The Quick and the Dead: True Stories of Life and Death from a New Zealand Pathologist

Petra: all work & no play makes you poor.On hiatus

Rating: really liked it
A real horror story, it will make you shiver with disgust:
When the author was a pimply adolescent in Africa, he noticed three black 'collar studs' around his neck. On examining them in a mirror he saw that little black periscopes were pumping up and down in and out of his skin. When he touched them, the periscopes disappeared, but soon a little periscope would pop out and wriggle and wave around before pumping up and down again.

His mother took him to the doctor who said it was a putzi fly larva. These larva have shar[ fangs that make a hole in the skin, they then crawl inside and the skin heals up over them except for a little breathing tube. They grow bigger and bigger in their little skin cave until it becomes a fly and will climb out. The boy couldn't stand that but the doctor said surgery would involve an anaesthetic and the risk of infection, best let nature take it's course.

So he went to his grandmother because grandmother's know how to fix everything. And so she did. She got a fat rasher of bacon and cut three 1cm squares from the fat and put them over the maggots' breathing holes. She stuck them down with rough sticking plaster. The maggots, she said, couldn't breathe through the fat so they would burrow out towards the air and their breathing tubes will get stuck against the sticking plaster. Next morning, she ripped off the plasters and out came three fat, segmented, pulsating maggots.
I[date: Please read Jesssaka's comments below. She actually had this happen to her.

The rest of the book is just as unusual and good as this. It's not a standard forensic pathologist memoir, the author does diagnosis of disease as well as autopsies and has related some very interesting cases, although none as disgusting as that.

One that I found fascinating was about the cleaner who was convicted of drunk driving after a single glass of wine. She cleaned high-end rental villas and had about 7 to do. The procedure was to clean the bathrooms with methlyated spirits steamers. It took her 2.5 hours and she had a glass of wine during that time. Driving home, the police breathalysed her and her blood alcohol was 192 ml, equivalent to about 8 drinks. She was convicted and got a year's suspension of her licence.

She read a book by the author and wrote to him and he investigated. Methlylated spirits used to be methanol, but now it is ethanol, same as in alcoholic drinks. So she was guilty of being over the limit, but not by drinking. Now you can buy a Vaportini to inhale your gin and tonic or even go to a cloud bar and immerse yourself in a haze of alcohol.

Good book, thoroughly enjoyed it. The author has had an unusual life as a doctor from South Africa, through the Rhodesian/indepence wars to living in the peaceful if not exactly no-crime country of New Zealand.

Natalie M

Rating: really liked it
Totally captivating!

I thoroughly enjoyed the rather unusual cases shared in this forensic pathologists recounts. From putzi fly larvae to a cleaner who inhaled enough airborne alcohol to return a positive roadside reading, I was fascinated.

From Rhodesia, Southern Africa to New Zealand the cases are discussed with authenticity and respect. Even the situation of young girl who dies by his inexperience, and the under-equipped and poorly resourced clinic, which is not told as an excuse or looking for sympathy- it is told with genuine insight.

I love my forensic crime shows and Dr Temple-Camp would make brilliant watching!

Jessicka

Rating: really liked it
When I saw that Cynric had written another book I was super excited. I’ve been lucky enough to attend a talk he did and to chat with him afterwards about various cases.

As I grew up in the Manawatu (which is where he is based), I recognised a lot of the cases he spoke about. This was fascinating to me as I got to read more of what happened in certain cases. He even covered a case where a guy I knew shot and killed a police officer, so this was really interesting for me to read about.

I love Cynric’s sense of humour and this is evident in this book. He also has a gift of being able to teach the reader as well as keep their interest.

Both of his books are fascinating, well written and, above all, human. I love that in both of them he donates all the proceeds of these books to the local rescue helicopter team. So if you’re unsure if either book is worth the purchase it absolutely is.

Lastly, Cynric’s description of various parasites (the ones in his neck), literally turned my stomach haha. Fantastic job!!!!

Kelly

Rating: really liked it
Not gonna lie, some parts of this made me feel slightly sick (maggots and parasites are GROSS) but it was overall a really good book looking at how a pathologist works. I did feel quite sad reading it as well - the author has a lovely way of talking about the cases he worked on so they’re not just body parts but real people.

Anusha Siobhan

Rating: really liked it
Perhaps my favourite chapter of this book was the epilogue, where Temple-Camp reflects on the many different ways we approach death. He reflects that death has been 'sanitised and medicalised' in modern Western society, in comparison to the rich traditions observed in other cultures. In this closing chapter, you can truly see the deep reverence the author holds for his patients, and how he strives to honour their lives in exploring their deaths. This is also evident in the stories he tells from his time as both a physician and pathologist - his passion makes a compelling case for a career in pathology!

