Scan barcode
playertwo0o's review against another edition
3.5
absolutely fascinating how technology has evolved so much over these last 2 decades
I did come into this book expecting it to go down more of a biology route and how all the genetic fingerprinting/DNA sampling worked so I was pleasantly surprised when it focussed more on the retelling of it and the whole trial. However I do feel like there could be more detail on the intricacies on how the technology and family tree worked.
I did come into this book expecting it to go down more of a biology route and how all the genetic fingerprinting/DNA sampling worked so I was pleasantly surprised when it focussed more on the retelling of it and the whole trial. However I do feel like there could be more detail on the intricacies on how the technology and family tree worked.
profpetitfours's review against another edition
4.0
This an excellent read for those interested in how genetic genealogy is changing law enforcement. If you enjoyed that aspect of the first season of the Bear Brook podcast, this book is well worth your time.
The book follows the cold case murders of a young Canadian couple, Tanya Van Cuylenborg and Jay Cook. The two had gone on an overnight trip from Vancouver Island to Seattle to pick up furnace parts for Cook's dad. When the normally reliable Van Cuylenborg didn't check in with her parents, they knew something was wrong. The two would be found dead sometime later (with evidence of sexual assault on Van Cuylenborg), miles apart, and were killed using different methods. The case went cold almost immediately, as the two had traveled through isolated and rural locations between Vancouver and Seattle, and their exact progress after the first day couldn't be traced. Such was life before smartphones made our every move trackable.
The case is eventually cracked through the use of genetic genealogy, the same process that uncovered the Golden State Killer. What Humes does well is trace the origins of this tool, the internal battles fought amongst genealogists about its use to aid law enforcement, and the back-and-forths that have made access to DNA much harder for law enforcement agencies.
This is perhaps the only place where Humes' personal beliefs come in, as he (and TBH, I) argues that using DNA databases to find birth parents--which genetic genealogy was generally used for until very recently--is also an attack on privacy. He also takes aim at the fact that few have problems with private companies that use personal DNA profiles to profit. It's a hard thing to balance--our DNA fingerprint undoubtedly can be used for a variety of nefarious purposes, and at the same time the use of genetic genealogy has solved some extremely high-profile cases and even exonerated people.
The book ends on a bit of a cliffhanger, but a quick Google search will give you an update on where the case stands now.
The book follows the cold case murders of a young Canadian couple, Tanya Van Cuylenborg and Jay Cook. The two had gone on an overnight trip from Vancouver Island to Seattle to pick up furnace parts for Cook's dad. When the normally reliable Van Cuylenborg didn't check in with her parents, they knew something was wrong. The two would be found dead sometime later (with evidence of sexual assault on Van Cuylenborg), miles apart, and were killed using different methods. The case went cold almost immediately, as the two had traveled through isolated and rural locations between Vancouver and Seattle, and their exact progress after the first day couldn't be traced. Such was life before smartphones made our every move trackable.
The case is eventually cracked through the use of genetic genealogy, the same process that uncovered the Golden State Killer. What Humes does well is trace the origins of this tool, the internal battles fought amongst genealogists about its use to aid law enforcement, and the back-and-forths that have made access to DNA much harder for law enforcement agencies.
This is perhaps the only place where Humes' personal beliefs come in, as he (and TBH, I) argues that using DNA databases to find birth parents--which genetic genealogy was generally used for until very recently--is also an attack on privacy. He also takes aim at the fact that few have problems with private companies that use personal DNA profiles to profit. It's a hard thing to balance--our DNA fingerprint undoubtedly can be used for a variety of nefarious purposes, and at the same time the use of genetic genealogy has solved some extremely high-profile cases and even exonerated people.
The book ends on a bit of a cliffhanger, but a quick Google search will give you an update on where the case stands now.
brittrichardsofficial's review
challenging
informative
medium-paced
5.0
This was such a great book! I wasn’t familiar with the case, but was very intrigued by it. I loved how Humes didn’t just discuss the details of the case, but the lives of the families, the investigators, and the various parts leading up to the resolution. He gave great background on genetic forensic genealogy and the players involved. So glad there was resolution in the case!
thepagelady's review against another edition
4.0
I love true crime books, well actually I like any book but I do enjoy the ones about a real person, place or event. I finished this one in one day, it was easy to get lost in and has some interesting facts. Good read!
lynguy1's review against another edition
5.0
The Forever Witness: How DNA and Genealogy Solved a Cold Case Double Murder by Edward Humes is a suspenseful, riveting true crime book that combines great storytelling, cold case investigations, technological advances, and genetic genealogy in a captivating crime read. In November 1987, Tanya Van Cuylenborg and her boyfriend Jay Cook leave on an overnight trip to Seattle. They vanish until a week later when their bodies are found in rural Washington. The brutal crime leaves few clues and an international manhunt turns up empty. The case and evidence eventually goes into long-term storage until thirty plus years later when Detective Jim Scharf looks at the case files hoping to find new clues that were missed in the original investigation.
