American Sherlock: Remembering a Pioneer in Scientific Crime Investigation

Luke S. May was a pioneering scientific investigator who developed methods of crime investigation and established the first full-service public American crime laboratory and a laboratory for the Royal Canadian Mounted Police. His biography honors him as one of the pioneers of scientific crime detection.

Format: Hardback
Length: 312 pages
Publication date: 30 September 2019
Publisher: Rowman & Littlefield

Luke S. May, a self-taught scientific expert, played a pivotal role in the development of scientific methods of crime investigation. Over a span of over fifty years, May dedicated himself to practicing scientific crime detection, earning a reputation as a serious and effective investigator among police agencies and attorneys in the Pacific Northwest and Western Canada. His expertise in forensic science also garnered him recognition as America's Sherlock Holmes, leading to consultations on the establishment of the first full-service public American crime laboratory at Northwestern University in Chicago, Illinois, and a laboratory for the Royal Canadian Mounted Police at Regina, Saskatchewan, Canada.

When May started his career, the use of scientific tools in crime investigation was relatively limited. Apart from a few isolated installations in Europe, there were no dedicated crime labs. Consequently, May had to rely on his ingenuity and creativity to solve both criminal and civil cases. During this era, before the establishment of public crime laboratories, he improved or invented techniques in various areas of forensic science. This included fingerprinting, ballistics, toxicology, and other disciplines.

May's contributions were not limited to his own work. He actively exchanged ideas with many other renowned crime fighting pioneers of his time. These interactions helped shape the development of scientific crime detection and contributed to the advancement of the field.

American Sherlock: Remembering a Pioneer in Scientific Crime Investigation is a biography that pays tribute to May's remarkable life and achievements. The book provides a case-based account of May's journey, highlighting his contributions to scientific crime detection and his interactions with other pioneers in the field. Through this biography, May is honored as one of the pioneers of scientific crime detection, whose innovative methods and techniques have left a lasting impact on the field of law enforcement.

Weight: 610g
Dimension: 160 x 237 x 23 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781538129180