Cause of Death, The
Temple-Camp, CynricIn his 30-year career as a provincial pathologist in New Zealand, Dr Cynric Temple-Camp has accrued many cases most unsuitable for discussion at the dinner table. They range from the infamous Lundy case, to instances of spontaneous combustion, exhumations and drug mules, with each case receiving the same respectful care and attention required to determine the cause of death.
Compelling, surprising but never macabre, this is an easy-to-read, informative book chronicling just what goes on when the worst happens. [Larger font]
Pages
310
310
Year
2017
2017
Reviews
22-02-2024
We all thoroughly enjoyed this book. Easy to read, put down-pick up. Interesting without being too gory. Highly recommend.
15-11-2023
Such an interesting read! Well-written and not gory at all - not what you expect!
13-11-2023
A non-fiction book that could have been too technical and gory but we found it extremely interesting, informative, and at times humorous. Being set in New Zealand gave the book more impact as we knew places and events. A good insight into the dilemmas that face the coroner, pathologist, police and families - fascinating.
02-11-2023
Well-written. Facts plus humour. Enjoyed it!!
17-03-2023
Half of our group enjoyed this book and half did not. We scored it 7.3/10. Positive things about the books were; easy read, loved reading about known cases, factual, based in science. The people who rated it a bit lower could not get into the book and missed cohesion.
13-03-2023
What an interesting book. Thoroughly enjoyed by most.
17-11-2022
The majority of our group enjoyed reading this book - one of our members has recommended it to another book group. It is intriguing, insightful, thought-provoking and disturbing.
08-11-2022
An engaging, conversational easy read. "Gruesome stuff" was explained well but not gratuitously.
03-09-2022
Overall thoroughly enjoyed, especially as it was non-fiction from NZ. It was a pretty easy read even though some details were quite grisly, they were described so matter of factly that it was ok.
02-03-2022
Fascinating insight into the work of a practising pathologist. Most of our group remember many of the cases (being from Palmerston North!)
02-03-2022
We all really enjoyed this book, we thought he dealt with this macabre subject with humour. Great variety of stories. Incredibly interesting and great to read something based in N.Z. Well worth reading.
15-11-2021
Generally enjoyed. A bit gruesome.
25-08-2021
This book was chosen by a member who had worked with CT and is still friends with him. Most members weren't enthused when faced with the book, but variously found it: interesting, fascinating, educational, respectful of the dead, easy (and fast) to read. One member found comfort. A couple had a personal connection. Only one member scored a 4. Highest scoring book we have had!
23-02-2021
We all loved this book. It was an easy read and morbidly fascinating. The high profile cases were very interesting. Many of us have recommended it to others to read.
07-12-2020
Fascinating, local and informative; Cynric captured our attention with his easily digestible read, and kept us wanting more. Hoping to have Mr Temple-Camp speak at our nearest library saw us organising a get together with two other book groups for our Dec meeting instead. What a hoot! Thanks Cynric! Your book brought a community of book lovers together.
19-08-2020
Great read with each chapter presenting as a short murder mystery, made all the more interesting because the stories are true and set in New Zealand.
20-11-2019
Universally loved by all! Great conversation starter. Lots of engagement and such a deft writer!
13-11-2019
All "enjoyed" (!) this well-written book. It was restrained and lacking in sensationalism in presenting the facts. It was about people, not cases. For some of the cases described chronological dates were missing and would have been helpful.
13-11-2019
Most of us enjoyed this book - very readable; good insight into the dual roles of forensic and coronial pathology. Intriguing situations to discern cause of death in most instances. Two of our group have enjoyed investigative roles - but not into death. We appreciated the respect shown as coroner: "The last opportunity to speak for the dead". Good discussion as well as curiosity about the role.
15-10-2019
Most of us felt some apprehension when this book arrived, but once we got started we could appreciate the work and commitment Dr Temple-Camp has towards his clients - both the living and the dead. There were some interesting, funny and sad stories included. We discussed the conviction the author expressed about telling his clients' last story accurately and respectfully.
15-10-2019
Because it is very informative in a chatty and readable way, it was thought provoking. Allowed us to understand but not be overwhelmed. Good knack for telling a yarn.
15-10-2019
Relevant and excellent read.
09-08-2019
This book was enjoyed by all. We were very interested in the job of a pathologist. He gave us a real insight to the detective work involved. So good to read a New Zealand book, but also interesting to read about the connections with pathologists worldwide.
09-08-2019
A light read, but easy to read and entertaining. The interesting subject matter led on to further discussion on subjects such as suicide, spontaneous combustion and domestic violence. And particularly the Lundy case, which is scheduled for a final appeal next month, August 27th in Wellington.
07-08-2019
Because of the title and the cover we approached this book with trepidation, but all found it interesting. It is very easy to read, and the writer deals with the subject sensitively yet with an unemotional distance which made us trust him.