Eleven Deadly Molecules and the Killers Who Used Them
Description
As any reader or listener 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 listeners on a fascinating tour of the intricate, complex systems that keep us alive—or don’t.
Details
- Rating: ☆☆☆☆
- Genre: Criminology/Historical True Crime /Chemicals
- Narrator: Derek Perkins
- Time: 7 hours and 15 min.
- Publisher: Macmillan Audio
- Release Date: February 01, 2022
My Thoughts
I love this type of book, or for that matter, television reenactments. Of course, it’s not the crime I’m attracted to but rather the forensics and crime-solving.
As I listened to this story I found it quite unique.
A Taste of Poison deals more with the history of poisons involved in early crimes. And then if you’re the curious type, you’ll love that the chemistry of why the poisons work is also covered. To phrase it more succinctly this felt somewhat like a true-crime chemistry textbook.
What Concerned Me
A good deal of each story is taken up with the chemistry and reasons that various chemicals could be used to poison individuals. With all of this information, which was interesting, each story began to feel a bit too long.
Final Thoughts
Okay, let’s be honest. I used to think that poison would be the easiest way to die. Gonna say that’s a big, fat, definite . . . wrong! After listening to this book I feel better educated.
The narrator definitely made this an enjoyable story to listen to. And it felt original and was handled in a way that highlighted the crime and the poison in an informative, easy-to-understand manner.
Personally, I am a bit more interested in the true-crime aspect and solving the crime rather than information about the poisons used. But I still found this an enjoyable book that both entertained and educated.
Thanks to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for the ability to listen to this and post my thoughts without any stipulations.
Rating
4 STARS
This is a very good just didn’t make it to the top
About the Author
NEIL BRADBURY, Ph.D. is Professor of Physiology and Biophysics at the Rosalind Franklin University of Medicine and Science, where he teaches and conducts research on genetic diseases. A full-time scientist and educator, Bradbury has won numerous awards for his unique approach to teaching physiology. He has presented his research around the world and authored more than 80 scientific articles and book chapters. He currently lives in Illinois with his wife and two border collies. A TASTE FOR POISON is his first book.
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