The Seven Ages of Death: ‘Every chapter is like a detective story’ Telegraph

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Through twenty-four of his most intriguing, enlightening and never-before-told cases, Dr Shepherd shares autopsies that span the seven ages of human existence, and have taught him as much about the marvels of life as the inevitability of death. From old to young, from murder to misadventure, and from illness to accidental death, each of these bodies has something to reveal: about human development, about mortality, about its owner's life story, about justice and even about Shepherd himself.

Richard Shepherd’s first book, Unnatural Causes, was a brilliant read. The follow-up book is just as good, maybe even better. The subtitle is A Forensic Pathologist’s Journey Through Life.An absolutely brilliant book. I really recommend it, I don't often say that but it's fascinating' Jeremy Vine, BBC Radio 2 He loses his mind in senility. His hair and teeth fall out and his sight goes. Then he loses everything as he sinks into the oblivion of death.

Dr Richard Shepherd, a medical detective and Britain's top forensic pathologist, shares twenty-four of his most intriguing, enlightening and never-before-told cases. He regards himself as wise and experienced and doesn’t mind sharing his views and ideas with anyone and likes making speeches. He’s made a name for himself and is prosperous and respected. As a result of his success, he’s become vain. He enjoys the finer things in life, like good food. An absolutely brilliant book. I really recommend it, I don't often say that but it's fascinating Jeremy Vine, BBC Radio 2What's also illuminating is the number of ways in which people seem to get away with murder. Literally. Shepherd has a genuinely unique insight into some high profile cases, or unknown but incredibly revealing cases, which allows the bodies to do the talking. As opposed to the policeman or barrister with a flair for the dramatic. From old to young, from murder to misadventure, and from illness to accidental death, each of these bodies has something to reveal: about human development, about mortality, about its owner's life story, about justice and even about Shepherd himself. My favourite thing about this book is the writing style. It’s clear, beautifully expressed, alternately humble and proud, darkly humorous at times and full of wonder at the marvels of the human body. There is a memoir element woven throughout the book which enhances its emotional impact on the reader. If you’re looking for a fascinating book and are not easily upset or triggered by descriptions of dissections, suicide, murder, etc, then this is a must-read. This is where his formal education starts but he is not entirely happy with school. His mother is ambitious for him and has washed his face thoroughly before sending him off to school but he goes very slowly and reluctantly.

He’s grown into his late teens and his main interest is girls. He’s likely to make a bit of a fool of himself with them. He is sentimental, sighing and writing poems to girls, making himself a bit ridiculous. Below is the complete ‘ages of man’ monologue from As You Like It – one of Shakespeare’s most famous and well liked passages: Dr Shepherd, patolog sądowy, w swojej książce przedstawia nam 24 różne przypadki śmierci. Jednak nie o śmierci jest ta książka, a o życiu, ściślej mówiąc, jak tego życia przedwcześnie nie zakończyć. The experience of listening to this audiobook was a strange one. The first book by Richard Shepherd was released approx. 3 years ago. That first book was more of a biography threaded through strange or controversial cases worked on by this pathologist. This second book offers more in-depth discussion on other cases centered around accidents, murders, loneliness, suicide, and natural deaths across the young and more mature generations. This time, biographical aspects are more limited, while the coverage of poignant, peculiar, or baffling cases is more fluid and sometimes relentless. Shepherd not only has a very unique and interesting occupation, but he is a terrific writer, and keeps the reader engaged in every chapter, each of which is kind of its own mini-mystery with details about the deceased's life and cause of death. The book can best be summarized by the final paragraph, where Shepherd writes:I reached the mortuary and saw a couple of police cars were there already…a group of detectives and the coroner’s officer were hovering in their scrubs outside the post-mortem room…everyone hates that moment when they see the baby.” Each chapter is like a finely-crafted detective story . . . Shepherd writes beautifully, and despite its subject, the book is very funny in parts' DAILY TELEGRAPH

Conducting many thousands of post-mortems has given Dr Richard Shepherd the opportunity to examine death at every stage of life. Each autopsy is its own unique investigation, providing evidence of how, through life, the risks to us ebb and flow. From old to young, from murder to misadventure and from illness to accidental death, each body has taught him something: about human development, about mortality, about its owner's life story, about justice and even about himself.The heart-wrenchingly honest new book about life and death from forensic pathologist and bestselling author of UNNATURAL CAUSES, Dr Richard Shepherd These autopsies, spanning the seven ages of human existence, uncover the secrets not only of how a person died, but also of how they lived. Well, Doc, It Seemed Like a Good Idea At The Time!: The Unexpected Adventures of a Trauma Surgeon - very good, review to come,