Really fascinating. A field I’d never really thought of, and the effects of a lifetime within it. Definitely recommend - it’s not at all mawkish but very illuminating

An absolutely fantastic book! I always wanted to be a forensic pathologist growing up however I gave up that dream as it's a very very difficult to field to get into nowadays - something which is highlighted towards the end of this book. This really shows you the ins and out of being a pathologist - the evryday working life and the emotinoal and mental effect it has on the pathologist and their family. It was such a fascinating read and is well worth picking up!

The Unnatural Causes by Dr Richard Shepherd is such an interesting book. Dr Shepherd is a forensic pathologist, and he estimates that during his long career (35 years), he conducted 23,00 post-mortem examinations, from mass killings like the 7/7 terror attacks in London in 2005 to some of the most disturbing tragedies that occurred in the past few decades, like the investigation of the murders of Harold Shipman and the death of Stephen Lawrence, the 18-year-old who was stabbed to death at a bus stop in one of the most notorious racially motivated attacks in south London, in 1993.

In this memoir Dr Richard Shepherd describes the complicated cased he worked on and hard training and life-long commitment required by a forensic pathologist. Forensic pathology practice requires up-to-date knowledge of medical practice, the forensic sciences and sound knowledge in anatomical pathology. Forensic pathologists have a critical role in death investigation, they don’t just examine the body of the deceased to define the cause of death, but also the factors contributing to death and assist in the reconstruction of the circumstances in which the death occurred. It requires knowledge of relevant areas of the law as a forensic scientist help lawyers, judges, and juries in delivering justice by providing results as well as knowledge of the ethical issues of forensic medical practice. In a way, a forensic pathologist can be seen as an effective advocate on behalf of the deceased.

As a doctor, Richard Shepherd, sought truth through facts. “Truth,” he says, “is based upon knowledge. So, of course, it can be compromised by incomplete knowledge.” As a pathologist he was learning that truth could be directly affected by the choices he made, by how many facts he chose to study. It was the first step in what was to become for him, a lifelong examination of the nature of truth. But truth is not always simple and singular. Truth can be different things when viewed from different viewpoints. Truth is not so easy to apply in practicality. “Tell the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth,” you swear when you appear in court. But the whole truth includes all the possible alternatives for a given situation as Dr Richard Shepherd states in his book. How should a forensic pathologist respond to a question asked by the prosecutor when truth includes all possible, probable, reasonably probable or only the most probable alternatives. I found the cases that included court testimonies very intriguing.

Together with the social and political implications of some of these cases, Dr Richard Shepherd describes the impact that his work brought to his personal and family life and although I would prefer less information about his family life, I found his description about his PTSD very interesting. Mental health is a serious problem and although stigma has eased considerably in the past few decades, acceptance is still farther that it should be. Mental health problems do not discriminate with regards to situation or status. Talking openly and honestly about the challenges of mental health, as Dr Shepherd does in this book, makes a lot of difference.

Really enjoyed this one. It's not my usual type of read but the author had such an effective, confident style, and I'd definitely look out for anything else they write next.

*** ARC provided by Netgalley via the publisher in exchange for an honest review. ***

I loved this book, thoroughly enjoyable and really insightful. I’m already a big fan of books of this genre with particular favourite being Stiff:The Curious Lives of Human Cadavers & This Is Going To Hurt.

As one of the country’s top forensic pathologist, Dr Richard Shepherd takes us through cases of interest in a profession which according to him is dying as technology & science develops. As you’d imagine, the toll of this work over many years has affected Richard and his family and the author doesn’t shy away from this.

I found myself desperate to read more and consequently flew through this book. It’s an intriguing read and one that I would absolutely recommend.

I absolutely loved this book. Completely fascinating and pacily written. I've already recommended it to anyone who makes the mistake of engaging me in conversation for more than a moment.

I felt this book tried to be This Is Going To Hurt - albeit with a twist. Sadly I just kept comparing the two and this book didn't come out on top!

3.5 stars.

Thanks to NetGalley for my ARC.

This is a really interesting and compelling read, but it is not for the faint-hearted. It deals with death in a graphic (but not gratuitous) way that some readers may find too much – if you aren’t comfortable with discussions of bodies, post-mortems, and disaster relief, then give this book a swerve. However, I found that throughout the entire book, Dr Shepherd’s enormous respect for the people he examined was always apparent, and in a way, I found it quite a comforting read. This is a man dedicated to the puzzle of the human body, and he seems like a very good human being.

The book loosely follows the course of Dr Shepherd’s career as a forensic pathologist, but veers off to expand on certain themes and cases as they become relevant to him. He worked on several high-profile murder cases and disasters, from helping to identify the real causes of death of Harold Shipman’s victims, to the rise of SIDS-related cases, to the relief effort after 9/11. The writing strikes an ideal balance; there’s enough detail to show how forensic pathology was crucial to each of these cases, but it’s never gory or sensationalist. I think that the focus on Shepherd’s own reactions to these cases, and his determination to help, keeps the story humble where it could feel exploitative.

