Every Contact Leaves Trace: Crime Scene Experts Talk about Their Work from Discovery Through Verdict by Connie Fletcher
Homicide detectives, forensic scientists and evidence technicians can’t stress enough that crime scene investigations are not readily solved like they are in the plethora of television dramas like CSI, NCIS, Cold Case, Law and Order and Criminal Minds. This book is a fascinating compilation of anecdotes from a large array of people who all play a part in investigating crimes, including burglaries, rapes and murders. From their talk of the old days when investigators took hand written notes and put in their hours in shoe leather, to today’s debate about which is the more reliable source, DNA or fingerprints, experts share stories of solving cases and the methods that were used. Three important things I learned from this book are 1) most counties can’t afford to have the high tech labs like those that you see in the shows, and that tests are not only very expensive but also have a few weeks to months’ long turn around time because of their backlog and funding 2) investigators do not talk, laugh or cough at the crime scene or in the lab because of possible cross contamination. They always wear masks, gloves and lab coats or sterile scrub suits and 3) if you are going to commit a crime, don’t wear corduroy! Because of the thick nap, corduroy fabric tends to hold on to more trace evidence at a crime scene than other materials.
Investigators have a twisted sense of humor too. While one homicide detective was investigating a crime scene in the ocean, he was secretly amused by all the other officers who were throwing up from the condition of the decaying body. As they lifted the body into the boat, dozens of crabs scuttled out from the body’s wounds. The detective told everyone to be careful with the crabs because they would round them up later and cook them for dinner. This made his coworkers even sicker, which only encouraged him to talk more about having the crabs that night.
I highly recommend this book to those who enjoy true crime stories.
Recommended by Leslie Burke, Northwest Reno Library
Lean on Pete: a Novel by Willy Vlautin
This great story takes place in the year of the life of 15 year old Charley Thompson. Charley and his father have abruptly moved from Spokane to Portland one early summer day. Charley runs to stay in shape as he has high hopes of playing on the football team in the coming fall. He also hopes that if he and his dad cannot return to Spokane (where he really wants to play ball), then at least they can make a fresh start in this town. However, his dad is often unreliable and gets mixed up with the wrong crowd, including the married woman he starts a relationship with in Portland soon after they settle down. While Charley is out for a run, he discovers that they live not far from a run down horse track. As his father is increasingly absent, Charley spends more of his time around the track and eventually gets a part time job from a crooked horse trainer, Del Montgomery. At least Del can be relied upon to pay and feed Charley. Charley relates to and gets very attached to a four year old race horse, Lean on Pete. Circumstances force Charley to make some unwise decisions, including stealing Lean on Pete from Del. With Pete at his side, Charley takes off in search of his aunt with whom he has not had contact for years. But his yearning to belong to a family is so strong that it drives him on, despite numerous obstacles.
I enjoyed the story, I enjoyed being around Charley, who was always hungry like most teenage boys and almost always trying to make the right choices.
Recommended by Leslie Burke, Northwest Reno Library
Fat Cat by Robin Brande
Revenge of the former fat girl or the world’s best science fair project? Cat takes on the world and her own fears as she uses her science fair project to avenge feelings hurt by her former best friend—who also just happens to be the boy who broke her heart as well as a fellow “science geek.”
As her own personal guinea pig, Cat will give up her phone, rides in cars, TV, modern medicine and most importantly the fattening foods she craves so much. In the process, Fat Cat becomes Hot Cat—but will she find happiness with who she is and how she’s being treated by all the boys suddenly hovering around her new hot body?
She’s smart, she’s funny and she can cook—but don’t get in her way as she fights for the top science award…with a little side of revenge.
Recommended by Jana MacMillan, Spanish Springs Library
Andromeda Klein by Frank Portman
Disappearing library books on occultism and dead best friends reaching out from beyond the grave are only some of the problems facing Andromeda Klein. She’s also got hearing troubles, image issues and a wannabe boyfriend she’d like to lose.
Oh yeah, did I mention her seemingly unrequited obsession with an older man she’s not supposed to be seeing at all, her wacked out parents and her friends who are more like enemies?
Andromeda is a partially deaf magical purist, a funky, awkward heroine with bad hair and a boyish physique whose struggles to take on all her issues at once AND the so-called “Friends of the Library” will leave you laughing and breathless. You just can’t help but cheer her on.
Recommended by Jana MacMillan, Spanish Springs Library
Freak Show by James St. James
Teenage drag queen Billy Bloom bursts upon the scene of his new conservative high school with an effervescent hopefulness and originality that leaves most of his well to do classmates simply dying to send him back where he came from–and teach him a lesson or two along the way.
But Billy, the self proclaimed “Twinkle Queen,” “Glitteroid” and “Gender Obscurist” will not play second fiddle to anyone—even the shoe-in winner for Homecoming Queen.
Bigotry, hate crimes, underdog striving to come out on top, boy meets boy—this book has it all!
