"For decades John Lentini has exposed the myths, investigative failures, and bad actors responsible for wrongful arson convictions, freeing innocent people and restoring ruined reputations along the way. Twice Burned is a fascinating glimpse into a career spent confronting the myriad, terrifying ways in which so-called fire experts get things wrongand the maddening legal fights required to correct their mistakes. Combining wry humor with simmering outrage at the travesties he has seen, Lentini shares crucial lessons to help prevent future miscarriages of justice. It is both a righteous memoir and vital teaching tool by an author whose refusal to stay silent has made him a powerful voice in defense of science and truth". - Liliana Segura, Investigative Journalist, The Intercept
"In his latest book, Twice Burned, John Lentini presents cautionary case studies that illustrate the human cost of fire investigations that did not always meet the highest standards of the profession. By presenting his experiences with these incidents, Mr. Lentini not only unapologetically exposes the technical errors, cognitive biases and, sometimes, misfeasance that led to errors in a fires origin, cause and attribution, but provides corrective actions to prevent future occurrences. Every investigator dedicated to finding truth in fire origin and cause investigations should read this book and apply the lessons to inch ever closer to the goal of getting it right every time". - Steven J. Avato, IAAI-CFI, ATF Supervisory Special Agent (Retired), Fire Investigations Captain (Retired)
"John Lentinis Twice Burned is a compelling exploration of the evolving field of fire science and its impact on arson investigations. As a renowned expert in fire science, Lentini presents a series of case histories where advancements in its understanding came too late, resulting in wrongful arson convictions. Lentinis artful recounting of these cases, and how they were eventually overturned, underscores the critical importance of continuous learning and skepticism in our field.
Twice Burned, like his earlier books, is an essential read for all fire investigators. Its a call to action for our profession to embrace the spirit of scientific advancement, reminding us that what we dont know can have profound consequences on peoples lives and liberties." - Steve Carman, ATF CFI, retired
Twice Burned is an essential memoir by one of the most, if not the most, consequential arson investigators in American history. Lentini's storytelling of his most significant cases is first-rate narrative non-fiction, and the education the reader gets on the role junk science plays in convicting the innocent is on point, delivered in unsparing prose that pulls no punches, even when looking in the mirror. Put simply, John Lentini is a hero to the innocence movement, responsible for bringing a measure of justice to countless wrongfully convicted men and women, and his book chronicling his historic 45-year career in fire science is a long-overdue must read. - M. Chris Fabricant, Director of Strategic Litigation, Innocence Project
If you know John (and you should), youll recognize how clearly his voice comes through here: sharp, unsparing, but never cruel. He writes with the perspective of someone who has shoveled out more fire scenes than most investigators will ever see, and who has stood in courtrooms watching prosecutors build arguments on bad science. The cases he recounts, such as the Lime Street fire, the Cameron Todd Willingham trial, Claude Garretts long fight for exoneration, arent just stories of flawed investigations. Theyre warnings about what happens when belief outruns evidence and when institutions cling to precedent over truth ... what elevates Twice Burned beyond memoir is Johns candor. He admits to once believing some of the same myths he later dismantled: that honesty matters. Forensic science changes, if at all, not because it is perfect, but because practitioners are willing to admit when it is not. - Max M. Houck, Author and Professor of Forensic Science
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