A silent witness

A Silent Witness is a detective novel by R. Austin Freeman, published in the early 20th century. The story follows young doctor Humphrey Jardine, who becomes embroiled in a perplexing mystery involving a vanished corpse and an attempt on his life in Hampstead, London. Renowned medical jurist Dr. John Thorndyke is called to assist in the scientifically grounded investigation, which features forensic clues and a strange reliquary. This work is notable for its early use of forensic science in detective fiction.