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Every Contact Leaves a Trace

My Life as a Crime Scene Investigator

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Every Contact Leaves a Trace

By: Jo Ward
Narrated by: Sarah Thom
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About this listen

Enter the fascinating world of crime scene investigation with this chilling memoir from a senior investigator.

For most people, dead bodies are horrifying. They are the physical representation of everything we’re afraid of–our own mortality, the unknown, the inevitability, and lack of dignity of the end.

But for Jo Ward, a dead body is absolutely fascinating....

For Jo, a normal day’s work involves getting up-close and personal with the dead–generally the murdered dead–exploring every inch of their battered and bloody bodies and finding the clues that will lead the police to their killers.

Every scene teaches her something new. Every murder is a chance to obtain justice for the dead. Because every contact leaves a trace… Jo Ward is part of a generation of pioneering women who lead forensic investigation around the world. She investigates high-profile crimes–murder, domestic killings, infanticide, and rape.

If you’re a fan of Sue Black and Patricia Wiltshire, Every Contact Leaves a Trace is for you. It’s a rare glimpse into a formidable woman and the world of forensics, chronicling some of Jo’s toughest and most groundbreaking cases, and offering insight into how she copes despite seeing the most shocking excesses of humanity.

©2024 Jo Ward (P)2024 Aurum Crime Criminal & Forensic Psychology Psychology Psychology & Mental Health True Crime Forensics Murder

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All stars
Most relevant  
Fantastic insight and bringing the human touch - thank you Jo for sharing your experiences as well as sharing the highs and lows

Great insight into the work

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Thank You Jo I’m writing from the point of view of an ex-defence 24 hour legal aid duty solicitor - The Government has also underfunded this side of the system and it became too much for me I had a breakdown and ended up in hospital.

After recovery, I retrained as a university lecturer but only then understood the importance (as you rightly advise) of speaking to trusted others and without shame/ about how I felt and some childhood issues that I’d conveniently buried.

I believe (as you do) that the truth sets you free but I needed to find trusted friends and a counsellor with whom I could open up to. Whilst I enjoy talking about footie to blokes -it isn’t always enough!

Congratulations Jo -in addition to the above I’m glad people like yourself are out there for the rest of us living lives that can be oblivious to this other side.

Honesty

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I have listened to this book in a few days as it is so compelling - normally I don’t listen to a book when I get out of the car but with this I HAD to learn more, HAD to go along the next journey of Jo’s life with her. I have always loved true crime and watched the TV series as soon as it hit but this, this brings to life so much more than the victims- it’s a realistic, sometimes painful, often harrowing insight in the people who are behind the scenes and their lives in crime solving.
A vulnerable, true and always open account of the life of a Mammy, a Daughter and Wife, who always walked the tight rope of vocation v home life and I believe truly won! Thank you Samantha C

Raw, Real and exceptionally told!

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I could not rate this book enough, every page had me hooked and I've recommended it to everyone.

Gripping from start to finish!

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Liked the honesty and the humanity told without apparent motive or political agenda or commercial interest.

The unexpected detais of emergency work.

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As a law and criminology student hoping to work with the police this was such a good book to find and listen too, such beautiful writing. I laughed I shed a tear or two but more than that this book gave me such a good insight into what I will be doing in the future, perfect for aspiring students!

What an amazing book

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I was a bit disappointed with this audiobook. It was a lot more of a personal biography than the account of a career in forensics I was expecting. Narration was not great either, so all in all didn’t quite hit the mark for me. Perhaps if I had read this rather than listened to it, I wouldn’t have been put off so much…

Nearly good…

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Thank you for an insight into your world, and for the openness regarding your struggles. Thank you for all that you have done in the struggle to fight crime.

Honesty

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What an interesting insight into your life Jo, really enjoyed the book. Lots of graphic details, not for the faint hearted.

Fascinating

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I really love how Jo has given a brutally honest review of her work. It’s refreshing to hear that this type of work is not glamorous like TV portrays. I enjoyed every second of this

Brutal honesty, not glamorisation

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