A bumper episode to end the season!  In 15% of homicide cases involving a female victim, the cause of death is unknown. Despite the huge advances in post-mortem sciences, pathologists are still faced with cases of suspicious death where the cause of death cannot be conclusively proved.    In this episode the team talk to a former member of the Thames River Police, Robert Jeffries, who worked on numerous cases where the cause of death could not be immediately established. They are also joined by Professor Angela Gallop, from Forensic Access (www.forensic-access.co.uk), one of the UK's leading experts in cold case investigations.    Please note that some listeners may find elements of the cases disturbing. Over six episodes, the team have investigated six causes of death: talking with experts, hearing how real life crime scenes are worked, exploring the latest innovations and discussing some famous cases.     If you want to know what criminal investigation is like in real life, then get ready for a podcast that puts YOU at the crime scene.   Subscribe now!   Lynda's new novel Judas Horse is out on 1st April 2021 in hardback, ebook and audiobook.    Discover more at: www.lyndalaplante.com/listening-to-the-dead/ And if you want to learn more about the Thames River Police you can visit Robert at his museum: www.thamespolicemuseum.org.uk/museum.html   Credits   This podcast was made by Bonnier Books UK   Host & Director: Jon Watt  Producer: Laura Makela  Sound Engineer: Chris Attaway  Theme music: Game Over by Magic in the Other  End music: Sweeney by Mike Relm  

Listening to the Dead - Forensics uncovered

S2 Ep7: S2 E6. Cause of Death – Unknown

A rarely seen method of murder today (outside of novels and state-sponsored assassination) but one of the most fascinating and challenging to investigate. A favourite of authors for generations, poisoning has appeared in some of the most famous crime novels as well as historic cases of murder and suicide. The team are joined by experienced toxicologist Victoria Jenkins from Forensic Access (www.forensic-access.co.uk) to discuss how hair and nails can be used to detect the presence of drugs and poisons, and the past, present and future of this ancient cause of death.   Over six episodes, the team will investigate six causes of death: talking with experts, hearing how real life crime scenes are worked, exploring the latest innovations and discussing some famous cases.     If you want to know what criminal investigation is like in real life, then get ready for a podcast that puts YOU at the crime scene.  Subscribe now!    Lynda's new novel Judas Horse is out on 1st April 2021 in hardback, ebook and audiobook. Discover more at: www.lyndalaplante.com/listening-to-the-dead/    Credits   This podcast was made by Bonnier Books UK   Host & Director: Jon Watt  Producer: Laura Makela  Sound Engineer: Chris Attaway  Theme music: Game Over by Magic in the Other  End music: Sweeney by Mike Relm  

S2 Ep6: S2 E5. Cause of Death – Poisoning

In this episode the team are joined by pathologist Dr Brett Lockyer, part of the experienced team at Forensic Access (www.forensic-access.co.uk), as he reveals how to tell the difference between strangulation and hanging during a post mortem, and where best to look for evidence that a suicide is not what it seems.    Sadly, strangulation is the most common form of murder of women in the UK. Traditionally considered to be a crime of passion, it’s also a common form of domestic abuse, which is why attempted strangulation has recently been criminalised.   Over six episodes, the team will investigate six causes of death: talking with experts, hearing how real life crime scenes are worked, exploring the latest innovations and discussing some famous cases.     If you want to know what criminal investigation is like in real life, then get ready for a podcast that puts YOU at the crime scene.  Subscribe now! Lynda's new novel Judas Horse is out on 1st April 2021 in hardback, ebook and audiobook.    Discover more at: www.lyndalaplante.com/listening-to-the-dead/    Credits   This podcast was made by Bonnier Books UK   Host & Director: Jon Watt  Producer: Laura Makela  Sound Engineer: Chris Attaway  Theme music: Game Over by Magic in the Other  End music: Sweeney by Mike Relm  

S2 Ep5: S2 E4. Cause of Death – Strangulation

Unlike in America, there is little debate between pro-gun control and pro-gun ownership lobbies in the UK. There is general public consensus against ownership of handguns, which is enforced under strict legislation. Despite these strong sentiments, the UK has not averted gun crime by any means.     In the year ending 31 March 2019, there were a total of 6,759 firearm offences recorded in the England & Wales. This was an increase of 4% compared with the previous year and the highest recorded number since 7,040 in 2010/11. Handguns are most commonly used and rifles remain the least commonly used in firearm offences.     In this episode the team are joined by Former Senior Forensic Scientist specialising in Firearms and Wound Ballistics and an internationally-renowned expert in the field, David Pryor. As the ballistics expert called to the scene of the shooting of Jill Dando, David’s analysis and subsequent evidence were critical to the case. In the episode he joins the Listening to the Dead team to discuss his memories of those frantic days and his years of experience in identifying ballistics evidence.     Over six episodes, the team will investigate six causes of death: talking with experts, hearing how real life crime scenes are worked, exploring the latest innovations and discussing some famous cases.     If you want to know what criminal investigation is like in real life, then get ready for a podcast that puts YOU at the crime scene.   Subscribe now!    Lynda's new novel Judas Horse is out on 1st April 2021 in hardback, ebook and audiobook.   Discover more at: www.lyndalaplante.com/listening-to-the-dead/    Credits   This podcast was made by Bonnier Books UK   Host & Director: Jon Watt  Producer: Laura Makela  Sound Engineer: Chris Attaway  Theme music: Game Over by Magic in the Other  End music: Sweeney by Mike Relm   

