"Every Contact Leaves a Trace' by Jo Ward is a memoir of her time from entering the world of forensic investigation and how she became a crime scene investigator.

"Jo Ward is part of a generation of pioneering women who lead forensic investigation in the UK. Her investigations into high-profile crimes – murder, domestic killings, infanticide, and rape – have been the subject of a BBC Two television documentary, Forensics – the Real CSI."

This memoir is wrote with honesty about how it was like to enter and train in this profession and the impact it had not just on her but also her personal life.

A fascinating and well written tale and not for the light hearted! Lots of details of what it's like to forensically investigate a crime scene and the terrible scenes that Jo has come across.

Thanks to the author, publisher and NetGalley in allowing me to read in return for a review.

If you like true crime this is a good one for you to read. It is fast paced and lays out the crime well.

Thank you, NetGalley and Quarto Publishing Group – White Lion | Aurum books for a free copy for review. This was a fascinating look a CSI's real job, as to what is portrayed on television. This book intersperses Jo Ward's career stories with her home and family life. Jo Ward explains in detail about putting on PPE (personal protective equipment) prior to entering homes to assess dead bodies and needing to shower (sometimes multiple times) so others and family members wouldn't know the stench you were surrounded with earlier that day. The author describes her first autopsy. It's not all fun and games and the CSI in not involved in the arrests like seen in the shows.

An informative and intriguing book about forensic and people who work in this fascinating field.
Well researched and easy to follow
Recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher for this ARC, all opinions are mine

Jo Ward shares her impressive career story in this memoir. She writes from the heart, telling of difficult health concerns, challenging cases and the changing environment within which she works. The cases that touched her so deeply are respectfully revealed to the reader. Informative and uniquely written with compassion. Good book.

A memoir from Jo Ward of BBC’s 'Forensics – the Real CSI' a programme I am yet to watch, therefore, I read this with no preconceived ideas about the author. I was intrigued to read about their experiences seeing as, if things had been different, I would have loved to work in an adjacent forensic field as a Forensic Archaeologist.

I thought it was a really interesting read offering insight into both how CSIs carry out their jobs in the real world as opposed to the very glamourised depiction on TV & film, & the aftermath of being exposed to the very worst of human nature day after day. Ward is unflinchingly honest about the difficulties in balancing work & family life, & in dealing with PTSD. It's a vital aspect of the job & yet as Ward writes, cutbacks mean that this side of things is often not given the attention it needs. I would recommend this to anyone interested in learning more about working in forensic science.

My thanks to NetGalley & publishers, Quarto Publishing Group/White Lion/Aurum, for the opportunity to read an ARC.

I guess that I am in the minority in that I did not enjoy this book much. Perhaps it was a cultural divide from my mid-western American upbringing compared to the author's English culture. Perhaps it was just because I found the book to be a bit "triggering", forcing me to think back to some of the horrible scenes I witnessed in my law enforcement career. Whatever it was, the book just was not for me. I am not going to post this review on any of my usual review sites, as I am aware that this is my own personal problem, and not the fault of the author. I wish her the best of luck going forward.

Every contact with crime leaves a trace for the forensic investigator, and every crime has an impact on her, too. - Jo Ward

Without a doubt we have all seen the people in white, sometimes blue in the background of a crime scene, be it a news report on a murder or a tv crime show. They are in head to toe PPE and they are seen crawling over a crime scene like ants. These are the forensic investigators!

Without them… most crimes would not and could not be solved.

Every Contact Leaves a Trace by Jo Ward takes the reader beyond the ‘crime scene do not cross’ tape and gives them an insight into the work behind the scenes that goes into solving crimes.

A forensic investigator herself, Jo Ward humanises these people, giving the reader a look into the work life balance of an unforgiving career. From the endeavours to raising a family, while climbing up the corporate ladder, to suffering from post traumatic stress.

She is honest with the fact, while she loves what she does there has been a toll on her mental and physical health and at times her home life.

I feel you don’t have to be a true crime buff to enjoy this one. If you enjoy watching crime shows, especially if those shows are forensically based, then this book is for you!

For all those people who watch CSI and want to be a Crime Scene Investigator this is the book you need to read. It's not all glamour and doing arrests. You actually do not participate in arrests. That always bugged me when watching those shows. But that makes good tv.

This book tells Jo Ward's history and experience in the career that she loves. It is sometimes not where you want to be but someone has to do it. I'd rather someone that really cares be that person.

Ms. Ward is involved in law enforcement back before many women were and she handles it well. She explains that sometimes we will laugh or joke at something that is definitely not funny but that we will go nuts quicker if we don't expel some of the trauma.
She also describes suffering from PTSD because of the job she loves. It used to be hush hush and I'm glad it is FINALLY getting talked about. Most of us are on antidepressants just to survive.

3.5 stars

Booksource: Netgalley in exchange for review.

In Every Contact Leaves a Trace, Jo Ward shares her experience as a forensic investigator. She talks about tough cases he dealt with and how she balanced her home life with the job. She also talks about where she says the future of forensics and how it is vitally important in solving crimes.

I liked this book but I found that it got a little long in the end. I enjoyed hearing Ward talk about her home life and I think it brought a personal touch to the book. I felt that the home life aspect took a backseat about 60% of the way through and then the reader hears very little about her children. I also think the cases could have been woven in a little better because some of them seemed just randomly flung in and out of place. I ended up skimming the last chapter because it did nothing for the story. Overall, an interesting read but it could have used a bit more editing.

