The Poisoner's Handbook

Murder and the Birth of Forensic Medicine in Jazz Age New York

By: Deborah Blum

Narrated by: Coleen Marlo

Length: 9 hrs and 14 mins

Publisher's summary

Deborah Blum, writing with the high style and skill for suspense that is characteristic of the very best mystery fiction, shares the untold story of how poison rocked Jazz Age New York City.

In The Poisoner's Handbook, Blum draws from highly original research to track the fascinating, perilous days when a pair of forensic scientists began their trailblazing chemical detective work, fighting to end an era when untraceable poisons offered an easy path to the perfect crime.

Drama unfolds case by case as the heroes of The Poisoner's Handbook---chief medical examiner Charles Norris and toxicologist Alexander Gettler---investigate a family mysteriously stricken bald, Barnum and Bailey's Famous Blue Man, factory workers with crumbling bones, a diner serving poisoned pies, and many others. Each case presents a deadly new puzzle, and Norris and Gettler work with a creativity that rivals that of the most imaginative murderer, creating revolutionary experiments to tease out even the wiliest compounds from human tissue. Yet in the tricky game of toxins, even science can't always be trusted, as proven when one of Gettler's experiments erroneously sets free a suburban housewife later nicknamed "America's Lucretia Borgia" to continue her nefarious work.

From the vantage of Norris and Gettler's laboratory in the infamous Bellevue Hospital it becomes clear that killers aren't the only toxic threat to New Yorkers. Modern life has created a kind of poison playground, and danger lurks around every corner. Automobiles choke the city streets with carbon monoxide, while potent compounds such as morphine can be found on store shelves in products ranging from pesticides to cosmetics. Prohibition incites a chemist's war between bootleggers and government chemists, while in Gotham's crowded speakeasies each round of cocktails becomes a game of Russian roulette. Norris and Gettler triumph over seemingly unbeatable odds to become the pioneers of forensic chemistry and the gatekeepers of justice.

©2010 Deborah Blum (P)2010 Tantor

Critic reviews

• Audie Award Nominee - Best Nonfiction Audiobook, 2011

"Blum effectively balances the fast-moving detective story with a clear view of the scientific advances that her protagonists brought to the field. Caviar for true-crime fans and science buffs alike." (<>Kirkus)
"With the pacing and rich characterization of a first-rate suspense novelist, Blum makes science accessible and fascinating." (Publishers Weekly, Starred Review)
"Blum interlaces true-crime stories with the history of forensic medicine and the chemistry of various poisons…. [A] readable and enjoyable book.... Highly recommended." (Library Journal)

Interesting content and narrator was fine!

I enjoyed this book immensely! The title is a bit misleading as each chapter is about a particular poison, (radium, arsenic, methyl and ethyl alcohol, etc.), and there is no continuous mystery involved. However, even as a mostly mystery fiction reader/listener, I found it fascinating!

Medicolegal History

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

Yep....

What did you like best about this story?

I never appreciated the subtely of the political atmosphere surrounding prohibition. The tales of poisoning from bath tub gin brings to my mind questions about today's attitudes towards substance use.

Which character – as performed by Coleen Marlo – was your favorite?

n/a

Satisfies on many levels

Any additional comments?

A fascinating tale that combines the beginnings of forensic medicine in this country (which, in the early 20th century, lagged behind the science that was available in Europe), political corruption in New York during the Tammany Hall era, and some interesting sidelights on Prohibition. I hadn't known, for instance, that the government deliberately mandated wood alcohol spiked with additional toxins for industrial use--on the theory that, if it was used to make illicit liquor, the imbibers would get what was coming to them for breaking the law. Put simply, the US government was actively seeking to do in the taxpayers. (And lest one be tempted to think that this proves that government cannot be trusted to do anything right, the tales of poisons sold by the unregulated chemical and drug industries are every bit as hair-raising; you'll never again question why we need an FDA.) Throw in a few sensational murders, a couple of thoroughly admirable investigators, and details that you never knew about the Roaring Twenties, and you've got the makings of a good little listen.

My husband and I like to listen to history books on road trips, since our tastes in fiction do not agree, and we both gave this one high marks.

great book

Its an excellent book, a good performance, I listened to some chapters more than once.

Looking to match this reading in excellence

I will be taking a class based on the interest this book ignited!!! Trying to find another book that is similarly amazing in every aspect. Checkout the documentary it inspired!

Excellent book. with a lite chemistry lesson.

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

I would suggest this book to a friend, I found the subject matter enjoyable and educating.

What did you like best about this story?

The chemistry education.

Have you listened to any of Coleen Marlo’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

No

If you were to make a film of this book, what would be the tag line be?

Rough Job

Any additional comments?

The narrator was disappointing.

Very off beat subject

This was a great book. While the narration wasn’t super special it was adequate and the story was not only informative but interesting and held your attention well. I learned a lot I didn’t know about prohibition and the variety of poisons which were the murder weapon of choice during that era and about the efforts of the fledgling ME’s office to develop ways to identify these poisons. Definitely a great book and well worth the listen.

Siri, is that you?

Narrator sounds robotic, except when she's doing a "yous guys" accent for New Yorkers, or a over-campy impression of 1920's news headlines.

reading somewhat annoying, but parts great

the part about the guy that his 'buddies' kept trying to kill for the life insurance $ (Durable Mike) is the best story of the book.

Interesting History

I enjoyed the book but it could be a little slow at times. If you find toxins and poisons fascinating, then give it a try.

The narration was my only main issue with it, I literally though it was being read by an A.I. device until I saw it had a person’s name listed. It really sounds like Alexa is reading this, which I didn’t love.