S2 Ep4: S2 E3. Cause of Death – Gunshot Wound

From terrorist attacks to war zones, from earthquakes to floods, mass disasters are some of the most difficult and harrowing cases for police and forensic teams to investigate. Whether it’s identifying body parts or tracing a bomb factory from a tiny fragment of a device, the clues are often minuscule and highly disturbing.    In this episode, the team are joined by former anti-terrorism branch and SO13 officer David Alexander as he discusses his extraordinary experiences working on IRA bombings, the 7/7 attacks and investigating war crimes in Kosovo.   Over six episodes, the team will investigate six causes of death: talking with experts, hearing how real life crime scenes are worked, exploring the latest innovations and discussing some famous cases.     If you want to know what criminal investigation is like in real life, then get ready for a podcast that puts YOU at the crime scene.  Subscribe now! Lynda's new novel Judas Horse is out on 1st April 2021 in hardback, ebook and audiobook.   Discover more at: www.lyndalaplante.com/listening-to-the-dead/  Credits   This podcast was made by Bonnier Books UK   Host & Director: Jon Watt  Producer: Laura Makela  Sound Engineer: Chris Attaway  Theme music: Game Over by Magic in the Other  End music: Sweeney by Mike Relm  

S2 Ep3: S2 E2. Cause of Death – Terrorism & Mass Disaster

The Listening to the Dead team are back for a new season looking at causes of death and the investigative techniques that surround them. This episode we welcome back pathologist Dr Stuart Hamilton to discuss his experiences in investigating blunt force homicide.  Three of the six causes of death in the board game Cluedo are blunt force trauma – which nicely sums up the prevalence of this cause of death. It’s the second most common form of homicide in the UK. But it’s also one of the most difficult to investigate – what weapon was used, which blow actually that killed the victim?  Over six episodes, the team will investigate six causes of death: talking with experts, hearing how real life crime scenes are worked, exploring the latest innovations and discussing some famous cases.    If you want to know what criminal investigation is like in real life, then get ready for a podcast that puts YOU at the crime scene.  Subscribe now!   Lynda's new novel Judas Horse is out on 1st April 2021 in hardback, ebook and audiobook.    Discover more at: www.lyndalaplante.com/listening-to-the-dead/ You can read more about Dr Stuart Hamilton and his work at the East Midlands Forensic Pathology Unit at the University of Leicester here: https://www.forensic-access.co.uk/our-people/expert-witnesses/dr-stuart-hamilton/   Credits  This podcast was made by Bonnier Books UK  Host & Director: Jon Watt Producer: Laura Makela Sound Engineer: Chris Attaway Theme music: Game Over by Magic in the Other End music: Sweeney by Mike Relm  

S2 Ep2: S2 E1. Cause of Death - Blunt Force

Get ready for Listening to the Dead Season 2: Cause of Death! More crimes, more forensics, more revelations. Subscribe now and don't miss episode one on 24th February 2021. 

S2 Ep1: Season 2 - Coming Soon!

Fibre analysis is one most important resources in forensic science. The discovery of fibres evidence is essential when determining what an attacker or killer was wearing at the time of an incident.  In this bonus episode, Lynda and Cass are joined by former President of the Chartered Society of Forensic Sciences, Dr Ann Priston. A leading expert in forensic fibre analysis, Dr Priston visits Lynda at her home to discuss how exhaustive fibre analysis has helped to solve some of the most infamous and difficult cases. This bonus episode is the last in the first season of Listening to the Dead in which Lynda and Cass have investigated seven branches of forensics: discussing their own experiences, talking with experts, hearing how real life crime scenes are worked, exploring the latest innovations and demonstrating how CSI fact is even more thrilling than CSI fiction.    If you want to know what criminal investigation is like in real life, then get ready for a podcast that puts YOU at the crime scene.  Subscribe now!   Discover more at: www.lyndalaplante.com/listening-to-the-dead/ Dr Priston currently works with the charity Inside Justice, investigating alleged miscarriages of justice. You can learn more about their work here: https://www.insidejustice.co.uk/about-inside-justice/advisory-panel.php 

