Thursday, August 28, 2025

#BookReview: The Secret History of the Rape Kit by @pagan.kennedy

Book Cover
Synopsis:
In 1972, Martha "Marty" Goddard volunteered at a crisis hotline, counseling girls who had been molested by their fathers, their teachers, their uncles. Soon, Marty was on a mission to answer a question: Why were so many sexual predators getting away with these crimes? By the end of the decade, she had launched a campaign pushing hospitals and police departments to collect evidence of sexual assault and treat survivors with dignity. She designed a new kind of forensics tool—the rape kit—and new practices around evidence collection that spread across the country. Yet even as Marty fought for women's rights, she allowed a man to take credit for her work. 

When journalist Pagan Kennedy went looking for this forgotten pioneer, she discovered that even Marty Goddard's closest friends had lost track of her. As Pagan followed a trail of clues to solve the mystery of Marty, she also delved into the problematic history of forensics in America. The Secret History of the Rape Kit chronicles one journalist's mission to understand a crucial innovation in forensics and the woman who championed it. As Pagan Kennedy hunts for answers, she reflects on her own experiences with sexual assault and her own desire for justice.
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My Review:
This is a powerful and eye-opening account of Marty Goddard’s groundbreaking work to protect survivors of sexual assault and revolutionize forensic evidence collection. Kennedy tells Marty’s story with care and respect, highlighting both her determination and the challenges she faced as a woman fighting for justice. The book is deeply moving and informative, shedding light on an essential piece of history that deserves recognition.
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