Written on the Skin cover art

Written on the Skin

An Australian Forensic Casebook

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Written on the Skin

By: Liz Porter
Narrated by: Elizabeth Kaye
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About this listen

In a close examination of an assault victim's body, a forensic physician can 'read' the terrible alphabet that fists and weapons have written across it. A crime scene investigator notes the tiny indentations on the fragments of a tin can identified at a bomb site, enabling him to find the can opener that made them - and the bomb-maker who used it. A forensic dentist identifies the thief who dropped some chewing gum, with his teeth marks in it, during a burglary. Liz Porter's riveting casebook shows how forensic investigators - including pathologists, chemists, entomologists, DNA specialists and document examiners - have used their expertise in dozens of fascinating crimes and mysteries.

©2006 Liz Porter; 2006 Bolinda (P)2007 Bolinda Publishing True Crime Exciting

Editorial reviews

Liz Porter’s fascinating Written on the Skin has that rare distinction of being a truly unique and wholly entrancing work: a casebook recording, in intricate and abundant detail, a body of forensic fieldwork that may seem, to the average listener, almost akin to magic.

Voice actor Elizabeth Kaye uses her warm, dry voice to great effect in her performance of this audiobook, and her careful, consistent tone is well-suited to Porter’s subject matter: the methodical review of corpses which can reveal so much about the circumstances of their lives, and deaths.

Critic Reviews

"Elizabeth Kaye narrates this Australian forensic casebook with vitality and intelligence. As she presents the particulars of selected cases solved by forensics – the 2002 Bali bombing, a fatal hit-and-run in Victoria, the Lindy Chamberlain case – listeners grow to understand that crime technicians don't have the glamour jobs seen on the popular C.S.I. shows that pepper the TV airwaves. Each of the 10 chapters deals with one special area used to solve cases, including 'Reading the Blood', 'Reading the Bones', and 'Reading the Crime Scene'. Porter's writing style mixes science with storytelling, and Kaye's reading is as exciting as the scientific study of decomposition can be, taking listeners through labor-intensive tests of bugs, bones, blood, and DNA. Well-organized research and a solid reading make this gripping listening." (AudioFile Magazine)
All stars
Most relevant  
loved the detailed stories and narrated really well. iggky recommend for the true crime fan.

captivating

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More scientific than your average true crime read, but succinctly written and minus the personal bias a lot of authors tend to add in. The narrator did a wonderful job with this Australian piece. Was a joy to listen to! A few cases I hadn't heard before which was also a treat

Brilliant

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This book came highly recommended to me and I have not been disappointed. Not for the squeamish but for those that enjoy forensic investigation & what it entails you will enjoy.

Top Read

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This is a fantastic collection of forensics stories by Australia’s very own Liz Porter. She writes with the perfect mixture of forensic expertise and human heart to give each story perfect nuance.
I learnt so much about technique and also the methodical never say die brains of our place force and investigation crew.
My only Cripe about this book is that it was read by an American. Not that I dislike Elizabeth Kayes voice it’s just that these are stories written about Australian crime, solved by Australians and written about Australian – so I just don’t get why this opportunity was missed to have the book voiced by an Aussie. Its ‘almost’ a crime 😏

Stories of Australian crime and the forensics that became their star witnesses.

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I read this book when first published. Misplaced it on one of many moves. Very disappointed the narrator is not Australian.

Non-Australian reader

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A very interesting book about cases in my own country and even town. Unfortunately the reader was a poor choice. She seems very bland and uninspiring and I had to keep stopping so that I could have a break from the monotone. Apart from this, the book has some fascinating insights into the forensics of the day.

Dull reader lets the author down.

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Narration was pretty bland, it reminded me of a case-per-episode podcast but without the in-depth detail. It was okay, but it’s not high up on the list of books in this kind of genre I’d recommend

Eh

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There is nothing wrong with context but the narrator and the recording and editing makes it so hard to listen to and follow.. so monotone and flat, all I can hear is wet mouth sounds behind the voice, then the recording cuts off mid paragraph with a weird pause like end of chapter but then comes back for the next sentence with a different sound.. its hard to explain bit it's obvious poor cut and edit I bought this as a required textbook for my uni course but I am going to have to buy it and read it myself coz listening to this is like trying to harvest a field with an manual push lawn mower. I can't even return it, because I forgot I had downloaded this before and returned it then.

too hard to listen too..

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The narrator sounds like she’s falling asleep while reading, the monotone is always used in non fiction books and it ruins it

I’ve never had such an interesting book be made so boring by the narrator

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In the spirit of reconciliation, Audible acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of country throughout Australia and their connections to land, sea and community. We pay our respect to their elders past and present and extend that respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples today.