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| Original Title: | The Poisoner's Handbook: Murder and the Birth of Forensic Medicine in Jazz Age New York |
| ISBN: | 1594202435 (ISBN13: 9781594202438) |
| Edition Language: | English |
| Setting: | New York City, New York(United States) |
| Literary Awards: | Macavity Award Nominee for Best Mystery-Related Nonfiction (2011), Agatha Award Nominee for Best Nonfiction (2010), Goodreads Choice Award Nominee for History and Biography (2010), Society of Midland Authors Award for Adult Nonfiction (2011) |
Deborah Blum
Hardcover | Pages: 319 pages Rating: 4 | 27024 Users | 2734 Reviews
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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; 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 during a remarkably deadly time. A beguiling concoction that is equal parts true crime, twentieth-century history, and science thriller, The Poisoner's Handbook is a page-turning account of a forgotten New York.
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| Title | : | The Poisoner's Handbook: Murder and the Birth of Forensic Medicine in Jazz Age New York |
| Author | : | Deborah Blum |
| Book Format | : | Hardcover |
| Book Edition | : | Anniversary Edition |
| Pages | : | Pages: 319 pages |
| Published | : | February 18th 2010 by Penguin Press (first published January 1st 2010) |
| Categories | : | Nonfiction. History. Science. Crime. True Crime. Mystery. Historical. Health. Medicine |
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Ratings: 4 From 27024 Users | 2734 ReviewsDiscuss Out Of Books The Poisoner's Handbook: Murder and the Birth of Forensic Medicine in Jazz Age New York
While this book is ostensibly about poisons, it is also very much the story of the development of forensic toxicology and its pioneers Charles Norris and Alexander Gettler. In a time when cause of death was often determined by a politically appointed coroner with little or no medical or scientific training, the appointment of Norris as Chief Medical Examiner of the city of New York was a game changer. Norris, along with his chief toxicologist Gettler, would introduce scientific methods intoClick here to watch a video review of this book on my channel, From Beginning to Bookend. Combine prohibition, bootleggers, and poison. Mix and pour. Drink at your own risk. The Poisoner's Handbook is a murderous romp through Jazz Age New York and an enthralling look at the birth of forensic medicine, developed in response to the growing number of poisons in illegal alcohol, common household products, and in the hands of calculating murderers using toxic substances to their nefarious advantage.
I dont know why publishers feel the need to put huge subtitles on non-fiction books. Take The Poisoners Handbook, for example. To me, thats a great title that would probably intrigue most potential readers. But the full title is The Poisoners Handbook: Murder and the Birth of Forensic Medicine in Jazz Age New York. While accurate, it doesnt exactly roll off the tongue, does it?Think about The Devil and the White City. Even if you knew nothing about that book, if you saw it while trolling through
The Poisoner's Handbook is absolutely fascinating and not for the faint of heart. It follows the careers of Charles Norris, an NYC medical examiner, and Alexander Gettler, a toxicologist, who modernized and completely changed the game when it comes to forensic toxicology from about 1918-1936. Their work helped get the innocent out of murder charges and convict the guilty. One of the more well known cases today that they worked on was the Snyder-Gray case which inspired both The Postman Always
I really enjoyed this informative and engaging book about the start and development of forensic medicine. I loved learning about Gettler and Norris and their early research in forensic science. I learned a good deal of new information about poisons and their use in crime in the early and mid-1900s. My favorite sections detailed the research they engaged in and discussed more common toxins like leaded gasoline, lead, and alcohol. I am so glad I read this book!
more of my chattiness about this book here if you so desire. One day I left this book downstairs in the kitchen right next to the coffee maker intending to take it upstairs later, and the next thing I knew there's a post on my husband's facebook page with a photo of this book that reads as follows:"Hmmmmm, first she has me get more life insurance - then I see this book. #eatouttonight?"I didn't really ask for more life insurance, but his post is kind of spot on regarding this book -- one of the
I strongly recommend The Poisoner's Handbook: Murder and the Birth of Forensic Medicine in Jazz Age New York by Deborah Blum. While I found the book less "sensational" (in the sense of lurid) than its tabloid name, I also found it far more fascinating. It is an extremely well-written and engrossing account of New York City during the Prohibition years as well as a history of the development of forensic medicine, particularly toxicology. There are shocking revelations of government activities in
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