**⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ | A Fascinating and Important History**

Pagan Kennedy’s *The Secret History of the Rape Kit* shines a much-needed light on the development and impact of a critical tool in the fight for justice for sexual assault survivors. Kennedy’s thorough research uncovers the little-known story behind the creation of the rape kit, weaving together the scientific, legal, and social challenges that shaped its evolution. The book is both informative and compelling, offering readers a deep appreciation for the people who fought to bring this tool into existence. While some sections may delve heavily into technical details, the overall narrative is powerful and enlightening, making it an essential read for those interested in justice and women’s rights.

he Secret History of the Rape Kit was very informative, and personable. So many hurdles to jump through but I am glad to say that Marty Goddard has her story out there. So many gaps shows just how dedicated she was to her job that getting to know the real woman is elusive. I am saddened by the trauma Marty, the author Pagan and so many others have experienced in this world, and the lack of empathy shown by this patriarchal society we live in. DNA evidence is a wonderful thing, but it is so unfortunate that someone claiming bodily harm has been so readily questioned for the truth. I admit the book has gaps as far as gender equality as it centers mostly on women, but in all honesty, that is the demographic this kit benefits the most. Evidence is only as good as the collection procedure and analyzation. Great read, easy to understand, and is a page turner.

This book has brought so much light to the truth behind the creation of the rape kit, the stigma of being raped, and how rape victims are still being denied their human right to heal from the rape on their own terms.

This book was a very interesting read. I know just in general sexual assault is more common than people say. But the history on how and why the rape kit was developed was intriguing to learn about as well as just shocking how things were done back in the 1960s-1980s. Even still there are issues with the store of these evidence kits and the practices of using them.

I really liked how the Pagan was getting into the nitty gritty of finding Marty Goddard and all her research. I might have to look more into this.

An exploration of a criminal investigation tool whose history is seldom thought much about, despite its importance, along with the complicated history of the woman who created it.

Thanks to Vintage and NetGalley for the free e-ARC in exchange for an honest review.

The Secret History of the Rape Kit by Pagan Kennedy is, well, exactly what it sounds like: a deep dive into how the rape kit as we know it came to be. In order to tell us about how the rape kit was created, Kennedy tells us about Marty Goddard, the woman behind the man credited for the rape kit. Her crusade made the world a demonstrably safer place, though there's still a long way to go.

I appreciated a lot of what this book was doing, but at times, it felt very disjointed and unorganized. The writing was good, but it didn't feel well paced or put in the most compelling way. You can tell from how Kennedy reveals parts of Goddard's story that this isn't an "I talked to this person and got their perspective" type of book, so you can kind of guess what happened to her. The messiness is a reminder that everyone's human and the toll life can take on people.

Writing this took a lot of guts, which I applaud, but I wish it was better organized and ended with something more than a fizzle.

This book is complicated. While it is a history of the rape kit, it is also a somewhat muddled mess of a memoir, as well as a biography of the person who created the kit. Honestly, I feel like the original article would suffice, but I can’t make a definitive statement as it is now hidden behind a paywall. The history of how victims have/are treated is appalling, and the kit is easily one of the greatest inventions in crime history. Unfortunately, this book struggles on focus. I’m glad I read it, because I learned a lot, so please don’t think the research isn’t there. It is simply in-between stories of the author’s history and her search for the kit creator. Both which I found to be unnecessary, or at least given out or context and not cohesive with the rest of the story. Thank you NetGalley for the arc!

I wasn’t able to fully read this book due to the nature of the material and how it was presented (too triggering). But from what I read, it was written well. I appreciated the research and time that went into this story, and also, the modern feel of the writing.
One qualm I did have was with the extensive inclusion of LGBTQ+ people into the writing. It felt very heavily progressive.

It was a very heavy read, yet essential history for many to learn. It felt a bit all over the place, with no clear plot. It bounced around between the history and progression of the rape kit, commentary, and the biography. I found it very informational.

I need you to read The Secret History of the Rape Kit, because it’s essential. Like most true crime stories, the “facts” about the origins and biography of the rape kit are a matter of indifference to most. The truth of these stories lies in the beliefs we carry, regardless of the veracity of those beliefs. Kennedy has done a great service by resurrecting the life of Marty Goddard as innovator and driving force behind the rape kit and restoring her to timely recognition. The book slots well into current important conversations and it deserves to be read and talked about. It’s smart, compassionate, well researched and reported—and infuriating. How dare we forget the creator of something as vital as the rape kit? And how dare we turn away from the evidence it generates?

What, then, do we owe to those who survive sexual violence? What do we owe to the women innovators among us, overshadowed by men of lesser skill and intellect, but more rapacity? This brilliant, heartbreaking, necessary book captivated me immediately and does excellent, important work to define some of the key failures of thought, policy, and practice that led to Marty Goddard’s virtual disappearance and to the squandering of opportunities to address sexual crime by discarding mounds of evidence over years and decades. These failures are not done wreaking their havoc and imposing human costs; Kennedy brings these forward with care and a honed sense of ire.

The interpolation of the author’s own experiences with Goddard’s struggles, and with the challenges of digging up such a worthwhile cold case of innovation and foresight, is incisive. Kennedy brings strong empathy to compelling storytelling and an eye for nuanced detail that adumbrates a hidden figure, one whose importance should never have been lost. The writing is graceful, and one gets a strong sense of the tempered relentlessness not only of Marty Goddard, but of the author herself, chasing ghosts that haunt them both.

