The Secret History of the Rape Kit

More about the book

The narrative centers on Marty Goddard, the pioneering inventor of the rape kit, who transformed the approach to investigating sexual assault in the 1970s but later vanished from history. Through her work at a crisis hotline, Marty sought to address the systemic failures in prosecuting sexual crimes, leading to the creation of a revolutionary forensic tool. The book follows journalist Pagan Kennedy's quest to uncover Marty's story, exploring themes of gender inequity, the history of forensics, and the ongoing challenges in addressing sexual violence.