4.75/5 ⭐

First of all, I'd like to thank NetGalley as well as the Knopf, Pantheon, and Vintage catalog for approving my request for the eARC. I read The Secret History of the Rape Kit June 2024 and it still lives rent free in my head – 8 months later.

I read this book June 2024, cover to cover within 3 days. It was so compelling. I just devoured this book. Almost left no time to write notes. And obviously, I didn’t write a review right away. I told myself I needed to let it simmer. All the while, I kept telling myself I should just reread it. But oh how time gets away from us...

Overall, the existence of this book makes me so mad. The content, not the author. Every other page I felt I was pausing for a “did she say what I think she said” and “how did we not know” and of course “everything we know about profiling, and creeper behavior is based on assumptions and lies!”. Okay, that last one may be a bit specific…but you get the point.

I appreciate the inclusion of the crime drama, police procedural and actual real life tales within the pages. It helped carry the book and took me from the creation of the rape kit all the way through to how it is used today, and the state of our nations backlog (just maddening).

Given that the book is less than 300 pages, I don't expect that it was supposed to be a comprehensive source on the subject matter. However, my biggest complaint is that I felt that I needed more. I don't have a background in the subject matter, but I was left feeling like I needed more of the history the title promised. I wanted more answers for the how, why’s, and where do I learn more.

And for that, I'm considering buying my own copy just for the bibliography. I want to look up all the things.

This was a really interesting account of how the rape kit came about, and the woman behind the invention, although, unsurprisingly, it's credited to a man.
The story of Marty Goddard, who worked tirelessly, often to the detriment of her own mental health, to advocate for victims of sexual abuse, is awe-inspiring. She is so worthy of all of the accolades that she never cared about.
This book also helps illustrate how low sexual assault crimes have been, and still are, prioritized. It's both infuriating and disappointingly expected.
Thanks to #netgalley and #vintagepublishing for this #arc of #thesecrethistoryoftherapekit by #pagankennedy in exchange for an honest review.

Really fascinating read that finally gives credit to the woman who deserves it.. a compelling and heartbreaking story

This was an impactful and deeply personal read. Naturally, much of the content is sensitive and unsettling, but I appreciate the author’s willingness to open up about her own story while creating a safe space for readers to become better informed.

One of my favorite things about this book is its length—it’s incredibly efficient. We get a wealth of information while also following Kennedy’s journalistic journey, shining a light on the forgotten woman behind the rape kit. The writing is clear, focused, and poignant.

It’s no surprise that a woman was behind the invention of the rape kit. What’s heartbreaking is the struggle to have it taken seriously—a struggle that, in many ways, continues today. The book also highlights the countless ways survivors' voices are suppressed and the systemic obstacles that remain in place to undermine their protection and justice. One of the most fascinating (and equally frustrating) aspects was learning about the various attempts to create in-home kits and the behind-the-scenes processes of forensic evidence collection.

Reading this, you can’t help but feel a heavy heart. While the book honors Mary Goddard in a powerful, almost heroic way, it’s devastating to see the hardships she endured—both in her personal life and in her fight for justice. The author does an excellent job depicting Goddard’s resilience, making this a truly necessary read.

Thank you to Netgalley & Vintage for this egalley!

e-ARC from NetGalley.

If you were to ask me who spearheaded the use of rape kits in US police departments, I'd tell you I don't know.

If you told me it was a woman whose credit was then stolen by a corrupt police officer, I'd tell you that sounds about right.

Anyway. That's what happened. Then the woman became an alcoholic, went crazy, & died.

Thank you to Netgalley and the Publishing Company for this Advanced Readers copy of The Secret History of the Rape Kit by Pagan Kennedy!

This part thriller, part feminist deliverance book was fascinating and informative. The Secret History of the Rape Kit is a well-crafted story with the perfect balance of character study and detective sleuth work. This book is important reading for anyone wanting to learn an important piece of history regarding social justice, the battle against sexual violence and women's rights. The Secret History of the Rape Kit is a thought-provoking story showcasing immense courage and determination of Marty Goddard and is a vital story that should have been told long ago.

“When we drive through a tunnel or climb a flight of stairs, most of us don’t think about who designed the path that we’re traveling and how that person intended to shape our behavior and yet the infrastructure we use every day is constantly feeding us messages about who is important and who is not.” 🧡

For a nonfiction book about an incredibly heavy and triggering topic, I thought THE SECRET HISTORY OF THE RAPE KIT: A True Crime Story was a very accessible book - written in a way that wasn’t too info-heavy and was rather engaging. The narrative was easy to follow and informative, without being too bogged down in data. And yet, it is a frustrating read for multiple reasons.

