Recounting the Anthrax Attacks

Terror, the Amerithrax Task Force, and the Evolution of Forensics in the FBI

By: R. Scott Decker

Narrated by: L.J. Ganser

It was September 18, 2001, just seven days after al-Qaeda hijackers destroyed the Twin Towers. In the early morning darkness, a lone figure dropped several letters into a mailbox. Seventeen days later, a Florida journalist died of inhalational anthrax. The death from the rare disease made world news. These anthrax attacks marked the first time a sophisticated biological weapon was released in the United States. It killed five people, disfigured at least 18 more, and launched the largest investigation in the FBI's history.

Recounting the Anthrax Attacks explores the origins of the innovative forensics used in this case, while also explaining their historical context. R. Scott Decker's team pursued its first suspect with dogged determination before realizing that the evidence did not add up. With renewed energy, they turned to non-traditional forensics - scientific initiatives never before applied to an investigation - as they continued to hunt for clues. These advances formed the new science of microbial forensics, a novel discipline that produced critical leads when traditional methods failed. The new technologies helped identify a second suspect - one who possessed the knowledge and skills to unleash a living weapon of mass destruction.

©2018 R. Scott Decker (P)2019 Tantor

Very detailed and interesting

Be warned, if you can’t stomach a bit of technical talk about hard science, the later parts of this book will put you off. But for those who love the details, it’s a massive insight.

Awesome Book!

Great book! Explains the anthrax attacks really great, and a good book. I don’t recommend listening to this at night unless you’re like me.

Very technical, a tad too much for me.

They go into way too much technical detail that nearly puts the listener to sleep. If you have insomnia, this is for you.