Autopsy: Life in the trenches with a forensic pathologist in Africa Paperback – 4 Feb. 2021

I couldn't do his job some grisly cases.Easy to read, interestingBased on South Africa this guy sure worked hard.Lots of unusual cases that you wouldn't experience in this country,If you like these type of booksYou won't be disappointed

Ryan Blumenthal is a forensic pathologist in Africa and this is a look at his job and the difficulties that go with it. A unique insight into the world of death.I find books like these fascinating and its always amazing to know how these services work in different countries. The stories are interesting and detailed. it can get a little too detailed at times especially for anyone not recognising the terms but I was okay with it, There is also a glossary in the back for help. There's some beautiful quotes in this about how to live your life which were nice but distracted from the earlier theme of the book. I enjoyed hearing about his life as pathologist more. A good read.

This book seemed right up my street so I really looked forward to reading it and I wasn’t disappointed. I have had an interest in forensics and pathology and indeed have a degree in Applied Science with Forensic Measurement and have done some post grad study in forensic archaeology and anthropology. The book is pitched at a really good level so I would say suitable for anyone with an interest in the subject, the narrative is conversational yet informative and further explanation and background given, when necessary, without being patronising. The author also shares personal thoughts and viewpoints so I felt privileged, as the reader, to be given such insights.Having read extensively on the subject already what also really stood out about this particular author’s experiences were the unique challenges and circumstances faced by working as a pathologist in South Africa. The climate, native animals, politics and the situations and challenges they cause were fascinating and eye opening. I also loved that he shared his thoughts on how to live life as I agreed wholeheartedly with all he said and the reasoning behind it and it was humbling to hear this from his viewpoint and unique perspective. There was some (minor) repetition but it did not negatively affect the whole picture. All in all an excellent read.

Loved the book, very interesting and informative!

I can normally tell if I’m going to like a book within the first few pages, and by the time I’d read the introduction, I definitely knew this one one of those books that wouldn’t have to win me over. I enjoyed it from the get go and I love the authors writing style which made it for very easy and entertaining reading.With books like these, there’s always a bit of danger of them being slightly morose, morbid and macabre but Autopsy carries this off very well. I won’t lie and say it’s a unicorns and fairies account of his life and career, and the methods of autopsies are explained, which some may find for gory reading, but then again I don’t think those with a nervous exposure will be picking this book up anyway! As long as readers are prepared for the subject of this book, I don’t think anyone will find the contents too much and the author does a fab job of maintaining respect and decency throughout. Which is definitely a great element in books like these! I am massively non squemish though and have worked as an anatomical pathology scientist so I can’t say I get icked out very easily!The way the author tells his accounts of his work are as pure and respectful as it can be when writing about death and the way harrowing tales and different method of deaths and murder stories were told was done brilliantly.Reading the authors experiences was so insightful and I found the whole thing so so interesting. I had no idea of the differences between forensic pathology in Africa and the ones in the U.K. (of which I had previously read more books about) and it was hugely fascinating. From the types of crimes only found in that region, to deaths typical in Africa and even the threats to the personnel carrying out this profession.I didn’t get chance to feel the least bit bored with this book as I found the pages flew by and I was so interested in everything the author had to say.I also adored the way the author ended this book and it was so uplifting, life affirming and a beautiful way to end the experience of reading this book. It was like a pep talk for the living with lessons from the departed. It was done so well.All in all, I just really enjoyed this book and it flew by!

I received a copy of this e-arc in exchange for an honest review thanks to NetGalley and Jonathan Ball Publishers.I love reading books on forensics and jobs within that area. It just fascinates me - though working in a mortuary is not something i’d fancy doing.This is such a detailed insight into forensic pathology. It’s not just about the cases but the ins and outs of every little thing that happens when performing an autopsy. It’s so interesting to read about how different and difficult it can be to do this job in Africa - i’ve read about mortuaries in the UK so this was a completely different insight for me!There’s so many things to be considered before starting an autopsy that I didn’t know about. Like, in cases where the deceased has been exposed to radioactive material, consulting with radiation experts to determine if it’s safe to do an autopsy.I honestly did not know that INCA (instantaneous neurogenic cardiac arrest) was a thing! Examples of this: a guy playfully tweaking his girlfriend’s neck on the dance floor and she drops dead, a grandmother kissing her grandchild and applying pressure to the child’s neck causing them to die instantly - honestly i’m mind-blown that this can happen.Something else that I found fascinating is that you can hang yourself/strangle someone with toilet paper!I just loved this book, so interesting and detailed without feeling like a textbook. I’m definitely getting a physical copy when it’s released!

As as doctor (and a student of Ryan Blumenthal; he gave us several lectures during undergraduate training) I really enjoyed reading about his outlook on forensic pathology.Would recommend to any healthcare worker to read about what happens to the ones that don’t make it to hospital.

The book I didn't know I needed to read.The book reads at a comfortable pace, easy to digest for someone with no idea about this field. I was shocked at the amount of hard work, skill, and dedication this field requires. Ryan lays it all out for the laymen to understand with loads and loads of information at every turn.Bought this book on a whim, it was extremely interesting to peek inside this somewhat unknown world. I couldn't put it down.

Blumenthal knows his stuff. An inside look into the world of death with an inspiring message about life.