Richard Shepherd is a forensic pathologist who has dealt with some of the UK’s biggest tragedies and this is his story.

From cases such as Dr Shipman, Rachel Nickell and Stephen Lawrence to the everyday person this is a real glimpse into what is a fascinating subject. Dr Shepherd’s passion for his work is evident in every page, the 16 years it took to fulfill his ambition to become a forensic pathologist and the impact the years of study and relentless hours of work impacted on his home life. His dedication is admirable and he is honest enough to not portray himself as infallible showing he is only human after all.

Although it is a fairly in-depth account of the post-mortem/autopsy process it isn’t overly gruesome so don’t let that put you off! I can imagine any crime author’s will find this a treasure trove of information 😀

Death comes to us all, be it through natural causes, illness or tragic circumstances and it is reassuring to know in death we are treated with the utmost respect and care. The science is written in a way everyone can understand thankfully unlike my daughters science homework! That might as well be in a foreign language and goes right over the top of my head 😂😂😂

I’m sure this book will appeal to a wider audience than aspiring doctors and nurses or forensic pathologist’s but for anyone with an interest in the human body, medical practises and what actually goes on beyond the morgue doors this is a must read, as well as anyone with an interest in true crime stories.

A fascinating insightful read that should be an inspiration to our generation as well as generations to come.

Unnatural Causes will be published on 20 Sep 2018 in the UK

A big thank you to Dr Richard Shepherd, the publishers Penguin UK – Michael Joseph and NetGalley for the arc in exchange for an honest review.

Medical memoirs seem to be the new black in book terms - unfortunately, not everyone who has an interesting professional life has the writing skills to turn out a decent read. Shepherd, in his 60s now, has been involved in high-level cases from Hungerford to 9/11 and the London bombings but, oddly, he chooses to skimp on discussing these and spends far too long recounting his upbringing, his training, his family life and all the ordinary stuff. It's good that this offers a far less glamorous view of forensic pathology than we get from CSI, for example, but it feels like a missed opportunity that so much detail is skipped over. The writing is pedestrian but the content could have been more insightful and thoughtful than it is. Shepherd comes over as a clever man who finds the idea of writing about his work somewhat distasteful. I wonder why he wrote this book...

Unusual subject matter-excuse the pun but it is stripped to its bare bones. There is no filter on the subject matter.
It is a book that you want to know more yet at the same time it breaks your heart.
I know that I went through every raw emotion.

Whil I've really been enjoying medical memoir books, such as Do No Harm and Chrissie Watson's Language of Kindness , this one was just a step too far for this squeamish reader and I had to put it aside.
The writing was powerful and extremely vivid but ultimately I was becoming queasy reading the book so had to stop.
Rated as three stars - but that is just a personal response, I can see that others will enjoy it far more.

An unusual read but was fascinating and heartbreaking at the same time.
Answering questions that we wanted to know but didn’t like to ask.
I will be recommending this , thanks for letting me review!

This was exactly my kind of book. There are many people trying to write these sorts of books but it is very rare indeed that one hits the spot so well. This book is very much in the style of The Jigsaw Man - another fascinating insight into crime, death and well known cases we will all have heard of.

Covering many high profile cases such as Shipman, the Marchionesse Disaster and even Princess Diana, it offers a gripping insight into the lives of the people who take over once the media have thrown their hype and speculation into the arena.

Some may find this hard to stomach, but I personally did not. I loved all the science and even the slightly darker parts. A real eye opener.

Thank you to Netgalley, the publisher and the author for a copy of this book.

Thoughtful, insightful, interesting and heartbreaking Dr Shepherd's book reminds you that there are people like him who put their all into respecting the dead.

A wonderful read!

This is a terrific book for someone (like me) who is a lay person but has an interest in the subject. Direct to the point of being blunt, yet at the same time expressing great sensitivity, the book weaves together the inter-related strands of work and personal life of a forensic pathologist, so that the reader gets a strong sense of what is going on for the author at work and at home. As the story progresses, the outcomes in both those realms are clearly unavoidable and, expected.

The book also covers some very well known cases and disasters where multiple deaths occurred and it is interesting to experience the true inside stories from a senior practitioner, as opposed to what the Press might report.

I wished for the author that everything would be okay in the end, and was not disappointed.

I found the opening of this book good. Richard Shepherd, one of the country's top forensic pathologists, is reflecting on his first big cases - the killing spree in Hungerford. However this is as much a personal biography and so the book moves to his early life and the interest in pathology. He then recounts aspect of his training.

Once he is actually working as a pathologist, the book considers a number of facets of his life. There are the cases he has worked on and some are very high profile indeed. He also puts in background information of the general subject and practice of forensic pathology. Much of this I found fascinating and certainly informative. He also makes mention of his personal life from time to time including his children's interest in his career. His views on this "interest" leave him a little uneasy in some ways.

There were topics in this which I really did find interesting. He looks at the changes in attitude and approach to the difficult areas of Sudden Infant Death and of "shaken baby syndrome". He considers the differences between a coroner's court and criminal courts as well as his attitude to them both. Equally the changes in forensic pathology over time was an area I found well worth reading. His explanations of what processes occur in the body after death were also put simply and were informative.

He describes his speciality as "knife wounds" and spends time at home testing them on the family's joints of meat and with the children. His career has certainly been colourful. Other than Hungerford he has also worked on the Marchioness disaster and has dealt with aspects of cases as varied as Shipman, 9/11 and the Lawrence case.

