I picked up ‘When The Dogs Don’t Bark’ in a local independent bookshop when my husband and I popped in. As soon as I saw the cover, I needed to have it due to the fact it stirred my current interest in true crime.

The blurb is this:

Never before has criminal justice rested so heavily on scientific evidence. With ever-more sophisticated and powerful techniques at their disposal, forensic scientists have an unprecedented ability to help solve even the most complex cases.

Angela Gallop has been a forensic scientist for over 40 years. After joining the Forensic Science Service, the first crime scene she attended was for a case involving the Yorkshire Ripper. As well as working on a wide range of cases in many countries around the world, she is now the most sought-after forensic scientist in the UK, where she has helped solve numerous high-profile cases, including the investigation that finally absolved the Cardiff Three, the Pembrokeshire Coastal Path murders, and the killings of Stephen Lawrence, Damilola Taylor, Rachel Nickell and Roberto Calvi.

From the crime scene to the courtroom, When the Dogs Don’t Bark is the remarkable story of a life spent searching for the truth.

The main part that drew me in was the familiarity I had with some of the cases. The Stephen Lawrence case was a huge feature in the media when I was growing up, but I really never got to know the details of the case due to my age. I became aware of the Pembroke Coastal Path Murders through the ‘They Walk Amongst Us’ podcast so was intrigued by the prospect of a different viewpoint into this case.

The book was very heavy in terms of forensic terminology, which I expected due to the nature of the book, however Angela Gallop gives excellent examples and easy to follow metaphors that ensured I didn’t get lost in the jargon.

The book was a brilliant insight into forensic science and really piqued my interest with Gallop’s descriptions of how forensics developed as a business for her, and how it then evolved. I became absorbed in the way that side of things worked and the history surrounding Britain’s forensic heritage.

The tone of the book was very much like talking to a friend. At some points in the book, I felt that it was almost like the two of us are sitting down with a cup of tea, discussing our careers. I enjoyed that feeling and I think it’s a very hard thing for an author to get right, I couldn’t help but feel that it was a genuine aspect of Gallop’s personality.

Overall I enjoyed this book, but it really was one that I had to concentrate on in order to ensure I understood everything I was reading.