History has always been my favorite topic so when I saw this book I had to read it. The Secret History of the Rape Kit - A True Crime Story by Pagan Kennedy was quite an eye opener. The author did extensive research trying to find the origin of the rape kit. Her investigation led her to a Chicago police Sargent, Louis Vitullo, but she became suspicious because she knew the Chicago police department was well known for its violent behavior toward suspects and victims, as well, of crimes.
After further digging she uncovered the name Martha “Marty” Goddard and set out on a quest to find her. Vitullo at this point had died so Pagan wanted interview Goddard to find out how the rape kit came to be.
The story reveals how Goddard decided a rape kit was a necessity in determining whether a rape took place and possibly finding the perpetrator. The challenges that Goddard faced were incredible but she never gave up. I Pagan had her share of challenges also. I don’t want to reveal too much. The book is not long and is filled with an amazing amount of information from the 70’s until the book was written. It’s a very interesting account of the little known origin of the rape kit used today to help the victims. I applaud Pagan and her temerity to take on a topic such as this.

A highly significant work of investigative journalism, feminism, and a tragic personal recounting.

This is a nonfiction memoir/biography extended from an NYT article about Marty Goddard, the indisputable inventor of the rape kit, who kickstarted the evidence collection for sexual assault cases. Her work was attributed to a male inventor, Vitullo, for decades. The book is well-researched, albeit with gaps Kennedy fills in fancifully (the true crime nonfiction aficionado may not like how personal this book gets since Kennedy also includes graphic details of her own trauma, which were difficult to read). Still, this book is incredibly important and it definitely educated me about the state of affairs behind the forensic aspect of sexual assault cases.

Thank you to Netgalley and Knopf, Pantheon, Vintage, and Anchor publishing for a copy of the ARC in exchange for an honest review!

“The Secret History of the Rape Kit: A True Crime Story” by Pagan Kennedy
Reviewed by Jim Traxler

If I were simply browsing through a list of new books, looking for something of interest, I have to confess that a book with the title, “The Secret History of the Rape Kit: A True Crime Story,” would not draw much attention for me. But since the book was provided to me for review by NetGalley, I waded into it. To my great surprise, it became a page-turner. Imagine a scenario where a social worker named Marty Goddard with no medical or forensic expertise was able to design a kit for medical workers to gather forensic evidence from someone who had been raped.

In her work with the poor people in Chicago, she had discovered that rapists were rarely caught and prosecuted. She couldn’t understand why and barged into the Chicago police department to find out why. What she discovered was there was a general attitude among policemen at the time that no one actually rapes women, they just got what they deserved. So law enforcement regarded rape not to be a serious crime. Furthermore, there were no procedures in Emergency Rooms to gather evidence of rape, and the ER staff were often just too busy to take the time to do so.

Long (and very interesting) story short, she designed a kit and took it to a highly regarded Chicago police crime lab analyst named Louis Vitullo, who adopted and approved it, which became known as the “Vitullo Kit.” So the female inventor of the kit got no credit for this ultimately life-changing invention. Why? Ms. Goddard allowed that to happen in order for the kit to be accepted by male-dominated police departments, since it had a respected male police officer’s name on it.

The book is much more than the history of the rape kit. The author Pagan Kennedy, after learning of Goddard’s role in the development of the kit, goes looking for her. After achieving success against all odds in getting hospitals and law enforcement to use the rape kits, Goddard disappears from view, and the story becomes one of tracing her down.

That story is just as interesting as the rape kit story. In the process of trying to find Goddard, Kennedy learns that Goddard herself had been the victim of sexual assault. Furthermore, we learn that Kennedy had also been a victim of sexual assault, both as a child and as an adult. So the search for Goddard became a personal memoir of the author’s own struggles as a victim and survivor of rape.

These two interwoven stories are heart-wrenching tales of what women went through and the inability of society to recognize and reform itself. But thankfully, with the acceptance of the rape kit, paired later with the ability to use DNA samples to identify and arrest sexual predators, the current rate of unsolved rape cases is much lower. It also means that there is awareness that rapists are no longer likely to escape punishment. However, the stigma of reporting sexual assaults still remains today, even after the “me-too” movement. And pockets of misogyny still reside in police and sheriff departments everywhere.

This is a well-written saga, a real “true crime story.” I recommend it to all for a better understanding of the woman who gave rape victims a chance for justice.

Oh man, this book bothered me. The author starts off by talking about how rape kits are the greatest thing since sliced bread, since they collect DNA evidence that helps to arrest and convict rapists. But I’ve had a rape kit done on me, and you know what? It’s a painful and humiliating experience. And I ended up never using it, because even with the kit, the odds of the man who raped me being punished were minuscule. I’m sure there are many other survivors who were encouraged to have a rape kit done, but ultimately decided not to press charges, which renders it useless. Perhaps the author addressed these issues at the end, but I was too angry to get past the 50% mark. This was a DNF for me.

