject, then buy this book.

A grisly but fascinating book!

This book covers a multitude of subjects dealing with forensic science and murderers. No, this doesn't tell you how to commit murder; it explores how science would probably get you caught! Embellished with numerous historical photos (many gory - like an actual picture of severed heads), Whatdunit explains the biological responses to many methods of murder - from acid to gassing to thallium. Fascinating. A must for the crime buff.