LibGuides: True Crime Book Club: January 2025

About the Author: Laurah Norton

Writer and former academic with 15 years in the fields of literary fiction, creative nonfiction, and archival and primary research. Practiced podcast showrunner and host with experience in serial and single-episode formats. Currently working on a supernatural suspense-thriller novel set in the mid 1990s that ties together the Appalachian foothills of Georgia, folk magic, and forensic science. Other literary publications include fiction, poetry, and creative nonfiction in journals and anthologies like Stone, River, Sky; Puerto del Sol; Post Road, and many more.

What We Watched: Hardin Cemetery Disaster

Rated TV-14. Part of the series Buried Secrets.

What the inhabitants of this small Missouri town came to realize was that the Great Midwest Flood of 1993 would have the ability to unearth the dead as the Missouri river flowed three and a half miles over its banks. The floodwaters ate through the Hardin cemetery, unearthing hundreds of headstones, vaults and caskets, sending them through the streets and fields of Ray County. As the disaster unfolded, a special team comprised of local volunteers and forensic anthropologists, pathologists and other specialists brought together by DMORT (Disaster Mortuary Operational Response Team) came from as far away as Washington, DC in a massive effort to recover, identify, and repatriate the hundreds of individuals exhumed by the floodwaters.

Synopsis

Fans of true crime shows like CSI, NCIS, Criminal Minds, and Law and Order know that when it comes to "getting the bad guy" behind bars, your best chance of success boils down to the strength of your evidence-and the forensic science used to obtain it. Beyond the silver screen, forensic science has been used for decades to help solve even the most tough-to-crack cases.

In 2018, the accused Golden State Killer, Joseph DeAngelo, was finally apprehended after a decades-long investigation thanks to a very recent technique called forensic genealogy, which has since led to the closure of hundreds of cold cases, bringing long-awaited justice to victims and families alike. But when it comes to solving these incredibly difficult cases, forensic genealogy is just the tip of the iceberg-and many readers have no idea just how far down that iceberg goes. For Laurah Norton, forensic science was always more of a passion than anything else. But after learning about a mishandled 1990s cold case involving missing twins, she was spurred to action, eventually creating a massively popular podcast and building a platform that helped bring widespread attention and resources to the case.

Lay Them To Rest builds on Laurah's fascination with these investigations, introducing readers to the history and evolution of forensic science, from the death masks used in Ancient Rome to the 3-D facial reconstruction technology used today. Incorporating the stories of real-life John & Jane Does across four centuries-and five countries-Laurah examines how changing identification methods have helped solve cases like The Boy in the Box, The Clocaenog Forest Man, and more. Along the way readers will also get to see Laurah solve a case in real time with forensic anthropologist Dr. Amy Michael, as they try to determine the identity of "Ina" Jane Doe, a woman whose skull and vertebrae were found dangling in a bush in an Illinois park in 1993.

More than just a chronicle of the history of forensics, Lay Them To Rest is also a celebration of the growing field of experts, forensic artists, and anthropologists (many of whom Laurah talks to in the book), who work tirelessly to bring closure to these unsolved cases. And of course, this book asks why some cases go unsolved, highlighting the "missing missing," the sex workers, undocumented, the cases that so desperately need our attention, but so rarely get it. Engrossing, informative, heartbreaking, and hopeful, Lay Them To Rest is a deep dive into the world of forensic science, showing readers how far we've come in cracking cases and catching killers, and illuminating just how far we have yet to go.

Discussion Questions

1. Exploration of Human Dignity

In the book, the investigators work tirelessly to give names and identities to those who have been forgotten. What does this tell us about the value of human dignity and the importance of closure for both the victims and their families? How do you think this affects the investigators personally?

2. Ethical Considerations

The work of cold case investigators often involves handling sensitive information and solving cases that may be decades old. What ethical dilemmas might arise during this process, especially when dealing with the deceased's family members or potential suspects? How should investigators balance truth with compassion?

3. Technological Advancements

The book discusses the use of modern technology, such as DNA testing, in solving cold cases. How has technology changed the way cold cases are approached? What are the potential benefits and drawbacks of relying on such technology in these investigations?

4. Psychological Impact on Investigators

How do you think the relentless pursuit of justice for nameless victims affects the emotional and mental well-being of cold case investigators? In what ways does their work challenge their understanding of justice and humanity?

