truly incredible story that took me a while to fully digest, and i can’t wait for this one to hit the shelves next year. while marty goddard and her creation of the rape kit are the main topic that we are following throughout the book, there are also discussions about child-on-child sexual abuse, the racial discrimination that Black women experience in medical settings, and the long standing struggle that women have experienced to have someone believe their words. if you are going to pick up this book, i highly recommend taking your time with it, checking trigger warnings and content warnings, and being safe to yourself when it gets to be too much. thank you to the publisher for the arc!

Thank you to NetGalley for the advanced copy. I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own

This is an interesting read. Although I found it interesting to read about the history of the rape kit, it really wasn’t comprehensive. It wasn’t really a biography for Marty Goddard either. It was a little all over the place at times. I enjoyed the read but it could’ve been more cohesive.

Fascinating and anger making. If rape had been taking seriously early, we wouldn’t be having to reeducate people about something this obvious.
Important information.

Thank you to NetGalley for this book in exchange for an honest review. This book is definitely heavy. At some points i felt like it was convoluted with the authors own narrative but it was definitely informative.

This was a fascinating book about the true woman behind the rape kit. It is extremely upsetting (but ultimately, not unbelievable) that it took until 1971 and a woman to deliver us the first rape kit. Marty Goddard was working at a crisis hotline and could not take it anymore, listening to survivor after survivor's story and hearing the same thing. She had to do something to stop these predators. Police would bungle cases if women came in to report a rape, assume it was a robbery instead, and make the women return home in hospital gowns and slippers. No wonder no women wanted to report anything if they weren't going to handled or taken seriously. Praise this woman for seeing a serious wrong and creating a path for these survivors to try to get justice.

I received an ARC of the book from NetGalley, and this is my voluntary and unbiased review.

This non-fiction story, that reads like a piece of journalism, tells the amazing and previously unknown life of Marty Goddard. She is the woman who created the rape kit, which completely changed how we sexual assault cases are handled and investigated. Despite her important contribution, Marty Goddard's story disappeared from history, and this book brings her incredible achievements to light.

I was completely fascinated by this book from start to finish. Pagan Kennedy did an excellent job of documenting her attempts to locate Marty Goddard, and obtain a factual history of the crucial role she played in developing the rape kit. This is a history that I was almost completely unaware of, and I now view Marty Goddard as a major hero in the fight for justice for sexual assault victims. This book explored how for centuries sexual assault was considered to be unprovable, therefore was never taken seriously. I also appreciated how this white author took time to highlight the major differences that white women face when it comes to sexual assaults, compared to women of color. This is a book you do not want to miss.

What an absolutely fascinating story this was! I had no idea of the intriguing history behind the scenes here, and really enjoyed watching credit finally go where it was most deserved. The politics of the rise of post-rape advocacy and women's rights was well represented. The writing was engaging and easy to follow..

Marty Goddard"s decline, after such influential and game-changing advocacy on behalf of those no one would listen to - or believe - is a tragic reminder that the world is not often kind to trailblazers... Pair that with Kennedy's own experiences of sexual assault and the result is a powerful and deeply moving story - and I'm so glad it's finally being told!

This book is incredibly well researched! As a girl who was raised on the Law and Order SVU reruns in USA, The Secret History of the Rape Kit was such an interesting read! I enjoyed the authors way of taking the reader on their journey of researching and finding the story of how the rape kit came to be. I definitely recommend this book to anyone who is interested in the background of things in the true crime world and how they came to be.

Pagan Kennedy investigates the hidden woman behind the creation of the rape kit. She goes down a path of finding why Marty Goddard, the woman behind the curtain, decided to push for this and what came of her afterwards. As Kennedy explores the ins and out of Goddard's life, she also analyzes her own experience in this field and how Goodard's ideas could have helped her address her own trauma earlier.

