Cause of Death

Electronic book text

Memoirs of a Home Office Pathologist

Dr Geoffrey Garrett was for over 30 years a Home Office pathologist. This is his personal memoir, in conjunction with crime journalist Andrew Nott, of many infamous, unusual and heartbreaking cases and a fascinating history of his professional life, giving a unique insight into a pathologist's work.

Beginning with a no-holds-barred account of the basic methodology of a post-mortem examination, the book chronicles many memorable cases, including:

The discovery of a preserved body on the Yorkshire moors later identified as the first victim of the Moors Murderers

The murders of three policemen plus the apprehension of a murderer who turned out to be a policeman's son

An examination of sex crimes

The Moss: a seminal piece on Manchester's 'Bronx' - Dr Garrett reveals life in the ghetto, the drug gangs and how they operate

How a man's face, burned beyond recognition, was reconstructed to help solve a murder

Plus examples of many other baffling crimes which were resolved on the pathologist's table.