Sue Black

Sue Black is a British computer scientist, academic, and social entrepreneur known for her work in technology education and advocacy for women in computing. She founded BCSWomen, the UK's first online network for women in tech, and led the successful campaign to save Bletchley Park, Britain's historic WWII codebreaking site. As a professor of Computer Science and Technology Evangelist at Durham University, Black has focused on making technology more accessible and encouraging women to pursue careers in STEM fields. Her book "Saving Bletchley Park" chronicles the campaign to preserve the heritage site where Alan Turing and others broke the Nazi Enigma code. Black's personal journey from single mother living in a domestic violence refuge to prominent technology leader has influenced her advocacy work. She was appointed Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) in 2016 for services to technology, and has received numerous awards including the Social Impact ABIE Award from the Anita Borg Institute. Her contributions to computer science education include founding #techmums, a social enterprise that provides technology training to mothers. Black continues to write and speak about digital skills, technology heritage, and the importance of diversity in the tech industry.

Readers consistently highlight Black's ability to blend personal narrative with technical and historical content. Her book "Saving Bletchley Park" earns particular praise for making complex computing history accessible to non-technical audiences. What readers liked: - Clear, conversational writing style - Balance of personal story with factual history - Detailed research and documentation - Inspiring career journey narrative What readers disliked: - Some found the social media coverage repetitive - A few noted timeline jumps created confusion - Technical sections too basic for computing professionals Ratings across platforms: Goodreads: 4.0/5 (500+ ratings) Amazon UK: 4.5/5 (200+ reviews) Amazon US: 4.3/5 (100+ reviews) Notable reader comment: "Black expertly weaves together Bletchley's past and present while showing why preservation matters" (Goodreads review) Critical comment: "The Twitter campaign sections could have been condensed without losing impact" (Amazon reviewer)

All That Remains: A Life in Death (2018) A forensic anthropologist's memoir detailing her career examining human remains, investigating crimes, and identifying victims in mass disasters and war zones.

Written in Bone: Hidden Stories in What We Leave Behind (2020) An examination of how forensic analysis of human remains can reveal details about lives, deaths, and human history through specific case studies.

Things I've Learned from Death (2022) A collection of personal and professional reflections on mortality, grief, and the scientific understanding of death based on the author's forensic career.

The Fascinating Lives of Things That End Up Dead (2023) A scientific exploration of post-mortem changes in the human body and how forensic experts use this knowledge to determine time and cause of death.

Patricia Cornwell writes forensic thrillers focused on a medical examiner protagonist. Her Kay Scarpetta series features detailed autopsy scenes and forensic procedures like those found in Black's work.

Kathy Reichs bases her novels on her real experience as a forensic anthropologist. Her Temperance Brennan series incorporates scientific accuracy and technical details about analyzing human remains.

Tess Gerritsen creates crime thrillers centered on a medical examiner and detective duo. Her background as a physician informs the medical aspects of her murder investigations.

Val McDermid writes crime fiction featuring forensic profiler Tony Hill and detective Carol Jordan. Her plots incorporate psychological elements and Scottish police procedures.

Jefferson Bass consists of a writing team including a forensic anthropologist who founded the Body Farm research facility. Their books focus on forensic evidence and decomposition science in solving crimes.