This was a unique story and contained fascinating details about a more unknown aspect of history. Where I struggled a little bit is in the actual telling of Goddard's life. The pieces seemed disjointed and it felt like the author kept adding parts that she forgot happened. Also, the end was a little bit dry. After so much interest and excitement around Goddard, it fell a little flat when there was nothing else about her to discuss.

Thank you NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for my honest review!

Thank you to NetGalley and Knopf, Pantheon, Vintage, and Anchor | Vintage for the ARC!

"The Secret History of the Rape Kit" by Pagan Kennedy is an illuminating and meticulously researched nonfiction book that uncovers the untold story behind one of the most crucial tools in forensic science. Kennedy delves into the history of the rape kit, highlighting its development, impact, and the unsung heroes behind its creation and implementation.

Kennedy's writing is both engaging and informative, making complex scientific and legal topics accessible to a wide audience. She weaves together personal narratives, historical context, and societal implications to provide a comprehensive look at how the rape kit has transformed the handling of sexual assault cases.

The book not only honors the innovators and advocates who fought for the rape kit's adoption but also sheds light on the ongoing challenges and systemic issues within the criminal justice system. Kennedy's storytelling is compelling, bringing to life the struggles and triumphs associated with this essential forensic tool.

Overall, "The Secret History of the Rape Kit" is a powerful and enlightening read that underscores the importance of scientific advancements in the pursuit of justice. It is a must-read for anyone interested in forensic science, criminal justice reform, and the history of sexual assault advocacy.

Thank you for the ARC copy.

Did not love this. Just not the book for me. Intreating read. Great topic to cover and glad stories like this are being told.

What a well written and thoroughly researched book about the rape kit. Interstitial commentary about sexual assault from the author and inventor’s perspective.

Pagan Kennedy brings to light the story of Marty Goddard and true history of the rape kit—one fraught with misogyny and a legacy of protecting abusers.

It wasn’t so long ago (1970s) that women couldn’t own patents or even have their own credit car At the same time, we had the introduction of the Pill and with women’s new power over their bodies. Thus emboldened, women became more open about the sexual abuses they suffered.

Within this politic melange, Goddard works the system of cops, the medical establishment and policymakers to get the Kit developed and used. Before DNA and when women were still widely accused of bring rape onto themselves, Marty saw a way to turn abuse to empowerment.

Pagan Kennedy's "The Secret History of the Rape Kit" is a groundbreaking and meticulously researched work that sheds light on the history and impact of one of the most significant tools in the fight against sexual violence. Kennedy's deep dive into the origins and evolution of the rape kit is both enlightening and profoundly moving, offering readers a compelling narrative that combines investigative journalism with human interest.

Kennedy masterfully chronicles the story behind the creation and development of the rape kit, highlighting the tireless efforts of its pioneers who faced numerous obstacles to bring this crucial tool into existence. Her storytelling is rich with detail and empathy, bringing to life the personal stories of survivors and advocates who have been instrumental in transforming the landscape of forensic science and victim support.

The book is not only an informative historical account but also a powerful testament to the resilience and determination of those who have fought for justice and change. Kennedy's writing is both engaging and accessible, making complex scientific and legal concepts understandable for a broad audience. Her narrative is imbued with a sense of urgency and importance, reminding readers of the ongoing need for advancements in forensic technology and support systems for survivors.

"The Secret History of the Rape Kit" is an essential read for anyone interested in social justice, forensic science, and the history of sexual violence advocacy. Pagan Kennedy has delivered a thought-provoking and inspiring work that will resonate with readers and contribute significantly to the discourse on sexual violence and justice.

Love love love love. As a rare reader of non-fiction I wasn't expecting much, but this blew me away. The story of Marty Goddard, her work in Chicago, and her subsequent disappearance hooked me and never let go. I wish she was able to get her flowers while she was still with us, but Kennedy's work will hopefully reestablish her legacy to what she deserves.

