Fascinating forensic facts- bullet wounds
During
my research for my crime novels I uncover some fascinating forensic
facts. Here are some on bullet wounds unearthed while I was writing the
Inspector Andy Horton police procedural crime novel, LETHAL WAVES,
number 13 in the Horton series. There are fifteen in the DI Andy Horton series, and I am currently writing number sixteen.
Bullet wounds
The shape of a bullet entry wound, and an examination of the victim’s clothes for evidence of soot or stippling helps in determining the range at which he/she was shot. The absence of soot on the clothes indicates the victim was shot at intermediate range, between two to three feet.
The victim can incur a fatal gun wound but still be capable of physical activity. In fact, he/she can run hundreds of yards before dying, even if shot in the heart. The oxygen supply to the brain is the critical factor in survival and time of death tests have proved that an individual can remain conscious and can function, he can run or walk for ten seconds, before collapsing.
So there you have it!
Lethal Waves, Inspector Andy Horton (13)
On
his return from Guernsey, Horton is called out to investigate the death
of a vagrant whose body is found under a rotting houseboat on the
shores of Portsmouth.
"Nothing in this police procedural is as it first appears. The Harley Davidson-riding, boat-dwelling Horton is a fascinating man to get to know, and his thoughtful approach to detection is a pleasure to read." Publishers Weekly
"This
heart-breaking story of ambition, greed, jealousy, and revenge makes a
good choice for fans of no-nonsense British procedurals." Booklist
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