Tremors in the Blood: Murder, Obsession and the Birth of the Lie Detector

Nominated for the CWA Dagger Award 2023 ‘A wonderful book’ - Guardian Truth, murder and the birth of the lie detector Henry Wilkens burst through the doors of the emergency room covered in his wife’s blood. But was he a grieving husband, or a ruthless killer who’d conspired with bandits to have her murdered? To find out, the San Francisco police turned to technology, and a new machine that had just been invented in Berkeley by a rookie detective, a visionary police chief, and a teenage magician with a showman’s touch. John Larson, Gus Vollmer and Leonarde Keeler hoped the lie detector would make the justice system fairer – but the flawed device soon grew too powerful for them to control. It poisoned their lives, turned fast friends into bitter enemies, and as it conquered America and the world, it transformed our relationship with the truth in ways that are still being felt. As new forms of lie detection gain momentum in the present day, Tremors in the Blood reveals the incredible truth behind the creation of the polygraph, through gripping true crime cases featuring explosive gunfights, shocking twists and high-stakes courtroom drama. Touching on psychology, technology and the science of the truth, Tremors in the Blood is a vibrant, atmospheric thriller, and a warning from history: be careful what you believe. Amit Katwala's Tremors in the Blood is a top-tier exploration of the birth of the lie detector, a device that has shaped modern law enforcement. The book is a compelling blend of biography and social commentary, set in the tumultuous landscape of the 20th century. For fans of Kate Winkler Dawson (American Sherlock), David Grann (The Wager), Mary Roach (Bonk), Rory Stewart (Politics On the Edge), and Matthew Burgess (Artificial Intelligence). HarperCollins 2022