The Poisoner's Handbook

Are you a history buff? Do you enjoy watching CSI?? Then this is the book for you. Following the medical examiner's office in New York city during the Roaring Twenties and the Depression, you see the development of forensic science as a respected field. Deborah Blum closely examines the careers of New York City's first chief medical examiner Charles Norris and his toxicologist Alexander Gettler, both pioneers of their time.

The Poisoner's Handbook is neatly divided chronologically and by which poison was popular at the time. This gives a real sense as to how developing methods of toxicology to prove murder somewhat deters murderers from relying on that specific poison. Some of the poisons talked about include arsenic, thallium, carbon monoxide, and alcohol (both mehtyl and ethyl). I personally feel that prohibition was one of the greatest mistakes ever made, just looking at the numbers in this book of the deaths from poisonous bootlegged liquor totally justifies my opinion.

Although a mainly historical book, there are many murder plot situations which would remind you of any good murder mystery novel which certainly helps to engage the reader. From a science point of view, I found her descriptions of different chemicals and testing methods great especially since I'm in science and sometimes find that authors don't know how to make science approachable for the general public to read but rather dumb it down so much that it becomes uninteresting to read. A great read both for those with a science background and those with no knowledge at all. In the author's notes Deborah Blum describes herself as a "lapsed chemist" which made me happy since that's what I am too, still undecided as to what I should pursue academically her writings may have persuaded me that forensics may be the way to go.
Deborah Blum