This was informative but I think it would have been more interesting if I had been familiar with any of the cases the author was giving specifics about. The majority of the forensic anthropology cases took place in the United Kingdom. I was not prepared for the author's own traumatic telling of being sexually assaulted as a nine year old. I would give a trigger warning to others thinking about reading this book.

This was a FASCINATING read and one that I am so glad I finally picked up! Sue Black is a strong writer and she ties together the science of forensics and anatomy with the narrative of true crime, memoir, and experience so beautifully. This is one of those books that will appeal to readers of many genres: memoir, narrative science writing, true crime, and creative nonfiction/essays, and I look forward to recommending it to my high school students who are interested in this topic.

Have you ever looked at that skeleton in your Halloween decor and wondered how that bunch of bones formed or how professionals can use skeletal remains to learn about the person they were once a part of? Coming from a science background, I have often marveled at the human form and all its’ workings but who knew that the skeleton, that bony structure that holds us upright, is such an intricate organ that can tell us so much about the person it once belonged to. World renowned forensic anthropologist Sue Black takes us on an incredible journey in her novel Written in Bone as she describes the bones from head to foot and how they can give important clues in aiding crime investigations.

Growing up, CSI was one of my favourite shows. I was amazed to see how crimes were solved by using science and of course, besides wanting to be a veterinarian like all little girls, I wanted to do that. I wanted to inspect the crime scene, collect the evidence and study all that fascinating stuff under a microscope and catch the bad guy. I only wish I had discovered Sue Black years ago because this woman, this scientist, is such an inspiration! She is the real deal, and she has had an incredible career to prove it. Her ability to weave wonderfully exciting facts about bone development and structure throughout the stories of crime investigations she has taken part in is entirely captivating and completely flawless. This is no “textbook” read, this is a factual novel that reads like a thriller as Black walks us through various crimes and how she was able to aid in solving them by examining bones and bone fragments.

On top of being an incredibly interesting novel about true crime, Sue Black was also able to give the reader little glimpses into her personal life and struggles, which really added a different angle to this book. I admit, I have never read anything by this author before, so I know very little about her. This novel allowed me to see her brilliance in her profession but also reminded me that she too is a human being with a life outside her work which includes some of the very same problems that you and I face every day. Sometimes these scientific, factual novels are a little dry, but Black was able to prevent that by adding just enough personal information to allow the reader to develop a connection with her.

Did I love this novel? You bet I did! Do I think it is for everyone? Probably not. This novel is very science based but I know that if you have any interest at all in true crime, forensics, and/or biology with a sprinkling of morbid curiosity, then I know there is something in Written in Bone for you. I highly recommend you pick it up and give it a try. You never know what new world you may discover.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for providing an advance copy of this novel in exchange for an honest review.

Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this eARC.

Written in Bone: Hidden Stories in What We Leave Behind is a fascinating and enlightening book by one of the world's leading forensic anthropologists, Dame Sue Black. In this book, she takes the reader on a journey through the human skeleton, revealing the secrets and stories that our bones can tell us about our lives and deaths.

Each chapter focuses on a different part of the skeleton, from the skull to the feet, and explains how the bones are formed, how they change over time, and what they can reveal about a person's identity, health, lifestyle, trauma, and cause of death. Along the way, Black shares anecdotes from her own career, ranging from criminal investigations to historical discoveries, to illustrate the power and potential of forensic anthropology.

Black writes with clarity, humor, and compassion, making complex scientific concepts accessible and engaging. She also reflects on the ethical and emotional challenges of working with human remains, and the respect and care that she and her colleagues show for the dead. She shows that forensic anthropology is not just a tool for solving crimes, but also a way of honoring and learning from the lives of those who came before us.

Written in Bone is a captivating and informative book that will appeal to anyone interested in the mysteries of the human body, the history of humanity, and the stories that we leave behind. It is a testament to the skill and passion of Sue Black, and a tribute to the silent witnesses that are our bones.

An amazing read, written by a uniquely qualified author.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC.
This book was just as good as All That Remains. Very well written, interesting and easy to understand. Great job!

I love love love this book! It's immersive and so interesting, which is always necessary with nonfiction like this that can be complex at times. It wasn't overwhelming but guides you through the knowledge it imparts with plenty of stories from the author's own experience. Really well written!

I loved All That Remains by Sue Black so I knew I needed to read Written in Bone as well. She shows such a respect for the dead and somehow has this amazing ability to sprinkle on a little humor as well. While this is mostly science and anatomy heavy (as a paramedic this is what I enjoy most) I think anyone interested in true crime and forensics would enjoy this read. Her stories are fascinating and funny and I read it so quick. I will definitely be looking out for more by her in the future.

Written in Bone is a guided tour of the human skeleton, as told by Sue Black, a British forensic anthropologist and the author of All That Remains: A Life in Death. Black leads the reader through the skeleton and provides case examples and information on how each part of the skeleton can be used to identify the deceased and the way in which they died.

I'm a big fan of medical non-fiction, and especially for non-fiction about end of life. I think it's such an interesting, important area of work, and as a social worker with a background in hospice, I think quite a bit about it. Written in Bone was good - I enjoyed it - but it was a little bit dry for the subject matter. I found it a little hard to get into and the organization by section of the body felt more academic. Sue Black is clearly an empathic, deeply effective forensic pathologist, and this book taught me a lot. Definitely recommended for those interested in non-fiction and end of life.

Thank you so much to Sue Black and Skyhorse Publishing for this ARC through NetGalley! Written in Bone is available now.

I find true crime fascinating and this book goes into ornate detail about the structure of the body and how everything is connected. Honestly, I enjoy the psychological aspect more. From the perspective of someone not in the medical field, a lot of the medical jargon is confusing, and kind of boring. If you're into this great, it's just not for me.

