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Expert Witness

The Weight of Our Testimony When Justice Hangs in the Balance

Coming Soon
Expert Witness Open the full-size image

Contributors

By Ann Wolbert Burgess

With Steven Matthew Constantine

Formats and Prices

On Sale
Sep 2, 2025
Page Count
256 pages
Publisher
Grand Central Publishing
ISBN-13
9780306834042

Price

$30.00

Price

$40.00 CAD

Format

Format:

  1. Hardcover $30.00 $40.00 CAD
  2. ebook $15.99 $20.99 CAD
  3. Audiobook Download (Unabridged) $27.99

Buy from Other Retailers:

From the author of the critically-acclaimed true crime account, A Killer By Design (the inspiration behind Hulu’s original docuseries, Mastermind), a groundbreaking look into the crucial role played by expert witnesses in the most high-profile criminal cases, based on Dr. Ann Burgess’ personal experiences within the criminal justice system. 

Written through Burgess’ singular lens of compassion and lived experience, Expert Witness pulls back the curtain on some of the biggest cases in the last thirty years—from Bill Cosby to the Menendez brothers to Larry Nassar—to reveal the deeply human stories behind the trials that have captivated a nation. The book explores the role of expert witnesses in high stakes court cases, offering first-hand accounts and never-before-seen interviews with attorneys, victims, and offenders. 

Expert Witness places readers inside the mind of the nation’s most prominent courtroom expert, following Burgess as she takes on one seismic case after the next. Throughout the narrative, each case deepens the reader’s understanding of the art and science of expert testimony, taking readers from the women’s movement of the 1970s to the #MeToo movement of today—one of the largest social reckonings in recent history. At its core, Expert Witness is a story of empowerment. It’s a story of compassion and the ever-increasing need for individuals to stand up and speak truth to power or to popular opinion. And it’s ultimately a story of how revolutionary one voice can be. 

Genre:

  • "Dr. Burgess’ brilliant advocacy and pioneering techniques have profoundly shaped the world we experience, particularly as women. She persists as the preeminent model of what is possible when empathy is the driving force behind work."
    Dakota & Elle Fanning
  • "Courtroom battles are won and lost based upon revealing insights dramatically presented by an expert witness. If you want to learn about the best and from the best, then look no further! In her book Expert Witness, Ann Burgess reveals secrets of success by showcasing her personal courtroom drama while highlighting several notorious cases."
     
    Gregory M. Cooper, former FBI criminal profiler and executive director of the Cold Case Foundation
  • "Ann Burgess helped redefine what it means to fight for justice. Her story is both deeply personal and universally powerful—a testament to bravery, intellect, and integrity in the face of unspeakable violence."
     
    Margaret P. Moss, PhD, JD, RN, FAAN. FADLN [Hidatsa/Dakhóta] Professor and Associate Dean for Nursing and Health Policy
  • "Working with Ann was a master class for me in profiling, crime scene analysis, and mental health issues. It made me a far better lawyer, both in terms of evaluating facts, and more importantly, in gaining insights into my clients."
     
    James P. Cooney III, civil and criminal lawyer
  • "I sat with Dr. Burgess and Steven Constantine before I ever sat across from Ed Kemper. As I tried to understand the crimes of one man, they carried the understanding of many. Their work, corroboration, and friendship have been deeply grounding."
     
    Gregory Horoupian, Filmmaker
  • "Dr. Burgess’ pioneering forensic research and prolific writings have elucidated the motives of sexual predators and serial killers, helping law enforcement to apprehend offenders and to save lives...In this latest page-turner, she reaffirms her unstoppable devotion to unearthing and patching together the truth to secure justice for those accused in and those affected by heinous violent crimes."
     
    Dr. Gary Brucato, Visiting Scholar at Boston College, co-author of The New Evil: Understanding the Emergence of Modern Violent Crime
  • "Ann Burgess has significantly influenced my career with her groundbreaking work and advocacy for the true victims in our society, particularly her work with the victims of Larry Nassar. Her book is a must-read."
     
    Kathleen Zellner

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Ann Wolbert Burgess

About the Author

Dr. Ann Wolbert Burgess, DNSc., APRN, is a leading forensic and psychiatric nurse who worked with the FBI for over two decades. She is currently a professor at the Boston College Connell School of Nursing, and she lives in Boston, MA.

Steven Matthew Constantine (cowriter) is the associate director of marketing and communications at the Boston College Connell School of Nursing. He holds an MFA from the Bennington Writing Seminars. He maintains a small orchard outside of Boston, MA..

Learn more about this author