Written In Bone: hidden stories in what we leave behind

Engaging and informative.

It was a surprisingly easy and pleasant read given the subject matter. Black managed to blend technical questions and anecdotes well enough that nothing came across as jarring or droning. Some anecdotes are cute or funny but some are also pretty heartbreaking so it's never boring. It's not lacking in “case studies” so even if you have read quite a few books on the topic you'll probably still find new information but at no point did I feel that the author was drowning me in technicalities.

If you like true crime that isn't focused on the sordid how and why of the killers or in the shock value but on the science that goes into giving some victims their identity back and bringing the perpetrators to face the law, you'll find a very human approach to just that in this book.

Black never comes across as haughty or self-important and she constantly stresses the importance of collaboration and of considering all the actors in a situation, something I found quite endearing.

I received a review copy of this book from Skyhorse Publishing through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.