I found the discussion of his own PTSD to be extremely moving – you rarely see vocal discussion of mental health in men of his generation. Dr Shepherd is frank and open about the ways in which his career has affected his life. I think this could open up some important discussions about mental health in medical and police circles. Still, he seems proud of the fact that he has been able to make such a difference to the world – his findings, though he works with those already dead, have helped to protect future victims so many times.

As I say, parts of this book require a strong stomach, and a detached attitude to death, but particularly for those who enjoy the true crime genre, this is a fascinating and touching read. I learned a lot about the science of forensic pathology, for sure, but I also feel like I got a window into the medical and legal background of the last few decades, and I have an enormous amount of respect for Dr Shepherd. I can’t say I “enjoyed” this book, but it was an excellent read.

Couldn’t put this book down! If you’ve read ‘This is going to hurt’ and liked it then you’ll really like this too. I found Unnatural Causes saddening but really interesting. Would definitely recommend. Thanks Netgalley and publisher Michael Joseph for the ARC.

As soon as I saw this title was available I couldn't help but request it. I am a huge true crime fan and I was intrigued to read Richard Shepherd's in-depth accounts. Well, this man has certainly seen more than I think one person could / should be able to handle.

This is the incredible account of all those 'big' cases we've seen in the media since the early 80s. At times Shepherd is incredibly graphic about what he has seen but it is never gratuitous. I feel I learned a great deal from this book and have certainly gained a deeper understanding of some of the processes that occur after death.

This is an unflinching narrative that I had to set aside at points because I felt I had to take a breath. It's not for the faint of heart, but my goodness it's compelling!

As soon as I got access to this book I had to read it. It gave a great insight into an interesting area I know nothing about. As soon as I picked it up I could not put it now! Have recommended to lots of family and friends

A completely fascinating book from Dr Richard Shepard a forensic pathologist who is someone who has completed over 23000 autopsies.
It was sympathetically and honestly written and gives an insight into what happens, how people are identified and what caused death in the event of no one really knowing.
He has covered many well known disasters and helped to get the truth known and people back to their families.
This book covers Dr Shepard’s life both in and out of the mortuary and how his occupation has effected him.
I have read so many novels where there is a forensic pathologist who helps the police find the killer but this book really explained what these people do and how they get the answers.
Interesting and unputdownable

Fascinating insight into the life of a forensic pathologist. This book had me gripped from the start, I found myself reading most of it in one sitting. I think most people, myself included, have a morbid curiosity about forensics and true crime, and because of this it was really hard to put the book down.

It was so interesting to see how pathologists determine causes of death and I really enjoyed learning about the science behind it, but also seeing how pathology works within the justice system when pathologists have to give evidence in court. I also liked how his personal life was intertwined within the different chapters, and following the effect his work had on his family life and, inevitably, his mental wellbeing.

I absolutely loved this book. It was so captivating and accessible and I will definitely be recommending. A very compelling memoir.

A very interesting and precise look into the world of pathology.
This book is part autobiography and part memoir and delves deeply into the career of one of the uks leading pathologists.

Dr shepherd has been involved in many of this countries famous disasters (Huntington, marchioness) and pulls no punches when discussing his work. This book may not appeal to those of a sensitive disposition!

The book is written in such a way as to appeal to laymen and professionals alike, never becoming bogged down in technical details and deals sensitively with grim subject matter.

An excellent addition to the true crime canon.

Dr Richard Shepherd has had a long and distinguished career in forensic pathology, and has worked on some of the UK's most famous cases including the notorious Harold Shipman, a doctor who killed many, perhaps hundreds of his patients. Dr Shepherd has also worked on the fallout from some of the worst terrorist attacks and disasters of the last thirty years.

I've always had an interest in forensic science and pathology is definitely one area that fascinates me. Whilst reading this book, I was struck by how different the actual job is to what is portrayed onscreen. (I was absolutely aghast, and yet not surprised, at the fact that pathology has been allowed to fall prey to the academic insistence on research above all and perhaps even cost-cutting. Very sad state of affairs. Especially when you consider what an important job it is.)

I felt that the author did a good job of balancing out the personal information alongside the work. The author was also extremely honest about his dealings with PTSD and having his competency questioned towards the end. Naturally I found the cases compelling reading, especially the ones about Diana, Princess of Wales, and the sinking of the Marchioness. They were detailed without being sensationalist, graphic without being overly gory. It is a fascinating book and one that I would recommend to anyone with an interest in this area.

Thanks to NetGalley and publishers, Penguin UK - Michael Joseph, for the opportunity to review an ARC.

