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)

My favorite non-fiction book - EVER

I have listened to this book repeatedly. It is my "background music" book of choice. Fascinating, well researched book. Excellent narrator - even soothing making the more gruesome aspects of the forensic science tolerable.

Fascinating!

An amazing treatment of the subject that kept me on the edge of my seat! Truth is often more exciting than fiction, and the story and reader kept the suspense going - I could not wait to find out what was coming up next! I have recommended the book and the audible recording to a number of a people as a "must read".

Good book, lousy title

I enjoyed what really was a biography of the New York toxicology lab and it's forensic "children." Tone was perfectly pitched to avoid the very dry read one might imagine given the subject.

The reality of CSI NY in the early 20th Century

This is an intriguing mix of science, crime story, and urban politics. Perhaps one of the more amusing stories was the trial on which Double Indemnity was based. The ineptitude of the criminals, and their subsequent rancor would be hilarity if not for the death of her husband. The stories both of crime and of science, can be gruesome. Some animal studies are described fairly vividly. This is the real CSI, in an age well before computers and other wiz-bang. These were the men who created the foundations of modern forensic medicine. Was a quick read.

Brilliant

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

Are you watching Boardwalk Empire? then this book is for you!!

What’s the most interesting tidbit you’ve picked up from this book?

Its noteworthy to remember what the priorities of those we elect as public servants are. Selfish rather then servants.

Any additional comments?

Ive re read this book several times and im entertained each time.

Fascinating Content spoiled by lacking narration

I greatly enjoyed the content of this book. Deborah Blum weaves a fascinating tale of American History through the frame of poison studies. The stories are engaging and will change the way you look at the products you use every day, and the relationship we have with modern chemicals. The only regrettable aspect of this product is the narration. Marlo's voices are hokey and distract from the subject matter. Her delivery feels forced and there are some odd edits that leave unnatural pauses. I found myself having to listen to several portions a second time in order to absorb the text. If you are interested in US History, New York, or are simply intrigued by poison, you will enjoy listening. Just be prepared for some silly voices.

Fascinating story, so-so narration

I really enjoyed this - a fascinating look at science, told through interesting anecdotes and with a good historical context. I wasn't expecting to learn so much about Prohibition, which was an added bonus.

I have to say, though, I did not really love the narration. Her voice was kinda nasal and overemphatic. But by the last half either she had got better, or I had got used to her voice, and it was okay.

The best book on poisons and toxicology EVER!

I had this book in print for a long time but it got lost in a recent move. The narrator kept me riveted from the start, and didn't want this book to end. It was perfect it blended my two favorite passions, true crime and science. I never knew how the science of forensics and toxicology started, and the battles fought to keep medical examiners offices well funded and respected. I will appreciate those sciences even more now, because they had to start somewhere. We didn't just leap from fingerprints to DNA testing in a short period of time. I see now how long and hard these early pioneers fought, not only against poisons, but food and drug safety as well. I would recommend this book to any murderino.

CNF at its finest

This is one of my top twenty CNF books ever, possibly top ten. You will not regret it! I don't often repeat listen, but I've "read" this one at least 3 times.

Interesting book, poor narration

The book was an interesting story of the history of forensics in New York as they learned how to identify who was a victim of poisoning. It was a shock to learn how many people murdered others--even young children--by poisoning, It was a nice mix of science and history in a very readable form.

Not so listenable, though. The narrator had a good voice and sounded fine until she had to quote someone, and then she put on some annoying accents. She also paused at strange times, sometimes mid-sentence, and pronounced so many words incorrectly, it was distracting at times.