S2E10 Forensics: Dame Sue Black on Death and Mystery

Death is not the end. Our dead continue to tell stories to those who will listen. For some, their stories are shrouded in mystery, particularly those who met gruesome and unexpected ends. And that’s where forensics picks up to fill in the gaps. Professor Dame Sue Black is a forensic anthropologist, and is able to uncover the missing pieces of a life from even the most disfigured human remains. In this episode she examines her unique approach to death and dying, moulded by her grandmother whose “best friend was death”. She delves into her time examining the bodies of those who died during the 1998 war in Kosovo, explains how there’s no room for bias when telling the stories of the dead, and stresses the importance of writing expertly and informatively about forensics. Behind The Spine is the audio accompaniment to The Writing Salon - you can sign up to the newsletter here.