Last summer Philippe Boxho released his second book entitled Interview with a corpse (Kennes Éditions). In this work, the author and forensic doctor for over 30 years recounted the various cases that marked his career. From a suicide with a gun that hid its game well to this child whose parents had neglected and who died, including the victims of the explosion of a building… The news items presented in the book , just like the curiosity around the profession, have managed to keep the essay among the best sellers in the ranking Weekly Books/GFK. In fact, for several months, Interview with a corpse is at the top of sales, proof of the public’s passion for realistic works drawn from the experiences of real professionals.
Making the dead speak
However, this is not the first success of the Belgian writer, since in 2022, Philippe Boxho published The dead speak (Kennes Éditions), essay in which he introduced us to his daily life surrounded by death. In this work, the professor of forensic medicine and director of the Institute of Legal Medicine at the University of Liège first deciphered the phenomenon of series such as The experts to then draw a comparison with his profession and his passion through stories that exceed human imagination.
Back in bookstores for a year and while he is preparing his third essay, Philippe Boxho invites us, through these works, behind the scenes of the profession of forensic doctor. In his latest book, the author decided, more precisely, to tackle suspicious deaths. Since then, more than 50,000 copies of the work have been sold according to Édistat; an unexpected triumph for a professional with a name still unknown a few months ago who now benefits from a large presence on the Internet.
Making the dead speak, and highlighting a profession built around clichés, but particularly fascinating, this is how we could summarize the mission that Philippe Boxho has given himself through his two books. In fact, he perhaps sums it up best because Interview with a corpse opens like this: “What I like above all is to discover traces and clues, all these elements which allow us to give voice one last time to the dead and to listen to them in what they have to say. »
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The reasons for success
Several reasons could explain Philippe Boxho’s surprise success in bookstores. In addition to the exciting angle inviting us into the still very secret world of morgues, the author also takes advantage of the phenomenon of triumphant series retracing the most incredible and bloody news stories, from the D’Outreau affair to the more romanticized one around Dahmer notably presented on Netflix. His works also benefit from the enthusiasm that each thriller release arouses in France, but also from a large presence on social networks and the Internet. By approaching reality while offering mind-blowing stories, as well as his expertise, Philippe Boxho manages to take us into an exciting daily life.
In addition, the author and scientist reminds us of the work undertaken by Michel Sapanet in 2010 with Chronicles of a forensic doctor. This former forensic doctor also took up his pen to tell “the extraordinary life of an ordinary man” leaning over his stainless steel table.