As I read this book, I was already composing this review in my head (a good sign). The Secret History of the Rape Kit by Pagan Kennedy connects with a portion of my life that was rewarding and also what burned me out from social work for a long long time. I worked and volunteered as a Sexual Assault Center advocate for several years and developed friendships with Sexual Assault Nurse Examiners (SANE). Never once did I realize or think about the history of the rape kit they were using to collect and gather evidence. I sat with survivors in the hospital, at the police stations, at schools, and took for granted the process that was in place in our area, and even in our area in the 2000s, we still had to encounter some of the issues Marty Goddard ran into.

I am amazed at Marty Goddard's tenacity and her maneuvering to get the rape kit to where it is today. It's not surprising though to see that she was essentially erased from the history. Pagan Kennedy does a great job at providing the context and why Marty had to do things the way she did to get rape kits to be the standard across the country. I can understand why she disappeared from her life when things were taking off. The world of being an advocate for those who are the victims of domestic violence and sexual assault is dark. Especially for someone who maybe had not healed from their own assault, it is not a job you leave at the door.

Not only is Kennedy shedding light on another overlooked woman, but she does so in such a way that the non-fiction is engaging and riveting. It keeps the reader engaged and invested in Marty and what happened to her. I had no clue that Playboy had an integral part in the creation of the rape kit. It was also great (and frustrating) to hear about recent developments in at home rape kits. When we were in the hospitals it could be hours for an exam. And trust me, you wanted to wait for a SANE nurse in our area. They were highly trained, empathetic, and the most creative in finding DNA evidence in as non-invasive ways as possible. I have to keep things from that time confidential, but there is always one story that I come back to regarding a nurse who through thinking things through, found DNA several days and several showers after the assault. Being able to complete one at home while under the instruction of a nurse... that is game changing. Rape is completely under reported, and anything that can be done to make it easier to report and gather evidence is huge.

I also appreciated that Kennedy brought up the revolution that occurred in DNA that resulted in the testing of the backlogs of rape kits across the country. The development of the rape kit by Goddard and her persistence in getting it adopted across the country led to serial predators getting caught and a change in thinking from outdated ideas of what a predator was. Unfortunately, even today there is still a backlog, and End the Backlog is an organization that I have wholeheartedly supported for years. I really hope that with this book, more people become aware of Marty's story and the stories of the people whose lives she has helped get justice for. Her story is so important and has been overshadowed by the men she had to convince that the kit was worthwhile and would help their cases.

This is not endorsed by or noted by the book or author, but if you would like to donate or learn more about End the Backlog, feel free to visit https://www.endthebacklog.org/.

Please be advised I received an Advance Readers Copy (ARC) from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

A fascinating look at the secret history of the rape kit and the uncredited woman who created the kit - Martha Goddard. The author details her experience trying to track down Martha and piece together the history of the rape kit. The author describes her own experience with sexual assault (so trigger warnings for that as there are details given), and although I have seen criticism of this, I think it’s important in understanding the author’s motivation and persistence in getting to the bottom of the history of the rape kit.

This is the type of non fiction that mixes facts and education with the author’s personal anecdotes and experiences. I personally prefer this type of non fiction as it makes it more interesting and personable. I learned so much from this about the history of the rape kit, how it was created, what it included, how it was implemented, who funded it, etc. It also details the criticisms and barriers of getting the rape kit to be used as standard practice.

Overall, an educational and heartfelt look into the history of the rape kit.

Thank you to Netgalley and Vintage Books for an advance copy in exchange for an honest review.

Back in the 1970’s when much of society, including police officers, weren’t sure sexual assault was actually a crime – or how to prove it if it was, Martha Goddard invented the rape kit. However, in true – you can get more accomplished if you don’t care who gets the credit- form, she allowed a Chicago police sergeant named Louis Vitullo to take credit for it.

She then pushed for acceptance – even getting a grant from Playboy to pilot her program. Once DNA was discovered as an evidence tool in the 1980’s the rape kit was instrumental in securing convictions – and exonerating the wrongly accused.
It also proved that some serial rapist profiling theories were inaccurate, and that rape was often a crime of opportunity rather than targeted at specific women or enacted in always the same way.
However, the rape kit was only successful in identifying rapists when it was used and there were – and still are – problems with kits languishing in police warehouses untested and unimplemented in solving these crimes.
The inventor, herself, declined after her success in marketing the kit. She had been abused as a child and raped on vacation in the late 1970’s and she eventually succumbed to mental illness.
We all owe a great debt of gratitude to Margaret Goddard for believing sexual assault is a crime that can be solved as well as to Pagan Kennedy for telling her story.

