Richard Shepherd was born in West London but grew up in Watford. At the local grammar school he was introduced to a medical textbook smuggled into the classroom by a friend which opened his eyes to the world of crime and murder, setting him on a lifelong quest to understand death in its many forms. He trained as a doctor at St George's Hospital medical school at Hyde Park Corner, qualifying in 1977 and then completed his postgraduate training as a forensic pathologist in 1987. He immediately joined what was then the elite forensic department at Guy's Hospital. He has been involved nationally and internationally in the forensic investigation of thousands of deaths from unnatural causes, from headline-making murders to mass natural disasters, and many sudden and unexplained deaths that his investigations showed were from natural causes or due to accidents. His skills and expertise still remain in demand around the world.
Deeply insightful . . . Shepherd is unflinching in his self-dissection * The Times * Fascinating * Daily Express * Fascinating. He has the ability to examine himself and other people with the same forensic eye that he applies to corpses - one of the reasons why his books feel so life-enhancing * Daily Telegraph * Praise for Dr Richard Shepherd * - * One of the most fascinating books I have read in a long time. Engrossing, a haunting page-turner. A book I could not put down * The Times * Heart-wrenchingly honest Gripping, grimly fascinating, and I suspect I'll read it at least twice * Evening Standard * A deeply mesmerising memoir of forensic pathology. Human and fascinating An absolutely brilliant book. I really recommend it, I don't often say that but it's fascinating Puts the reader at his elbow as he wields the scalpel * The Guardian * Fascinating, insightful, candid, compassionate * Observer *