The heart-wrenchingly honest new book about life and death from forensic pathologist and bestselling author of UNNATURAL CAUSES, Dr Richard Shepherd

A TIMES AND SUNDAY TIMES BOOK OF THE YEAR

'Deeply insightful. Unflinching' THE TIMES

'A finely-crafted detective story' DAILY TELEGRAPH

'Enlightening, strangely uplifting' DAILY MAIL

'Fascinating' DAILY EXPRESS

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Dr Richard Shepherd, a medical detective and Britain's top forensic pathologist, shares twenty-four of his most intriguing, enlightening and never-before-told cases.

These autopsies, spanning the seven ages of human existence, uncover the secrets not only of how a person died, but also of how they lived.

From old to young, murder to misadventure, and illness to accidental death, each body has something to reveal - about its owner's life story, how we age, justice, society, the certainty of death.

And, above all, the wonderful marvel of life itself.

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Praise for Dr Richard Shepherd

'Gripping, grimly fascinating, and I suspect I'll read it at least twice' Evening Standard

'A deeply mesmerising memoir of forensic pathology. Human and fascinating' Nigella Lawson

'An absolutely brilliant book. I really recommend it, I don't often say that but it's fascinating' Jeremy Vine, BBC Radio 2

'Puts the reader at his elbow as he wields the scalpel' Guardian

'Fascinating, gruesome yet engrossing' Richard and Judy, Daily Express

'Fascinating, insightful, candid, compassionate' Observer