Murder And Mayhem: A Doctor Answers Medical And Forensic Questions For Mystery Writers Download Free (EPUB, PDF)
In Murder and Mayhem: A Doctor Answers Medical and Forensic Questions for Mystery Writers, Dr. D. P. Lyle culls the best of his popular "The Doctor Is In" question-and-answer column for the Mystery Writers of America, in which he answers medical and forensic questions from writers all over the country.A frequent advisor to published mystery writers, as well as writers for TV shows such as Law and Order, Dr. Lyle tackles subjects such as traumatic injuries, doctors and hospitals, weapons of death, poisons and drugs, police and the crime scene, the coroner and the crime lab, and more. In extremely organized and accessible detail, he answers questions spanning a wide range: Do pupils shrink or enlarge with death? Can X rays be copied? Can ingested cocaine kill? How soon do strangulation bruises appear?Lively and accessible, this solid reference book is bound for every mystery writer's shelf.
Hardcover: 304 pages
Publisher: Minotaur Books; 1st edition (January 9, 2003)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0312309457
ISBN-13: 978-0312309459
Product Dimensions: 5.7 x 1.2 x 8.6 inches
Shipping Weight: 15.2 ounces
Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars See all reviews (21 customer reviews)
Best Sellers Rank: #1,019,212 in Books (See Top 100 in Books) #89 in Books > Mystery, Thriller & Suspense > Writing #193 in Books > Literature & Fiction > History & Criticism > Genres & Styles > Mystery & Detective #198 in Books > Mystery, Thriller & Suspense > Mystery > Reference
This book is a collection of question-and-answer columns that Dr. Lyle wrote for Mystery Writers of America newsletters, so it's not exactly a comprehensive reference: some information is presented briefly, some is covered at great length, and some is repeated. But he covers a wide variety of topics useful to writers of mysteries and other fiction -- everything from the effects of various wounds and poisons, to what happens during a miscarriage, to who serves as the coroner in a small town. So, unless your character is an extremely ingenious murderer or suffers from a rare disease, you can probably find the information you need to write a convincing description. Also, Dr. Lyle has a good grasp of the writer's perspective, so he's very helpful in pointing out whether an author has "wiggle room" or not; this distinction isn't always clear in medical reference material. The book is easy to read, lively, and often funny, and if you're fascinated by medical details (how can the M.E. tell if someone drowned in fresh or salt water?), you'll find it enthralling -- but if not, you can always skip to the next question. Three thumbs up! (MY character has an extra digit.)
I picked up a copy of this book from the local library to use for a story I was working on. The information contained in this book can be a great resource for a writer. It was such a good find that I immediately hopped onto to get a copy of my own.So you thought it was a novel? Not really but I can well imagine it has been used in many novels. If you want to use precise medical descriptions of wounds and illnesses for characters in your novels then this is the resource for you.The author goes into detail about injuries and describes not only what happens when an person is injured or attacked but describes, in detail, what else happens in the body at the same time.Highly recommended for writers!
"Murder and Mayhem" is a MUST have for writers of all genres, readers, and even those glued to a television or the movies. This book is a one stop opportunity to understand the medical and forensic questions that arise in all of the most popular shows, films and books of our time. And on top of being incredibly informative--it's entertaining. I couldn't put it down. DP Lyle, MD is an exceptional writer with a flare for humor. This one is a keeper!!Kathleen Antrim, Author of "Capital Offense"
It's three am,you're hard at work on your mystery screenplay, and all that's missing is the essential medical clue to solve the murder. Who ya gonna call? Dr. Lyle is the go-to guy for writers looking for the perfect piece of medical knowledge, fillin the blanks that imagination alone simply can't. Even if you aren't a writer, the book is probably the best bathroom reading ever -- endlessly entertaining, witty, and informative. Buy this book!
This book provides readers and writers with answers to "medical and forensic questions". The Q & A come from Dr. Lyle's column "The Doctor Is In" found in the newsletters of the Southern California and Southwestern chapters of the MWA. The first thing this reviewer did was scan the titles to insure that the good doctor had no Letterman type list of ten best ways to kill a critic. Once the book passed that critical test, I read the intriguing Q & A over a week's time. The questions are quite fascinating surely leading to the psychiatrists of America having a field day wondering just who comes up with these thoughts outside the asylum. Dr. Lyle's responses are often humorous, but always informative. MURDER AND MAYHEM is a delightful book that readers desiring entertainment (and hopefully nothing further) as much as writers seeking information will enjoy as a pick up put down reference broken into ten prime classifications and an odds and ends category catching those Qs that slip between the cracks. Words of warning: Do not attempt to use this book to bump off that insignificant other because the legal equivalent has not been written to provide the justifiable homicide defense.Harriet Klausner
Although designed for mystery writers, Dr. Lyle's book is an exciting discovery for mystery readers and forensic experts. The material is organized and accessible for someone needing a reference with specific forensic questions and answers but personally I read it cover-to-cover, nonstop.D. P. Lyle, MD has created a most unusual, entertaining reference that is as much fun as the works of the top mystery writers and scriptwriters for whom the doctor consults. My only fear is that his book will fall into the hands of murderers!
's questions do not match this book because it isn't fiction. Anyway, I like all of Lyle's books of this style. I have them all and they are fascinating and very helpful for writing mysteries.
Awesome book. Tons of good reference material.I only questioned one item. The author mentioned 8 cervical vertebra. Humans only have 7. But, I'll cut slack because there are 8 spaces related to the 7 vertebra.
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