Hysterically funny and tragically misunderstood, the life of Billy Bloom is handled by it’s hero in a bold and ever optimistic light. Billy Bloom is a refreshing protagonist who fights to just be himself in a world that refuses to go along quietly.
Highly recommended by Jana MacMillan, Spanish Springs Library
We Were Here by Mathew De La Pena
Miguel has done something unforgiveable and irreparable…and now he’s living in a group home for teen offenders. Ordered by a judge to chronicle his experiences in the form of a journal, Miguel struggles to forgive himself for a crime that isn’t revealed until the very end of the book. Hints and flashbacks are given throughout as the reader is pulled deeper into Miguel’s self-recrimination and outright loathing.
The story really gets underway when Miguel is enticed to break out of the group home by a fellow inmate he doesn’t particularly like. His journal documents his travels with the volatile and unpredictable Mong and the violent, yet loyal, Rondell as they work their way along the California coast to Mexico.
As Miguel learns to deal with his so-called “crime,” he finds a path for himself towards a redemption he can understand.
The characters in this story are simply unforgettable. Readers are left questioning the legal system as well as Miguel’s family for their treatment of his “crime.”
Author of Ball Don’t Lie and Mexican Whiteboy, Mathew De La Pena’s prose is pure magic.
Highly recommended by Jana MacMillan, Spanish Springs Library
Stolen by Lucy Christopher
On vacation with her parents, 16-year-old British student Gemma is drugged and kidnapped while on a layover at a Bangkok airport. Her captor, an attractive, twenty-something Australian man, takes her to the outback where they live in a secluded and unknown location. Christopher’s lyrical descriptions of the Australian desert seem to dictate the character’s emotions and decisions throughout the book.
Written in the form of a letter to the man who stalked her for years before stealing her, Gemma recounts the terror of being drugged and taken away from her life, family and friends.
Her captor, Ty, elicits conflicting feelings from Gemma as she struggles to accept her new reality as well as his. Is she a victim of Stockholm Syndrome or is she genuinely falling in love with Ty?
This powerful first novel by Lucy Christopher is hauntingly and honestly written and doesn’t pull any punches with what could have been a trite or predictable ending.
Caution: it’s hard to put this book down once you pick it up.
Recommended by Jana MacMillan, Spanish Springs Library
Whisper by Phoebe Kitanidis
This thought provoking novel delves into the life of a teen girl who has an unusual gift for “hearing” other people’s unspoken wishes and aspirations. Joy uses her ability to hear these thoughts/wishes in order to please; her sister Jessica (Icka as she is known) does not. Icka wields her gift like a rapier, slashing, wounding and unnerving.
Embarrassed by her inability to fit in, Joy tries to distance herself from Icka. On Joy’s birthday her own “hearing” starts behaving in unusual ways. Maybe the gift of “hearing” isn’t really so great, maybe it is actually a curse.
A captivating start with metaphysical and metaphorical prose, this novel takes the reader on a journey into the hearts and angst of teenage girls everywhere.
Along the journey, Joy struggles with complex human emotions like love and empathy. This novel quickly gains a momentum that will draw the reader headlong hurtling into darkness before coming to a somewhat surprising and satisfying end.
It will leave you wanting more! The witty dialogue is a delight as is the development of Joy’s character from start to finish. It is what makes this book a true winner. It is rare to find a first novel as well written as Whisper. Whisper is a coming of age story for readers of any age.
Recommended by Maureen Chiloquin, Spanish Springs Library
Fight Club by Chuck Palahniuk
The narrator, a person whose name we never truly learn, begins his story at the ending of a rather strange chapter of his life. He says he’s happy with life, but he’s lying to himself. The book unfolds as circumstances orchestrated by him and others force him into a new direction, a rather violent one at that. Funded by soap, the narrator and a soap salesman by the name of Tyler Durden begin fight clubs as a form of underground therapy across the nation and enact chaos under the name of Project Mayhem.
If you can, get the edition where Chuck Palahniuk answers questions after the epilogue do so. The most enlightening part of the Q and A to me was where Palahniuk sites that no one (but him) ever found the book to be a romance. He’s right.
Recommended by Sarah Harvey, Sparks Library
Eleventh Grade Burns: The Chronicles of Vladimir Tod by Heather Brewer
This is the fourth book chronicling Vlad’s life. A friend from before, Joss, returns to Bathory after being newly brainwashed by the Slayer Council with orders to kill Vlad. While contending with Joss and his conflicting feelings towards his former friend Vlad contends with watching his former girlfriend Meredith from afar, and the amorous attentions of his drudge, Snow. Naturally D’Ablo circles everything waiting for his chance to strike which he does by bringing Vlad’s allies…
I like the stories and I like the series. I just wish Vlad would move a little faster in coming to grips with the saying that “Freedom isn’t free,” and having to realize that he’s going to have to not only make some choices, but actually act on those choices.
Recommended by Sarah Harvey, Sparks Library
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