An Expert Witness by Dame Sue Black

An Expert Witness by Dame Sue Black

THE INSTANT SUNDAY TIMES BESTSELLER

From the UK’s leading forensic scientist and Sunday Times bestselling author of All That Remains and Written in Bone: a gripping exploration of forensic science, told through often shocking real cases to assess its triumphs, failures, and future.

A NEW SCIENTIST BEST NEW SCIENCE BOOK OF THE MONTH

‘No scientist communicates better.’ Val McDermid, award-winning author of the Detective Karen Pirie series

Professor Dame Sue Black is no stranger to cross examination in the witness box. Time and time again she has placed her research and reputation on the line in the name of justice.
Now in An Expert Witness she puts forensic science itself on trial.

Exploring historic poisonings and modern sexual offences, miscarriages of justice and ground-breaking convictions, Black traces the evolution of forensic science from early fingerprinting to her own vein identification research, and unpacks the emerging role of artificial intelligence in criminal investigation.

Fascinating and revelatory, Sue uses shocking landmark cases to expose both the strengths and weaknesses of forensic science in court: In which cases did we get it right? In which did we get it wrong? What should we fight to preserve? And why does this book mark an end for this part of her extraordinary career.
Praise for Professor Dame Sue Black:

‘Gripping from the start . . . fascinating in its detail of real life cases and written with a narrative that propels you forward to the next page.’ Dr Richard Shepherd, forensic pathologist and author of Unnatural Causes

‘Dame Sue Black writes about life and death with great tenderness [and] with impeccable science lucidly explained . . . I am genuinely glad I read this book.’ Lee Child, bestselling author of the Reacher series

‘Part meditation, part popular science and part memoir . . . fascinating’ Sunday Times

‘Black writes with rare precision and compassion’ Evening Standard

Professor Lady Sue Black is one of the world’s leading anatomists and forensic anthropologists. She is President of John’s College, Oxford and previously Pro-Vice Chancellor for Engagement at Lancaster University. From 2003 to 2018 she was Professor of Anatomy and Forensic Anthropology at the University of Dundee.

She was the lead anthropologist for the British Forensic Team in the war crimes investigations in Kosovo, and one of the first forensic scientists to travel to Thailand following the Indian Ocean tsunami.

Sue was appointed Dame Commander of the Order of the British Empire for services to forensic anthropology and is a Lady of the Most Ancient and Most Noble Order of the Thistle.

She is the author of the critically acclaimed and award-winning Sunday Times bestsellers All That Remains and Written in Bone. Her new book, An Expert Witness: Forensic Science on Trial is published in 2026.