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Consisting of ten chapters, based in eight forensic anthropology facilities throughout the United States of America, Forensic Anthropology Laboratory aims to provide the reader, regardless of their educational motivation, with a comparison of, and personal insight into, the scientific, administrative, and legal roles played by forensic anthropologists.

A thorough summary of the current forensic anthropological climate within the USA, the book is driven by the increased presence of forensic anthropologists as expert witnesses, and the associated pressures placed on certification authorities as a result of expert testimony admissibility criteria. The influence of the Frye and Daubert standards, with reference to preservation of the probative value of expert testimony through the existence and maintenance of laboratory protocols and procedures, is summarised in the opening chapter (Walsh-Haney). This book aims to highlight consistency and disparity between some of Americas' most “respected and prolific” anthropologists working within the clinical, research, and academic sectors.

The first laboratory presented is the highly publicised Anthropology Research Facility, University of Tennessee (Jantz and Jantz). Somewhat superficial at 15 pages, this section overviews the historical development of this unique centre, the donation process, and basic principles of its contributions to research within the discipline. A concise chapter, it appears aimed at potential donors rather than the general reader.

Chapter 3 (Austin and Fulgitini) provides a thorough insight into the role of the forensic anthropologist in the Medical Examiners Office by detailing the activities of the forensic anthropologists in full time employment. These differ greatly from those employed in the academic sector. Interestingly, figures provided for the number of forensic anthropologists involved in this niche reveal that although there are enough for one per office. However, in some cases there are as many as eight in employment in one office, whereas many have none at all.

Identification of the c. 90,000 unaccounted American service personnel from armed conflict, ranging as far back as World War 1, is the responsibility of the Department of Defence, Joint POW/MIA Accounting Command's Central Identification Laboratory. The history, development, examination methods, and scientific research associated with this centre are presented in chapter 4 (Holland et al.).

Based in the University of Indianapolis, the Archaeology and Forensics Laboratory (chapter 5, Nawrocki), provides an example of a collaborative effort between anthropology, archaeology, and taphonomy in an academic department that also has an involvement with field based police work.

The sixth chapter (Sledzik and Kauffman) gives a good overview of the mass fatality morgue environment, with the main focus being on DMORT (Disaster Mortuary Operational Response Team). An informative chapter, it highlights the most important factors to take into account in mass fatality incidents and illustrates the role of the forensic anthropologist in such an environment.

The legal and moral complexities that surround the issue of repatriation of archaeological remains and cultural items are highlighted by Jones and Ousley in the next chapter. The identification of groups according to ethnicity, a highly debated topic in the field, is discussed, acknowledging the social implications of such a determination. This is appropriately followed by a chapter by Hunt, which gives a summary of the history and collections of the Smithsonian Institution's Division of Physical Anthropology.

Louisiana State University's Forensic Anthropology and Computer Enhancement Services (FACES) Laboratory is the subject of chapter 9 (Manhein et al.). This gives an overview of some of the forensic case work the department has been involved in, using facial reconstruction, age progression, and photograph and video enhancement.

The final chapter (Walsh-Haney et al.) provides a conclusion to the text, as well as a broad overview of what forensic anthropology is. However, the description of what forensic anthropology is as a discipline appears to focus solely on skeletonised human remains. This may be in opposition to the opinion of many practicing forensic anthropologists. Many of whom routinely undertake soft tissue analysis and work with the living, such as the cases seen in the chapter on Louisiana State University's FACES Laboratory.

With inconsistent reviews of the anthropological laboratories presented and unequal weighting on the detail provided for every aspect of the work, this book fails to provide a reliable comparison of the procedures in place across the USA. However, this book does provide an interesting review of current employment in forensic anthropology in America. This proves informative to the non-practitioner and exposes similarities and differences between the US system and the British system to British practitioners. This overview is strengthened by the use of multiple authors; the result is both detailed and personal, introducing the reader to the diversity and range of situations that require assistance from a forensic anthropologist.