This book was one that I couldn’t put down! Very interesting and detailed!
The forensics field is very wide and fascinating! CSI Jo shows us a part of his profession and the stress that came with it. It is a very good book and highly recommended.

Every Contact Leaves a Trace by Jo Ward offers true-crime enthusiasts the chance to see what a career in the field is like behind the glimpses we see in documentaries and podcasts.

Ward details her long career as a forensic investigator and doesn't hold back. The haunting experiences she shares will stay with you, and go beyond being just a mystery to solve.

Anyone who is interested in true crime, criminal investigating or forensics would enjoy this memoir and educational reading experience.

Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this eARC.

In the realm of true crime literature, Jo Ward’s “Every Contact Leaves a Trace” emerges as a compelling memoir that delves deep into the psyche of a seasoned crime scene investigator. Ward, with her extensive experience of nearly twenty-six years, invites readers into the meticulous world of forensic science—a domain where the smallest detail can unravel the most complex of mysteries.

The book’s title is a nod to the principle that underpins all forensic science: Locard’s Exchange Principle, which asserts that every perpetrator of a crime will bring something into the crime scene and leave with something from it. Ward’s narrative is a testament to this theory, as she meticulously recounts the traces left behind that have led to groundbreaking revelations in high-profile cases.

Ward’s prose is unflinchingly honest and vivid, sparing no detail in her descriptions of crime scenes. Yet, it is her humanistic approach that truly sets this memoir apart. She does not shy away from the emotional toll her profession takes, offering a rare glimpse into how one copes with the aftermath of confronting humanity’s darkest facets.

The memoir is both a chronicle of cases and a journey through Ward’s personal battles, including her fight against breast cancer. Her resilience in the face of adversity—both professional and personal—adds a layer of depth to her story, making it not just a book about crime scene investigation, but also about the indomitable human spirit.

“Every Contact Leaves a Trace” is a must-read for aficionados of the genre. It stands out for its authenticity, its educational value, and its profound respect for the pursuit of justice. Ward’s narrative is a tribute to all forensic investigators who work tirelessly behind the scenes, often at great personal cost, to ensure that no contact, no trace, is ever overlooked.

4 ⭐️

A deep memoir of a forensic scientist/investigator who shares her path as well as her struggles in this profession. I feel this book humanized these people to me, as they usually seem un impacted and detached from the very stressful and horrible reality they deal with. I appreciate the opportunity to dip my head into Jo Ward’s life, such a beautiful person who went through so much and shows her insane willpower.

Thank you to the author, publisher, editor and NetGalley for letting me enjoy this work and review it!

#EveryContactLeavesATrace #NetGalley

I received a free copy of, Every Contact Leaves a Trace, by Jo Ward, from the publisher and Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. Jo Ward has a fascinating job, she is a senior crime scene investigator. Being a women and a mom has not stopped Jo from doing what she always wanted to do. Crime scene investigation is not for the weak, blood, guts, body parts, any age. any sex. This was a very good read.

This book is so mind-blowing that I cannot believe that it is non-fiction. I absolutely love reading books about different professions, I am making my way through the vets, prison nurses, federal police and now someone in forensics. I have always found forensics fascinating but didn't know much past Abby Sciuto from NCIS.

This book was absolutely fascinating and it held my attention so much that I read it in one sitting. Not only is the book about Ward's professional but her personal life too and my god does she go through way too much for one person. I would love to watch the documentary that was being filmed featuring Ward while this book was being written.

I loved that Ward chose to detail her mental health issues that arose from her career, I also loved reading about the internal struggle that happens when you don't want to admit that something is wrong.

Really well written.

I received this book as an ARC from Netgalley but unfortunately it was archived before I had a chance to read it therefore I downloaded a free sample instead consisting of the opening chapters.

The name of the book instantly drew me in. I have a degree in applied science with forensics and my husband is a detective so this is an area very much of interest to me and I am very familiar with the underpinning principle of forensics.
I instantly loved the authors easy to read style of narrative and her overarching honestly on all levels, both personal and professional. The subject was very familiar and I felt myself nodding along in recognition of her thoughts and fears when embarking on her journey but also I found her perspective interesting to compare with my own experiences.
The opening chapters already have me hooked and I can see by the chapter breakdowns that she will cover the wide range of forensic angles. I would definitely recommend this based on what I read as having appeal both to the initiated and uninitiated reader. I’m kicking myself that I missed out on the whole book so may well seek it out after publication date.

This was a really fun book to read just before bed. I'd get little chapters in, learning about how Ward experienced her job, one I'd always felt curious about. The writing is clear and consistent, though not entirely sophisticated (as in literature). I especially liked the vignettes of scenes, which will appeal to the true crime aficionados in the audience.

An incredibly well written book, on a delicate subject. The author manages to write about really quite horrible things that have sadly happened to people with care and sensitivty. Whilst there are descriptions of things that have happened, it's not ghoulish, and the bigger focus is directed towards how crime scene investigators collect evidence to hopefully his the victims justice.

The book also goes into quite a lot of detail of the authors life, and provides an insight on how this affects people who see truly awful things as part of their job. It must be hard to do a job that seems to be equal parts fascinating and disturbing.

A must read for anyone who has ever watched police tv shows and wondered if it's like that in real life.

Brilliant! Truly enjoyed reading this. From the writing style, to shared events, this book sucked me in! I learned new things and really appreciated this book! Thanks so much for allowing me to read and review!