He wrote this book as a response to mental breakdown in his sixties which he candidly discusses and you can see why. After so many trauma and horrific scenes he must have seen, to not have some sort of PTSD would have been unimaginable.
He starts with a frank account of his first massacre and the feelings that came as he dealt with the crime scene and the surrounding area. He darts back to the start of his interest in death and his heroes who inspired him and then heads in a very conversational way to tell of his cases and experiences.
He talks about his cases in a way that pulls you in. You follow him on the journey of wanting to know what happened and the thrill of discovery is every bit as great when judging a homicide as to natural causes.
The earlier stuff I found interesting from a historical and emotional perspective, how his work affects his family and the learning curve of various methodology. The history of pathology techniques was especially intriguing when he contrasted it to what would happen now.
The later chapters are when he talks about some of the cases that reached worldwide acclaim- Princess Diana, Louise Woodward, Harold Shipman, Stephen Lawrence and the Hillsborough Disaster.
Knowing that he worked on some of those cases and then reading his accounts of the logistics, backlash and procedural injustice was engrossing.
He openly criticizes the justice system in such a way that you can’t help but feel frustrated with the way things are done. He talks about Police putting pressure on forensic pathologists to skew their results a certain way to back up arrests and some being paid to lie on their reports and the effects it has on those who are doing their jobs to the best of their ability.
He doesn’t shy back from calling out prejudice and mistakes and that’s what makes it so gripping. He is honest and his only agenda is the truth.

An honest and insightful account by one of the UK’s leading pathologists. I love medical memoir books but found this one particularly engaging and moving. An equally good amount of personal emotions, scientific facts and insight into some of the UK’s most memorable and poignant deaths and disasters. Probably not always best to read late at night (which makes you relate to the author’s feelings even more) but a thoroughly good read.

Having never read an autobiography before I wasn't sure what to expect but the subject matter of this one drew me in and it did not disappoint. If you love watching programmes such as CSI , Silent Witness and others of that nature then this is a book for you
It delivers a great insight in to the life and times of a real life Quincy ( people of a certain age will know who I mean by that reference ).
For over forty years Dr Richard Shepherd has been a forensic pathologist working with various agencies to discover the nature and cause of death of the bodies that found themselves under his scalpel. The book charts his life from childhood, his fascination with the human body and his journey towards his goal of becoming a forensic pathologist.
His has worked on many major disasters over the years. This is the Dr that was one of the first on the scene at Hungerford, the Dr who helped with the many bodies from the Marchioness disaster on the Thames and the Dr who examined Princess Diana's body after her death.
His experience over the years has seen him through not only thousands of bodies but a change of procedures and the advent of new discoveries in the forensic world. These new procedures and discoveries including the discovery and use of DNA have changed the way all relevant agencies deal with the dead bodies that they come into contact with.
Whilst this book is full of detailed descriptions of various procedures it does not feel dry and dull to read quite the opposite in fact. The author has a way of writing those details that enthrall you and keep you involved rather than jumping over great chunks of text to see what the next page brings. His enthusiasm and love of his job shines through the book making it a very enjoyable read and a very very insightful one. If you enjoy a good autobiography or if you enjoy books with criminal procedures in then you will really find a gem in this book.

#10wordreview – Gripping and thought-provoking memoir you won’t want to put down

Dr Richard Shepherd is a forensic pathologist, a man who had dedicated his life to mysteries that surround an unexplained death. In Unnatural Causes, we get to see his story. One of true professionalism and dedication.

Based primarily in London Dr Shepherd faced many unique and fascinating cases as well as well know, high profile cases including the death of Princess Diana, the murder of Stephen Lawrence murder and the devastation and the aftermath from the sinking of the Marchioness.

Once case particularly caught my interest and that was the Hungerford massacre, as an event that happened before I was born I’d never heard of it until this book despite the devastation is caused. Dr Shepard covered the case in detail, it felt I was walking through the scene with him, tracing the steps of the killer as he went.

As the book went on I felt the level of detail had dropped away, there was a section on a serial killer that struck less than a mile from my home repeatedly but I felt if someone wasn’t familiar with the case, they would have gained very little information from the book. I didn’t feel the true horror was fully shown regarding Shipman’s victims which is a shame.

Overall the book was very engrossing, I read it at speed with ease, particularly enjoying the crimes covered were mostly based in the UK. It was the professionalism Dr Shepard had, ensuring he could not be pursued by police or changing his opinion before lawyers.

It was clear the book could have been much longer, perhaps with time, a second memoir will be released. The book didn’t detail how the introduction of DNA evidence had affected the process, something I would have been interested in finding out.

It is books like these I wish I had been able to read when I was looking for the right career for me, even with Dr Shepard’s brutal honesty around the effects to his mental health now in later life.

If you enjoyed this book I would highly recommend Working Stiff: Two Years, 262 Bodies, and the Making of a Medical Examiner – Judy Melinek, T.J. Mitchell

With thanks to Dr Richard Shepherd, the publishers Penguin UK – Michael Joseph and NetGalley for the arc in exchange for an honest review.

The esteemed forensic pathologist, Dr Richard Shepherd, shares the story of his career spanning thousands of post mortems and his family life. Whilst this is not my normal read this was a fascinating book and was a mixture of shock, pain and love. I really enjoyed it and it’s written like he is talking directly to you. Thank you to netgalley and the publishers for this arc in exchange for my honest review.