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Fourteen novels. Fourteen more poisons. Just because it''s fiction doesn''t mean it''s all made-up ... Agatha Christie revelled in the use of poison to kill off unfortunate victims in her books; indeed, she employed it more than any other murder method, with the poison itself often being a central part of the novel. Her choice of deadly substances was far from random - the characteristics of each often provide vital clues to the discovery of the murderer. With gunshots or stabbings the cause of death is obvious, but this isn''t the case with poisons. How is it that some compounds prove so deadly, and in such tiny amounts? This book, the follow-up to Kathryn Harkup''s best-selling A is for Arsenic , features fourteen more poisons from the books of Agatha Christie. V is for Venom explores the scientific facts behind the chemicals Christie put to such deadly use in her fiction. How do these compounds affect the body? What is their history of use in real-life murder cases, some of which may have inspired Christie, and how feasible was it to obtain, administer and detect these poisons, both at the time the novel was written and today? V is for Venom is a celebration of the use of science by the undisputed Queen of Crime.
Info autore
Kathryn Harkup is a former chemist turned author. She writes and gives regular public talks on the disgusting and dangerous side of science. Her first book was the international best-seller A is for Arsenic: The Poisons of Agatha Christie, which was shortlisted for a Mystery Readers International Macavity Award and a BMA Book Award. Her other books include Death by Shakespeare: Snakebites, Stabbings and Broken Hearts and Superspy Science: Science, Death and Tech in the World of James Bond.
Relazione
A brilliantly fun way not only to learn some chemistry but also to better appreciate the genre's greatest writer. Big Think
