Poison and Poisoning: A Complete Compendium of Cases, Catastrophes and Crimes

by Celia Kellett

In this fascinating guide to poisons, Celia Kellett provides information and entertainment in equal measure as she explains clearly what all the different poisons are and how they work, giving us all the gory detail of how, by accident or design, they have led to the demise of so many people. From cyanide to the Black Widow spider, and from the Green Mamba snake to botulism, poisons can be found everywhere from the jungle to the refrigerator. Did you know, for example, that the Emperor Napoleon died from arsenic poisoning caused by the green dye used for the pattern on his wallpaper? Or that the Green Mamba's venom is so toxic that a bite is fatal within half an hour? Or that 50,000 people die from snake bites every year in India? Poison is rarely out of the headlines, with recent stories including the murder, by polonium poisoning, of Alexander Litvinenko in London, allegedly by the KGB, "The Horse Whisperer" author Nicholas Evans becoming seriously ill in Scotland after eating poisonous mushrooms, and melamine poisoning in Chinese baby-milk formula. It is a subject that holds a fascination for the general public who (along with budding crime writers, and perhaps the KGB) will want to buy this excellent book in large numbers.

Genres: Nonfiction, True Crime, Science, Reference, History

442 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2009

Reviews

[Robyn · Rating 2 out of 5]

This is a fascinating topic from both a scientific and a criminal perspective. The history of poisoning is really interesting, given that it has often been the chosen method of women, so there's also an added feminist aspect to be considered.

None of this was realised for me in this book. Dry, not very logically organised, with very amateurish case studies dotted through. Normally, I would love that - this is the most interesting aspect for me, but they seemed to be dropped in with little thought given to how they added to the themes of the book, if indeed there were any, and gave minimal information about the poisons OR the poisoners in each case.

It was also not very appealing visually, set out like an unimaginative textbook. No pictures, just blocks of text with the case studies in ugly grey shaded boxes. I'm disappointed that I spent my money on this, and the two stars are purely because the author obviously knows a lot about poisons from a scientific viewpoint (should I be worried?).

[Aliza Forman · Rating 5 out of 5]

Unexpectedly easy to read, I stayed interested through the 800+ pages. I learned so much I didn't know, particularly around household exposures and food/drug interactions.

[Sean Randall · Rating 3 out of 5]

I didn't enjoy this as much as I'd hoped, probably because I read it more for the gastly stories than the scientific data. nevertheless a worthy addition to my shelf and a fascinating (if gory) look at some of the most evil ways of dispatching people I've ever read about.

[Oakhands · Rating 5 out of 5]

History and discussion into poisons everyday and otherwise, their anitdotes and case studies. Excellent read, plently of detail and quite comprehensive.

[Daniel · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very informative. The author did a great job documenting the dangers of lead and mercury in products that are still being imported into the country today. Well worth a read.

[Sharon · Rating 3 out of 5]

Very interesting book, but you had to be careful where you read this book, it can cause you to get some very strange looks at times.