S1 Ep8: Episode 7 – Forensic Fibre Analysis

Perhaps the most well-known of all the forensic sciences, portrayed in books and films for years, it's the pathologists job to establish cause of death. But what is the real-life experience of a pathologist like: can they really give time of death so quickly; what can they really tell about cause of death from a body at the scene and in the mortuary; and are they really on first name terms with detectives?  This episode Lynda and Cass are joined by veteran pathologist Dr Stuart Hamilton who reveals how pathologists bring together many of the other forms forensic evidence to inform their conclusions.    This is the sixth of a seven part series during which Lynda and Cass investigate seven branches of forensics: discussing their own experiences, talking with experts, hearing how real life crime scenes are worked, exploring the latest innovations and demonstrating how CSI fact is even more thrilling than CSI fiction.    If you want to know what criminal investigation is like in real life, then get ready for a podcast that puts YOU at the crime scene.   Subscribe now!    Discover more at: www.lyndalaplante.com/listening-to-the-dead/ You can read more about Dr Stuart Hamilton and his work at the East Midlands Forensic Pathology Unit at the University of Leicester here: https://www.forensic-access.co.uk/our-people/expert-witnesses/dr-stuart-hamilton/   Credits  This podcast was made by Bonnier Books UK  Director: Jon Watt  Assistant Director: Laura Makela  Producer: Chris Attaway  Theme music: Game Over by Magic in the Other  Interview music: Sweeney by Mike Relm  

S1 Ep7: Episode 6 – Pathology

One of the newest and fastest evolving forensic disciplines, this science of extracting evidence from digital devices has become a central part of police investigations. From phones to Fitbits, from laptops to smart speakers, digital devices are ubiquitous in our lives and that means that we all leave a trail – a digital footprint – that forensics can follow.   Join Lynda, Cass and industry expert Dr Jan Collie as they discuss the dark web, digital profiling and Jan's experiences analysing the digital devices of terrorists, paedophiles and murderers – just don't forget to change your passwords!   Over seven episodes, Lynda and Cass will investigate seven branches of forensics: discussing their own experiences, talking with experts, hearing how real life crime scenes are worked, exploring the latest innovations and demonstrating how CSI fact is even more thrilling than CSI fiction.    If you want to know what criminal investigation is like in real life, then get ready for a podcast that puts YOU at the crime scene. 

S1 Ep6: Episode 5 – Digital Forensics

In this episode, Lynda and Cass explore the science of forensic entomology – the study of how insects and bugs interact with a cadaver. At times it sounds like something out of a horror movie, but it’s a vital part of many police investigations, giving clues as to time of death and whether a body might have been moved.   As Cass meets Dr Martin Hall in his lab at the Natural History Museum and gets hands-on with some maggots, Lynda recalls her first encounter with entomology at a murder scene.    From extracting evidential DNA from insects that have drunk blood, to blow flies acting as sniffer dogs to help locate a corpse, forensic entomology is one of the most exciting, fast-moving and fascinating forensic disciplines.    Over seven episodes, Lynda and Cass will investigate seven branches of forensics: discussing their own experiences, talking with experts, hearing how real life crime scenes are worked, exploring the latest innovations and demonstrating how CSI fact is even more thrilling than CSI fiction.    If you want to know what criminal investigation is like in real life, then get ready for a podcast that puts YOU at the crime scene.   Subscribe now!    Discover more at: www.lyndalaplante.com/listening-to-the-dead/ You can read more about Martin’s work at the NHM here: www.nhm.ac.uk/our-science/departments-and-staff/staff-directory/martin-hall.html      Credits  This podcast was made by Bonnier Books UK  Director: Jon Watt  Assistant Director: Laura Makela  Producer: Chris Attaway  Theme music: Game Over by Magic in the Other  Interview music: Sweeney by Mike Relm  

S1 Ep5: Episode 4 – Forensic Entomology

In 1986 the world of forensics changed forever when a British scientist discovered that patterns in some regions of a person’s DNA could be used to distinguish one individual from another.  For a CSI like Cass Sutherland, it meant changing his whole approach to investigating a crime scene and learning how this new evidence should be interpreted.  For an author like Lynda La Plante, it changed crime writing more than anything else in her long career.  For bloody pattern analysis expert Dr Peter Smith, it meant retraining in a whole new skill: using different tools to find bodily fluids, identifying new types of evidence and ultimately understanding how DNA could be made to stand up in court.  In this episode, Lynda and Cass unravel the scientific breakthrough that changed criminal investigation forever.  Over seven episodes, Lynda and Cass will investigate seven branches of forensics: discussing their own experiences, talking with experts, hearing how real life crime scenes are worked, exploring the latest innovations and demonstrating how CSI fact is even more thrilling than CSI fiction.    If you want to know what criminal investigation is like in real life, then get ready for a podcast that puts YOU at the crime scene.  Subscribe now!    Discover more at: www.lyndalaplante.com/listening-to-the-dead/  Credits  This podcast was made by Bonnier Books UK  Director: Jon Watt  Assistant Director: Laura Makela  Producer: Chris Attaway  Theme music: Game Over by Magic in the Other  Interview music: Sweeney by Mike Relm  

