The Secret History of the Rape Kit

by Pagan Kennedy

The Secret History of the Rape Kit is well-researched, deeply layered story about injustice, invention, and the woman who pushed a broken system to change. At its center is Marty Goddard, a largely unrecognized advocate whose persistence and vision helped transform how evidence is collected and how survivors are treated, even as her contributions were overlooked or credited to others. The information is impressive, tracing both the development of the rape kit and the systemic failures that made it necessary. I appreciated how the book balances investigative work with a compelling underlying story about advocacy, erasure, and persistence, making it feel both informative and personal. It’s one of those rare nonfiction books that manages to be rigorous and emotional at the same time, and overall it just felt exceptionally well done.