Incredible work of correcting and rewriting a long-held origin story. The reader gets a factual explanation of the creation of such a necessary tool as well as a look at what survivors were (and still are) facing when reporting a sexual assault. Wonderful research and notes and captivating storytelling.

I am not sure what to think when it comes to Marty. It's kind of a shame and sad that we are left with these second hand, at times conflicting, accounts about her life and legacy. I finished this book kind of dissatisfied but you cant fault the author for not being able to find unknowable information and keeping this book firmly in nonfiction.

I wasn't thinking I would like this as much as I did. I put off reading it for months because of the subject matter, but I learned a lot and frankly was not surprised by any of it. Oh a man stole a woman's idea, took credit for it, and by all accounts, is a total a hole? Said woman continued making a difference for women only to run herself in the ground and likely suffered not only trauma in her own right, but secondary trauma from hearing about assault after assault and assault because it will never end! This is a complete oversimplification of the situation but there it is.

I received an e-arc from Netgalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

The roller coasters this book has taken me through are plentiful. This story had me hopeful then mournful by the next chapter. Most notably, it made me angry that it took so many years for the true history to be told. A very important read for both historical and innovative fans.

It provides good history on why it came about to be and why the rape kit should be used. I loved the information that it did give and for anyone is looking for more information for it, it is a good book to have around.

It is really hard to put a rating on a book about rape but the content of this book is about so much more than this violent act. It’s about the courageous effort of one woman; Marty Goddard. This deep dive into how the rape kit came into existence and who ultimately deserves the credit is what makes this book so fascinating. Another thing that captivated me was how recently the use of the rape kit came into existence. Also how sexual crimes particularly against woman have been relegated to being irrelevant or a desire to be shut down by law enforcement and society.

There’s so much to say about the information in this book so I will encourage everyone to check it out. It’s really packed with some very good information.

Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this eARC.

Pagan Kennedy’s “The Secret History of the Rape Kit” is a groundbreaking work of investigative journalism that uncovers the remarkable story of Marty Goddard, the woman who revolutionized forensic science and the fight against sexual assault. This true crime narrative is a chronicle of innovation and a poignant exploration of the personal and societal battles that shaped a pivotal tool in the quest for justice.

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, 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. Pagan Kennedy has crafted a powerful and enlightening narrative that honors Marty Goddard’s legacy and highlights the ongoing importance of her work. This book is both a tribute to a pioneering woman and a call to continue the fight for justice and support for survivors.

This book takes you on an intense mysterious journey. The Secret History of the Rape Kit, is informational intriguing and shocking.
There is heavy content in these pages and the detective outlook the author wrote when detailing the experience. This narrative was very interesting and kept you captivating, because you wanted to find out the next step. I found this whole revolution of one woman who wanted to change society for the benefit of helping women fight their oppressors.

I received an ARC of this book and this is my honest review.

Thank you to the publisher for providing me with an e-ARC of this book. I love nonfiction books about niche topics such as this. I had briefly heard about Goddard but wasn't super familiar with her/her life and certainly not the ins and outs of the rape kit. The author clearly spent a lot of time doing her research and it was frustrating/fascinating to read about the hurdles Goddard went through and how she wasn't even given credit until relatively recently. At points, I did feel the book went off on some tangents about things that were somewhat related to the main topic and I started to skim over those parts as the book went on. Still, it was a quick read and gave me more knowledge about this. I would read another book from the author.

The rape kit was something that we as a society needed to help investigate and hold rapists accountable for their actions. Learning how the kit came to be was such an interesting read. I love how well researched and presented the book was. The author was good at making sure we understood everything and they didn't over explain.

Very well researched and written in a way that keeps a difficult topic readable. At a time when so much is happening to reverse progress in rights women in my generation (late 30s) take for granted, books like this that bring to light easy/basic human rights and responsibilities to protect that happened within our mothers lifetime are so important to share to the masses.

The invention of the rape kit was something that we needed in order to hold rapists accountable. This is an interesting and difficult subject, but such an important one.

Marty Goddard advocated for all victims rights and invented the rape kit. We learn about her story/journey in this trues story.
It was incredible and empowering to learn about how these victims were advocated for by so many other women.
The book was enjoyable and felt like a quick read.
The order of the story felt a bit disorganized and clunky.

Thank you to NetGalley, the author and the publisher for the eARC.

I am so glad I decided to read this book, it was well written and author did an amazing job going through details without making it boring.

This book was another reminder how women and poc were forced to give away their ideas, discoveries, inventions to white men because that’s was the only way things happened back then. I never want to hear it again that men invented most things. The actual statement is men stole most invention ideas.

The day I started reading this book, was the day I had an argument with a man over how men changed the world with their inventions😭 girl if only you knew.

Overall, I’m so glad I decided to read this book. Thank you once again.

A very well written, and important book! It was easy to follow and understand and it gave me new information I wasn't aware of before.