Bernard Knight – författare

The fourth edition of Knight's Forensic Pathology continues to be the definitive international resource for those in training and in practice, covering all aspects of the medico-legal autopsy, including the cause and time of death, interpretation of wounds and every other facet of the investigation of a fatality.The contents are intended to lead the pathologist – and in some countries, the non-pathologist – through the procedures needed in the examination of a body found under obscure, suspicious or even criminal circumstances.Although police procedures and the habits of pathologists may vary from country to country, the philosophy and techniques presented in this book offer a guide to good practices that can be modified according to local circumstances.In this new edition the text has been thoroughly updated and is complemented by the addition of over 200 new colour illustrations. It maintains the praised tradition of clarity and readability established since Prof. Bernard Knight’s first edition was published in 1991, with an emphasis on the practical application of knowledge and research findings and the avoidance of over-interpretation.

When Crowner John is summoned to the bleak Devonshire moors to investigate the murder of a tin miner, he has little idea how difficult this new investigation will prove to be. The victim is a trusted and well-loved overman of Devon's most powerful and successful mine owner, Walter Knapman. There seems to be only one possible motive - to sabotage Walter's business. But the tinners have their own laws, and they are none too pleased at Crowner John's interference. Especially as their main experience of officials has been with Sheriff Richard de Revelle, whose notoriously high taxes keep them in a permanent state of fury and near rebellion. And then Walter disappears. Stephen Acland, Walter's business rival wastes no time in comforting Walter's beautiful wife Joan, who appears remarkably unmoved by her husband's disappearance. Meanwhile, Walter's brother is going frantic with worry ... or could it be guilt? A decapitated body, a missing tinner, a disgruntled band of miners and a mad Saxon, intent on the destruction of all things Norman. How on earth can Crowner John sort all this out when his wife hates him, his mistress has spurned him for a younger man, and his clerk is in the grip of a suicidal depression? Only Gwyn, Crowner John's indispensable right-hand man seems to be of any help at all, until he is arrested for murder and put on trial for his life.

May 1195, and Sir John de Wolfe is faced with a strange series of serial murders, which begins with the suffocation of a Jewish money-lender and proceeds through that of a London harlot, a dissolute priest and a burgess suspected of abusing young boys. The common factor is that an appropriate Biblical text is left at each murder scene, the mode of which reflects the alleged sin of the victim. This means that a literate and Bible-learned killer is involved - which, in an age where only 1% of the population can read or write - can only be a priest. There are at least twenty-five parish churches in Exeter, so the killer could be any one of more than a hundred clerics. Crowner John sets about to discover the identity of the homicidal priest.

THE PERFECT MEDIEVAL MURDER MYSTERY TO READ THIS HALLOWEENExeter, 1195. When a prominent burgess and guild-master falls dead across his horse, Crowner John declines to hold an inquest as the man had been complaining of chest pains and shows no signs of injury. Events take a sinister turn, however, when a straw-dolly is discovered hidden under the man's saddle, a spike driven through its heart.Enlisting the help of her cousin, a cathedral canon with an eye to ecclesiastical advancement, the victim's strident widow begins a campaign in the name of the Church against witchcraft and the so-called 'cunning women' who practise it, dividing Exeter into two camps amidst a climate of fear. Still the coroner refuses to get involved - until his beloved mistress is accused of witchcraft.Can Crowner John unearth the real culprit and save Nesta from the hangman's noose?

Gilbert de Rideford is a Knight of the Temple of Solomon, and an old acquaintance from Crowner John's crusading days. He claims to have come into possession of a secret that could shake Christendom to its foundations - and he desperately needs John's help to escape from the secretive order of warrior monks. Suddenly swept into a world of religious intrigue and dangerous politics, Crowner John finds himself undertaking a life-threatening mission to the Island of Lundy - inhabited solely by notorious pirates - until finally the awful secret itself is revealed.

Knight’s Forensic Pathology has become a standard reference book worldwide. The unambiguous style, practical orientation, and an approach based strictly on scientific evidence together with the experience of the authors have contributed to this success. A cautious and self-critical interpretation of autopsy findings is required for a correct diagnosis, and these findings become the cornerstone for investigating unexplained fatalities. Whenever possible, macroscopic evaluation should be complemented by visiting the scene of death, pre-autoptic imaging, biochemical and toxicological analyses as well as histological examinations.This latest edition represents a comprehensive revision, incorporating cutting-edge research and contemporary scientific literature in the field. The text has been significantly enriched with an extensive collection of new full-colour photographic documentation, primarily sourced from recent forensic autopsies conducted at the prestigious Freiburg Institute of Forensic Medicine. The commitment to case-based learning is maintained by presenting meticulously documented cases that highlight crucial morphological findings—an approach that remains invaluable in developing the forensic pathologist's critical diagnostic acumen and observational expertise.Reviews of the previous edition."This remains one of the most important books in this field of pathology. It is comprehensive and well written. The images and drawings are carefully chosen and nicely depict common and uncommon problems encountered in forensic pathology. This book is highly recommended for everyone who performs medicolegal autopsies and should be in all pathology and general hospital libraries."Doody's Book Review Service“This book is, and will remain for some time, the international benchmark for general forensic pathology and should be on the shelves of every forensic department and library. It is a joy to read and never fails to yield pertinent information and details on cases, conditions and issues” - Roger W. Byard, School of Medicine, The University of Adelaide, Forensic Science, Medicine and Pathology, Springer

Exeter, 1195. Renovations at the new school in Smythen Street are disrupted by the shocking discovery of a partially mummified corpse hidden in the rafters - and Sir John de Wolfe, the county coroner is called to investigate. Richard de Revelle, Sir John's brother-in-law and founder of the school, immediately tries to blame Nicholas de Arundell, a young outlawed knight living rough on Dartmoor. As Sir John discovers, Nicholas has good reason to bear a grudge against the unscrupulous de Revelle. But is he really a killer? With the victim's identity unknown and the motive a mystery, the murder remains unsolved. But then comes news of a second violent death - and Sir John is forced to track down the 'noble outlaw' in order to find the answers.

With the city of Exeter ravaged by an outbreak of the 'yellow plague', Sir John de Wolfe, the county coroner, must divide his time between visiting his sick brother, William, who has been struck down by the disease, and dealing with a series of brutal murders which appears to be linked to a revival of heresy in the city. When some of the cathedral canons begin a crusade against this danger to the Church, Sir John finds himself accused of being too sympathetic to the heretics, bringing him into conflict with the ecclesiastic authorities. As the situation worsens, the coroner must seek sanctuary in order to save his skin. Can he survive long enough to unmask the real killer?