Two books this month, both non-fiction, share tenuous links with each other.   The first is “The Natural History of Crime” by Patricia Wiltshire, the UK’s leading forensic ecologist.

She has worked on high-profile murder cases for the past 25 years, assisting in the search for graves and human remains.

Wiltshire’s expertise in how flora and fauna leave traces on a perpetrator’s shoes and clothing has been crucial in linking criminals to their victims and crime scenes. She writes with sensitivity and compassion about her role in bringing to justice notorious figures such as Ian Huntley and Roy Whiting. Her book delves into the intricacies of forensic ecology, illustrating how minute details like pollen, spores, and plant fragments can crack major cases. This book is a comprehensive account of her groundbreaking work and is available in hardback for £22.

Professor Alice Roberts, well known for her television work and her academic career, specialises in anatomy and biological anthropology. In “Crypt, Life, Death and Disease in the Middle Ages and Beyond,” she illuminates an era with few written records through the lens of archaeological finds. Advances in science have allowed us to glean fascinating information about how people from that period lived, what they ate, how they died, and the diseases they suffered from.

Through seven detailed case studies, Roberts explores the lives of massacre victims, the turbulent political climate leading to the murder of Thomas Becket, and the tragic fate of the archers who went down with the Mary Rose. This historical exploration is brought to life with vivid descriptions and meticulous research, offering readers a window into the past. This book is a richly detailed narrative of medieval life and death, available in hardback for £22.

Visit www.oldhallbooks.com for more information.