5 Forensic Facts For Your Fiction by Shannon Hollinger

Today is Publication Day for Best Friends Forever by Shannon Hollinger and she joins us to share 5 Forensic Facts for your Fiction!

1.It’s blood spatter – no L.

This is an inaccuracy that I see quite often in fiction. You can argue the definition, small versus large particles, etc., but in terms of blood, forensic professionals will always use the term spatter.

2. DNA takes time, but blood type tests are quick.

Movies, TV shows, and books often take create license to make DNA tests appear almost instantaneous. In the private sector, results can take as little as 24-72 hours, and while it’s true that many law enforcement agencies have reduced their months’ long backlogs, oftentimes even the quickest turnaround will not occur while a suspect is still in custody.

Blood type tests, however, can be conducted in as little as 10 minutes. They’re not as specific as DNA tests, but they can be a fast and effective way to exclude a suspect.

3. Fingerprints can be more accurate than DNA.

This one is strange, but true. DNA tests are considered to be 99.9% accurate, which is pretty impressive. Unless the sample is contaminated. Or you have an evil twin.

Barring mutations, paternal, or biological, twins will usually have identical results on an average DNA test. Deeper analysis of the genome is required to identify the differences. Fingerprints, however, are unique to each individual. Even identical twins will not have identical fingerprints. (This applies to footprints as well.)

4. Forensic Pathologists don’t just draw blood samples.

Along with blood, a forensic pathologist will also draw urine and vitreous (fluid from the eye) as part of the postmortem. These results provide them with additional information from drug exposure and disease to PMI (postmortem interval, or time since death).

5. Many factors can affect a body’s rate of decomposition.

Thanks to TV, many people know that location, ambient temperature, insect activity, and predation affect a body’s rate of decomposition. Lesser known factors include the decedent’s last meal, medications they might have been on, their physical condition prior to death, the type of fabrics worn by the body, and even antemortem blood loss.

With degrees in Crime Scene Technology & Physical Anthropology, Florida author Shannon Hollinger hasn’t just seen the dark side of humanity – she’s been elbow deep inside of it! She finds writing to be a much cleaner way to spend her time than the autopsy suite. Most days it smells better, too.

Her debut novel, the psychological thriller Best Friends Forever, is the first of a five-book deal with publisher Bookouture.

Her short fiction has appeared in Suspense Magazine, Mystery Weekly, and The Saturday Evening Post, among a number of other magazines and anthologies, and her story Lady Killer was a finalist for the 2021 Al Blanchard Award sponsored by the New England Crime Bake.