Kindle
$10.49
Available instantly
Audible Logo Audiobook
$0.00
with membership trial
Hardcover
$46.86
Paperback
$19.61
Kindle Price: $10.49

Save $4.50 (30%)

Promotions apply when you purchase

These promotions will be applied to this item:

Some promotions may be combined; others are not eligible to be combined with other offers. For details, please see the Terms & Conditions associated with these promotions.

Audiobook Price: $15.25

Save: $7.76 (51%)

Read with our free app
You've subscribed to ! We will preorder your items within 24 hours of when they become available. When new books are released, we'll charge your default payment method for the lowest price available during the pre-order period.
Update your device or payment method, cancel individual pre-orders or your subscription at
Your Memberships & Subscriptions

Buy for others

Give as a gift or purchase for a team or group.
Learn more

Buying and sending eBooks to others

  1. Select quantity
  2. Buy and send eBooks
  3. Recipients can read on any device

These ebooks can only be redeemed by recipients in the US. Redemption links and eBooks cannot be resold.
Kindle app logo image

Download the free Kindle app and start reading Kindle books instantly on your smartphone, tablet, or computer - no Kindle device required.

Read instantly on your browser with Kindle for Web.

Using your mobile phone camera - scan the code below and download the Kindle app.

QR code to download the Kindle App

Follow the author

Richard Shepherd
+ Follow
More books from this author
Something went wrong. Please try your request again later.

Unnatural Causes Kindle Edition

by Richard Shepherd (Author) Format: Kindle Edition
4.5 4.5 out of 5 stars 20,905 ratings
See all formats and editions
Great on Kindle
Great Experience. Great Value.
iphone with kindle app
Putting our best book forward
Each Great on Kindle book offers a great reading experience, at a better value than print to keep your wallet happy.

Explore your book, then jump right back to where you left off with Page Flip.

View high quality images that let you zoom in to take a closer look.

Enjoy features only possible in digital – start reading right away, carry your library with you, adjust the font, create shareable notes and highlights, and more.

Discover additional details about the events, people, and places in your book, with Wikipedia integration.
Get the free Kindle app: Link to the kindle app page Link to the kindle app page
Enjoy a great reading experience when you buy the Kindle edition of this book. Learn more about Great on Kindle, available in select categories.

THE TRUE CRIME BOOK OF THE YEAR AND 18-WEEK SUNDAY TIMES TOP 10 BESTSELLER

'One of the most fascinating books I have read in a long time. Engrossing, a haunting page-turner. A book I could not put down' The Times, BOOKS OF THE YEAR
__________

Meet the forensic pathologist, Dr Richard Shepherd.

He solves the mysteries of unexplained or sudden death.

He has performed over 23,000 autopsies, including some of the most high-profile cases of recent times; the Hungerford Massacre, the Princess Diana inquiry, and 9/11.

He has faced serial killers, natural disaster, 'perfect murders' and freak accidents.

His evidence has put killers behind bars, freed the innocent, and turned open-and-shut cases on their heads.

Yet all this has come at a huge personal cost.

Unnatural Causes tells the story of not only the cases and bodies that have haunted him the most, but also how to live a life steeped in death.

Thoughtful, revealing, chilling and always unputdownable, if you liked All That Remains, War Doctor and This is Going to Hurt you'll love this.

**Pre-order Dr Richard Shepherd's new book THE SEVEN AGES OF DEATH now**
__________

'Gripping, grimly fascinating, and I suspect I'll read it at least twice' Evening Standard

'A deeply mesmerising memoir of forensic pathology. Human and fascinating' Nigella Lawson

'An absolutely brilliant book. I really recommend it, I don't often say that but it's fascinating' Jeremy Vine, BBC Radio 2

