American Sherlock tells the true story of Edward Oscar Heinrich, a forensic scientist from the late 1800's to the early 1900's. He invented many forensic tools that police use in contemporary society. He worked on some very famous cases, with a meticulous eye for detail and order.

I have a huge passion for true crime and forensics, with the hope of one day becoming a Forensic Psychologist. I found myself engrossed in the book, not wanting to put it down. I learnt so much that I didn't know before, for example, I had never heard of Edward Oscar Heinrich, despite the huge role he has played in forensic history. I found myself devouring the cases he worked on, although sometimes this seemed to drag a little.

This book isn't going to be for everyone, it was a little dry and technical in places. I also found some of the repetition about his personal life a bit dull. The cases he worked on were fascinating, but his money troubles were not, hence the loss of one star for me. That being said, I loved the inclusion of real historic photos, it added even more depth to the book and made the stories come to life.

I would recommend this book to anyone with an interest in true crime, especially if you are interested in forensic science. I want to thank Netgalley, Icon Books and Kate Winkler Dawson for allowing me to read this book and give my personal thoughts.