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Killer Of Little Shepherds: A True Crime Story And The Birth Of Forensic Science (2010)

by Douglas Starr(Favorite Author)

3.8 of 5 Votes: 3

ISBN

0857201662 (ISBN13: 9780857201669)

languge

English

genre

History & Biography

publisher

Simon & Schuster

review 1: very interesting (but gory and grim) book about the 'French Ripper' murderer Joseph Vacher. The book follows the progress/rampage of Vacher across the French countryside as he commits one brutal murder of after another. Several of his victims were young shepherds, hence the title. The chapters on Vacher's life are interspersed with chapters about one of France's earliest and most progressive (in some ways) criminologist Alexandre Laccassagne. He solved cases using new and daring methods and ways of thinking, and was a forerunner of forensic science as we know it today. Eventually, Lacassagne becomes involved in the investigation of Vacher's string of murders, and is instrumental in identifying him, connecting him to the crimes, and in his trial.For nonfiction, I found this... more a gripping read that flowed easily. Both Vacher and Lacassagne are quite fascinating individuals - on the one hand we have the growth and descent into ever greater depravity of a serial killer, and on the other the career and cases of a brilliant scientist and criminologist. The insight into the early history and development of forensic science was intriguing as well.Just don't read it if you're eating. Or about to embark on a solo walking trip through deserted French countryside. Or if you're a shepherd.
review 2: More like 3.5 stars rounded up. It's a bifurcated tale with chapters alternating between following the life of Joseph Vacher, a sexual sadist/serial killer of young teens (either sex was good for him) and the life of Dr. Alexander Lacassagne, a man who helped to kick start the birth of forensic science as we've come to know it.Actually Lacassagne was the far more interesting of the two storylines. Vacher wasn't boring, per se, but his story had to be spread a tad thin to keep up the alternating chapter theme because Lacassagne had done just so much fascinating stuff. I found this highly interesting and am putting it on the to keep as reference shelf. less

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