'Puts the reader at his elbow as he wields the scalpel' Guardian

'Fascinating, gruesome yet engrossing' Richard and Judy, Daily Express

'Fascinating, insightful, candid, compassionate' Observer

Read more Read less
Previous page
  1. Print length
    394 pages
  2. Language
    English
  3. Sticky notes
    On Kindle Scribe
  4. Publisher
    Penguin
  5. Publication date
    September 20, 2018
  6. File size
    3475 KB
  7. Page Flip
    Enabled
  8. Word Wise
    Enabled
  9. Enhanced typesetting
    Enabled
  10. See all details
Next page
Popular Highlights in this book
What are popular highlights?
Previous page
  1. Embarrassment is just the kind of worldly concern which I believe the dying relinquish, often perhaps with relief.
    Highlighted by 279 Kindle readers
  2. There are three ways a body can decompose: by putrefaction, mummification or adipocere, of which putrefaction is by far the most common.
    Highlighted by 204 Kindle readers
  3. And so, truth, that elastic commodity I once thought so immutable, becomes a question not of fact but of definition.
    Highlighted by 156 Kindle readers
Next page

Editorial Reviews

Review

Puts the reader at his elbow as he wields the scalpel - - Guardian

Fabulous . . . The UK's top pathologist investigating high-profile deaths such as that of Diana, Princess of Wales - - The Sunday Post

One of the most fascinating books I have read in a long time. Engrossing, a haunting page-turner. A book I could not put down - - The Times

Heart-wrenchingly honest - - Professor Sue Black, author of All That Remains

Unnatural Causes gives a sense of the toll that dealing with so many dead bodies takes. It's a very human book that looks at the cases he has been involved with, from the Hungerford massacre to the murder of Stephen Lawrence - - The Times (Books of the Year, 2018)

Partly an autobiography, but also a love letter to pathology. It's dignified and graceful and painfully honest about the human and emotional cost of so much time with the dead. Insightful, moving and mesmerising - - Marylebone Journal

Insightful, candid and compassionate - - Observer

Fascinating, gruesome yet engrossing - - Richard and Judy, Daily Express

Darkly fascinating - - Daily Mirror

About the Author

Richard Shepherd trained as a doctor at St George's Hospital medical school at Hyde Park Corner, qualifying in 1977 and then completed his postgraduate training as a forensic pathologist in 1987. He immediately joined what was then the elite forensic department at Guy's Hospital. He has been involved nationally and internationally in the forensic investigation of thousands of deaths from unnatural causes, from headline-making murders to mass natural disasters, and many sudden and unexplained deaths that his investigations showed were from natural causes or due to accidents. His skills and expertise still remain in demand around the world.

Product details

  • ASIN ‏ : ‎ B01N3S0OM4
  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Penguin; 2nd edition (September 20, 2018)
  • Publication date ‏ : ‎ September 20, 2018
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • File size ‏ : ‎ 3475 KB
  • Text-to-Speech ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Screen Reader ‏ : ‎ Supported
  • Enhanced typesetting ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • X-Ray ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Word Wise ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Sticky notes ‏ : ‎ On Kindle Scribe
  • Print length ‏ : ‎ 394 pages
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.5 4.5 out of 5 stars 20,905 ratings

About the author

Follow authors to get new release updates, plus improved recommendations.
Richard Shepherd

Richard Shepherd

Brief content visible, double tap to read full content.
Full content visible, double tap to read brief content.

Discover more of the author’s books, see similar authors, read author blogs and more

Customer reviews

4.5 out of 5 stars
4.5 out of 5
20,905 global ratings
Good book, poor quality
4 Stars
Good book, poor quality
The book is great. Enjoyed it throughout. However, I purchased the book “new” and it not only arrived a week and a half after it was supposed to, it arrived with scratched/peeling covers and torn pages. If I’m paying for a new copy of a book, I’d like to actually recieve a new copy and not one that clearly is extremely secondhand. For almost $20 this was very disappointing and I’m thankful it was not for a gift.
Hide
Thank you for your feedback
Sorry, there was an error
Sorry we couldn't load the review

Top reviews from the United States

Amy M
5.0 out of 5 stars Very Enjoyable!
Reviewed in the United States on March 31, 2024
Verified Purchase
Dr Shepherd, I enjoyed this book thoroughly. You taught me so much about forensic pathology and how it affected you personally as a human. You took us along an amazing journey across your entire career and it was fascinating. I applaud you for sharing your experience with PTSD, depression and slowly coming out of the darkness. Thank you for such a great book. I crave more!
Helpful
 Report
Fastidious Kingdoms
4.0 out of 5 stars engrossing
Reviewed in the United States on January 30, 2024
Verified Purchase
Dr Shepherd offers an engrossing look at the lives of cadavers. First, I thank Dr Shepherd for various tidbits about death: that the abdomen decomposes first, and that babies are more likely to mummify than adults.

