Mystery
Howdunit Book of Police Procedure and Investigation: A Guide for Writers by Lee Lofland
400 pages, Writers Digest Books. $19.99
Reviewed by Mike Attebery
Did you know you can tell how long a body has been dead by, among other things, where the blood has pooled and hardened in the body, and what type of pooped blood accumulations flies have left splattered around the scene of the crime? It’s true! Did you further know that cops learn to test and watch for drunk drivers by spending two days in class playing both the part of an arresting officer, and that of an honest to God, blasted-out-of-their-minds rummy? Complete with actuall intake of massive amounts of hard liquor!! Did you further know that many in the field believe this is where some law enforcement officer’s first begin abusing alcohol as a means to handling the stress of the job? All of this information and more (the fatter you get, the more your extraneous body fat gets pinched between the top of your holster belt and the bottom of your bullet proof vest) can be found in this guide that not only makes for fascinating reading, but helps add much needed realism and true to life observations to any crime writer’s utility belt. I’m currently trying my hand at a little police mystery and drama by spinning off a character from my second novel and going back to his roots, and just in a short period of time, this book has already proved invaluable.
Interested in writing about police investigation? Curious to know how evidence is collected, stored, and examined? Ever wondered what’s required to enter the police academy? It’s all here and more, and it’s well worth a peek. Get your copy today!