I’m going to start with the fact that I had really really high hopes for this book. Memoir mixed with true crime is the perfect combination of two of my favorite genres. That being said, I did not finish this book. The storyline was very hard to follow due to there being no real order to how Marty’s story was told. It was told in micro snippets with a lot of personal, almost trauma porn surrounding it. I really wanted to like it, but I didn’t.

The Secret History of the Rape Kit: A True Crime Story is an expanded version of Pagan Kennedy’s incredible NYT article from 2020. It centers mostly around Marty Goddard, the woman who invented the rape kit, despite having credit stolen, and progress impeded, by men.

Through Kennedy’s research, we learn Goddard’s troubled life, her tenacity, and the indelible impact she left on the world. Kennedy, a survivor of sexual assault, brings her own story into the book, and as a reader, I appreciated how invested she was in bringing Goddard’s work to light.

There is also a lot about the politics of rape, and how the system seems set up to silence victims, and pretend that sexual assault is not a problem (or at least one a patriarchal society refuses to acknowledge).

I especially loved reading about Malimah Johnson’s work with SASHA, and creating a space for African American women to determine their own healing following sexual assault, and continue to feel safe in the world. Antya Waegemann’s work on updated the rape kit for a digital world is also incredibly interesting.

This is an engaging, empowering book. We need more Marty Goddards in the world; there is so much more work to do to ensure all women feel safe, respected, and heard.

This book is so so good and informative! I really loved hearing the story of how the author came by all the information, as well as learning the actual story of such an important invention. I learned a lot from reading this book and would definitely recommend it!

This book is extremely insightful yet tragic at the same time. I was on the fence with wanting to read this book, but it opened my eyes on this topic.

This book does a good job of telling the story of the invention of the rape kit while providing context of the world in which it was created and distributed in. The author paints clear pictures of the police, college campuses, racial climate and gender politics at the time of its creation. It all feels so long ago, but the scary thing is it’s not, and it’s as relevant as ever right now. The author discusses the implications of the rape kit today, where we’re at and the research, patterns and victim experiences emerging today.

The organization of the book was a little confusing to me but I appreciated the inclusion of much of the information. I don’t think this is really a true crime, as much as the author’s discovery of a topic. But glad I read it.

This book was a painful and eye-opening look at something our justice system and society is really lacking awareness of. Pagan Kennedy does an amazing job of putting so much crucial information into a small number of pages. It is effective and leaves the reader with a feeling of “how can we do better?” I am walking away from this book with an extreme desire to be more involved, as someone else’s willingness to help others created this decades long push to become a better educated society when it comes to rape, and hold people accountable for their actions. This is one I won’t forget.

i'd give this book a solid 3.5 It's a short, but thorough read, delving into the background of Marty Goddard - creator of the rape kit.

Kennedy gives historical background/precedent/logic on the whys of it being patended and named after a Chicago policeMAN and follows Marty until the very end.

I did find myself questioning some of the background information/framing that was written in to set up the 'why' of something relevant to Goddard or the rape kit creation as I was reading it. It always made sense when the point was made, but it was usually something off topic enough to take me out of the book for a moment.

Thanks to Net Galley, author, & publisher for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you for NetGalley, Knopf, Pantheon, Vintage, & Anchor and the author, Pagan Kennedy, for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review

I learned SO much for this book. Not only did this teach me about Marty & the history of the rape kit, but there was information sprinkled in about women’s injustices, female & black inventors, witch trials, the creation of menstruation products, Chicago PD history, and more. It even helped me to understand and navigate some of the trauma I have, putting words to it that I hadn’t before.

While at times it did seem to lean on more “feelings & thoughts” about Marty, there was plenty of cited information from previous interviews and friends and family that knew her.

I feel for Marty, the life she lived, the hardships she endured and I thank her for the contributions she made to our world and the lives she impacted. I hope that this book helps her get the recognition she deserves.