There is an urgent need for explorations of the myriad ways the legal system has consistently undermined justice – ignoring and pathologizing rape victims, warehousing and forgetting rape kit evidence, disregarding forensic failures – and the Secret History of the Rape Kit is a welcome addition to this growing body of work. It also goes some way to address other legal and civic failures by taking head-on the misdirection of recognition that Marty Goddard – and all the unsung heroes like her – endured. Kennedy offers a well-timed cry to policymakers and others to take these failures seriously and take steps to correct the errors of evidence and address systemic biases that create and perpetuate injustice.

Kennedy interweaves histories – of innovation, criminal justice, police procedure – and biographies – of Marty Goddard, of the author herself, and, importantly, of the rape kit as intellectual property, social object, and evidentiary tool – to convincingly document and illustrate why failures of procedure and of attribution are so costly at so many levels. If you care about justice, stolen ideas, systemic indifference to women’s experiences of violence, and the outcomes of a threadbare approach to forensic evidence, read this book.

The Secret History of the Rape Kit was full of educational content, and was very informative. The author did a great deal of research in identifying the origins of the rape kit, how it came about, and the process by which it was designed and eventually put into circulation for use. The inventor of the rape kit, Marty Goddard, was an ambitious young lady with a heart for injustices and the marginalized. She spent years promoting the idea of the rape kit, and found others to work with her in the creation of the kit. Due to the era (1970's) in which Marty created this kit, she ended up working with a reputable scientist/detective who worked in the Chicago crime lab, Louis Vitullo, and the rape kit was named after him. The author takes a great deal of time to explore the ramifications of Marty Goddard's input and development of the rape kit, and was able to give her credit where credit was due for the origination of the rape kit and the huge developments thereafter! This book will give you a great understanding of the need for the rape kit, the reasons behind the education present with law enforcement and hospital personnel, and society at large. Decades later, the backlog of processing and the realization of those wrongfully accused and imprisoned, led to the rape kit being an integral part of justice being restored for many. I really enjoyed learning about the rape kit and would recommend this book to those with interest in learning more!

Thank you for NetGalley and Vintage books for the ARC copy of this book. All opinions are my own.

This book was formatted in a way that was both informative and interesting. I felt like I was listening to a podcast as I was reading.

This is a important, informative and highly readable work of non-fiction. I learned so much about Marty Goddard and all the people working in this important area. I also appreciated the integration of Kennedy's experiences/stories into the narrative. It really makes this feel like a personal work rather than only a history.

There needs to be a list of books (and maybe there is!) for all of the instances where a woman did not get credit for her invention, idea or creation, but a man did! Kennedy's book is more than an expose of something that has been happening all through history. It a recounting of the relentless journey of Marty Goddard, an activist in the 70s who wanted a tool that would actually help police be able identify rapists and child molesters. She took her idea and a prototype to Louis Vitullo, a Chicago police sergeant, who presented it as his idea.
Through her extensive research, Kennedy learns of Goddard's struggles, the allies who contributed to the efforts (Playboy Corp. being one) and her almost complete disappearance. Her efforts to locate Goddard are a rich part of this book. Tenaciousness describes both women.
To me, one of the hallmarks of an excellent and engaging book is when it propells the reader to further explore the topic. Google and I were quite busy after I finished The Secret History of the Rape Kit.
Thanks to Net Galley for this opportunity.

The time and effort it must have taken to gather all of the details in this book and then piece them together so masterfully just leaves me speechless. As a nurse I found the history of the rape kit intriguing, but the story behind Marty was even more so. I loved every page and took so many notes throughout the book. I will for sure be purchasing this book in hardcover.

This was fantastically done and I could not stop reading. The author does a great job of being sensitive to SA survivors while also rightfully criticizing the systems which have silenced and harmed them. I have a feeling I’ll be thinking about this for a long time. Absolutely recommend to anyone who can handle the trigger warnings.

'The Secret History of the Rape Kit' by Pagan Kennedy is a very interesting and well-researched book. You not only learn about the history of the rape kit itself, but also about the treatment of women throughout history at the same time. An incredibly informative read.

SPOILER ALERT:
Marty Goddard sadly did not live to see her name attached to the rape kit she created. But I feel that being the bada** that she was, she’s out there somewhere and knows it. This was a really fascinating story about a reporters quest to find out the story behind the woman who created the rape kit and what inspired her to do so.
So many women throughout history, and even now, are scared to report sexual assault. They are ignored, ridiculed or harassed for doing so. Many medical professionals have little to no training to gather evidence as well, making getting a conviction extremely difficult. Marty’s kit made this possible for many women. Many years later, another woman created a kit that could be used at home for survivors that didn’t have access to medical care or were too frightened or embarrassed to do so. It could be used to store evidence that could be used at a later date. At first it was criticized, but a few years later, when Covid hit, one hospital decided to use it and it was successful. This led to other states creating their own kits for use.
Marty’s rape kit led the way for women to take back their power and not be victims. We can only move forward with these new kits. This is exactly the future she would have wanted to see.

Wow thank you so much to the publisher and NetGalley for allowing me to read this ARC. This story was so incredibly interesting and informative. This book should be read by every single person.

Thanks to NetGalley for the opportunity to read this advanced readers copy of Pagan Kennedy’s book. The author found an affinity with Marty Goddard and obsessively researched her life’s work of supporting sexual assault victims. Along the way a history of the ways society has demeaned and let down thousands of victims emerges. In many ways the progress was slow, laborious and flawed; but that it did progress is due to the efforts of an extraordinary woman and those who picked up the torch after she put it down.
Reading like a novel, the facts and history from the 1970’s to today are fascinating. I was surprised to learn Hugh Hefner’s Playboy empire supported Marty’s efforts early on, and was not surprised how often men take credit for inventions and block recognition or monetary gain from inventors who are women or people of color.