The Final Diagnosis
Written by: Cynric Temple-Camp
HarperCollins
Reviewed by: Kerry Lee
Whenever a murder is solved, the majority of the praise always seems to go to those who are in the spotlight. Too often, no one thanks the pathologists who work behind the scenes to help bring about justice.
Leading New Zealand pathologist Cynric Temple-Camp attempts to rectify that with his third and final book The Final Diagnosis. This fascinating title helps shed light on work that never seems to ever get enough credit. Right away, readers will be drawn into an unfamiliar world (for some) that deals with the dead and gives those left behind some much-needed closure.
From accidental deaths to sneaky viruses trying to escape a pathologist’s eagle eye, The Final Diagnosis will leave you on the edge of your seat. Temple-Camp’s writing is simple and easy to read, ensuring that almost anyone with even a passing interest in pathology can pick it up and enjoy it. You can tell that the author has a love for pathology, as he imbues his anecdotes with a real sense of adventure. One that stuck out for me was the young man who was so convinced there was something wrong with him that he impersonated a doctor so he could have more tests done on himself.
As well as telling us stories that are sometimes stranger than fiction, Temple-Camp gives his perspective on New Zealand’s high-profile cases, such as the Mark Lundy murders and the disappearance of Ben Smart and Olivia Hope.
The subject matter might put some people off, but I implore you not to pass The Final Diagnosis up. On average it can take 13 years of hard study to become a forensic pathologist, so for many of us, this may be the best chance we get to peek behind the curtain and see how and why they do what they do.
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