The Seven Ages of Death. A Forensic Expert's Journey Through Life

Richard Shepherd is the leading forensic expert in the UK with over 40 years of experience and has conducted around 23,000 autopsies. He was recognized as the chief knife expert and participated as a forensic expert in the investigations of high-profile cases of the 20th century, including the death of Princess Diana, the September 11 attacks, and serial killer cases. He is the author of the book "Unnatural Causes." Death has become a lifelong profession for Richard Shepherd, and in this book, he explores this topic from a completely unexpected and new perspective. He shows how vulnerability to death differs at each stage of human development from birth to old age, and explains why some causes of death are more likely at certain ages. What usually causes the death of very young children and what outcomes can result from fights among young people? Could a sixty-year-old man recover from injuries if he were younger? The author reflects on how aging changes each of us and what happens to our bodies at every stage of life. "Richard Shepherd's new book 'The Seven Ages of Death' will be of interest to both professionals in forensic medicine and criminology, as well as people far removed from medicine but fascinated by the subject of criminal investigations. The reader will learn about high-profile, often unusual, and convoluted criminal cases, as well as the specifics of a forensic expert's work both at the crime scene and directly in their workplace — the morgue's autopsy room. Alongside this, the book includes many excursions into normal anatomy, physiology, pathogenesis of certain diseases, and pathological conditions, presented in simple and understandable language. The author’s personal experiences, as well as parallels drawn throughout his life and work, make the book even more candid and engaging." — RESHETUN ALEXEY, forensic expert, author of books and the blog @mossudmed