LAW & CRIME

Tremors in the Blood: Murder, Obsession, and the Birth of the Lie Detector

by Amit Katwala
Crooked Lane. Mar. 2023. 352p. ISBN 9781639103423. pap. $17.99. LAW
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The lie detector machine has been an object of debate since its 1921 inception. The use of the machine, and any other lie detection method, has been questioned by the public, the media, and the judicial system, and it has become inadmissible in many courts due to the lack of scientific evidence that it accurately works. Journalist Katwala’s deep dive into its history focuses on the people and the cases that influenced its initial use, starting with a woman’s murder and the police investigation into whether her husband was to blame. The book’s riveting, fascinating details will likely draw readers into the story of how the polygraph affected its creators, the justice system, the media, and the public as a whole.
VERDICT True crime fans will likely want to read this book, especially those interested in the history of criminal science.
Reviewed by Leah Fitzgerald , Feb 01, 2023
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