Shepherd also knows how to write, such as this sentence about the 9/11 coroners’ setup in NYC: “The bodies were treated with great respect and the trailers were kept clean and well ordered, the Stars and Stripes a reminder of the state and the containers of flowers a reminder of the people.”

Unfortunately, Shepherd frequently lapses into the passive voice, making for poor scene setting: “However, my denials were ignored and my protests taken as somehow incriminating.” Had Shepherd focused on his wordsmithing, I might understand how he became a forensic pathologist instead of a coroner (and why that difference matters). His quests to help corrections officers better learn to restrain prisoners might have formed a nice arc, rather than meriting a few pages at the outset and an occasional mention thrown in thereafter.

And perhaps, told in stronger words, his description of the privatization of forensic pathologists in the UK would have made sense to this American. I can’t fathom how the UK would ever need fewer forensic pathologists. Also, he taught at university? When did this happen?

Finally, his experiments with meat, pillows, and knife wounds also eventually fizzles out. Why on Earth did he not apply for funding to create a lab devoted to splatter science? And why didn’t he spare a chapter to explaining (with diagrams) the basic science of knife wounds and blood splatter?

That aside, the Shepherd’s life removed comes full circle in the last 10%.
Helpful
 Report
Sotto voce
5.0 out of 5 stars Unnaturally superb writing too
Reviewed in the United States on September 28, 2018
Verified Purchase
I read a review about Shepherd’s book in the London Sunday Times. I’m a sucker on the subject and bought the Kindle at an absurd price the same day.

The first thing I noticed is that Shepherd is one hellacious good writer. From the first sentence and paragraph, I was reading a gifted writer. The writing just gets better as you progress. He incorporates his family, related social and technical debates in time and place, and everyday details in an extraordinary effective manner. He traces an increasingly vile trial evolution into withering defense 'personal incompetence' strategies.

Shepherd grabs first sentence attention as he narrates his approach into Hungerford, England in his Cessna 170 in the current day. He has a panic attack. He writes one of the best written witnesses to an attack that I've seen in writing. Boom! He doesn’t call it a panic attack but that’s precisely what he describes I have the damn things at the strangest moments like this. After 30-some years as a leading forensic voice in some 28,000 autopsies, Shepherd begins here with his career recollection of his last visit to Hungerford.

Shepherd writes his images precisely … first cadaver, first autopsy, etc. Fantastic fidelity. His style transports you into the seen without notice.

A secondary theme is understanding the nature of "truth" and its perspective intensive demands to understand. "Truth" matures. Shephard is keen enough to notice the nuance.

Here’s a genuinely unique 5-star read that's on the way to best seller. Here is the story of raw yeoman work. Life. Death. The author has the master skill of the storyteller and forensic expert. It’s a rare combo to produce such a grippingly interesting read.

