Thank you so much Netgalley for the advance reader copy of Autopsy by Ryan Blumenthal in exchange for an honest review. I really enjoyed reading this book. When I started it, I felt like the author had an air of arrogance and was a bit put off by his writing. I stuck with it though, as the material was very interesting. The more I read, the more I realized that Blumenthal isn't arrogant, he is just really smart. There was so much information in this book from lightning deaths to animal attacks, from what it takes to become a pathologist to what the dead have taught him about living. I feel like I learned a lot about autopsies and living and dying in South Africa. I highly recommend this book and have been talking about it non stop with family and friends.

I always find these books and those similar very fascinating and gripping and this book didn't disappoint, the book was loaded with interesting facts such as how to make your eyes bleed. As someone who works in the animal industry the amount of animal related deaths such as by ostrich was not unexpected but I was glad it was included as the majority of these types of books I have read do not necessarily work in the environment to experience these.

Overall I really enjoyed the book and is one I would pick up again.

Many thanks to NetGalley, the publisher and Ryan Blumenthal for the eARC, in exchange for an honest review.

This book is interesting yet not exactly what I thought it would be. I expected a book that focused more an the actually autopsy or a book that was centered on the cases he had worked. Some of the cases were mentioned, but only very briefly. The book mainly focuses on the doctor's personal views and those seem to flip flop depending on how he feels in that chapter. The book was a 2.5-3 star book. I don't regret reading it but I'm honestly unsure if I would recommend it.

This book follows the life and career of Ryan Blumenthal, author and forensic pathologist in Africa. The story goes into the occurrences of death. Death by wild animals, death by nature and even high profile cases. Due to the lack of pathologists in his country, he has seen more than his fair share of cases. I highly recommend this book. Thanks so much #netgalley for the early review copy. I very much enjoyed it.

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.

Very interesting book. The author is a forensic pathologist, and his reasons for entering this field in the first place, were laudable. I learnt so much, reading this book. One of the best bits were the life lessons at the end. Life and death are so intertwined, and books like this remind you of that. Highly recommended.

This book is interesting yet not exactly what I thought. I thought there would have been a more detailed description of actual autopsy’s. Where it’s actually brief accounts of then and the procedures. I was hoping to get into this book but unfortunately I couldn’t as it was a tad boring. I will not be leaving a review elsewhere.

A fascinating and detailed book about pathology practices in South Africa.
Eye opening, harrowing, shocking and very informative.
My only criticism is that I wish it were longer! I felt there was scope for so many more stories.
Gripping stuff!
A must-read for fans or students of pathology, science, medicine.

2.5 stars ⭐
I'd like to start off by saying, I do not see eye to eye with this author.

I am not a smoker. I do not consume alcohol, I eat healthy, I exercise and I take care of my body. I would therefore probably fit the bill of a "real victim" - according to Dr. Blumenthal.

The elderly gentleman who happens to be a smoker however, does not fit the bill. Saving his life from an asthma attack is, and I quote, "a waste of time."

The author goes on to openly state that he ventured into medicine to help only the "innocent", those who are in need of medical care due to no fault of their own. So, this of course does not include; the smoker, the drinker, the overweight, those who don't wear seat belts, etc.

This is so anti-human and so completely void of all compassion, I just don't know what to say.

After having to put the book down, I did manage to continue to the very end and I was honestly only met with confusion.

The author likens himself to a superhero, a vigilante. He wants to help stop the 'bad guys'. He views himself as a moral and compassionate man.

Here is a direct quote from towards the end of the book-

"The doctor is the doctor and not the judge. It is the duty of a healthcare professional to provide care without fear, favour or judgement."

Did the author experience a sudden change of conscience? I am unsure, it is unclear.

He even goes on to say that, most lawyers he knows are smokers, but that he doesn't blame them because their line of work is stressful.

Is the author a changed man? I wish I knew!

The content written about forensic pathology is interesting, but I unfortunately felt disconnected. I wanted so much to feel the human side of these stories. I wish they had more depth instead of hopping from one thing to the other.

Thank you so much to Jonathan Ball Publishers and the author for granting me access to read and review this book.

An excellent look into the world of African pathology. Highly recommended purchase for all general nonfiction collection, with HS crossover appeal as well.

I often find these kinds of books fascinating, where people who do autopsies share some of their more strange or famous cases. I can think of at least 2 TV shows about a similar subject, one where the lead was a male, and one where the lead was a female. I was a fan of both shows. Being curious about death is pretty natural, I believe. This book, by Ryan Blumenthal discusses cases in Africa, which makes it unique from the start. There are a certain number of people killed by large wildlife, insects, lightening, even malaria. There are a wide array of deaths, related by the author in an interesting manner from his early years of his time at that profession. A read on the shorter side for those who are interested in this sort of medicolegal mystery. Advance electronic review copy was provided by NetGalley, author Ryan Blumenthal, and the publisher.

I was so happy to receive this book. I looked forward to an interesting read, and was not disappointed. The author gives a clear idea of the life of being a forensic pathologist in Africa. Very well written and informative. I enjoyed this book from the opening page to the last. The glossary at the end of the book was a welcome addition. Thanks to Netgalley, the author and the publisher for the arc of this book in return for my honest review. Receiving this book in this manner had no bearing on this review.

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!

This book was super good. The premise was so different than anything I've read in the past. I couldn't stop reading!

This book was a really challenging read. I nearly gave up as it was pretty gruesome in places, but I persevered and I'm very glad I did.
Overall it is a very sensitive approach to such a challenging subject. I was impressed by the sense of dignity and respect that was shown for the deceased throughout the book. The author is clear that every one of the 'cases' he talks about was a human being and every one deserved to be treated with respect.

I had never appreciated just how much study, effort and time goes into becoming a pathologist, nor had I really considered what impact the job must have on those that do it. This book really opened my eyes and made me realise how lucky we are that people are prepared to commit themselves to doing this job and doing it with such a level of professionalism that means families do get closure after some of the most horrific crimes.
The book also taught me how much we have to learn from this profession. The author's specialist study on lightening deaths is particularly fascinating and very valuable.

Finally the last section of the book, giving the reader lessons we can learn from the dead, was wonderful. It was a really spiritual, heartfelt close to the book and made me think long and hard about life, about how I'm living it and about changes I could look at making. This was something I never expected from a book like this and it was revelation.

I'd highly recommend this book. As I said at the start, it's not an easy read but it is definitely a worthwhile one.