There are very powerful aspects to this book. However the author does state that he tries to avoid being emotionally involved in cases. Somehow I found that the narrative in this book also seem to lack the emotion that was transparent in other similar sorts of books I've read. It is definitely a readable book however it never really gripped me. 3.5/5 I think.

When I saw this on Netgalley, I was intrigued. I was already reading a book on the concept of death and what comes after for bodies (Stiff) so I was fascinated to read about the work of a pathologist in a world that still feels very inaccessible to the general public. The book encompasses many famous cases that Richard Shepherd has been directly involved with during what could be called the ‘golden age’ of pathology, as well as examining the personal troubles pathologists may face in the course of their career.

My first thought while reading was just how ‘human’ Richard Shepherd came across in his writing. He treats his patients with obvious care, and has a great passion for the profession and with passing that knowledge on. It was lovely to read about an individual who actively seeks to improve their profession, not only for their own benefit, but for the greater good. His writing certainly made the concept of post mortem more acceptable and less ‘scary’ or morbid.

I found the content itself rather mixed. I think this is a result of the fact it was written over a long period of time, and is full of information, but unfortunately not all of it is that compelling. I loved the chapters based around his work and cases, which ranged from mass disasters like the Marchioness sinking to famous cases such as the Stephen Lawrence murder and Princess Diana. These cases are often described quite clinically, with a detached scientific approach, of how the autopsies are carried out and the processes and agencies involved. It’s empathetic and to the point but without getting too personal. The earlier sections also include some almost ‘Sherlock Holmes’ style deductions to cases that helped determine what happened to the deceased, which I really enjoyed. However, these become less frequent as the book progresses due to the changing nature of pathology as a profession and the introduction of DNA evidence.

There are also some truly heartbreaking chapters dedicated to the difficult, and often controversial, subject of child autopsies. The subject is dealt with delicately, with a range of cases explored, while still managing to convey the emotional difficulties encountered by all involved.

I would say that the book does tend to jump from case to case quite rapidly, sometimes disrupting the overall flow of the book. As it progresses these examples of cases also become less frequent, which was a shame as I found them so interesting. However, the latter half is compelling on a more personal level, as we see the harsher realities of experiencing so much death, as well as the often unnerving cross examinations in court which can lead to self doubt and PTSD. I personally would have preferred less focus on the author’s private life as I was less interested in it, however it does make him feel more approachable.

A thoughtful insight into a closeted world that’s told with obvious passion and extensive knowledge of the subject.

Usually with non fiction I read in dribs and drabs around my other reads – not so with “Unnatural Causes” which I read from cover to cover whilst barely drawing breath.

A fascinating man and a fascinating life – Dr Richard Shepherd tells it how it is and his involvement in so many high profile cases makes this a hugely compelling look behind the scenes, beyond all those news stories and into the true realities. From Hungerford to 9/11 his very honest and genuinely compassionate way of describing events, challenges and difficult truths is endlessly, brilliantly evocative.

What struck me was his way of giving as much to the smaller, everyday tragedies as to the hugely well known ones. Every case he takes on gets the same descriptively emotional resonance and his obviously moral determination that the truth will out, however unpalatable that truth may be.

He is also very open about his own faults and rather than holding himself up as infallible, keeps the fact of his humanity and his own human errors – whether professional or personal – woven into the narrative as seamlessly as his successes. This makes for a genuine understanding of the world of Forensic pathology, a subject I now know more about than I ever thought I would, as well as of the man himself.

I thought it was brilliant. I’m sure that Unnatural Causes barely scratches the surface of a life and career ongoing.

Highly Recommended.

Unnatural Causes

I enjoyed a tv series in which Richard Shepherd reviewed the facts around some 'celebrity' deaths and the autopsy findings. He has an engaging style which comes across really well in Unnatural Causes. It's partly a biography in that he gives account of his life alongside many of the cases he describes. He was clearly shaped and defined by childhood events including the death of his mother and an early interest in a book by Simpson, the 'God' of forensics. He reveals a great deal about himself, his attitude to his family, their relationships and how his work affected his life overall. It feels like a brave and honest account and adds depth to the narrative.

The forensic pathology side is absolutely fascinating. It's detailed without being over the top and he includes a number of high profile cases in addition to his routine work. Throughout, there's a strong sense of respect for the deceased, despite the indignities of a post mortem. I've witnessed a few PMs and he accurately captures the atmosphere and procedure in a compelling way.

It's filled with insight into the how and why forensic pathology is so important and it's a captivating read for the lay person who wants to know more. Really enjoyed this.

My thanks to the publisher for a review copy via Netgalley.

I loved this memoir of forensic pathologist Richard Shepherd. His work is fascinating - from high profile cases such as Dr Shipman’s victims, Rachel Nickell, Stephen Lawrence - through to people who have died alone. He teaches us how every body tells a story, and the heavy price he has paid for the career he loves.
Fabulous. Fascinating. I didn’t want it to end.

3.5 stars

The whole new wave of medical memoirs is an interesting one,and I'm happy to read them when they come my way.
There were some moments in this where I actually winced,but I don't think the author has gone overboard in his grusome explanations.
In fact I feel I know a bit more about autopsies than I did before.
The main reason I found this book so interesting,was it dealt with a lot of cases in the media I remember... so reading the other side of it was an experience.

I love a good medical memoir, so when I spotted Unnatural Causes I was definitely interested to read it. Richard Shepherd is a forensic pathologist who has dealt with some of the UK's biggest tragedies and this is his story.
At times it is a difficult read due to the fact that it deals with "mans inhumanity to man" as he says himself, and it is not nice to read about. His own personal journey and emotions were well written, and it is definitely an emotive read. Recommended for sure if you like medical non-fiction.