First, the topic. It’s so frustrating to see how little progress has been made in the prosecution of abusers - regardless of how the science and changes of evidence collection have made it easier to physically link someone to a crime. On that same topic, it’s frustrating to continually see the story of trailblazing women lost to history and to the narrative of mediocre men. The rape kit, originally known, as the Vitullo Kit, was originally credited to Louis Vitullo, a police officer - while in reality, it was developed my Marty Goddard - an advocate, founder of a victims assistance organization, and a sexual assault survivor.

Second, how reality played out. The narrative behind this novel - namely trying to learn more about the woman who invented and heralded the rape kit - felt unfinished; this is largely due to how her live unfolded and the information the author did and did not have access to. It made for an unsatisfying ending - this is certainly not a story of a woman finally getting her due and recognition.

Despite those critiques, I did find the evolution of the rape kit and the education for medical providers, law enforcement, and survivors around its use fascinating.

Interesting fact - very few original collection kits are still in existence and the Smithsonian's National Museum of American History currently has one on digital display, as they try to determine the most thoughtful and respectful way to display it in a physical museum.

I find all books on this topic to be absolutely rage inducing because we just can never seem to believe women. This is such an important book and provided such a great in-depth history and I am so glad to learn about Marty Goddard and her important place in women's history. Despite being a tough topic and a non-fiction work, this book is so compelling. I couldn't put it down.

This is such an important book. Rape is a crime that is rarely prosecuted, for many reasons. Most rapes aren't reported, and when they are, the victims feel hurt and vulnerable, making evidence collection difficult. In the past, victims would have to go to an emergency service like a hospital and wait, possibly for hours, when they were already emotionally spent. The creation of the rape kit made it so the evidence could be collected in a way that preserved both the evidence and the dignity of the victim.
Obviously, there was pushback, as there always is with something new, but rape kits have improved the process so much.
The crusader behind the rape kit, Marty Goddard, didn't take credit for her work and dropped out of sight.
Thanks to NetGalley for letting me read this

𝔹𝕠𝕠𝕜 ℝ𝕖𝕧𝕚𝕖𝕨 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Read if you love:
✨ True Crime
✨ Nonfiction
✨ 20th Century History
✨ Forensic Science

As a domestic violence and sexual assault advocate I knew I NEEDED to read this book.. but every one should. I was blown away by the research by the author and the story of Marty’s life.

The book begins with the inception of the rape kit in 1971, a time when sexual assault survivors had little hope of seeing their attackers brought to justice. Marty Goddard, the woman who revolutionized forensic science and the fight against sexual assault, is driven by a fierce determination to change this grim reality, devised a kit that could collect and preserve crucial evidence from survivors.

Kennedy’s narrative is compelling and deeply human. She paints a vivid portrait of Goddard, a woman whose tenacity and vision were matched only by the obstacles she encountered. The author skillfully weaves together personal anecdotes, historical context, and detailed accounts of the development and impact of the rape kit.

This book explores cultural and institutional resistance to Goddard’s innovation. Kennedy delves into the societal attitudes towards sexual assault during the 1970s, providing a stark contrast to the progress that has been made since.

Kennedy’s writing is both accessible and authoritative, making complex forensic concepts understandable without oversimplifying them. Her ability to convey the emotional weight of the survivors’ stories, alongside the technical details of the rape kit’s development, creates a narrative that is as informative as it is moving. The book is a testament to the power of one individual’s determination to effect change and the ripple effects of that change across society.

“The Secret History of the Rape Kit” is a must-read for anyone interested in true crime, forensic science, or the history of sexual assault advocacy. This book is both a tribute to a pioneering woman and a call to continue the fight for justice and support for survivors.

Thank you to NetGalley the author and publisher for the eARC of this book.

