The Killer of Little Shepherds: A True Crime Story and the Birth of Forensic Science
Who Would Like This Book:
If you love true crime with an intellectual twist, this book is a goldmine. "The Killer of Little Shepherds" brilliantly weaves together the harrowing story of Joseph Vacher, a 19th-century French serial killer, with the fascinating birth of modern forensic science. The dual narrative - tracking both a ruthless murderer and the dedicated scientists who stopped him - makes for a riveting, well-researched read. Fans of historical mysteries, crime-solving innovations, and anyone intrigued by the origins of forensics (think early CSI but real!) will be glued to the pages.
Who May Not Like This Book:
Some readers may find the intermingling of detailed historical and scientific context with the true crime narrative to be a bit dense - this isn't a quick, pulpy read about a killer. If you prefer your true crime more focused on grisly details or fast-paced storytelling without many detours into societal context or the technicalities of forensic science, this book might be more information-heavy or methodical than you’d like. Additionally, a small number of readers found some scientific descriptions or period-appropriate practices, like animal experiments, unsettling or distracting.
About:
'The Killer of Little Shepherds: A True Crime Story and the Birth of Forensic Science' by Douglas Starr tells the parallel stories of Joseph Vacher, a violent serial killer in 19th century France, and Dr. Alexandre Lacassagne, a pioneering forensic scientist. Vacher's gruesome murders and Lacassagne's efforts to apply early forensic science to convict criminals are alternated in chapters, creating a compelling narrative akin to Erik Larsen's style of storytelling. delves into the historical context of forensic science in the 1800s, exploring the methods used in autopsies, the criminal theories of the time, and the challenges faced by law enforcement in solving crimes without modern technology.
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Sensitive Topics/Content Warnings
The book contains content warnings for graphic descriptions of murder and discussions of violence, particularly regarding the nature of Vacher's crimes.
From The Publisher:
Winner of the Gold Dagger Award
A fascinating true crime story that details the rise of modern forensics and the development of modern criminal investigation.
At the end of the nineteenth century, serial murderer Joseph Vacher terrorized the French countryside, eluding authorities for years, and murdering twice as many victims as Jack The Ripper. Here, Douglas Starr revisits Vacher's infamous crime wave, interweaving the story of the two men who eventually stopped him-prosecutor Emile Fourquet and Dr. Alexandre Lacassagne, the era's most renowned criminologist. In dramatic detail, Starr shows how Lacassagne and his colleagues were developing forensic science as we know it. Building to a gripping courtroom denouement, The Killer of Little Shepherds is a riveting contribution to the history of criminal justice.
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About the Author:
Douglas Starr is codirector of the Center for Science and Medical Journalism and a professor of journalism at Boston University. His book Blood: An Epic History of Medicine and Commerce won the 1998 Los Angeles Times Book Prize and became a PBS-TV documentary special. A veteran science, medical, and environmental reporter, Starr has contributed to many national publications, including Smithsonian, Audubon, National Wildlife, Sports Illustrated, the Los Angeles Times, The Christian Science Monitor, and Time, and has served as a science editor for PBS-TV. He lives near Boston.
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