Death, Family and the Law: The Contemporary Inquest in Context

Description

When a death is investigated by a coroner, what is the place of the family in that process? This accessibly written book draws together empirical, theoretical and historical perspectives to develop a rich, nuanced analysis of the contemporary inquest system in England and Wales. It investigates theories of kinship drawn from socio-legal research and analyses law, accountability and the legal process. Excerpts of conversations with coroners and officers offer real insights into how the role of family can be understood and who family is perceived to be, and further, how their participation fundamentally shapes the investigation into a death.

Edward Kirton-Darling is Lecturer at the University of Bristol Law School.

"Engaging and original and combining historical and critical analysis with empirical research, Kirton-Darling's book provides a fascinating insight into the family's past and present role in the coronial inquest." Ellen Gordon-Bouvier, Oxford Brookes University