When a book can break your heart, give you hope, chill you to the bone, and leave you slightly nauseous and curious, you know you have a winner in your hands.
I know A.J. from social media. I knew she was a New Scotland Yard Forensic Photographer. Always active with book giveaways and helping other authors. And now here is her own book, the Darkroom.
This book is her career-life story combined with an honest assessment of what a crime scene really is. Most people and count your blessings that you only know crime scenes from TV or books, are misguided when it comes to time and procedure.
Nothing goes as fast as on TV. No matter what your rank is or whether you are the officer in charge of the investigation, you are not in charge of the crime scene. You cannot just walk in and pick something up.
No forensic specialist can start collecting evidence until the entire crime scene has been photographed. Only when everything has been photographically documented with notes on height, humidity, discolorations and more, only then can the rest of the forensic team start their work. As you can imagine, the bigger the crime scene the longer it will take. In the meantime, nobody is allowed on the scene for fear of contamination.
A.J. Hewitt lets you look over her shoulder while you join her. She tells you exactly how she became a Police Forensic Photographer, how she started at New Scotland Yard, and what she had to learn to be able to do her job right. What she had to learn ranged from getting used to ill-fitting uniforms to her first batch of crime scene photography to learning how to juggle her career and her private life.
I love A.J.’s humanity. She has a quiet moment with the victim before she starts her work. She asks them to talk to her. Promising she will do everything in her power to find out who did this to them and to bring them to justice. A promise to keep their dignity as they lie there exposed.
The author does not spare you any difficult detail and in that sense, this book is not for the faint-hearted. However, nothing is sensationalized. There is even a place for humor such as the prank on page 34.
A.J. Hewitt does not shy away from telling you about the dangers in her work either. There is traffic to content with, getting from location to location. There’s sleep deprivation and neglecting to eat a healthy meal. There is also hostility.
When a crime scene is at a particular location you can imagine that anyone working with law enforcement is regarded with suspicion and sometimes aggression. You are the enemy. Read about the raid on an illegal drinking den in Chapter 13. Quote: “I jumped in my van and locked the doors as the crowd closed in and surrounded the three-vehicle convoy. Fists banged on the roof of my van. Angry faces pressed against the glass as I drove away.”
Through A.J. Hewitt’s book you will gain a deeper knowledge of forensic photography and deep respect for the photographers. A.J., dear friend, please stay safe.
Highly recommended reading!
My other book reviews are here.