“Women Who Talk to the Dead” - Coming Spring 2025
Women Who Talk to the Dead tells the true story of the largest excavation of murder victims ever undertaken by the FBI, seeking justice for 200 families. Beneath the abandoned buildings of Detroit, and hidden in the soil of county cemeteries, lay the bodies of hundreds of murder victims, their deaths unpunished and their families left in the dark about their loved ones’ fates. For decades, only decaying police files offered fragmented clues about these cold-case murders.
This gripping narrative follows Detroit Police Detective Shannon Jones and FBI Special Agent Leslie Larsen, two women determined to uncover the truth. Despite facing skepticism and bureaucratic challenges, they spearhead Operation UNITED, the largest coordinated examination of unidentified, murder victims in FBI history. Shannon and Leslie, along with the team of female forensic anthropologist scientists and investigators worked tirelessly to uncover the cities, painful past, hoping to bring closure to families who had long feared the worst. Their ultimate goal is to solve 200 murder cases, bringing justice to those whose lives were stolen, and whose identities had been erased.
In Women Who Talk to the Dead, Katherine Schweit takes readers inside this unprecedented cold case investigation, revealing the breakthroughs in forensic science that allow experts to “hear” what bones can tell decades after death. The book also explores the emotional toll on those involved in seeking justice for victims who have been long forgotten by society. It reflects on the stark reality of which cases get solved and which victims, often poor and marginalized, remain overlooked. Ultimately, it celebrates the perseverance and dedication of those who refuse to let these forgotten victims stay nameless, showing how a small but determined team of women changed the system that had too often failed to deliver justice. Because of their efforts, some of Detroit's dead have been identified, and many more stories are waiting to be told. Never miss a beat on Katherine’s newest release—join her email list!
