Anecdotal in nature, this informative and clearly written text helps students discover the art and science of criminal investigation. It focuses on the legal significance of evidence in the field as it outlines the fundamentals of inquiry and then carefully details each element of investigation—from the preliminaries to case preparation for prosecutor review. Reflecting the most recent changes in techniques and their application to various crimes, it uses a case study method of instruction to facilitate learning and help students develop their ability to analyze, evaluate, and reason.