Bridging the gap between the study of criminal justice and forensic science‎,‎ Lisa Smith and John Bond provide a straightforward but comprehensive introduction to the theory and practice of forensic science in its wider criminal justice context‎.‎ This much‎-needed text‎:‎ * takes students through the different types of evidence‎,‎ technologies and methods used in criminal investigations‎,‎ both at the crime scene and in a court of law‎;‎ * analyses real‎-life forensic examples‎,‎ drawn from a range of international contexts‎;‎ and * encourages a critical perspective‎,‎ through its examination of popular media representations and of contemporary issues and debates‎,‎ including technological advances‎,‎ the need for standardisation in forensic laboratories and the ethics of biometric databases‎.‎ Engaging and easy to follow‎,‎ this multidisciplinary overview contextualises the operation of science in the criminal justice system‎,‎ offering crucial insight for social and natural science students alike‎.‎