xoshee's reviews
14 reviews

Gripping narration by Sam Kean of the scientists (and spies) of WW2 who obstructed the creation of the atomic bomb by Nazi Germany. Kean details the stories of a handful of prominent physicists and chemists involved in thwarting Nazi scientists from obtaining resources or information necessary to create the atomic bomb. After reading this book I gained a new appreciation for many well-known physicists who fought not only for their own lives but to keep secrets safe, as well as disdain for a couple selfish physicists. Kean does a great job narrating all of these individual stories and tying them together, as well as explaining necessary scientific material for anyone to understand. Highly recommend to those interested in science and/or WW2, specifically Nazi Germany. 

Fascinating book by true crime podcaster Laurah Norton who teams up with forensic anthropologist Dr. Amy Michael to attempt to solve the cold case of Ina Jane Doe, an unknown woman whose head was discovered in Wayne Fitzgerrell State Park in 1993. Norton takes the reader on an investigative journey of solving cold cases, meticulously detailing all the different steps like reviewing case files, skeletal and dental analysis, and DNA testing and genealogy. Throughout the book Norton also specifies databases and systems used by the public to aid law enforcement working on cold cases. So, if you are someone interested in lending your own time to collaborate with like-minded individuals to solve cold cases, there are some great resources outlined in this book. Overall, a must-read for true crime junkies and/or people interested in forensic anthropology. 

Former death investigator Barbara Butcher recounts her 20+ years working for the NYC Office of Chief Medical Examiner in this memoir. Butcher describes death scenes investigation in detail, including her role in aftermath of 9/11, all while reflecting on her own past and struggles with addiction. This book is a great view of the life of a death investigator in a large city, and no gruesome details are spared. Butcher is an incredibly determined person with a no-nonsense attitude which came off overly strong throughout the book, almost comically so. I struggled getting past what read like exaggerated 90s crime drama acting, as if Butcher REALLY wanted to make sure we knew she was a tough NYC crime investigator with a chip on her shoulder, it was excessive. That being said, if you aren’t bothered by or welcome brash personalities, you will likely find the book enjoyable to read. 

Incredibly emotional narrative nonfiction detailing the journey of the Donner-reed Party traveling from Illinois to California in 1846, and the tragic deaths of nearly half the party in the Sierra Nevada Mountains. Brown is an amazing writer who takes a vast collection of source material and transforms it into a gripping story. I appreciated that Brown frequently broke from the story and offered context behind certain historical events and even scientific/medical explanations, it helped better put things into perspective. If you’ve never heard of the Donner Party, or have done your share of research (like I did) and want more, I highly recommend this book. 

Absolutely heartbreaking book following the forensic anthropological investigation of Dr. Erin Kimmerle at the Arthur G. Dozier School for Boys, a reform school in Florida. Kimmerle does an amazing job researching the history of the school grounds and using that information to locate nearly sixty gravesites, all while fighting state and local pushback. My only gripe with this book is that Kimmerle adopts a memoir-style throughout the book, and there’s a point early on where she spends nearly 11 pages telling her entire life story.  It felt forced and completely detracted from the premise of the book, you’ll know once you get to it, and you can quite literally skip to the next chapter. Overall, this is a great read for anyone interested in anthropological science and/or true crime. 

Incredible book detailing the events of the 1920s Osage murders in Oklahoma and the subsequent creation of the FBI. David Grann takes a creative approach to this investigative nonfiction, resulting in an immersive and emotional read. Even so, Grann takes special care to properly cite all references and quotes used throughout the book. I started this book with zero knowledge on the Osage murders and did not feel lost or that I needed more background information at any point, Grann covers it all in great detail without being dry. 

Opinion: Memoir-style book by Amy Bruni on the truths behind ghosts and ghost hunting. This was a @themorbidlycuriousbookclub monthly read with great reviews so I purchased it with an open mind, as I would not consider myself a believer of the supernatural. Full disclosure, I did not finish it. Bruni starts off strong, detailing her first experiences with the supernatural and how she got into ghost hunting. Each chapter takes a common misconception about ghosts and refutes it (except not always and I’ll get into that) while also offering some stories about Bruni’s own experiences that offer a fun, spooky element. My issue with the book is that Bruni constantly contradicts herself. For example, an early chapter is entirely devoted to squashing the myth that ghosts are trying to scare/hurt you, but then later in the book (and even within the same chapter) discusses how some ghosts are dangerous. This is a reoccurring theme in each chapter and about 3/4 through the book, I couldn’t do it anymore. Perhaps this was intentional as Bruni explains early on that the paranormal is, in its nature, unexplainable, but all the definitive language used throughout the book was irritating to me.