5. The Importance of Community Involvement

In some of the cases discussed in the book, local communities play a crucial role in uncovering information. How important is community involvement in solving cold cases? What steps can communities take to support investigative efforts?

6. The Role of Family in Cold Cases

Family members of the victims often seek closure, even after many years. How does the book portray the role of family in the investigative process, and how does it affect the case-solving process emotionally? How does this dynamic influence the outcome of cases?

7. The Power of Storytelling

The author uses storytelling to bring the cases to life. How does Norton's approach to narrative impact the reader’s engagement with the cold cases? In what ways does storytelling help humanize the victims and investigators involved?

8. Obstacles in Cold Case Investigation

What are the primary obstacles faced by cold case investigators in identifying and solving cases? How do they navigate these challenges, and what strategies do they employ to keep pushing forward despite setbacks?

9. The Role of Memory and Identification

Memory plays a significant role in solving cold cases, whether through eyewitness accounts, DNA matches, or the recollections of family members. How does the theme of memory—both collective and individual—shape the investigation process in the book?

10. Broader Societal Implications

Lay Them to Rest highlights the often overlooked victims of crimes—those who are nameless and without families. What does this suggest about broader societal values, and how can we shift our focus to ensure that no one is forgotten or left behind?

11. Impact of Unsolved Cases

The book touches on the emotional impact of unsolved cases on families and communities. How do unresolved cases affect the living relatives of the deceased, and why is it so important to find closure in these cases?

12. Comparisons to Fictional Investigations

Compare the investigative process and challenges described in the book with fictional portrayals of cold case investigations in TV shows and films. How does Lay Them to Rest differ from or align with these depictions of crime-solving?

MLN Materials

book

Teasing Secrets from the Dead by Emily A. Craig; Kathy Reichs (Foreword by)
Call Number: 363.25 Craig
Emily Craig has been a witness to history, helping to seek justice for thousands of murder victims, both famous and unknown. It's a personal story that you won't soon forget. Emily first became intrigued by forensics work when, as a respected medical illustrator, she was called in by the local police to create a model of a murder victim's face. Her fascination with that case led to a dramatic midlife career change: She would go back to school to become a forensic anthropologist--and one of the most respected and best-known "bone hunters" in the nation.
How to Catch a Killer by Katherine Ramsland
Call Number: 364.1523 Ramsland
No two stories about the capture of a serial killer are the same. Sometimes, the killers make crucial mistakes; other times, investigators get lucky. And the process of profiling, hunting, and apprehending these predators has changed radically over time, particularly in the field of criminal forensics, which has exploded in the last ten to 15 years. Laser ablation, video spectral analysis, cyber-sleuthing, and even DNA-based genetic genealogy are now crucial tools in solving murders, including the recent capture of the so-called Golden State Killer. This book in the new Profiles in Crime series tells the history of forensics through the "capture stories" of some of the most notorious serial killers, going back almost a century.
Digging for the Disappeared by Adam Rosenblatt
Call Number: 698 Rosenblatt
Adam Rosenblatt examines the ethical, political, and historical foundations of the rapidly growing field of forensic investigation, from the graves of the "disappeared" in Latin America to genocides in Rwanda and the former Yugoslavia to post-Saddam Hussein Iraq. In the process, he illustrates how forensic teams strive to balance the needs of war crimes tribunals, transitional governments, and the families of the missing in post-conflict nations. Digging for the Disappeared draws on interviews with key players in the field to present a new way to analyze and value the work forensic experts do at mass graves, shifting the discussion from an exclusive focus on the rights of the living to a rigorous analysis of the care of the dead. Rosenblatt tackles these heady, hard topics in order to extend human rights scholarship into the realm of the dead and the limited but powerful forms of repair available for victims of atrocity.
Past Lives by Ian Wilson
Call Number: 930.10285 Wilson
In this work, Ian Wilson shows how scientists have reconstructed the faces of our ancestors to give us a meaningful sense of what they looked like. Studies of bones and teeth can reveal much about each character's diet, which in turn sheds light on how they lived. Possessions found around the body can tells us even more about who these people were. Each of the four sections in the book contains a comprehensive introduction, allowing the reader to understand the historical context in which these people lived. Character by character, from prehistory to modern times, Ian Wilson's detective work and knowledge enables him to tell the very human stories of these past lives.