{"title":"Books by John Sweetman","description":null,"products":[{"product_id":"9781399735896","title":"Identity","description":"'A FASCINATING READ' DR MARIE CASSIDYWHEN A VIOLENT INCIDENT LED YOUNG MISFIT GARDA JOHN SWEETMAN INTO THE GARDA TECHNICAL BUREAU WITH INCRIMINATING EVIDENCE, HE FOUND HIS TRUE CALLING.   He spent the next 25 years as a detective garda working on the frontline of crime scene investigations - as both a fingerprint expert and, in later years, a forensic handwriting and document expert. His tenacity and natural eye for detail led him to becoming involved in many criminal investigations and high-profile cases.   From the brutal murder of Marie Dillon in Finglas in 1998 to the gangland killing of Raymond Salinger in 2003, John was involved in the search for forensic evidence at these and other crime scenes.   He later employed his handwriting expertise in examining fraudulence, threatening letters and counterfeit documents, as well as the investigations into the murders of Jasmine McMonagle and student Jastine Valdez and the horrific Hawe familicide in Cavan in 2016.   Identity is both a fascinating insight into specialist forensic fields, which peeks behind the curtain of how crimes are solved, and a bravely told story of a nonconformist detective in a remarkable career.   'Eye-opening' BUSINESS POST","brand":"Gardners","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":55205873189237,"sku":"9781399735896","price":11.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0612\/7193\/3106\/files\/9781399735896.jpg?v=1786019807"},{"product_id":"9781399063814","title":"The Dambusters - 'Was the Raid Worthwhile?'","description":"On the evening of 16 May 1943, nineteen Avro Lancasters took off from RAF Scampton to undertake 617 Squadron's first offensive attack since its formation a few weeks earlier. Loaded with Barnes Wallis' newly designed bouncing bombs, the Bomber Command crews set course for their targets - the vital Mohne, Eder and Sorpe dams that served the Ruhr, the Third Reich's industrial heartland.   By the time the survivors began landing back at base at 03.11 hours the following morning, eight of the Lancasters had been shot down. However, both the Mohne and Eder dams had been breached, while the Sorpe was damaged. The flood waters that the attacks unleashed poured downstream, wreaking havoc on the surrounding countryside. Albert Speer, Hitler's Minister of Armaments and War Production, later wrote:  That night, employing just a few bombers, the British came close to a success which would have been greater than anything they had achieved hitherto with a commitment of thousands of bombers. In 1990, the renowned historian and author Dr John Sweetman published his seminal work on the events before, during and after Operation Chastise. His book was the result of decades of research into the famous attack, in the course of which Dr Sweetman corresponded with or interviewed many of the individuals involved - from the scientists to senior officers, and from groundcrew to the very airmen who delivered Barnes Wallis' bouncing bombs to the dams.   Such was the relationships that developed over the years, Dr Sweetman became a close friend to many of these individuals and their families. Some of the information contained in the interview transcripts and letters he received was included in his original book; much more, however, was never used. This is particularly the case with the many letters and conversations which Dr Sweetman received or had after his book was first published - much of which adds to, or elaborates on, the narrative of the events in May 1943.   Dr Sweetman has delved into his remarkable archive of material to present unseen sections of it here, for the historian or general reader, for the very first time.","brand":"Gardners","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":56298527555957,"sku":"9781399063814","price":25.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0612\/7193\/3106\/files\/9781399063814_60216288-d829-4143-89e2-43c9032f5782.jpg?v=1786019466"},{"product_id":"9781399735872","title":"Identity","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003e'A FASCINATING READ' DR MARIE CASSIDY\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eA PAGE-TURNING DETECTIVE MEMOIR WHICH REVEALS THE FORENSIC METHODS THAT HELPED SOLVE PROMINENT IRISH CRIMES.\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eWhen a violent incident led young misfit garda John Sweetman into the Garda Technical Bureau with incriminating evidence, he found his true calling.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eHe spent the next 25 years as a detective garda working on the frontline of crime scene investigations - as both a fingerprint expert and, in later years, a forensic handwriting and document expert. His tenacity and natural eye for detail led him to becoming involved in many criminal investigations and high-profile cases.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eFrom the brutal murder of Marie Dillon in Finglas in 1998 to the gangland killing of Raymond Salinger in 2003, John was involved in the search for forensic evidence at these and other crime scenes.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eHe later employed his handwriting expertise in examining fraudulence, threatening letters and counterfeit documents, as well as the investigations into the murders of Jasmine McGonagle and student Jastine Valdez and the horrific Hawe familicide in Cavan in 2016.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003ci\u003eIdentity\u003c\/i\u003e is both a fascinating insight into specialist forensic fields, which peeks behind the curtain of how crimes are solved, and a bravely told story of a nonconformist detective in a remarkable career.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e'I am determined this case is not going to be forgotten. This man is dangerous and has to be found.' FROM THE PROLOGUE\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Gardners","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":56298884268405,"sku":"9781399735872","price":15.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0612\/7193\/3106\/files\/9781399735872_6511a74d-0ead-4912-8381-06655474184a.jpg?v=1786019806"}],"url":"https:\/\/backstory.london\/collections\/author-john-sweetman.oembed","provider":"Backstory","version":"1.0","type":"link"}