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Rating: 
Summary: Entertaining and VERY Educational
Review: "Murder and Mayhem" is a MUST have for writers of all genres, readers, and even those glued to a television or the movies. This book is a one stop opportunity to understand the medical and forensic questions that arise in all of the most popular shows, films and books of our time. And on top of being incredibly informative--it's entertaining. I couldn't put it down. DP Lyle, MD is an exceptional writer with a flare for humor. This one is a keeper!!
Kathleen Antrim, Author of "Capital Offense"
Rating:
Summary: Entertaining and VERY Educational
Review: "Murder and Mayhem" is a MUST have for writers of all genres, readers, and even those glued to a television or the movies. This book is a one stop opportunity to understand the medical and forensic questions that arise in all of the most popular shows, films and books of our time. And on top of being incredibly informative--it's entertaining. I couldn't put it down. DP Lyle, MD is an exceptional writer with a flare for humor. This one is a keeper!!
Kathleen Antrim, Author of "Capital Offense"
Rating:
Summary: A Doctor's Guide to Murder and Mayhem
Review: Although designed for mystery writers, Dr. Lyle's book is an exciting discovery for mystery readers and forensic experts. The material is organized and accessible for someone needing a reference with specific forensic questions and answers but personally I read it cover-to-cover, nonstop.D. P. Lyle, MD has created a most unusual, entertaining reference that is as much fun as the works of the top mystery writers and scriptwriters for whom the doctor consults. My only fear is that his book will fall into the hands of murderers!
Rating:
Summary: A MUST-HAVE BOOK FOR ALL MYSTERY WRITERS
Review: It's three am,you're hard at work on your mystery screenplay, and all that's missing is the essential medical clue to solve the murder. Who ya gonna call? Dr. Lyle is the go-to guy for writers looking for the perfect piece of medical knowledge, fillin the blanks that imagination alone simply can't. Even if you aren't a writer, the book is probably the best bathroom reading ever -- endlessly entertaining, witty, and informative. Buy this book!
Rating:
Summary: Great Medical Advice for Crime Writers
Review: Putrefaction. Poison. Parasites. Why hair doesn't have DNA. How to trick a lie detector. What really happens when you "get the wind knocked out" of you. These are just a few of the fascinating topics that California cardiologist D.P. Lyle Lyle has culled from his columns for Mystery Writers of America chapter newsletters and compiled into this handy, easy-to use crime writers reference. His conversational style and comprehensive, sensible answers make the information so accessible that the book is actually a pleasant read, notwithstanding its ability to provide nefarious inspiration as well. From the smart cover art to the 19 illustrations and the reader friendly lay-out, Murder and Mayhem evidences the care taken in every step of its production to make the book useful time and again.
Rating:
Summary: Fun, and very useful
Review: This book is a collection of question-and-answer columns that Dr. Lyle wrote for Mystery Writers of America newsletters, so it's not exactly a comprehensive reference: some information is presented briefly, some is covered at great length, and some is repeated. But he covers a wide variety of topics useful to writers of mysteries and other fiction -- everything from the effects of various wounds and poisons, to what happens during a miscarriage, to who serves as the coroner in a small town. So, unless your character is an extremely ingenious murderer or suffers from a rare disease, you can probably find the information you need to write a convincing description. Also, Dr. Lyle has a good grasp of the writer's perspective, so he's very helpful in pointing out whether an author has "wiggle room" or not; this distinction isn't always clear in medical reference material. The book is easy to read, lively, and often funny, and if you're fascinated by medical details (how can the M.E. tell if someone drowned in fresh or salt water?), you'll find it enthralling -- but if not, you can always skip to the next question. Three thumbs up! (MY character has an extra digit.)
Rating:
Summary: Fun, and very useful
Review: This book is a collection of question-and-answer columns that Dr. Lyle wrote for Mystery Writers of America newsletters, so it's not exactly a comprehensive reference: some information is presented briefly, some is covered at great length, and some is repeated. But he covers a wide variety of topics useful to writers of mysteries and other fiction -- everything from the effects of various wounds and poisons, to what happens during a miscarriage, to who serves as the coroner in a small town. So, unless your character is an extremely ingenious murderer or suffers from a rare disease, you can probably find the information you need to write a convincing description. Also, Dr. Lyle has a good grasp of the writer's perspective, so he's very helpful in pointing out whether an author has "wiggle room" or not; this distinction isn't always clear in medical reference material. The book is easy to read, lively, and often funny, and if you're fascinated by medical details (how can the M.E. tell if someone drowned in fresh or salt water?), you'll find it enthralling -- but if not, you can always skip to the next question. Three thumbs up! (MY character has an extra digit.)
Rating:
Summary: strong medical and forensic reference book
Review: This book provides readers and writers with answers to "medical and forensic questions". The Q & A come from Dr. Lyle's column "The Doctor Is In" found in the newsletters of the Southern California and Southwestern chapters of the MWA. The first thing this reviewer did was scan the titles to insure that the good doctor had no Letterman type list of ten best ways to kill a critic. Once the book passed that critical test, I read the intriguing Q & A over a week's time. The questions are quite fascinating surely leading to the psychiatrists of America having a field day wondering just who comes up with these thoughts outside the asylum. Dr. Lyle's responses are often humorous, but always informative. MURDER AND MAYHEM is a delightful book that readers desiring entertainment (and hopefully nothing further) as much as writers seeking information will enjoy as a pick up put down reference broken into ten prime classifications and an odds and ends category catching those Qs that slip between the cracks. Words of warning: Do not attempt to use this book to bump off that insignificant other because the legal equivalent has not been written to provide the justifiable homicide defense. Harriet Klausner
Rating:
Summary: strong medical and forensic reference book
Review: This book provides readers and writers with answers to "medical and forensic questions". The Q & A come from Dr. Lyle's column "The Doctor Is In" found in the newsletters of the Southern California and Southwestern chapters of the MWA. The first thing this reviewer did was scan the titles to insure that the good doctor had no Letterman type list of ten best ways to kill a critic. Once the book passed that critical test, I read the intriguing Q & A over a week's time. The questions are quite fascinating surely leading to the psychiatrists of America having a field day wondering just who comes up with these thoughts outside the asylum. Dr. Lyle's responses are often humorous, but always informative. MURDER AND MAYHEM is a delightful book that readers desiring entertainment (and hopefully nothing further) as much as writers seeking information will enjoy as a pick up put down reference broken into ten prime classifications and an odds and ends category catching those Qs that slip between the cracks. Words of warning: Do not attempt to use this book to bump off that insignificant other because the legal equivalent has not been written to provide the justifiable homicide defense. Harriet Klausner
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