This book was everything I hoped it would be. I found it absolutely fascinating. I will read anything Sue Black writes from here on out. It was a non-fiction that didn't read like one and I loved every minute of it.

A great, well written book that everyone can enjoy. I can't wait to read more of her work, she makes the bones come alive.
Soild 4 stars.

A splendidly written account of how various parts o the human skeleton can reveal a plethora of information about the owner’s health and past. Ms Black relates accounts from history (some of which she was involved with directly) to highlight these pivotal pieces of us. A great read for any lovers of true crime and an eye-opening experience for readers interest in forensic science or physiology. A great addition to any non-fiction reading lovers collection.

A fascinating book for anyone interested in crime, anthropology, criminology, true crime media, etc. The content of the book is fascinating from both a cultural and a scientific standpoint. I really loved how it was organized from head to toe.

Thanks for the ARC of this book. This is not my normal genre but the description totally intrigued me. Bones and what we can learn from them is fascinating. This was written in a way that we can all understand and enjoy. Very informative

Even though I went through a whole semester of anatomy lessons myself, the amount of information forensic anthropologists can wring out of a single shard of bone never ceases to amaze me. I think I'd be proud if I could tell the second phalanx distalis of the foot from the fifth, not to mention discern which side it belongs to merely through visual criteria, and I do nothing but look at x-rays all day. Despite the complex topic, Written in Bone explains the various bone structures in a way that I believe is accessible to readers without advanced knowledge of the human skeleton.

What does a forensic anthropologist do? In some ways, their job doesn't differ much from that of a coroner, except that they are the specialized experts when it comes to identifying fragments of bone and pre-mortem details that might lead to the owner's identity - like sex, age, and ethnicity - which in the end potentially lend themselves to developing theories on the mode of death.

Starting from the top, quite literally, all chapters are structured the same, by first naming the bones that make up the body part in question, explaining their embryological development (which has always been and continues to be the most boring part even in this popular science book), and finally moving on to anecdotes about cases that Black solved by employing her anthropological expertise. I haven't read her previous works, but gather from her comments that some of the cases have already been discussed in other books.

If I wasn't such a true crime sicko and Medical Detectives wasn't my comfort TV show, I probably wouldn't have read this as fast as I did. Some of the cases are pretty grim, so let that be a warning for those readers who aren't used to e.g. descriptions of a child's decomposing body. Parts of the writing is quite dry - in other parts, I couldn't help but imagine an undertone of superiority in the accounts of other professionals' mistakes. Of course, Sue Black has a vast well of experience to draw from, so a certain degree of arrogance is perhaps justified. That being said, the writing could get very personal and confessional at times (tw: child sexual abuse, I did not see that coming). It might just be my personal preference to have my non-fiction narrator be as neutral as possible.

That being said, I found plenty of interesting macabre trivia in this book that I will be sure to employ at the next institute party that demands me to participate in small-talk. Keeping up my reputation of being the goth weirdo is a full-time job, and I hereby did my reading on it.

Sue Black is a talented author. She has a way of writing something that may be inherently boring and turning it into the most fascinating thing that you have ever read.

Written in Bone is no exception. Her writing flows so smoothly that it carries the reader through heavy waters. Her writing lends to the clarification of information. Decoding it in a way that those who do not have particular backgrounds can still understand.

Thanks to Netgalley and Doubleday for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I first came across Sue Black on YouTube and instantly became a fan. When I saw that Written in Bone was available for review I jumped on the opportunity. This is a well written and an engaging read and covers everything you've ever wanted to know about bones and the human body. Prof. Black does a wonderful job of interweaving case studies, and personal ancedotes into the writing. A definite A+ in my book.

Written in Bone by Sue Black ⭐️⭐️⭐️💫

A thank you to @netgalley and the publisher for the copy.

This book offered up EVERYTHING you needed to know about bones. It read, at times, like an anatomy textbook, but I found the majority of it easy to digest.

The personal stories and real-life examples were my favorite parts of this book. It helped me conceptualize the information, and it interested the ‘true crime’ lover in me.

For fans of medical nonfiction and true crime, this one might be an interesting read!

This was a truly fascinating book. I would definitely recommend to someone interested in anatomy or true crime. Very cool stuff.

This was a very interesting book. I don’t think I realized it would be a type of memoir, and going back after finishing the book to reread the title and summary, I still don’t think it mentions anything about it being kind of a memoir.

It was surprising to me when the author began sharing some deeply personal information about herself, including, most shockingly, a vivid recollection of how she was raped when she was a child. This was completely unexpected, and I was not prepared for it. The author then moved on from talking about her rape and continued talking about bones and other cases she’d worked on. I was shocked and had to put the book down to process what I’d just read.

In one chapter the author makes some weird comments about trans people, specifically about a trans woman from a case she worked on, that come off as insensitive and bordering on transphobic. It was off-putting and the book would have been much better without any comments on the woman’s dead name.

Also at the very end of the book I thought it was kind of disrespectful when the author was talking about what she hopes will happen to her body when she dies, and she says something about how burying bones in the ground is useless. It didn’t fit with how she’d been talking about burials throughout the entirety of the book until then, saying that bones needed to be laid to rest and be given proper burials only to then say that burying bones in the ground makes them useless.

In the chapter where she talks about working with the Americans and trying to get that report from them, it was never clearly explained why they didn’t want her to get the report. I’m still confused. Was it just to imply Americans are dumb or what?

Last criticism- I think this book could’ve done without the author’s comments on bad men being rehabilitated and her hopes that they’d become better people. When you’ve just finished writing about how these people killed and raped children and women, adding a comment about hoping they become better people is weird and leaves me feeling yucky.

This book would’ve been great without all the things I mentioned above.