The Nutshell Studies of Unexplained Death, Corinne May Botz, looks to be absolutely fantastic. The book depicts diorama crime scenes created in the 1940's by Frances Glessner Lee, a Chicago heiress with a passion for forensic study.
I am a great fan of things in miniature, but am especially intrigued when something of actual size is accidentally included, the usual suspects are oftentimes plants and hinges, or other hardware. However, the vignettes in this collection are brilliantly detailed and aesthetically sound. They surprise the viewer with a dark twist, and were intended to be used ( and still are today) as a training tool. The factual base of these grizzly scenes works in opposition to their innocent, doll house appearance. A sublime duality.
This fun site, created by Erin Hooper Bush, allows you to interactively explore a few of the dioramas... http://www.deathindiorama.com/index.html
and this will direct you to the page for Of Dolls & Murder, a documentary about the scenes and their creator... http://www.ofdollsandmurder.com/
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