The prologue gets one’s heart racing and immediately pulls readers into what is happening. Then readers get a look at the case from the beginning including the pieces of the puzzle that Detective Scharf and his team pull together of the trip taken by the young couple, the struggle the families had to get the police involved initially, and the original investigation, as well as the next steps Scharf takes.
Humes provides the latest information on their case at the time of writing the book. This includes using DNA advances to help identify suspects as well as re-interviewing people, looking for missed opportunities in the original investigation, looking at other ways to identify a suspect, and much more. Detective Scharf contacts various genealogists for help including CeCe Moore.
Meanwhile there is a discussion of technological advances in police investigations, including those involving DNA, ranging from DNA fingerprints to a national DNA database known as the Combined DNA Index System.
However, more is also occurring in the realm of DNA, with DNA matching originating from amateur genealogists searching for their roots. This includes CeCe Moore, who has had a fascination with genetic genealogy and how it can be used, not just for family tree hobbyists and adoptees hoping to find their birth parents, but also for solving cold cases.
Additionally, Parabon, a firm in Virginia, says it has the capability of creating genetic mugshots. The book covers the use of genetic mugshots and genetic genealogy in Jay and Tanya’s case and how CeCe Moore and Parabon work together to identify a suspect. There’s a fascinating discussion of the proponents and opponents to using genetic genealogy as a crime-fighting technique among genealogists, police organizations, keepers of genetic databases, and privacy advocates.
Overall, this story is startling, horrifying, thought provoking, and emotional. The author has a notes section at the end that explains who was interviewed and the sources of information used to construct this true crime story. Additionally, the author does a great job of explaining the science and the controversies in terms that can be easily understood. Those that enjoy well-written and suspenseful true crime and books involving genealogy or DNA will likely find this an amazing story.
PENGUIN GROUP Dutton and Edward Humes provided a complimentary digital ARC of this novel via NetGalley. This is my honest review. Opinions are mine alone and are not biased in any way. Publication date is currently set for November 29, 2022. This review was originally posted at Mystery and Suspense Magazine.
--------------------------------------------
My 4.56 rounded to 5 stars review will be coming soon.
The prologue gets one’s heart racing and immediately pulls readers into what is happening. Then readers get a look at the case from the beginning including the pieces of the puzzle that Detective Scharf and his team pull together of the trip taken by the young couple, the struggle the families had to get the police involved initially, and the original investigation, as well as the next steps Scharf takes.
Humes provides the latest information on their case at the time of writing the book. This includes using DNA advances to help identify suspects as well as re-interviewing people, looking for missed opportunities in the original investigation, looking at other ways to identify a suspect, and much more. Detective Scharf contacts various genealogists for help including CeCe Moore.
Meanwhile there is a discussion of technological advances in police investigations, including those involving DNA, ranging from DNA fingerprints to a national DNA database known as the Combined DNA Index System.
However, more is also occurring in the realm of DNA, with DNA matching originating from amateur genealogists searching for their roots. This includes CeCe Moore, who has had a fascination with genetic genealogy and how it can be used, not just for family tree hobbyists and adoptees hoping to find their birth parents, but also for solving cold cases.
Additionally, Parabon, a firm in Virginia, says it has the capability of creating genetic mugshots. The book covers the use of genetic mugshots and genetic genealogy in Jay and Tanya’s case and how CeCe Moore and Parabon work together to identify a suspect. There’s a fascinating discussion of the proponents and opponents to using genetic genealogy as a crime-fighting technique among genealogists, police organizations, keepers of genetic databases, and privacy advocates.
Overall, this story is startling, horrifying, thought provoking, and emotional. The author has a notes section at the end that explains who was interviewed and the sources of information used to construct this true crime story. Additionally, the author does a great job of explaining the science and the controversies in terms that can be easily understood. Those that enjoy well-written and suspenseful true crime and books involving genealogy or DNA will likely find this an amazing story.
PENGUIN GROUP Dutton and Edward Humes provided a complimentary digital ARC of this novel via NetGalley. This is my honest review. Opinions are mine alone and are not biased in any way. Publication date is currently set for November 29, 2022. This review was originally posted at Mystery and Suspense Magazine.
--------------------------------------------
My 4.56 rounded to 5 stars review will be coming soon.
casuallyreadingx's review against another edition
3.0
Thank you Netgalley for the ARC!
This was fascinating and heartbreaking. As a forensic science student, I was excited to read this. I am a big fan of shows, such as Forensics Files, Dateline, and The First 48: this book remind me a lot of those shows. I really enjoyed the content regarding forensic genealogy and the case itself. I think there could been more detail in certain aspects but overall really enjoyed this. I would recommend this to true crime fans!
This was fascinating and heartbreaking. As a forensic science student, I was excited to read this. I am a big fan of shows, such as Forensics Files, Dateline, and The First 48: this book remind me a lot of those shows. I really enjoyed the content regarding forensic genealogy and the case itself. I think there could been more detail in certain aspects but overall really enjoyed this. I would recommend this to true crime fans!
jessicaychambers's review against another edition
dark
hopeful
informative
mysterious
medium-paced
4.0