S1 Ep4: Episode 3 – DNA and Blood Forensics

In this episode, Lynda and Cass turn their attention to the forensic investigation of fire with Dr Peter Mansi. A former fireman and colleague of Cass’, Peter is now an internationally renowned fire investigator who has worked on some of the most infamous cases or arson and accidental fire, including the recent tragedy at Grenfell.  Peter reveals to Lynda and Cass how he goes about investigating a fire, from reconstructing rooms to study fire behaviour, to tracking an ignition source and reading the smoke signals.    As Lynda says: ‘It’s almost as if the fire becomes a living thing – a killer to be hunted.’  Over seven episodes, Lynda and Cass will investigate seven branches of forensics: discussing their own experiences, talking with experts, hearing how real life crime scenes are worked, exploring the latest innovations and demonstrating how CSI fact is even more thrilling than CSI fiction.    If you want to know what criminal investigation is like in real life, then get ready for a podcast that puts YOU at the crime scene.  Subscribe now!    Discover more at: www.lyndalaplante.com/listening-to-the-dead/ You can read more about Peter’s work here: https://www.fireinvestigationsuk.com.      Credits  This podcast was made by Bonnier Books UK  Director: Jon Watt  Assistant Director: Laura Makela  Producer: Chris Attaway  Theme music: Game Over by Magic in the Other  Interview music: Sweeney by Mike Relm   

S1 Ep3: Episode 2 – Fire Investigation Forensics

Lynda and Cass kick off their new podcast series by exploring the fascinating world of forensic botany and ecology with leading expert Professor Patricia Wiltshire.  The team discuss how plant regrowth can be used to track a killer’s path months after a crime was committed and the infamous Soham murders – a case that Patricia's botanical evidence helped to crack and a trail that Lynda attended. Over seven episodes, Lynda and Cass will investigate seven branches of forensics: discussing their own experiences, talking with experts, hearing how real life crime scenes are worked, exploring the latest innovations and demonstrating how CSI fact is even more thrilling than CSI fiction.   If you want to know what criminal investigation is like in real life, then get ready for a podcast that puts YOU at the crime scene.  Subscribe now! Discover more at: www.lyndalaplante.com/listening-to-the-dead/ Patricia Wilshire's new book Traces - The Memoir of the forensic scientist is out now in audiobook, ebook and paperback. Credits This podcast was made by Bonnier Books UK Director: Jon Watt Assistant Director: Laura Makela Producer: Chris Attaway Theme music: Game Over by Magic in the Other Interview music: Sweeney by Mike Relm  

S1 Ep2: Episode 1 – Forensic Botany & Ecology

Introducing the new Listening to the Dead podcast with Lynda La Plante and CSI Cass Sutherland! First episode out on 27th February.  Subscribe now!

S1 Ep1: Trailer

If you want to know what criminal investigation is like in real life, then get ready for a podcast that puts YOU at the crime scene. This series will look at the latest developments, the famous cases and how the forensic scientists are meeting the challenge laid down by a criminal who is forensically aware. Lynda La Plante has always been fascinated by criminality and the people that solve crime. Her books are celebrated for their authentic depictions of crime scenes and police procedures – something she achieves through meticulous research with her colleague, CSI Cass Sutherland. Over six episodes, Lynda and Cass will investigate six branches of forensics: discussing their own experiences, talking with experts, hearing how real life crime scenes are worked, exploring the latest innovations and demonstrating how CSI fact is even more thrilling than CSI fiction. Episodes will reveal how plant regrowth can be used to track a killer’s path months after a crime was committed; how a fly on the wall can be more than an observer; why the ‘sibling defence’ can unravel DNA evidence; and why a dog’s nose can sniff out cases of arson that the scientists miss. A murderer is 20% more likely to be convicted if forensic evidence can be presented in court by the prosecution. Yet fingerprints are currently recovered from only 40% of crime scenes, and DNA at a mere 10%. Now more than ever, forensic scientists are under pressure to improve their success rate – their challenge is to advance their crafts and uncover the hidden clues that are left at every crime scene. Join author Lynda La Plante and former detective Cass Sutherland for a series that reveals the real secrets of CSI.

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Listening to the Dead - Forensics uncovered

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