The heartwrenchingly honest new book about life and death from forensic pathologist and bestselling author of UNNATURAL CAUSES Dr Richard ShepherdA TIMES AND SUNDAY TIMES BOOK OF THE YEARDeeply insightful. Unflinching THE TIMESA finelycrafted detective story DAILY TELEGRAPHEnlightening strangely uplifting DAILY MAILFascinating DAILY EXPRESSDr Richard Shepherd a medical detective and Britains top forensic pathologist shares twentyfour of his most intriguing enlightening and neverbeforetold cases.These autopsies spanning the seven ages of human existence uncover the secrets not only of how a person died but also of how they lived.From old to young murder to misadventure and illness to accidental death each body has something to reveal about its owners life story how we age justice society the certainty of death.And above all the wonderful marvel of life itself.Praise for Dr Richard ShepherdGripping grimly fascinating and I suspect Ill read it at least twice Evening StandardA deeply mesmerising memoir of forensic pathology. Human and fascinating Nigella LawsonAn absolutely brilliant book. I really recommend it I dont often say that but its fascinating Jeremy Vine BBC Radio 2Puts the reader at his elbow as he wields the scalpel GuardianFascinating gruesome yet engrossing Richard and Judy Daily ExpressFascinating insightful candid compassionate Observer