"From the acclaimed author of Death in the Air ("Not since Devil in the White City has a book told such a harrowing tale"--Douglas Preston) comes the riveting story of the birth of criminal investigation in the twentieth century"-- Provided by publisher.

Prologue: tales from the archive: pistols, jawbones, and love poetry -- A bloody mess: the case of Allene Lamson's bath, part I -- Genius: the case of Oscar Heinrich's demons -- Heathen: the case of the Baker's handwriting, part I -- Pioneer: the case of the Baker's handwriting, part II -- Damnation: the case of the star's fingerprints, part I -- Indignation: the case of the star's fingerprints, part II -- Double 13: the case of the great train heist -- Bad chemistry: the case of the calculating chemist -- Bits and pieces: the case of Bessie Ferguson's ear -- Triggered: the case of Marty Colwell's gun -- Damned: the case of Allene lamson's Bath, part II.