Morgue: A Life in Death

Written by Dr. Vincent Di Maio and Ron Franscell

Narrated by Tony Ward

In this clear-eyed, gritty, and enthralling narrative, Dr. Vincent Di Maio and veteran crime writer Ron Franscell guide us behind the morgue doors to tell a fascinating life story through the cases that have made Di Maio famous—from the exhumation of assassin Lee Harvey Oswald to the complex issues in the shooting of Florida teenager Trayvon Martin.

Beginning with his street-smart Italian origins in Brooklyn, the book spans 40 years of work and more than 9,000 autopsies, and Di Maio’s eventual rise into the pantheon of forensic scientists. One of the country’s most methodical and intuitive criminal pathologists will dissect himself, maintaining a nearly continuous flow of suspenseful stories, revealing anecdotes, and enough macabre insider details to rivet the most fervent crime fans.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Recorded Books, Inc.
• Release date: May 17, 2016
• ISBN: 9781501919725

Reviews for Morgue

[April Murch · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Such an interesting and fascinating memoir. I especially enjoyed hearing how forensic pathology has evolved over the years.

[dandiercks · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Interesting stories from a pathologist who was on the front lines for more than 40 years. Once you get past Di Maio’s larger than life ego, his stories are fascinating. Some of his stories involve every day citizens; others involve famous people like Lee Harvey Oswald and Vincent Van Gogh. All are very interesting. In a few instanes, it helps to have a strong stomach since details are often graphic.

[Hermes · Rating: 2 out of 5 stars]

Read only part of first chapter. Too much context. I wanted to read the nitty-gritty details.

[formerenglishteacher · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Interesting stories from a pathologist who was on the front lines for more than 40 years. Once you get past Di Maio’s larger than life ego, his stories are fascinating. Some of his stories involve every day citizens; others involve famous people like Lee Harvey Oswald and Vincent Van Gogh. All are very interesting. In a few instanes, it helps to have a strong stomach since details are often graphic.

[ecataldi-1 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

I LOVED this book. Dr. Vincent Di Maio may have been a smidge too cocky for my taste, which, by rights, he probably should be because he's had one hell of a career, but it was a little off-putting at moments. Besides that, this book was dark and intriguing; I learned so much about forensic pathologists, the difference between medical examiners and coroners, how evidence is collected and what it can tell. Dr. Di Maio's expertise is so great in his field that he often gets called t look at high profile deaths and determine the cause of death. He was on hand for the Trayvon Martin case, the nurse killer, the West Memphis Three, and lots of other murders/ suicides /accidents that you may not have heard of. He breaks down the outline of what happened leading up to the person or persons died and then details how he determined the cause of death. It's fascinating. As he says, "I don't autopsy people. I autopsy bodies. A person is something alive and vibrant and different. Bodies are just what they leave behind." A must read for those who love dark, macabre, and sensational cases.

[oldbookswine · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

As a reader of thrillers and mystery it is also good to learn something about the field of forensic medicine. Each of the chapters covers a differ crime and related investigation from a medical examiner point of view. Chapter 6 deals with an old crime in Kerrville, RX., just 20 miles from my home.
Readable and well written. Always good to know some facts when I return to fiction.

[susan.macura · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

This is a fascinating look behind the scenes at some of the most famous murder investigations of our time. Dr. Di Maio is clearly an expert in the world of pathology and his drive to uncover the truth, no matter who wants to hear it or who does not, is extremely credible. I started it and did not put it down until I finished it. It was an incredibly educational and entertaining book!

[beamis12 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

I love puzzles, it is the reason I read mysteries. Trying to put the clues together, see what fits, what doesn't, try to figure out the killer. Of course that is armchair detecting, the mysteries are often not real, plus I am notoriously bad at it.. The cases in this book are very real. DiMaio has worked on some of the biggest cases there are.

The Trayvon case is the first presented and of course it was all over the news. Lee Hare ey Oswald and the conspiracy theorists who insisted that Oswald was not the man in the grave. There is one that I just had to skim, the case was horrific and descriptions graphic, three boys killed in Kansas. . Other cases of baby killers are presented and lastly he takes a look at the supposed suicide of Van Gogh.

All are interesting if you are curious about true crimes. He explains how and why he does what he does. His family background, his education and his professional qualifications. All incredibly well presented, easy to follow. A man that has truly made a significant difference in the lives of many, whether they know it or not.

ARC from Netgalley.

[brendajanefrank · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

Dr. Vincent DiMaio is a renowned board-certified anatomic, clinical and forensic pathologist, former Medical Examiner, author, gunshot specialist, and expert witness. “Morgue” recites many of his famous cases, including the exhumation of Lee Harvey Oswald to discover if the person buried in his grave was, indeed, Lee Harvey Oswald.

Dr. DiMaio comes from a long line of physicians, including his father, who was also a pathologist. In “Morgue,” DiMaio isn’t hesitant to remind you of his preeminence. For example, in describing the “highest honor for any medical examiner, the Milton Helpern Laureate Award,” he notes that he received it in 2006.

Here’s something to think about: DiMaio states that “almost one of every five Americans dies in a suspicious way.” That leaves lots of room for the forensic pathologist to investigate and find the truth. This includes historic cases, examined without bodies. DiMaio used historic facts concerning the death of Vincent van Gogh to refute the commonly held belief that he shot himself to commit suicide. When analyzing the trajectory of the bullet and the circumstances of the shooting, DiMaio concluded that van Gogh was murdered.

“Morgue” appealed to me since I enjoy history and am fascinated by the ability of a forensic pathologist to decipher the evidence to determine cause and circumstances of death. However, I would have preferred DiMaio to omit his personal opinions and philosophy. For example, “Morgue” begins with the highly publicized case of Florida v. George Zimmerman, where George Zimmerman (Caucasian) was charged with the murder of Trayvon Martin, a black teenager. After considering the testimony and evidence, including expert testimony for the defense from DiMaio, the jury acquitted Zimmerman. In “Morgue,” DiMaio states that “Trayvon Martin got justice, but his loved ones will never be truly satisfied.” Yes, there was a jury trial, but who is DiMaio to say that Trayvon Martin’s death was just? Isn't that beyond the forensic facts?