Expert Witness: The Weight of Our Testimony When Justice Hangs in the Balance

In this fascinating memoir, psychiatric nurse Burgess (A Killer by Design) delves into her experiences as an expert witness in some of the most high-profile criminal cases of the past 30 years. With a robust background in researching trauma and the effects of sexual abuse at Boston hospitals, Burgess began tangling with the court system in the 1970s, when she advocated for rape victims, who, if they spoke out at all, were often treated as criminals. While most of Burgess’s work was with women, her profile as an expert witness rose during the trial of the Menendez brothers, where her testimony corroborated chilling details of the abuse they suffered as children at the hands of their father. Burgess also recalls helping the FBI pioneer the practice of criminal profiling, and interviewing and providing professional mental health assessments for accusers of Bill Cosby and Larry Nassar. Throughout, she’s an empathetic, matter-of-fact guide, chronicling the growing acceptance of testimony about psychological responses to trauma from a front-row perspective. True crime fans should take a look. Agent: Alice Fried Martell, Martell Agency. (Sept.)