READ – Dissecting Death: Secrets of a Medical Examiner

Dissecting Death: Secrets of a Medical Examiner by Frederick Zugibe, MD and David L. Carroll [Broadway, July 2006, 256 pages, $14.00]

One look at current bestseller lists around the world and it’s clear: fictional crime procedurals are hot. If you’ve a giftee with an appetite for the grisly, why not hold off on buying him the latest Kathy Reichs or the new season of CSI on DVD and pick up the real thing? Zugibe, chief medical examiner in New York’s Rockland County for 35 years, is somewhat of a doyen in the world of forensic pathology. Via exploration into 10 of his most challenging and eye-opening cases, he tells us why. These are not investigations solvable within hours — some take years. Zugibe’s purpose is not to thrill or exploit, but to involve the reader in just what his job entails: detail, duty, and supreme dedication. It’s hard going, but man is it enthralling. [Amazon]