by Vincent DiMaio
and Ron Franscell
St. Martin's
Press, May 2016
Review by Robert
A. Waters
Morgue: A Life in Death is the
one of the best true crime books of the year. I highly recommend it
to all connoisseurs of true crime as well as to anyone interested in
pathology, forensics, or the medical field in general.
Humans have always
wondered what happens to the soul after death. Dr. Vincent DiMaio
admits that he can't answer that question. But as a long-time
medical examiner, and now consulting pathologist, he can usually tell
why someone died.
DiMaio has been
called on to help solve numerous mysterious deaths, from the Trayvon
Martin/George Zimmerman fiasco to the 125-year-old shooting of
Vincent Van Gogh. The results of his examinations of events
surrounding these and other cases are artfully described by
celebrated true crime writer and novelist, Ron Franscell.
Sandwiched between
Martin/Zimmerman and Van Gogh, the authors delve into many intriguing
cases. DiMaio consulted in the case of Phil Spector, and in the
exhumation and re-examination of Lee Harvey Oswald's remains. The
reader will gain much “inside knowledge” in these and other
cases.
Morgue
begins with a brief biography of Dr. DiMaio's amazing life. A second
chapter recounts the modern-day history of coroners and medical
examiners. Then the authors charge straight for the reader's throat
with a chapter about the shooting of Trayvon Martin. A little-known
detail not covered by the media may have been a deciding factor in
the jury's acquittal of Zimmerman. Throughout the book, each
succeeding story ratchets up the suspense.
In
addition to being a page-turner, Morgue
is one of those rare books that actually teach the reader something
useful.
