Forensic details

At work, he will race to a crime scene where he examines every minute, grisly detail of some poor soul's mortal remains. It doesn't matter whether the cadaver is dismembered or decaying and being devoured by maggots, his aim is the same－to find the clues that will help bring the perpetrator of the killing to justice.

After hours, he writes vivid stories, based on real-life criminal cases he has investigated as a forensic scientist, in the hope of fostering a greater public understanding and respect for the profession.

As an unexpected reward, he has become one of the country's best-selling authors of crime thrillers.

Qin Ming, 41, has by now published 13 novels that delve into the details of investigating all types of crimes, including murder, rape, fraud and fatal accidents, as well as two nonfiction books that explain the various aspects of forensic science. Some of his works have been adapted into drama series and films, winning him even wider popularity.

Recently, he appeared in a reality show aired on Chinese streaming site Mango TV, which followed several young interns vying for a position as a forensic specialist, thrusting the daily lives of forensic experts into the limelight. There, he gave professional instruction to the interns about how to retrieve evidence at a crime scene and identify reliable information in order to establish a cause of death, identify the deceased or determine a murder weapon.

He also shared his own experiences in the hope of inspiring the next generation of forensic scientists.

The son of a policeman and a doctor, Qin's parents placed great hopes on him. They both wanted Qin to follow in their footsteps.

Unable to decide, Qin worked out a good compromise－becoming a forensic examiner who is equipped with medical knowledge, but also works in the public security system.

He joined the forensics team of Anhui province's public security bureau in 2005 after earning degrees in forensic medicine at Wannan Medical College in 2003, and the China Criminal Police University in 2005.

In social situations, he often encountered misunderstanding, sometimes even a change in the behavior of people, when he revealed his occupation.

"Some would refuse to dine with me at the same table, or even shake my hand. At the time, I took it personally," he recalls.

To promote better understanding of forensic work and the dedicated professionals who do the job, he decided to write a novel based on their daily lives.

In 2012, Qin, as an active internet user, began posting his novel on blogging sites, which marked the beginning of his now soaring career as a part-time writer of crime thrillers.