Poisonous Plants and Fatal Fungi: The Lore and Lure of Deadly Botanicals

by Sandra Kynes

Explore humanity's fascination with death through 60 poisonous plants and how they have affected history, magic, warfare, art, and more.

Dispatching people with poisonous plants isn't just an Agatha Christie plot—it began thousands of years ago and continues to this day. Deadly Fascination presents sixty profiles divided into five themes, from classic killers to frightful fungi. Each profile includes the plant's history, folklore, and medicinal uses, as well as how it may or may not be used today.

Though we fear death, we are also drawn to its mysteries. Sandra Kynes feeds our curiosity and dispels common myths, investigating witches and indigenous healers, poisons in popular media, the murky roots of toxicology, and much more. From aconite to poppy to death cap, poisonous plants can attract you like a moth to a flame...but don't get too close.

304 pages, Paperback

Expected publication October 8, 2025

About the author

I describe myself as an explorer of myth and magic. My inquisitiveness has led me to investigate the roots of my beliefs and to integrate my spiritual path with everyday life. I like to develop creative ways to explore the world, which serves as the basis for my books. I have written nine books; numbers ten and eleven are in progress. In addition to writing, I am a yoga instructor and Reiki practitioner.