The Nutshell Studies of Unexplained Death

Corinne May Botz brought to life an amazing woman who was not about to accept the status quo in forensics. Frances Glessner Lee may have been brought up a proper middle-class lady, but she broke out of her shell and was counted among those who insisted that all ME's should have medical licenses. He nutshell studies are still used today to train new detectives. How amazing that a child's toy mostly associated with women is being used to help solve crimes. This book may seem macabre and gruesome, but there is a delicate beauty to this creation in the midst of so much destruction. I rate this as a highly readable, totally engaging book. Try it for yourself.

I deal with forensic science and have had this book since around April 2011 when I paid only $15 for the hardcover. A friend asked me to get the book for her, and couldn't believe the prices ppl are paying for this.What many do not know was that Frances's father was the founder/presidenet of International Harvester and they had a home on thousands of acres. Her brother went on the Harvard University but her father didn't believe in higher education for females. She became fascinated with Forensic Science and the prperty she inherited was covered with walnut trees. She began to buld detaled miniature crime scenes in the walnut shells - comlete to the color/print of the clothing; hair color; eye color if their eyes were open postmortem. She married late in life; had children, then divorced.I first read about her in a quarterly issue of my Forensic Examiner journal, since I am a member of the American College of Forensic Examiners Insitute.Book DescriptionPublication Date: September 28, 2004The Nutshell Studies of Unexplained Death offers readers an extraordinary glimpse into the mind of a master criminal investigator. Frances Glessner Lee, a wealthy grandmother, founded the Department of Legal Medicine at Harvard in 1936 and was later appointed captain in the New Hampshire police. In the 1940s and 1950s she built dollhouse crime scenes based on real cases in order to train detectives to assess visual evidence. Still used in forensic training today, the eighteen Nutshell dioramas, on a scale of 1:12, display an astounding level of detail: pencils write, window shades move, whistles blow, and clues to the crimes are revealed to those who study the scenes carefully.Corinne May Botz's lush color photographs lure viewers into every crevice of Frances Lee's models and breathe life into these deadly miniatures, which present the dark side of domestic life, unveiling tales of prostitution, alcoholism, and adultery. The accompanying line drawings, specially prepared for this volume, highlight the noteworthy forensic evidence in each case. Botz's introductory essay, which draws on archival research and interviews with Lee's family and police colleagues, presents a captivating portrait of Lee.--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

I first encountered these miniature scenes when the exhibit was at the Renwick in DC and immediately realized I was going to probably appreciate them more if there were a book that allowed me to sit and study them (and cheat when I couldn’t figure things out). This book is exactly what I was hoping for! It’s a marvelous tribute to the craft and genius behind these works, while also being an engaging guide through the details.

I can't even begin to describe how much I love this book. If I could change one thing about it, I would like the photos to be a little less artsy. The charm in the dioramas is that they are so intricate and meticulous, and most of the photos have this blurry outline where I'd really just like to see the entire picture. But nonetheless, excellent purchase. I'm happy to add it to my library of conversation pieces. I had to wait over a month for it to be available but it was well worth the wait.

The original Nutshell Studies were dioramas of evil and tragedy, created over 60 years ago by Chicago heiress Frances Glessner Lee, who used them to train investigators in the art of dissecting a crime. The presentation of these meticulously and faithfully reproduced scenes of mayhem - at a 1:12 scale - forced investigators to literally see "the little things," at a time when ignorant officers often ruined evidence critical to solving the case.Author Corinne May Botz, who also shot the multiple-angle photographs of the 18 models, explores how conflicts and contrasts are at the heart of the dioramas as well as their creator, Lee. Botz suggests that Lee expressed her tension and ambivalence about her place in society through these equally conflicted and violent still lifes.I gave this book 5 stars because I appreciated its fine quality - it is beautifully produced by Monacelli Press - but I also respected the way Botz's accompanying essays draw parallels rather than conclusions between Lee's life and her unconventional Nutshell Studies of Unexplained Death. Botz's essay's show that whether it is a crime scene or a personal journey, the search for truth is what good investigators seek. Lee would have been proud.

I became interested in the Nutshell Studies of Unexplained Death through a documentary called "Of Dolls And Murder". Once I learned about Frances Glesner Lee and her contribution to forensic science, I was completely mesmerized by these miniature crime scenes. The fact that lights work, knobs turn, windows open...the fact that she learned the signs on bodies of different types of death and painted dolls accordingly...the fact that she took the time to knit tiny wool stockings with toothpicks...this woman and what she did and the detail she put into it is extraordinary. And the photographs in this wonderful book certainly capture all that. Plus if you can onserve the crime scene well enough, some of the crime solutions are printed in the book. And since you need to be a police officer to see the real ones, this is the next best thing.

Got this for my friend that’s a true crime fan and she loved it

Arrived in perfect condition

Prodotto in perfetto stato, spedizione velocissima.

Las fotografías son muy detalladas, pero se pierden los detalles y la esencia del tema por enfoques imposibles y parciales. No sirve, por tanto, para realmente estudiar los caso. Además, al menos con mi libro, hay un caso que se omite y otro que se repite en dos ocasiones.

Really very interesting actually.

I've bought this for my daughter - she wants to be a forensic psychologist and I was drawn in with this story of this incredible woman.I can't read it yet. As it is for her Christmas pressie, but really pleased with the book condition and the fast service. Thank you ;)

I first came across this book at my local library almost 10 years ago. Of course, I had to buy a copy because WHO doesn't loveA. MurderB. and tiny things?I've always loved dollhouses, miniatures, that old Twilight Zone episode featuring Robert Duvall obsessed with miniatures, and mystery stories, and wanted to read more on Frances Lee Glessner after learning about her on wikipedia...so this book is like a collision of all these things!I flip through this often, sometimes to re-read the fascinating little stories, sometimes just to look at the photos, the detailed work on the dioramas, or just to feel the quality stock chosen for this book.Worth the money ten times over. I cherish The Nutshell Studies!