The Secret History of the Rape Kit: A True Crime Story tells the true story of how the rape kit came to be, and how far it has come. In this book, we learn about Marty Goddard the woman who invented the rape kit. Marty brought her idea of a rape kit to many hospitals throughout Illinois. The author uses this book almost as an exposee on the police departments and people here to help citizens who report a crime. Often they are not taken seriously or their evidence is ignored.
Overall, I enjoyed this book! I thought that the story was fascinating and honestly empowering. Learning about the many women who advocate for survivors of sexual assault and HOW they advocate was intriguing. Every time I picked up this book I felt like I was learning something, which I always love when I read.

2 stars for the history, negative 3 for the author's commentary and illogical analysis.
Let me preface this review by saying that I have a master's in Biological Anthropology (aka. the forensic identification of human crematory and skeleton remains among various isotopic and genotype tests). I took extensive notes about the content of this book and found the author to be grossly flawed in her logic and to be a deeply biased researcher to the point of misleading people about the premise of this book.

This is a book about the accomplishments of Marty Goddard, an unsung hero, if you will, who advocated for the rights of victims of all categories of sexual crimes. Ms. Goddard appears to have been an intrepid advocate for victims: male/female, young/old, incest, and all forms of sexual insult assault regardless of marriage status in spite of social prejudices and an overall lack of acknowledgement.

This lack of acknowledgement angers the author. Ironically, Ms. Goddard is characterized by said author as the type of woman who would deeply dislike the attention such acknowledgement would have granted her and appears to have actively avoided attention and social settings.

By virtue, the topic is fascinating and the history interesting. The author is the worst part about the book. The commentary does not enhance the history; it can be convoluted and muddles certain points. I have also found that the author is so clearly biased and controlled by her own confirmation bias that I am instinctively skeptical about quoted statements within the text. The author reads as a feminist extremist with a strong distrust of men and a romanticized view of Marty Goddard. The entire genesis of this book is her own anti-male bias and disbelief that a man could possibly have conceived the idea of a rape kit. Too bad her own research proves that the oldest recorded rape kit in the United States was created by a...man. Oops, the entire marketed premise is factually incorrect and admittedly said so by the author herself within her own book (Santa Ana kit).

The Secret History of the Rape Kit: A True Crime story, this title is misleading as the story discusses Marty Goddard the woman who was the creator of the rape kit. At no point in the story was there a true crime story. The author was on a journey to uncover the history behind the rape kit and to give the inventor, Marty Goddard a biography. The author fell short of her intended purpose of the book so then she starts talking about her own experiences with sexual assault.

The storyline could have been clarified through the use of titles for each chapter to inform the reader of where the story was going. Otherwise the information the author did share about the invention of the rape kit, and where the "modern" rape kit is going was fascinating to learn.

In no way is this topic simple to read about and I’m sure wasn’t easy to write about. I do think the writing could be a bit more polished and cohesive though. Some parts seem like a newspaper article and other parts are a bit unnecessarily judgmental. However, it is a story worth sharing. The life of Marty Goddard was filled with courage, dedication, suffering, darkness, and light.

An offshoot of this story is a sad and terrible, but needed, reminder that even though it’s 2024, there is still so much more work to be done to help rape survivors.

Thank you very much to NetGalley and Knopf Doubleday Publishing Group for the early e-book.

Thank you for the advance copy in exchange for my honest review. For those interested in forensics, women’s health, and victim advocacy this is a very interesting read. The author did a great job with the research for this book and provides a lengthy list of sources cited at the end of the book. Readers are taken back in time to the early 1970’s, when a rape kit was just first being imagined, to the present where it is now used routinely in every US hospital. It is an in depth look at the history of the rape kit, the many hurdles inventors, advocates, and victims/survivors faced, as well as the politics that affected implementation and change. Pay attention to trigger warnings if you choose to pick this one up. Overall, this was a very interesting read and I learned a lot…albeit a bit heavy on the political side of things.