In this book, acclaimed author Bridget Heos uses real-life cases to tell the history of modern forensic science, from the first test for arsenic poisoning to fingerprinting, firearm and blood spatter analysis, DNA evidence, and all the important milestones in between. By turns captivating and shocking, Blood, Bullets, and Bones demonstrates the essential role forensic science has played in our criminal justice system.

From darkness to light -- A whiff of garlic : the first poison tests -- Bodies of evidence : autopsies and the rise of medical examiners -- Elementary, my dear Watson : the first detectives -- Not without a trace : the introduction of crime scene evidence -- Fingerprints are forever : early fingerprint evidence -- Bang! Bang! You're dead : the birth of firearm analysis -- Blood is thicker : the first blood pattern cases -- Grave matters : hidden bodies -- Dem bones : forensic anthropology beginnings -- To catch a killer : criminal profilers -- One in a trillion : the dawn of DNA evidence.