Introduction -- Deadly powder : Mathieu Orfila, James Marsh, and detection of poisons -- Arches, loops, and whorls : Francis Galton, Edward Henry, and fingerprinting -- The language of blood : Karl Landsteiner and blood types -- Every contact leaves a trace : Alexandre Lacassagne, Edmond Locard, and forensic science laboratories -- The name on the bullet : Calvin Goddard and firearms identification -- Liar, liar : Leonarde Keeler and the polygraph -- Voiceprints : Lawrence Kersta and voice identification -- Bone biographies : Clyde Snow and forensic anthropology -- The body farm : William Bass and determining time of death -- The ultimate identifier : Alec Jeffreys and DNA profiling.