I’ve already recommended this book to so many people and a few have already preordered it. I’m excited to see its impact once published.

This was a difficult read, it's going to be a difficult book to review and a difficult book to rate.

Kennedy has done some great research in uncovering the history of the rape kit and investigating the life of its inventor, Marty Goddard. It’s an important, forgotten, obscured story that deserves to be told. But I had a difficult time with the author, Kennedy and her voice in the book. It’s a hybrid memoir-biography, with the biography covering a woman Kennedy has never met, and the memoir covering her own sexual trauma. For me, there was more about Kennedy than I needed or wanted to hear. There are several graphic assault scenes described in the book, from Kennedy’s own experiences to cases that are covered and even Goddard’s own assault that she confided with friends about. From reading the biography, I don’t think Goddard would have been comfortable with her rape being publicized, let alone described in graphic detail. I can understand how parts of these accounts are essential – Goddard’s rape had a huge effect on her life, for example, but learning exactly how she was assaulted seems at best unnecessary and at worst exploitative.
I expected to love this book, and instead I’m left thinking more about the ethics of what Kennedy has written.

Thanks to NetGalley and Vintage Books for the advanced reader copy.

The only thing that kept me from devouring this book in one day was needing to go to sleep in order to go to work the next morning. While the topic is difficult (with some devastating stories of women's sexual trauma), the writing was compelling and hearing about Marty Goddard, the until now unsung hero of creating the rape kit, gave me insight into a part of history that I knew nothing about.

The captivating investigation of "The Secret History of the Rape Kit" by Pagan Kennedy reveals the story of Marty Goddard, a courageous and enigmatic woman who revolutionized forensic evidence collection for rape cases.

In the early 1970s, volunteering at a crisis hotline, Marty witnessed a heartbreaking reality: countless sexual assault survivors, especially young girls, grappling with shame and a justice system that failed them. Fueled by a desire to make a difference, Marty embarked on a mission to transform how these crimes were investigated. By the decade's end, she had not only championed for better treatment of survivors but also spearheaded the creation of the rape kit. This groundbreaking forensic tool would become a cornerstone of rape investigations nationwide.

However, Marty allowed another to take credit for her invention despite her unwavering dedication to women's rights. Years later, journalist Pagan Kennedy embarks on a quest to unearth the truth about Marty and her pivotal contribution. This journey not only sheds light on Marty's mysterious disappearance but also delves into the complex history of forensic science in America.

"The Secret History of the Rape Kit" transcends a true crime story. It's a powerful call to action.
Kennedy masterfully weaves together two compelling narratives: Marty's fight for justice and Kennedy's own investigation. The book shines a light on the previously untold story of a woman who made a significant contribution to law enforcement, only to be forgotten. Kennedy's insightful and empathetic writing explores the historical context of sexual assault and forensics, reminding us of the ongoing struggle for better treatment of survivors and the crucial role of forensic evidence in securing justice. This is a must-read for anyone interested in social justice, women's history, or the fascinating world of forensics.

I have read Pagan Kennedy's work for decades now but I was surprised by how much about her own life she put into the book. I know she does write a lot of personal essays and her experiences did relate but I was hoping for a little bit more of a straight history and story of Marty Goddard. There is a real trend lately of blending what I would think of as a memoir and history and I don't feel like it works most of the time. The book was fine but she is such a great researcher, I wish she had divided the work into two books, a memoir, and a history. I felt like combining the two diminished both. I think she was too close to the subject matter to write about it objectively which is understandable but also made it hard to read and know what part of the history was true--she admits she has a lot of bias.

Well-written book. Well-researched, provides cross-categorical insights and learnings, and great pacing.

The in-depth research the author found on the actual history of the invention of the rape kit was fascinating and intriguing. I admire Pagan Kennedy for having the courage to share her own experiences with the very sensitive subject matter she covers in her book. A great book to share for all who have been sexually assaulted to help heal and for everyone else to learn how not to be dismissive of the assaulted and to look outside of themselves.

