Death in Paradise: An Illustrated History of the Los Angeles County Department of Coroner

This illustrated history of the Los Angeles coroner's office provides the first authorized history of the office and the legendary cases which it has dealt with over the decades. From Bugsy Siegel to Marilyn Monroe and more, Death In Paradise outlines some gruesome cases and investigative procedures.

A wise man once said, "Give the people what they want." And in "Death in Paradise," Messrs. Schreiber and Blanche do just that by providing readers with all the chilling details of modern America's most heinous crimes. That such crimes happen to occur within the purview of the L.A. County Coroner's Office should tell you something. Is it any mistake that the most engrossing cases of homicide have, for the most part, taken place in Hollyweird's backyard? A happy coincidence, surely, from the P.O.V. of studio execs and La-la Land's fourth estate. Schreiber and Blanche compile their history aiming to enlighten and entertain, and they score on both counts. This is one of those "carry-it-with-you-everywhere-till-you're-done" reads, and it makes the perfect gift for folks who love "Mysteries and Scandals" and reruns of "Homicide." It's also great as a reference book on everything from the Black Dahlia and Bugsy Siegel to The Night Stalker and O.J. A must for anyone interested in L.A. or murder!

For anyone looking for a superb overview of LALA-land mayhem, complete with detailed and grisly photos -- some of which are very, very rare (meaning I've never seen them before, and I'm a pretty good judge of these things) -- this really is a find, and I highly recommend it. True, it may not be right for the "professional" ghoul, but for the rest of us, who just want a quick glimpse at the demise of stars, or people made famous just by the way they were offed, or offed themselves, this is the book to buy. Not a bad price, a snappy package, and (except for a few tiny details only the most detail-oriented geek would notice) an excellent addition to the average civilian's library.

I got this book as a gift and it's a great guilty pleasure - the perfect "slow down to see the car crash" blend of forensic fact, Los Angeles history, and lurid Tinseltown rumor and scandel. And did I mention, plenty of lurid photos? Some are a bit hard to view, but if you're a true crime buff, or just interested in the seamier side of L.A. history, this book delivers the goods!Blanche and Schreiber cover a great deal of ground in a highly entertaining manner from the origins of forensic science and the L.A. County Coroner through a number of high profile cases, and many not so well-known (at least, to me). Fans of films that explore L.A.'s dark side - like CHINATOWN, L.A. CONFIDENTIAL, TRUE CONFESSIONS, or DEVIL IN A BLUE DRESS - will find DEATH IN PARADISE a great introduction to the real life crimes and mysteries that have helped define our love/hate relationship with that sprawling metropolis.And, it looks great on your coffee table!

I just loved this book. My mom got it for me for my birthday and I read it in one day. The pictures are great (some are pretty gruesome, though) but what I really liked was learning about how the coroner solves cases, especially in the old days. They didn't have modern techniques like DNA and they had to rely more on witnesses and real investigation. Some of the cases were never solved, though, which is a shame because nowadays with all the high-tech stuff they probably would be.This is a very, very cool book that I would recommend to anyone interested in Hollywood history.