Friday, February 10, 2023

A Taste for Poison: Eleven Deadly Molecules and the Killers Who Used Them

Bradbury, Neil. A Taste for PoisonA Taste for Poison: Eleven Deadly Molecules and the Killers Who Used Them. 2022. 304p. ISBN 9781250270757.


Throughout humanity's history, poisons have been used to eliminate vermin, treat injuries, but also to kill people. A trope of mystery novels, poisons can be deadly and are often undetectable to the human senses. From arsenic to ricin, poisons have been used by jealous lovers, people who want to inherit fortunes, and those who seek the thrill of the kill. Prior to modern medical techniques, it was very difficult to determine that a poison had been the cause of death. Now, with advances in technologies and medical knowledge, it is next to impossible to poison someone and get away with it.

But what happens when someone is poisoned? Where does the poison come from? In A Taste for Poison, Bradbury discusses eleven poisons that have been used in the last sixty years to kill people. He describes the case in which each was used, the effect it had on the victim's body, the history of the poison, and how it is manufactured and delivered. Part mystery novel, part true crime podcast, and part history, this book explores the deadly yet fascinating dark side of the human mind and body.

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