BOOK REVIEW: Blood and Ghosts-Paranormal Forensics Investigators
It always interests me to read books that compare a current and specific scientific approach to paranormal investigation and research. Blood and Ghosts was written by Katherine Ramsland, a forensics expert who is joined by Mark Nesbitt a paranormal investigator to bring a book that will shed light on the possibility that forensics could help aid ghost hunters and in turn possibly assist with finding justice in criminal or unsolved cases.
Each chapter sheds light on each of the author's methods and the theories or science behind their fields. They share the history of psychical research and the scientists that studied during the spiritualist movement, then branch out to newer scientific studies and forensic methods that would have helped push those pioneers further validate their results.
In one section of the book it describes an entire case of paranormal investigators gathering data, communication with spirits, and the documentation of their findings. Now this particular "story" is fictional but it gives a detailed description of how utilizing procedures and protocols could potential give information that would help the police solve a crime. While the story seems a bit fantastical when it comes to discerning spirit communication that quickly and efficiently, it does reveal the correct approach when attempting to get clean data.
The authors go on to describe additional forensics methods that in turn are linked to the potential usage for paranormal investigators and their research. One of the descriptions however of "paranormal experiences" kind of made me sit back a bit and wonder at the experience level of serious paranormal research that has been completed by those who compiled this book. The passage says "Others speak of "time slips," where they find themselves in a completely different place, seeing people there as ghosts. They often see quite a few, or see buildings and vehicles no longer there-or even in existence. We've heard of entire battlefields populated with ghost soldiers, but since they didn't all die there, this can't be the kind of ghost we are after."--Now I do understand that the concept of this book is the attempt to link scientific forensics investigation to paranormal investigation in the effort to attempt to solve crimes or unsolved cases. However, I am not sure they understand the concept of what they are attempting to document, let alone if they could consistently get accurate results based on a limited knowledge of the paranormal. As a long time paranormal investigator and researcher, I do not know all the answers, but I have developed an understanding that everything is connected. ESP, PK, ghosts, spirits, aliens, cryptids, time slips... No matter what the experience, there is meaning to it and discerning that meaning is an important and integral part of an investigators intuition and process. I digress.... Back to the review....
There is a significant mention in several chapters regarding using psychics for crime investigations and how that would translate for paranormal investigations. I mention frequently that it is important for paranormal investigators to include a trusted individual that exhibits reliable psi abilities. The outline of how they are used could be a valuable tool in including it for paranormal cases.
As each topic of forensics investigations are described and certain famous cases of homicide are described in detail, I find that there is more crime scene procedures mentioned and less of how these scientific investigations could link (or help) with paranormal investigations. As I mentioned before they really hope to have psychic abilities and paranormal investigation results and data be utilized as part of investigating crimes or unsolved cases. The way the writing continues through the book is a little all over the place and the different ideas do not actually link each topic together. They started off relatively strong but things seem to have run amuck.
You will find many cases mentioned in this book some related to the paranormal and some not related at all, they have clear descriptions to set the stage for any given forensics measure taken during investigation of these cases and in the end mention what "paranormalists" can do to meet these measures. At first they were very well put, however as we progress there is significant sour grapes about how paranormalists do things wrong. I am definitely tired of reading books that are not creating a constructive insight to their content, they would rather have dramatic input about what others are doing.
All in all if you are interested in the paranormal and incorporating the basic foundations of forensics investigation into your protocols and procedure, this book will give you ideas and a direction to move into. It is very basic and has a lot of details about forensics investigations that may inspire some protocols and procedure for the scientific investigator or researcher. I bought this book because I had enjoyed speaking with Mark upon occasion and hearing his stories, it is a good addition to my book collection however I personally would find a more detailed book that details forensics by itself. I feel like while these two may have worked well together, their writing together fell flat.
Founder/ Case Manager
Antietam Paranormal Society
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