An important history for women everywhere. It's not just about this kit and its actual inventor but also about how women have been treated medically, past and present. It's sad, even horrifying in places, but essential reading if we want things to improve. I liked the story about looking for this "vanished" woman as a frame - it helped me move along through the book to the end.

Marty Goddard, your righteous anger combusted into a heroic blaze, and we should all be thankful for your light.

What a fascinating dual narrative- the history of the rape kit, as well as the story of its long-forgotten inventor. For sure, you need go into this understanding it's about both things, Marty AND the kit. If you're expecting more of one rather than the other, you're going to feel short-changed. I did sometimes hunger for more about Marty, then flip to wanting more about the rape kit's history. But, I was ultimately very satisfied with what Pagan Kennedy delivered in less than 300 pages.

Heavy trigger warnings on this one (I mean, look at the title); but when you're ready for it, be prepared to scream in frustration and cheer in awed jubilation.

3.50/5 rounded down to 3/5 stars.

Thank you NetGalley and Knopf, Pantheon, Vintage, and Anchor Publishing for the advance reader's copy.

This was a fascinating book from start to finish. Little did I know that the rape kit that is used to empower survivors has such a fascinating history. It is mind-boggling that Marty Goddard was able to pull off what she did considering this was the 1970's where it was a man's world no matter where you turned. Pagan Kennedy emphasized how this technology was created to better the treatment of those who reported sexual assault was extraordinary as Marty Goddard's kit pre-dated DNA forensics and it allowed the readers to see who Marty was as a person.

My major criticism of this book is when Pagan started turning away from unsupported evidence and began making inferences but made them seem as fact with how it was written with certain aspects of Marty's life (the miniature houses section). I felt as though there needed to be more of an emphasis during these sections that this was Pagan's beliefs and assumptions. Another point in the book that did not sit right with me was the wording and approach that Pagan took with Marty's mental health. It felt strange to read how delicate and purposeful the writing was during this whole book when it came to sexual assault and rape, but it seems to just steamroll over the complexities of Marty's mental health. I am hoping that since this book is set to be released in January 2025, there is time to take a look at these points in the book and make changes if the author sees fit to do so.

Fascinating and infuriating! Lots of great information and I learned a lot. The only reason i didn’t give it 5 stars was because the story jumped around a lot in a way that didn’t make much sense to me personally. Beautiful writing though. Highly recommend if you’d like to educate yourself while becoming enraged at all the injustices.

3.5/5 stars. The subject matter of 'The Secret History of the Rape Kit' was incredibly interesting - and important. Like many other innovations, the rape kit's invention is often credited to a man; however, it was really a woman who saw a problem and sought to fix it. And, once the rape kit was implemented, still other problems persisted leading subsequent trailblazers to seek out additional solutions like at-home rape kits.

While, again, the subject matter of this book was interesting, I thought the writing of this book lacked a clear trajectory. Kennedy makes it clear that her inspiration for this book was Marty Goddard, the true inventor of the rape kit, but only focuses in on Marty about 60% of the time. It seems that, towards the latter half of the book, once we move further along in history to subsequent rape kits and sexual assault victim advocacy, the book similarly moves away from Marty Goddard. While this made sense chronologically, Kennedy makes clear attempts to draw the reader back to Marty, which - in my opinion - missed its mark. The saving grace to this mild disorganization was that the book itself is rather short, allowing further disorganization to be avoided.

Overall, I did enjoy this book and was able to get through it fairly quickly, which is sometimes not the case with dense history/non-fiction books. I would recommend it to other readers who enjoy non-fictions, but would caution them that, because this is a rather niche section of history that is still riddled with challenges, the scope of this book is rather narrow. and can sometimes feel repetitive.

This book is a MUST read - it is not only the history of the rape kit, but also the history of women and treatment of said women in the mid 20th century. Being a Forensic Scientist I was very intrigued to read this from the forensic standpoint, but this book brought forth so much more.