Very close to five stars, thoroughly enjoyable reading, although there were a few medical errors - nothing that detracted from the story, but that are related to my field of medicine, so really stood out to me!

chooksandbooksnz

Rating: really liked it

To say this book was fascinating would be an understatement.
I absolutely loved his first book (The Cause of Death) which kick started my love of reading two years ago.

Dr Cynric Temple-Camp is a New Zealand pathologist who originally trained and begun his career in South Africa before moving to NZ. He shares stories from his earlier days working in Africa and many cases based in NZ.

This book is very case based (👌) and is obviously based around a very morbid topic- death. All kinds of death. Sometimes these deaths are senseless murders, tragic mistakes, illness, natural or a total mystery. However despite the circumstances, the way he tells stories he manages to keep things light and informative while still showing a high level of respect for his deceased patients and their families.

He shows a real passion and dedication to his profession. I actually admire him so much and if there was one author I could ever have a conversation with about their life- it would be him! Pathologists are tucked well away from any frontline healthcare yet are the vital beating heart of the care of the living and the dead.

As a kiwi I recognised some of the cases he spoke abut but this is definitely not necessary as he explains everything so clearly.

If you loved Unnatural Causes by Richard Shepherd, you will LOVE both of Cynric Temple-Camp’s books.

This is the kind of book that reminds me why I love non-fiction (especially with medical themes). Without any doubt this a very easy 5/5 stars! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Nicki Kendall

Rating: really liked it
Another great read from Cynric Temple-Camp. I really enjoy his writing style and the way he relays stories of his past forensic pathology cases. He also intersperses his case file information with stories of his own medical issues including a rather disturbing but fascinating insight into his own experience with parasites living in his neck. Unputdownable for anyone with an interest in forensic pathology/autopsies or just the workings of the human body. #cynrictemple-camp #thequickandthedead #tea_sipping_bookworm #litsy #goodreads #amazon#kindle #bookqueen #greatreads

Charity Norman

Rating: really liked it
Cynric Temple-Camp knows an awful lot about death, but also about life. Boy, has he had some experiences to write home about, not least as a forensic pathologist. I was enthralled by this second collection of fascinating stories - occasionally gory, always well-told. There's real humanity and honesty, and a sense of humour, which balance the darker or most tragic moments. I hope there are plenty more where these came from!
I was delighted to meet Cynric Temple-Camp, and hear him talk more about his work, when we shared a stage at the Hawke's Bay Arts Festival a few weeks ago.

Jude

Rating: really liked it
An easy but fascinating read by NZ pathologist Cynric Temple- Camp, not for the faint hearted.

Kolumbina

Rating: really liked it
My kind of book!
Interesting, well written, learned a lot.
Like C. Temple-Camp's work ethic.
Great!

Renée

Rating: really liked it
I was so excited to read this after enjoying the authors first book The Cause of Death. This is another fascinating, well written riveting read, with a good dollop of humour. Some of the stories were sad and others really gross, so try not to read while eating!
Highly recommended.

Jan

Rating: really liked it
A pathologist's experience of the unlikely, extraordinary, obscure and often tragic ways humans meet their demise .

Chaitalee Ghosalkar

Rating: really liked it
It is my firm belief that an ardent reader should not restrict themselves to authors of a particular nationality. The diversity that comes through the culture that is imbibed into the author and gets projected through the setting, surrounding, characters makes for a wholesome read, not to mention the enriching experience you get out of it.

I had believed this to be true for fiction books, and was pleasantly surprised to know that it extends to non fiction books as well...especially of the medical history genre.

Camp gives us a detailed description of the cases he has handled over the years as a pathologist. Having read a few books that come under this category (perhaps I have an inclination towards morbidity, but we'll deal with that problem later), it is easy to assume that while some cases might be new, others might be your usual run of the mill. However, you are in for a treat (if I can use the word). Because Camp deals with cases he's been on in both New Zealand and Africa where he served for some duration, we get a multitude of cases that have diverse reasons behind the deaths. Think murder and you have a variety of cases. Think medical negligence...there you go. Insects, anyone? No worries...although this was one section where I had difficulty reading and simultaneously putting food down my throat. Underlying medical conditions, accidental deaths, name it and you have it.

It was such a pleasure to read about the cases. It's been a while since I have come out feeling so satisfied after having completed a book in this genre.

Misstress of the Bleeding Sorrow

Rating: really liked it
1. For a medical professional he sure mentions God waaaay too often.
2. Most cases are not even that memorable.
3. Rather short on the science.

I still enjoyed some parts of the book, but it simply wasn't as good/educational as other books on pathology, forensics etc.

Angelique Simonsen

Rating: really liked it
Fascinating, easy to read and not too OTT with unintelligible medical speak.