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

by Neil Bradbury Ph.D.

Overview

“A fascinating tale of poisons and poisonous deeds which both educates and entertains.” —Kathy Reichs

A brilliant blend of science and crime, A TASTE FOR POISON reveals how eleven notorious poisons affect the body—through the murders in which they were used.

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.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781250270757
Publisher:	St. Martin's Publishing Group
Publication date:	02/01/2022
Pages:	304
Sales rank:	147,595
Product dimensions:	5.50(w) x 7.80(h) x 1.20(d)

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.

Table of Contents

Part I Biomolecules of Death

Introduction 3

1 Insulin and Mrs. Barlow's Bathtub 9

2 Atropine and Alexandra's Tonic 34

3 Strychnine and the Lambeth Poisoner 69

4 Aconite and Mrs. Singh's Curry 92

5 Ricin and Georgi's Waterloo Sunset 117

6 Digoxin and the Angel of Death 139

7 Cyanide and the Professor from Pittsburgh 159

Part II Molecules of Death from the Earth

8 Potassium and the Nightmare Nurse 181

9 Polonium and Sasha's Indiscriminate Intestine 197

10 Arsenic and Monsieur L'Angelier's Cocoa 215

11 Chlorine and the Killer Nurse of Lufkin 239

Epilogue: The Garden of Death 257

Appendix: Pick Tour Poison 261

Acknowledgments 267

Notes 269

Selected Bibliography 285

Editorial Reviews

★ 08/16/2021

Physiology and biophysics professor Bradbury debuts with an accessible and fascinating study of poisons, using real murder cases to explain how the chemicals affect the human body. In the past, poisoning murders were relatively easy to get away with, but today Bradbury considers the prospect of a poisoner getting away with their crime as “almost nonexistent.” In chapters with titles reminiscent of mystery fiction (“Aconite and Mrs. Singh’s Curry,” “Arsenic and Monsieur L’Angelier’s Cocoa”), Bradbury examines well-known cases—such as the 1978 ricin poisoning of Bulgarian dissident Georgi Markov by means of a jab from a specially treated umbrella tip—as well as more obscure ones, such as John Hendrickson’s 1853 murder of his wife with aconite. He also details exactly how his 11 potentially fatal molecules work; for example, arsenic, in its gaseous state, disintegrates red blood cells, thus causing asphyxiation by reducing the oxygen carried through the body. Bradbury offers the occasional light touch, as in an appendix with a caveat that the “following information is purely for educational purposes only, and is not intended to give the advantages or disadvantages for the use of any particular poison in the commission of murder.” Readers of A Is for Arsenic: The Poisons of Agatha Christie will be entertained. Agent: Jessica Papin, Dystel, Goderich & Bourret. (Oct.)

Publishers Weekly

A fascinating tale of poisons and poisonous deeds which both educates and entertains.” —Kathy Reichs, bestselling author of the Temperance Brennan Bones series

“Weaves jaw-dropping true stories and spellbinding histories behind the most infamous poisons in the world...readers will be alternately entertained, horrified, and educated.” –Lydia Kang, bestselling author of Quackery: A Brief History of the Worst Ways to Cure Everything

“An unselfconsciously jaunty work of horror, and its stories may leave you eyeing your housemates and sniffing your coffee.” —Judy Melinek, M.D. and T.J. Mitchell, New York Times bestselling co-authors of Working Stiff: Two Years, 262 Bodies, and the Making of a Medical Examiner

“Delightfully detailed and engaging...Bradbury's enthusiasm for his subject shines through. A fascinating read from start to finish.” –Kathryn Harkup, bestselling author of A is for Arsenic: The Poisons of Agatha Christie

"Over the centuries, as poisoners became more able at their craft, scientists became more able to explain how and why poisons work...I couldn’t stop reading A TASTE FOR POISON. I just had to find out how and why forensic sleuths manage to solve what once might have been considered a perfect crime." –Penelope Le Couteur, bestselling author of Napoleon’s Buttons

“Neil Bradbury writes with wit, flair, and authority in a debut that will both shock and delight readers. A TASTE FOR POISON is a perfect mixture of pop science, true crime, and medical history. I loved this book, and so will you.” –Lindsey Fitzharris, bestselling author of The Butchering Art: Joseph Lister’s Quest to Transform the Grisly World of Victorian Medicine

“A taut, exciting read about some of the most diabolical killers in history—the poisoners. Bradbury’s fusion of science and slayings is grounded in research that reads like a thriller.” –Kate Winkler Dawson, author of American Sherlock: Murder, Forensics, and the Birth of American CSI

From the Publisher

06/01/2021

Debut author Bradbury (physiology and biophysics, Rosalind Franklin Univ. of Medicine and Science) takes readers on a frightening romp through killer chemicals, from chlorine gas, to ricin, to the poisoner's standard: cyanide. In each chapter, he discusses how a different lethal agent was developed, refined, or weaponized, and includes an example of death by that poison; for instance, in 2008, Lakhvir Kaur Singh, an Indian immigrant to the UK, poisoned her lover with aconite when he started a new relationship. Bradbury's thorough yet understandable explanations outline, in jargon-free language, how each poison makes its way through the body and eventually kills. He also sneaks in relevant histories of medicine, such as the late 19th-century understanding of the nervous system. His accounts are fascinating, edifying, and terrifying. VERDICT This absorbing volume about murderers' use of poison will appeal to true crime lovers and fans of popular science in the vein of Mary Roach.—Amelia Osterud, Milwaukee P.L.

Library Journal

06/01/2022

Throughout history, poison has been used as an interesting murder weapon because it is sometimes difficult to detect. In this first book from Bradbury (physiology and biophysics, Rosalind Franklin Univ.), listeners learn that poison is still a weapon of choice for certain factions—nurses, doctors, spies, unhappy spouses. Each chapter focuses on one of 11 well-known chemicals that can be used to kill. Bradbury provides the history of each substance, its discovery and uses, and even where it shows up in popular culture. Each substance also gets its own scientific review (how it poisons; treatment and prognoses for poisoning victims). Then come the crimes. Many of the cases that Bradbury describes are contemporary and are followed from the discovery of the poison to the conviction of those who utilized it. Narrator Derek Perkins's voice is perfect for this work. He recounts the crimes with low drama and makes the science stand out. His performance elevates the text, which makes it hard for a listener to determine when to take a break. VERDICT Recommended for those curious about how things work and fans of true crime, history, and science.—Christa Van Herreweghe

Library Journal - Audio