Arsenic Sally: Or the Curious Case of the Eastwood Poisoner

by Mike Sheridan

A poison panic grips the land. Each month brings news of yet another horrid arsenic murder. In the East Midlands village of Eastwood a man has died suddenly. The coroner is worried; this is the second reported case of poisoning in the village. Is a poisoner really at work? Who really poisoned Joseph Barber? How could a surgeon miss signs of arsenic poisoning? Why did a key witness disappear on a ship to America? Was there a miscarriage of justice? This true crime story is based on extensive research. It revolves around one central character and explores themes of crime and justice, attitudes to women, and a government response to the numbers of deaths by arsenic poisoning. It is based on the tragic life of Sarah Barber of Eastwood and charts the sad and serious events that had such an impact on her life.

262 pages, Kindle Edition

First published April 1, 2015

Reviews

[Rachel Easom · Rating 3 out of 5]

Brilliant story. Would be 4* but too many typos and errors in Kindle edition. Need decent proof reader to sort it out.

[Jessica Powell · Rating 4 out of 5]

Well researched account of a Victorian arsenic poisoning case - following the tumultuous inquest through to Sarah Barber's eventual death as a free woman in Tasmania. I would have liked to see a tighter SPAG edit but it's still well worth reading for history and true crime fans!