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Comments (23)

Working Stiff

Two Years, 262 Bodies, and the Making of a Medical Examiner
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Aug 06, 2023patcarstensen rated this title 4 out of 5 stars
I liked this book more than the newer What the Dead Know.
Aug 13, 2022Jessicadere rated this title 4 out of 5 stars
Not for anyone with a weak stomach. I learned so much! So interesting and well related. Respectful with just the right amount of humor.
Jul 06, 2022jcamenga rated this title 4 out of 5 stars
An interesting account of training to be a medical examiner in NYC, including many hours spent at Ground Zero immediately after 9/11. Author was struck by the large number of semi trailers bearing body parts that had to be examined and, if…
Nov 03, 2021ArapahoeSarahH rated this title 4.5 out of 5 stars
A fascinating glimpse inside the Office of the Medical Examiner in NYC, during Melinek's 2 year training as a forensic pathologist!
May 10, 2020kfhoz rated this title 4.5 out of 5 stars
Fairly quick read, and fascinating. The writing style is light and flowing, so I hardly put it down and finished the day after checking this one out. I am reading during the coronavirus pandemic and I can now imagine what the NYC…
Dec 21, 2019ahessel rated this title 4.5 out of 5 stars
This was an interesting book until she got to 9/11; then it was riveting. It became a devastatingly close perspective on something that, I came to realize, I had no real grasp of. I was in 5th grade when it happened, so I was never given…
Nov 22, 201821288004246712 rated this title 2.5 out of 5 stars
nice lady, gross job
Sep 01, 2018Ehd12345 rated this title 4 out of 5 stars
Great book. Extremely engaging and informative, but not dull or pedantic. Worth a read!
Feb 15, 2018LisaDee8 rated this title 4.5 out of 5 stars
Endearing and engaging given the grim subject matter... Dr. Melinek gives us and in depth view only few can provide while respecting those featured and their families. Would definitely recommend if you are a fan of mystery thrillers..…
Jan 17, 2018QNBKPR rated this title 4.5 out of 5 stars
Surprisingly enjoyable, given the subject matter. Well-written, warm hearted story by an extremely intelligent woman. Glad I had time to read this in one sitting, it's very worth the time
Feb 07, 2017ctkvlk rated this title 4 out of 5 stars
Interesting look into a fascinating profession. She is pretty matter-of-fact but had a wide variety of cases. She has a readable style--a fun and quick read but worth it.
Sep 28, 2016Pisinga rated this title 4 out of 5 stars
I did not see described autopsies dark, or scary, or causing nausea, as some people could think referring to the subject of the book. It was quite interesting to read about the various causes of death and how a forensic expert, who is the…
Sep 01, 2016murderrewrote rated this title 5 out of 5 stars
Dr. Melinek's writing style and educational details made her book easy to read in terms of medical terminology. She handled horrible situations with humor and honesty. However, the graphic nature of the true stories may be a bit much for…
Sarah1984
May 06, 2016Sarah1984 rated this title 4 out of 5 stars
9/3 - Reading this, I feel like this it's the true story of Kay Scarpetta, for the new century. I like Melinek's voice and style of writing and her irreverent way of looking at death. I love the way she describes her reaction to shows…
Jan 12, 20164198 rated this title 4 out of 5 stars
I really enjoyed this book. A lot. I liked how open she was about her descriptions of what she has seen and I liked how graphic she was. I found it very interesting.
Jan 05, 2016lbarkema rated this title 4 out of 5 stars
This book was pretty great. The audiobook made for an easy read (not for the squeamish though), but I'm always interested in medicine and this memoir of a medical examiner in New York was really fascinating with bits of humor thrown in…
Jun 08, 2015savtadina rated this title 4.5 out of 5 stars
I almost chose not to read this book as it mentioned that Dr. Melinek started work in NYC on a fellowship in the Medical Examiner's office less than two months before 9/11. I didn't think that I could deal with what she would write about…
Feb 17, 2015JCLHelenH rated this title 4.5 out of 5 stars
Fascinating look into the work of a medical examiner.
Feb 05, 2015Gensc rated this title 3 out of 5 stars
This book has a lot of medical terminology which may make it challenging for a layman to read. The stories are interesting and can be at times frustrating as there are not always happy endings. This book is also poorly written in parts.…
mvkramer
Jan 06, 2015mvkramer rated this title 4 out of 5 stars
This book provides a look into a profession most are not familiar with - city medical examiners. Maybe I'm morbid, but I really liked this book - even listened to it on my lunch break, while the narrator talked about maggots and…
kvenido
Dec 08, 2014kvenido rated this title 1 out of 5 stars
I think it is worth commenting that this book is HARD TO READ...there are painful/horrifying visuals that are written about in terms of what she saw in the morgue (esp. in the 9/11 section) that were things I would rather have never…
Oct 15, 2014Anneatthelibrary rated this title 5 out of 5 stars
Very readable and interesting. She not only speaks as a doctor but as a person who has experienced unexpected loss. The ins and outs of the human body and how we die are fascinating and there are surprises as to presumed reason of death VS…
NYPLRecommends
Sep 04, 2014
NYPL Staff Pick A biography about the the 2 years 262 bodies that a NY Coroner had to work on during 911. - Crystal McKay, 125th Street Branch