#bookreview #bookstagram #newreleases #truecrime #triggerwarning #forensicscience #nonfiction

I think the "true crime" byline was maybe a bit overzealous on this one. It is more appropriately the story of Marty Goddard and her early work in establishing the rape kit and spearheading its dissemination throughout the United States. The historical portions of the book were interesting. It was fascinating to hear of women actually putting hard work and determination behind their protests against the police force and bureaucrats not acknowledging rape victims at all, let alone helping to find their rapists. We've thankfully come a long way, but there still seems to be lots of stereotyping and dismissals of certain types of victims/survivors. I totally understand that feminism was a driving force behind this proactive movement, but it was just stated over and over again. The repetitiveness was just a little off-putting to me.
Like many other reviewers, Kennedy's own accounts of sexual abuse seem a bit contrived or forced...I guess she wanted to have a tie-in for a reason to actually have researched. I don't know that it was necessary.
I received this ARC from NetGalley and Vintage but also chose to later listen to the audiobook by Claire Danes. I felt she did a good job.

I felt like the content of this book was very well researched and I learned a lot, but I wasn't a huge fan of the presentation of the information. I'm not sure exactly what I was expecting, but I felt lost at times.

Often times short nonfiction books like this do not tell a complete enough story to leave the reader satisfied, to be more than a sampler on the topic. Kennedy manages to do so beautifully in this work which was originally published as a long form piece in a publication whose name escapes me as I write the review. She could have told just the generic story of this evidence gathering tool but I do not think that any reader would have gotten anything out of that. Instead, Kennedy gives this story heart and depth by also telling the story of the woman who created this tool, a woman that history almost forgot. I found this book to be highly impactful and to also have a lot of unfortunate resonance with the world we live in and the events unfolding around us.

The Secret History of the Rape Kit is an important text and I'd definitely recommend it to everyone! It showcases how women have always had to fight to be believed over injustices thrust upon their bodies and how rape had gone not convicted since there was nothing to tie the perpetrators to the crime if there were no witnesses. This is definitely recommended reading.

3.5 stars, but I round up.

I agree with some of the other criticism of this book, in that during the part of the book in which Kennedy describes her own sexual assault, the book feels a little disjointed.

I disagree that her own sexual assault is not an important part of understanding the reason for the book and her own perspective, which admittedly, is routed in feminism (particularly white feminism) and therefore, shows a bias. But i don't think that, when describing a forgotten female figure in the history of what would become the "Me Too" movement, it is a problem to approach this with a feminist perspective. And I think that Pagan also tries, with varying success, to include people of color and their own experiences with sexual assault into this narrative.

This book really shines when explaining the life and times of Marty Goddard, a name that would have been lost to history. I find it especially powerful that Marty's whole story appears to be her noting a problem, doing research and becoming knowledgeable about the issue, and then working within the system and outside of it to create a solution. From a macro-social work perspective, Marty is a name to be studied. Inherently flawed, as any human being is, Marty created the rape kit at great personal expense (developing alcoholism later in life). She also created the rape kit by noting the time that she was living in, gathering stake holders, and working with unlikely sources.

This book tells the story of the true creator of the rape kit, Marty Goddard, and what inspired her to stand up for victims so relentlessly, despite every possible obstacle.

The statistics on rape and the ignorance and misinformation surrounding it are eye-opening. The author presents the case well for the need for change and justice for victims, something still being slowly turned around.
This book is for all fans of true crime, and for anyone who wants to learn the truth behind the rape kit and its dire need in America, especially throughout the last few centuries. And also to learn about the hard-working inventor of the kit and her advocacy for victims.

I received this ARC from Net Galley in exchange for my honest review. All opinions expressed are solely mine and do not necessarily reflect that of the author or publisher and its affiliates.

I wanted to read this book because I don’t know anything about who created the rape kit or why. It’s one of those things that just exists, and one doesn’t wonder how they came to be. So I was pretty interested in learning the history.

However, this is not exactly what I expected. I don’t read a lot of true crime, so I wasn’t aware of the differences in story structure and telling. This book was just written in a way that I didn’t really enjoy, and made it hard to get into. The parts about how the creation of the kit, what drove the creator to make it, and the search for that person were interesting. I feel like the book should have stayed with the history and the search. The author’s memoir sections were woven awkwardly into the rest of the text, and I think should have been a separate book.

But I do think this is an important book to read, and a great starting point to dive deeper into this topic.

A solid 4 star read. I thought that the book could be edited down just a tad bit. I learned a lot about the history of the rape kit. As expected many things that the author told the audience was very jarring and sickening. I do think that everyone should read this book, because unfortunately it is entirely too relevant to our culture.

Equally informative and emotional, this was an intriguing and at times intense read about the development of the rape kit.