Death's Acre Book Review

Inside the Legendary Body Farm

I bought this book for morbid curiosity's sake if I'm honest. I'd read of the 'Farm' through a few of Patricia Cornwell's novels in her 'Scarpetta' series and was always fascinated by the concept. This book, however, is not a novel, it is absolute truth.

Of course it is certainly a job that I could never do - again, that's me being honest. After reading the book I have only the utmost admiration for the people that not only can do the job, but do do the job and with such dedication and attention to the most infinite detail possible. As you would imagine, they have benefited the whole of mankind with their findings.

Of course, the unsung heroes of the piece are the people who leave their body to science after they're dead, because without them, the research just could not take place.

The 'Farm' is a place of decay and horror for the layman but for the people who work there, it's fascinating and wonderful. No two subjects are ever the same. It is the first (and only) Institute of its kind and Dr Bass's inspired idea to create the facility has helped to revolutionise Forensic Science.

On the first page is a little piece about Dr Bill Bass and Jon Jefferson, the writers of the book and on the next page is a dedication which sums up the reasons behind the grisly and unpleasant processes:

DEDICATED TO

ALL VICTIMS OF MURDER, ALL THOSE WHO MOURN THEM,

AND ALL WHO SEEK JUSTICE ON THEIR BEHALF.

As I mentioned earlier, this book is not fiction.

The cases it cites - such as the Tri-State Crematory in Noble, Georgia and numerous murders and accidents are real. Dr Bass does not sensationalise these cases, he writes clear and well-explained parcels of information that are fascinating and sometimes gruesome to read.

It is the fascination for death and what happens after perhaps, that gives the reader the encouragement to read on and discover more about this intriguing subject. Dr Bass writes with a great insight to the feelings of the bereaved - not at all in the manner of a scientist that is only looking at bones, looking for information and confirmation - he realises that the remains that are his subjects were once people and their families live on.

You can't hurt the dead, but you can hurt the ones left behind.

I could not put the book down and once I had, I was finding excuses to pick it up again, to read more. I'll probably keep it close to my desk in order to re-read it again soon.

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Deaths-Acre-Inside-Legendary-Body/dp/0751534463/