Leslie Sinclair, D.V.M., Melinda Merck, D.V.M., and Randall Lockwood, Ph.D. (268 pages, softcover, Humane Society Press, $59.95; www.humanesocietypress.org)

Describing a new book as a primer in animal cruelty might not send it shooting up the New York Times bestseller list, but a new text from Humane Society Press should become a bestseller within the humane field. Forensic Investigation of Animal Cruelty is required reading for anyone involved in the investigation or prosecution of those who commit crimes against animals. Written by two veterinarians and a doctor of psychology, the book covers animal cruelty in the context of the American legal system and explains the basics of building an effective court case. It also provides background on legal and legislative definitions of cruelty, discusses different kinds of abuse and neglect, examines the complicated issue of who’s responsible for getting perpetrators into court, and—perhaps most new and most needed—explores the role of veterinarians in both reporting cases of cruelty and testifying in court. Readers will learn effective methods of evidence collection and preservation; the book describes in detail the kinds of wounds that may result from specific types of abuse, thus helping veterinarians and investigators identify injuries they witness as the result of deliberate mistreatment.