Surely among the years top non-fiction reads.
24 people found this helpful
Helpful
 Report
E
5.0 out of 5 stars Fascinating
Reviewed in the United States on April 28, 2024
Verified Purchase
What an amazing life story. We owe people like this man so much respect for the care they show the dead. What a difficult career to pursue.
Helpful
 Report
Kindle Customer
3.0 out of 5 stars Professional memoir meets personal issues
Reviewed in the United States on February 2, 2020
Verified Purchase
This book was an interesting read.
The documentation as regards his professional work, his patients, their stories and the processes behind his work is fascinating and really interesting. The author is very good at explaining his involvement in prestigious cases, and new processes in his field and I learnt a lot from reading this book, but I would argue there's a lack of responsibility throughout the book when he writes about things that didn't work out so well (his marriage, some difficult cases, etc)
I didn't particularly enjoy learning about his personal life, and the more he discussed it the more frustrated I felt with him (refer back to the ownership comment above).
I also felt uncomfortable when he was discussing colleagues of his and felt like he used this opportunity to complain about them.
6 people found this helpful
Helpful
 Report
Caroline Genius
4.0 out of 5 stars Good book, poor quality
Reviewed in the United States on December 3, 2023
Verified Purchase
The book is great. Enjoyed it throughout. However, I purchased the book “new” and it not only arrived a week and a half after it was supposed to, it arrived with scratched/peeling covers and torn pages. If I’m paying for a new copy of a book, I’d like to actually recieve a new copy and not one that clearly is extremely secondhand. For almost $20 this was very disappointing and I’m thankful it was not for a gift.
Customer image
Caroline Genius
4.0 out of 5 stars Good book, poor quality
Reviewed in the United States on December 3, 2023
The book is great. Enjoyed it throughout. However, I purchased the book “new” and it not only arrived a week and a half after it was supposed to, it arrived with scratched/peeling covers and torn pages. If I’m paying for a new copy of a book, I’d like to actually recieve a new copy and not one that clearly is extremely secondhand. For almost $20 this was very disappointing and I’m thankful it was not for a gift.
Images in this review
Customer image Customer image Customer image
Customer imageCustomer imageCustomer image
Helpful
 Report
Mary V.
5.0 out of 5 stars A Fascinating Read
Reviewed in the United States on September 20, 2023
Verified Purchase
My interest in forensic pathology started when I was a little girl and the only reason I didn't pursue it as a career is because I later found out just how much schooling and training was involved. Nope, not for me.

I found Dr. Shepherd to be such a likeable person and a gifted author. I loved the way he wove his own personal life into the book and the story kept me on edge from page one. I'm an avid reader who rarely gives five stars to any book, but this one certainly earned them.
2 people found this helpful
Helpful
 Report

Top reviews from other countries

Translate all reviews to English
Robert Thompson
5.0 out of 5 stars Refreshingly Unusual Read
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on April 17, 2024
Verified Purchase
Dr Shepherd writes with penetrating insight about the life and world of a highly successful and popular Forensic Pathologist. His selection of cases is spot-on, providing salient and easily digested technical information along with more general observations.

His vast experience of the highs and lows of the profession and his hard-won ability to reflect upon his personal development, both professionally and as a human being, bring to the book an added - and most unusual - dimension, helping to elevate it to a position above the current slew of similar titles.

A thoroughly good read!
Report
Naómi
5.0 out of 5 stars Brilliant! Read it in one sitting!
Reviewed in the Netherlands on February 17, 2023
Verified Purchase
We need more professionals like Dr Shepherd to share their knowledge! The forensic insights, pathology as a career and professional burnout - all beautifully captured in this stunning read.
Report
Tina Sjöstrand
2.0 out of 5 stars Besvikelse
Reviewed in Sweden on November 16, 2022
Verified Purchase
Trodde boken skulle handla om rättsläkarens fall och sökandet efter dödsorsaker. Men ded är mer en biografi om författarens liv fända rån barndomen. Väldigt ointressant och jag läste bara typ en tredjedel.
Report
Hilary
5.0 out of 5 stars Very interesting and honest insight into the work of a forensic pathologist
Reviewed in Germany on September 3, 2022
Verified Purchase
Well worth reading this personal, detailed account of a career as a forensic pathologist. Not just about the job, also the effect it has on the family and the price paid for witnessing so many terrible ends to life.
Report
TMM
5.0 out of 5 stars Fascinating
Reviewed in Canada on August 21, 2020
Verified Purchase
This was a fascinating look into the career of a forensic pathologist. The medical terminology wasn’t too hard to understand for a lay person at all and the details were embedded into the story. I found it interesting and not dry at all.
Excellent.
One person found this helpful
 Report

Report an issue


Does this item contain inappropriate content?
Report
Do you believe that this item violates a copyright?
Report
Does this item contain quality or formatting issues?
Report