What the Dead Know, Barbara Butcher

A dark, compelling memoir from a woman who spent decades investigating death in New York City. As one of the few female death investigators in Manhattan’s Office of Chief Medical Examiner, Butcher pulls no punches, detailing her work with forensic precision while weaving in her struggles with alcoholism and mental health. The book is a behind-the-scenes look at death investigation, complete with grisly crime scenes, 9/11 recovery efforts, and forgotten cases. It’s also a deeply personal reflection on trauma, resilience, and the ways mortality shapes the living. Butcher’s voice throughout makes even the most unsettling stories feel intimate rather than exploitative. Butcher writes with unflinching honesty about her demons and the emotional weight of her work. It’s not for the faint of heart, but if you can stomach the graphic realities of death, this memoir could be a moving read for you.