Thanks to the publisher for a copy of this book! The Forever Witness by Edward Humes was interesting from beginning to end. It is a gripping true crime narrative that masterfully blends investigative journalism with cutting edge forensic science. It centers on the murders of 20 year old Tanya Van Cuylenborg and her boyfriend, 18 year old Jay Cook in 1987. Detective Jim Scharf had looked for the killer for years before venturing into the world of forensic genealogy. In 2018, the killer was finally identified using these methods. This book is a wonderful mix of gripping true crime and the science and ethics of using open-source DNA databases to solve crimes.

This book masterfully weaves together true crime, forensic science, and ethical dilemmas, making for a gripping read. The decades-old cold case of Tanya Van Cuylenborg and Jay Cook is chilling on its own, but the real intrigue lies in how Detective Jim Scharf and genetic genealogist CeCe Moore use groundbreaking DNA technology to finally track down the killer. The story isn’t just about solving a crime—it dives deep into the privacy debates surrounding genetic databases, raising fascinating and timely questions. A must-read for true crime fans and anyone interested in the future of justice.

This book was informative and a great addition to my reading. I have been recognizing my interest in true crime over the last few years.

Honestly, I found this book a lot more interesting than I thought I would... At first, it seems like another "run of the mill" true crime book, which feels disrespectful to the victims but I truly don't mean for it to be. In fact, Humes does right by Jay and Tanya, spending a great deal of time sharing who they were as individual people and how new their feelings for one another were. I just mean that, unfortunately, there are a lot of cases similar to Tanya's and Jay's, and therefore their case doesn't seem unique at first glance. However, as Humes would go on to detail, their case was one of the first that used genetic genealogy to catch a killer decades after their murder. What I thought was done so well was Humes' explanations of DNA, how genealogy works, and the background of what was happening with genealogy and its partnership with crime-solving and law enforcement agencies throughout the past 20 years or so. I learned so much new information and it made me even more interested in genetic genealogy and its implications as well as its uses. I also appreciated that, while one would think DNA presence would be a "slam dunk" to convict a criminal, there are also circumstances in which it doesn't and those should be carefully considered, as well. This book captured my attention more than I was anticipating, and has left me more curious about the world...

**Thank you, NetGalley and publishers, for a DRC in exchange for an honest review.**

Thank you to PENGUIN GROUP Dutton | Dutton and to NetGalley for an ARC of this book.

This book was really interesting. I love TV shows where they solve crimes, so I figured this book would be really interesting. It definitely did not disappoint.
This book was really suspenseful and held my interest the whole time. If you are interested in how to use DNA to solve crimes, I would definitely recommend.

This is an excellent book! No other words needed! I really enjoyed this book! Thank you for a great book!

Loved being able tot see a different side of crime solving than what we normally see on television. Felt more involved in the process of how these professionals go through these cases.

This is the case which served as the hallmark of DNA genealogy used to solve crimes. It seemed to be happenstance that a woman CeCe Moore in California began investigating genetic genealogy not realizing that she was about to fall into a rabbit hole. Since then, she was able to lend her knowledge of this technology to solve crimes. That's where Detective Jim Scharf comes in wanting to solve a cold case from 1987 in Seattle of a double murder of two teens: Tanya Van Cuylenborg and Jay Cook. Once he sends the DNA to Parabon NanoLabs he isn't prepared for the media storm that will follow regarding privacy of DNA samples versus the legal system wanting to solve decades old murder cases. It is fascinating how the collaboration of dedicated people were able make advances in solving crimes.

Thank you NetGalley and Random House for providing this book for review
consideration. All opinions expressed are my own.

The story of Tanya and Jay and the journey of their deaths being solved is a fascinating deep dive into the fragile line of moral and legal rights of DNA matching outside it's genealogy intents. Something Paul Holes explores in "Unmasked". A new way of finding murderers but at what cost in the long term will that have?
Getting to know Tanya and Jay and specifically their families and friends makes this story one that will pull your heartstrings while wanting to rip your hair out from the missed connections and difficult international border miscommunications.
An excellent book to dive into the world of DNA matching while having a couple who root you in the reality of what this does to help put old bones to rest.

Amazing true crime book! A great look at the use of DNA and genetic testing companies to solve homicides, and the pitfalls involved, using this example of a cold case. Excellent writing.

I love true crime and this was a wild ride. I learned so much from this and the story kept me interested.

Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher Dutton for this ARC!

This was a thrilling read. So well-written, suspenseful. I learned a ton and enjoyed the ride. I believe that any true crime fan will want to read this. This is a work of non-fiction. Highly recommended.

i LOVED this one. unlike anything else i’ve read in the true crime genre, it takes a story ‘& makes it into something you’re unable to move on from.

This Book is a Fascinating Look at Another Case Where DNA and Genealogy Play a Part in Solving a Cold Case!

The Cold Case of Jay Cook & Tanya Van Cuylenburg in (1987)

This brings up many questions. Where we are today in allowing DNA/Genealogy evidence. I actually had to write a paper on this for a class.

For people thinking they will never get caught… think again. I know even the book states laws have been made and precedence reigns this is still a bit scary. The good part is they are finding these people and getting them off the streets!

Audiobook: Narrated by the Author
I have always found when a book is a bit dry and I can’t get in to reading it that if I switch to the audiobook it becomes very interesting. This happens especially when an author is reading it. That was the case with this book.

I received a complimentary ARC of this book from NetGalley on behalf of the Publisher and was under no obligation to post a favorable review.

This book has a different quality about it that makes it very easy to read and make you think about it after you put it down. I highly recommend this book to anyone and everyone!

Forever Witness is a fascinating explanation of genetic genealogy to solve cold-case murders. Detective Jim Scharf could retire, but the possibility that he can solve cold-case crimes using genealogy keeps him on the job. The book focuses on the 1987 murder of a young British Columbian couple who were in Seattle and features the investigative work of CeCe Moore. While the details of the trial for the suspected murderer William Earl Talbott II are involved, they outline the snags the use of genetics in murder cases. Also, the book shows the backlash from the genealogy community about using DNA to solve crimes. The Forever Witness is recommended for true crime and genealogy fans.

I love true crime books, well actually I like any book but I do enjoy the ones about a real person, place or event. I finished this one in one day, it was easy to get lost in and has some interesting facts. Good read!

As always, non-fiction can sometimes be dry and lose you in certain sections... That was not the case for The Forever Witness. I found the entire book to be fascinating, well researched, and very educational. This book really gave a look into how the use of DNA has transformed our ability to catch criminals and bring justice to so many victims. As a Washingtonian to the core, I found this case that happened in my backyard to be captivating yet still respectful and gave an opportunity to know the victims on a level that felt true to who they were. I will be recommending this book, especially to my fellow true crime fanatics!

This was a well told account of what happened to a young Seattle/Canadian couple that went missing, became a cold case and how the new technology and genealogy of DNA helped solve the case. I've always been fascinated with true crime - and this one was told in a way that felt like I could of been in that van with that couple. The author narrates the audio book and its fantastic.

I ran into some personal issues and was unable to read the book or write a review....my apologies to the publisher.