12 Books About Death I Want to Read in 2021

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Hello everybody! You may remember my 21 Books I Want to read in 2021 post and you may have noticed that one category of books was missing… books about death! As your friendly neighbourhood death lady, of course, I have a special TBR for my death books. Because nonfiction books take me a bit longer to read than fiction, I am aiming to read 12 books about death this year.

I’ve vaguely ordered them by type: there are memoirs of death professionals working in the funeral industry and in forensic science, memoirs about personal experiences with death, a sprinkle of true crime and a bit of bone-oriented nonfiction for my interest in forensic anthropology.

Smoke Gets in Your Eyes – Caitlin Doughty

Nine Years Under – Sheri Booker

I’ve had this book on my TBR for ages now and always kept pushing it off because I have a suspicion it might become a new favourite. Sheri Booker details her life working in a funeral home from the age of fifteen. I’m especially interested in getting a glimpse into the inner workings of the funeral industry, but the personal approach to it makes this book even more intriguing. Considering I loved Smoke Gets in Your Eyes so much, Nine Years Under feels like a similar book that can offer a different perspective.

This Party’s Dead – Erica Buist

When I saw this book on Unbound (a crowdfunded publisher) I immediately knew I had to support it. After finding her father-in-law dead after a week, Erica Buist visits seven death festivals around the world to find out how death and grief are dealt with in different parts of the world. I loved Caitlin Doughty’s From Here to Eternity so I’m certain this book is going to be a new favourite! The fact that it has a beautiful cover (and my name in the back) certainly doesn’t hurt.

I Am, I Am, I Am – Maggie O’Farrell

I already know that this book is going to make me cry. In I Am, I Am, I Am Maggie O’Farrell recounts 17 moments in her life that were defined by near-death experiences. That description immediately drew me in and the gorgeous cover sealed the deal: it’s one of my favourite books in my death collections and I just hope it keeps that title when I’ve finally read it. Out of all the memoirs in my death collection, this might be the most unique, simply because it’s not written by a death professional. It’s an everyday story of death and that feels very special to me.

Dead Girls – Alice Bolin

I’ve heard mixed things about this essay collection, but I’m curious to see what I think about it. Alice Bolin examines the obsession we as a society have with dead women and their bodies in media. It’s a trend I have noticed myself and I might end up writing my media studies dissertation about something within this topic so I can officially consider reading this book research! 

Death’s Acre – Dr. Bill Bass and Jon Jefferson

There is a good chance you have heard of the “body farm”. It is technically called the Anthropology Research Facility of the University of Tennessee and it’s where researchers study the decomposition of bodies (among other things)! As someone with an interest in forensic anthropology, the body farm instantly garnered my attention. So when I learned that the founders wrote a book about it, I had to buy it. I’m looking forward to learning more about the research and training that is done there because who knows, one day I might need it to write a crime novel!

Traces – Patricia Wiltshire

Forensic science has many fascinating subfields. I realised this after reading Forensics by Val Mc Dermid (which I talk about in my 5 books to read if you’re into forensic science post). Subsequently, one of my goals is to read books about as many aspects of forensic science as I can find! Traces is all about Patricia Wiltshire’s work as a forensic ecologist. Didn’t know that that was a thing? Yeah, me neither. I can’t wait to learn all about the traces we leave in our environment and how they can help us solve crimes. 

Working Stiff – Judy Melinek

Judy Melinek is a medical examiner letting readers catch a glimpse of her work. She worked in New York during 9/11 and helped deal with the aftermath. I am mainly interested in this book because it helps close a gap in my death collection: the more medical side. It’s not something I think I would ever be qualified to do (and I don’t know if I could stomach it, I’m not much of a soft tissue gal, I’m afraid) but I find it incredibly fascinating. I’ve read a few reviews of this book and it seems to be beautifully heavy on science, which I appreciate. Watch me take notes so I can annoy my friends with facts about dead bodies.

American Sherlock – Kate Winkler Dawson

Let’s get some history up in here! Edward Oscar Heinrich is considered somewhat of a father of forensic science in America. I’m always here for some good historical true crime and I’m particularly looking forward to learning how his work connects to the current American justice system and crime investigation. 

I decided to get this book as an audiobook, I think the historical aspect is going to work really well in audio form!

I’ll Be Gone in the Dark – Michelle McNamara

It might be the ultimate true crime book and I haven’t read it yet! I’ve mentioned it before, but I’m not actually that much of a true crime junkie. Shocking, I know. But every once in a while, I get a recommendation that I simply can’t resist. I’ll Be Gone in the Dark toes the line between investigative journalism and memoir, which is probably why I picked it up. I have pretty much no knowledge of the Golden State Killer case, so I hope this book can provide some basics before delving deep into the details of the case.

Skeleton Keys – Brian Switek

Have I mentioned that I really, really like bones? Forensic anthropology is the field of forensic science that I love the most, our bones tell so many stories! Immediately after finishing Written In Bone by Sue Black, I went on the hunt for more books about bones and Skeleton Keys looked like the right fit. the author takes us on a natural and cultural history of bones. I have my page flags and pen ready, this is certain to be a book I’ll annotate heavily.

Bones: Inside and Out – Roy A. Meals

And finally, another book about bones. It falls in pretty much the same space as Skeleton Keys, being a comprehensive overview of the history and qualities of bones, specifically our human skeletons. Roy A. Meals is an orthopaedic surgeon, a perspective that I’m very excited about! The book also features plenty of illustrations and photographs, a surefire way to get me to swoon over any nonfiction book.

Have any of these books sparked your interest? Is there a genre of books you want to read more of this year? Let’s have a chat!

I hope you have a lovely day,