Lisa G. Bailey Reihenfolge der Bücher

Told with unflinching honesty and a touch of gallows humor, this personal memoir recounts the journey of the first female forensic sculptor in the FBI. Lisa Bailey, initially unaware of her path in death, was drawn to a forensic artist position that allowed her to use her artistic skills to assist victims of crime. Her work involved documenting crime scenes, photographing charred corpses, and digitally retouching disembodied heads of suicide bombers. However, it was facial approximation—sculpting a face from an unidentified victim’s skull—that captivated her most. By capturing a likeness in clay, she aimed to aid in identification and help law enforcement find the killers. As Bailey tackled hundreds of cases, she became a subject matter expert, finding the work both challenging and fulfilling. However, her life took a drastic turn when she faced sexual discrimination and harassment. Shocked by the FBI management's protection of her abusers and their retaliatory tactics, she felt trapped in a hostile environment. Infuriated by the hypocrisy, Bailey resolved to fight back. This memoir not only details her unique and surreal experiences as a forensic artist but also serves as a powerful commentary on resilience and the fight against injustice.

Whenever Lisa Bailey sees a particularly striking person, she wonders, "What is going on with their skull?" It all started after Bailey took the FBI's Forensic Facial Imaging Course and was introduced to facial approximation. Her fascination was instantaneous. As the only female forensic sculptor in the FBI, Bailey re-created the faces of unidentified homicide victims from their skulls. She worked on hundreds of cases and grew to become a subject matter expert in the field. The job was just as incredible as it sounds, and she loved every moment of it. Her life changed when new supervisors began subjecting her to extreme sexual discrimination and harassment. Her casework was sabotaged; she was berated in front of coworkers, cyber-stalked, slandered, and threatened physically. When the FBI ignored her repeated appeals for help, Bailey filed an Equal Employment Opportunity complaint. What followed was six years of retaliation. Ultimately, it was ruled that the FBI had discriminated against Bailey, but the men responsible escaped unscathed. Bailey came to believe that it was her obligation to speak up to expose the culture of discrimination and reprisal and help other women to protect themselves. Told with unflinching honesty and a touch of gallows humor, Clay and Bones is a memoir with a mission, and a fascinating exploration into the surreal and satisfying work of a forensic artist.