Morgue: A Life in Death

Dying is sometimes easier than living with dying….These words could not be more true. Morgue a Life in Death is a book written by Dr Vincent DiMaio, who was the chief medical examiner for the state of New York and renown gunshot wound expert. Some of the US's most complex legal cases have hinged on testimony from the medical examiner or medical pathologist. The medical examiner is the one who speaks for the dead.Dr Vincent DiMaio, has worked on and testified in some very famous and often complex medical cases of our day. One of the most famous cases that the good Dr worked is the Travon Martin case . Dr DiMaio was the expert witness for George Zimmerman defence, Dr DiMaio was able to determine the trajectory of the gun shot to prove innocence or guilt.Dr DiMaio was also the voice for 30 innocent babies that were murdered by Martha Wood who it was later to be found had Munchausen's by Proxy thanks to the post mortem investigations done on the babies by Dr DiMaio. He has also provided expertise in celebrity trials such as Lee Harvey Oswald, JFK, and Phil Spector. EMy Thoughts:I absolutely loved this book not only was it thought provoking but the facts and forensics that were discussed throughout the book were very interesting. The book was well written and kept me highly engaged to the point I did not want to put it down. It was not over complicated with the medical jargon and was easy to follow. This was a real page turner. Also the pictures that were provided in the middle of the book were wonderful and helped connect the face with the case so it feels like you are really a part of mystery and the solution.

I finished this book in just a couple of days. It's a really good read featuring several well-known and not-so-well-known cases in which forensics played a key role in bringing criminal charges or clearing suspects...or simply giving families the truth behind a loved one's death. It gives the reader a peek into each investigation - revealing the truth and science behind it, rather than the emotions, sound bites, media hype and false narratives that sometimes muddy them.Even though it's about forensic pathology and the science behind death investigations, this is not a "science" book. It's written so the "I don't understand science" reader - like me - can understand. It's not gory, nor is it disrespectful to the victims or their families.Di Maio portrays the mindset, experience and approach I'd look for in an investigator. Francell's writing is easy to swallow...I call it writing for the ear...making it seem like you're listening in on a conversation rather than reading. I really enjoyed the book and recommend it for news junkies, true crime readers, and anyone interested in forensic pathology or crime investigation.I'm somewhat surprised by fellow reviewers' comments about the authors' politics. I did not read any political nuances throughout the book. I can only guess that some readers look for hidden political messages in whatever they read - and may be more interested in being continually offended than reading a book for what it is.

Describes the life and times of the forensic pathologist and coroner Vincent DiMaio using examples of case studies conducted during his career and afterward when he was called as an expert witness. Addresses the findings in several high-profile cases, including the death of Trayvon Martin, the identity of the man in Lee Harvey Oswald's grave (yes; it really was him) and Vincent van Gough (no, it wasn't suicide, just a stupid accident), as well as less famous cases. Easy, entertaining read with an careful, but not stomach-turning description of the methods, the conditions of the bodies, and the contributions of entire teams of researchers with expertise in everything from gunshot residue to dentition.

Racist garbage, biased and not worth your time one bit. Can't get past the first chapter. If this is a book of science, maybe stick to the science, bro

I really liked this book. The forensic science in back of the stories is very clear and the fact that the decisions made in the various stories were made on rock solid science is not going to sit well with people who enjoy their own versions of the truth.The author wrote the stories as he received them, researched them and why he made the decisions he did. Great Book. I would recommend it if for no other reason than to clear up any misunderstandings as to some of the later events that have turned this country on its' head.

Just finished reading Morgue: A Life in Death and it was a great read! I am an avid true crime reader and have never been interested in this side of crime cases. Being a fan of Ron Franscell, I wanted to read this book anyway. So glad I did! Every chapter is a different case and even if you know the story (Trayvon Martin, West Memphis 3, Lee Harvey Oswald) you will learn something new. If you didn't know the case, you will be intrigued and interested in how medical examiners do their jobs and are a vital part of crime solving. Dr. DiMaio takes us through is journey becoming an ME and some of the many cases he's worked on. I enjoyed the personal view he gave of some very highly publicized cases and many others I knew nothing about. If you enjoy reading true crime, read this book - the perspective will change the way you read cases moving forward. Thanks to Dr. DiMaio and Ron Franscell for bringing these stories to life and in your own ways being a voice for the victims as well as using science / truth to shed light on cases that need brought to justice!

I picked up this book as a third one to read by favorite true crime author Ron Franscell. Written in collaboration with Vincent DiMaio, a forensic pathologist, they tell us about famous murders and provide new information (behind the scenes,) about those cases. The foreward is given by Dr. Jan Garavaglia (Dr. G.) She is the chief medical examiner for Orlando, Florida since 2004. You might remember that she identified the human remains of little Caylee Marie Anthony. If you're a real true crime buff, you will NOT be disappointed in this book!

I really enjoyed this book and wouldn't hesitate to recommend it. Well written and informative. Kept me hooked from the first page.

Gave this book 5 stars because I couldn't put it down. Completely absorbing read. Not gory or sensationalised, just interesting.

Fantastic book really interesting would recommend it to anyone who is interested in the work of morgue pathology.

daughter likes this book

chilling and true that the dead can speak through science. dr Vincent di maio shows neutral facts of investigating death. a great read!