There are some books that make you sit back and think, Oh My! “A Taste For Poison” was a book that I could not put down. From the start, I was hooked. When we think poison, we usually think of how they have been used for horrid deeds. While that is true, there were other uses – and sometimes it was misguided.
Neil Bradbury takes us on a journey through the history of poisons. From their medicinal uses to make-up, wallpaper, and so much more – murder always comes in. While some of the poisons started out innocently enough, there is always someone that is going to figure out how to use it for nefarious means. I love that he takes you from the start to the finish, without unneeded information. The uses for medicine and murder really intrigued me, I could have gone for a book twice this length! I was not ready for it to end! The information flows smoothly, with background information, the names of those who used the poison for ill will, and ends with forensic breakthroughs, and high-profile cases.
Every single one of the poisons that were discussed were ones that I was familiar with, but I did not know their backgrounds. From accidental discoveries to advances in medical fields – I was amazed at the varied differences in the formulas, what makes it deadly, and if there are any antidotes available.
Perfection in a book! Grab this one now, you will not be disappointed at all! I look forward to reading more from this author.
A Taste For Poison Blurb:
As any reader of murder mysteries can tell you, poison is one of the most enduring—and popular—weapons of choice for a scheming murderer. It can be slipped into a drink, smeared onto the tip of an arrow or the handle of a door, even filtered through the air we breathe. But how exactly do these poisons work to break our bodies down, and what can we learn from the damage they inflict?
In a fascinating blend of popular science, medical history, and true crime, Dr. Neil Bradbury explores this most morbidly captivating method of murder from a cellular level. Alongside real-life accounts of murderers and their crimes—some notorious, some forgotten, some still unsolved—are the equally compelling stories of the poisons involved: eleven molecules of death that work their way through the human body and, paradoxically, illuminate the way in which our bodies function.
Drawn from historical records and current news headlines, A Taste for Poison weaves together the tales of spurned lovers, shady scientists, medical professionals and political assassins to show how the precise systems of the body can be impaired to lethal effect through the use of poison. From the deadly origins of the gin & tonic cocktail to the arsenic-laced wallpaper in Napoleon’s bedroom, A Taste for Poison leads readers on a riveting tour of the intricate, complex systems that keep us alive—or don’t.
