Things You Should Know But Don’t

A man in a business suit holding a blank masquerade mask
Things You Should Know But Don’t: Copycat Killers
Posted March 27, 2023 Written by Claire

You’ve undoubtedly heard the term “copycat killer.” It’s often used as a popular trope in crime dramas and police procedurals […]

Close up of hands using tablet and smartphone with skull hologram on blurry outdoor background.
Things You Should Know But Don’t: Does Social Media Escalate Violence?
Posted March 13, 2023 Written by Claire

We’ve known for a long time now that an excess of social media can be detrimental to one’s mental health. […]

Digital map of a city's transport system, colored in bright red & white against a black background
Things You Should Know But Don’t: Crime Mapping & Forecasting
Posted February 27, 2023 Written by Claire

The other week I gave an overview of how AI is currently being used by police in criminal investigations. In […]

Shanghai , China - FEB 19 2021: Public surveillance cameras on a pole in the city of China Shanghai.
Things You Should Know But Don’t: China in the Sky
Posted February 20, 2023 Written by Claire

As a novelist, I sometimes enjoy reading the diatribes of conspiracy theorists.  They’re often great grist to conjure up fictional […]

Photograph of an open dictionary on a desk. On top of the pages is a magnifying glass.
Things You Should Know But Don’t: Origins of a Serial Killer
Posted February 13, 2023 Written by Claire

What makes a serial killer? While that’s a provocative question, I mean it here in the most literal sense: What, […]

A photo of scientists working in a lab with an overlay of graphics on top. The graphics depict icons of DNA, charts, beakers, and other scientific instruments.
Things You Should Know But Don’t: How Forensic Science Uses AI
Posted January 30, 2023 Written by Claire

If you’ve heard anything about artificial intelligence (AI) recently, it has most likely concerned its impact on the artistic community […]

Dark photo of a female detective looking at a cork board. On the board there are notes and newspaper clippings.
Things You Should Know But Don’t: The Golden Age of Serial Killers
Posted January 16, 2023 Written by Claire

John Wayne Gacy. Jeffrey Dahmer. Ted Bundy. The Zodiac Killer. Son of Sam. Even people who don’t actively seek out […]

A picture of someone working at a desk covered in evidence bags, folders, and documents related to a criminal investigation
Things You Should Know But Don’t: The FBI & Forensic Science
Posted December 19, 2022 Written by Claire

The U.S. Federal Bureau of Investigation was created in 1908 by Attorney General Charles Bonaparte. At the time, the U.S. […]

A red 3D model of DNA against a dark background
Things You Should Know But Don’t: What Works in Forensic Science
Posted December 5, 2022 Written by Claire

In my last blog, I discussed the ways that a lot of forensic science in pop culture is taken on […]

Typewriter, fingerprints and papers on desk in office. Detective's workplace
Things You Should Know But Don’t: Pitfalls of Forensic Science
Posted November 21, 2022 Written by Claire

If you’re a fan of true crime, you’re likely familiar with many of the forensic methods police and detectives use […]

Next Entries »

Categories