FIRST STEPS

Basic Practice in Courts & Tribunals Nicholas Fridd and Steven Weddle (Waterlow Publishers, London, 1989, 401pp, index, ISBN 0 08 036901 4, £19.95)

Remembering how nervous I was, not knowing anything about Crown Courts the first time I had to attend, this book could prove to be a very useful basic guide to the court system and will be particularly beneficial to those who have had little or no experience of appearing in court. It clearly and simply sets out standard court procedures, discussing such matters as manner of dress, who sits where, and who is entitled to be present in court. In addition, the book provides suggestions for opening questions and order of speeches, as well as examination of witnesses. It also contains a section which deals with very useful basic principles of costs.

Although the book makes no claim to be more than an introduction to standard proceedings, and contains a list of common practitioners' handbooks at the end, it would be a useful initial source of reference for anyone making their first appearance, whether as advocate or witness, before an unfamiliar court or tribunal.

AN AMERICAN FIZZER

Forensic Pathology DJ Di Maio & VJM Di Maio (Elsevier, New York, 1989, 503pp, index, ISBN 0444 01506 X , $US 46.95)

This is another of the Elsevier series "Practical Aspects of Criminal and Forensic Investigation", all written and published in the United States and intended primarily for an American readership. This particular addition to the series is really excellent and apart from the one anomaly mentioned below, must be the best textbook on forensic pathology published in the States since the monumental Gonzales, Vance and Helpern of about 1954. Indeed, it is partly from the same stable, as the senior of this father-and-son Di Maio partnership actually followed Milton Helpern into the Chief Medical Examiner post in New York City. His son Vincent is an equally worthy descendant of this forensic family, being Chief Medical Examiner in San Antonio. Texas.

The book is a substantial volume of almost 500 pages, with a great deal of practical detail and a very modern outlook and reference material. Its plan follows the usual forensic convention in arrangement of chapters, though it is prefaced by a useful and informative discussion of medico-legal investigative systems, again naturally orien- tated mainly to the North American situation. The photographs are plentiful, but thankfully it is not yet another gory atlas with a skimpy text. The pictures are good and the reproduction clear even though this type of lithography tends to emphasise the grain of the monochrome illustrations. There is a four-page insert of colour pictures, again chosen for their instructiveness rather than for their horror.

The range of conditions described emphasises the massive combined experience of these authors, and the objective style of the text makes this an extremely valuable reference for every forensic pathologist and an excellent teaching medium for those trainees who are working for their Boards or other qualifications.

There is one major defect, a serious one for prospective purchasers outside the

180 JFSS 1990; 30(3): 179-185

United States-and even for some in the more remote American boondocks. This reviewer could hardly believe his eyes as he vainly searched the pages and index until he had to accept the awful truth that in an American textbook of forensic pathology, there was not one single mention of firearms injuries! To those who know the Di Maios and the Elsevier series, the explanation is obvious. Vincent Di Maio has written another whole volume in the series on this subject and presumably felt that justice could not be done to the topic merely as a chapter in this book.

However, I feel this is hardly acceptable to unsuspecting foreign purchasers, especially those in the Third World. They may not know of the other book, may not be able to get it, and certainly may not be able to afford to buy another with US dollars. If there is a second edition-and this is otherwise such a superb book that I am sure that there will be many more edition-surely at least a concise chapter on gunshots could be added, to avoid dashing the expectations of impoverished purchasers of whom, with increasing budget stringencies, the world abounds. With this one reservation, the new Di Maio is the best thing to come out of America since Coca Cola.

WHAT'S NEW?

Criminalistics An Introduction to Forensic Science, 4th edn Richard Saferstein (Prentice Hall, New Jersey, USA, 1989, 524pp, index, ISBN 0 13 1935259, no price given)

It is three years since the last edition of this book and during this period there have been notable advances in the world of forensic science. These are reflected in this latest edition with the inclusion of a chapter on DNA, an account of the detection of fingerprints using high intensity light sources and the automated retrieval of fingerprints. Modifications have also been made in the text relating to "crack and designer drugs, and the use of gas chromatography for the characterisation of gasolines. The book is both informative and interesting to read, and provides a very good introduction to forensic science.

THE WORK OF THE FORENSIC SCIENTIST

Murder Under the Microscope. The story of Scotland Yard's Forensic Science Laboratory Philip Paul (Macdonald, London, 1990, 368pp, index, ISBN 0 356 17902 8, f 12.95)

This book written by an experienced investigative journalist has all the hallmarks of a thoroughly professional author. After three years research, it offers a rare and intimate insight into the work of the staff of the Metropolitan Police Forensic Science Laboratory (MPFSL) in London, arguably the most well known forensic science laboratory in the world. Aimed at a wide audience the majority of whom may not have scientific knowledge, the author has constructed the book so that any reader may enter the esoteric world of the forensic scientist with consummate ease.

There are four main parts of the book, each of which stands on its own. Part One gives an historical background to the sciences involved, such as blood grouping,

JFSS 1990; 30(3): 179- 185 181