Aircrash Detective by Stephen Barlay is a non-fiction investigation into some of the world’s most significant aviation disasters and the painstaking work involved in uncovering their causes. Rather than simply recounting crashes, the book follows the investigators, engineers and aviation experts who piece together evidence from wreckage, black boxes and witness accounts in an effort to improve air safety. Through real cases from the early decades of commercial aviation, Barlay explores mechanical failures, human error, weather conditions and the constant push to make flying safer, giving the book the feel of both a detective story and a historical look at the evolution of air travel.