A is for Arsenic: The Poisons of Agatha Christie (Bloomsbury Sigma)

Agatha Christie’s detailed plotting is what makes her books so compelling. Christie used poison to kill her characters more often than any other murder method, with the poison itself being a central part of the novel, and her choice of deadly substances was far from random; the chemical and physiological characteristics of each poison provide vital clues to discovery of the murderer. With gunshots or stabbings the cause of death is obvious, but not so with poisons. How is it that some compounds prove so deadly, and in such tiny amounts? Christie demonstrated her extensive chemical knowledge (much of it gleaned from her working in a chemists during both world wars) in many of her novels, but this is rarely appreciated by the reader. A is for Arsenic celebrates the use of science in Christie's work. Written by Christie fan and research chemist Kathryn Harkup, each chapter takes a different novel and investigates the poison (or poisons) the murderer used. A is for Arsenic looks at why certain chemicals kill, how they interact with the body, and the feasibility of obtaining, administering and detecting these poisons, both at the time the novel was written and today. This book is published as part of the 125th anniversary celebration of Christie's birth. Fourteen novels. Fourteen poisons. Just because its fiction doesn't mean its all made-up ... "People are fascinated by murder. The popularity of murder mystery books, TV series, and even board games shows that there is an appetite for death, and the more unusual or macabre the method, the better. With gunshots or stabbings the cause of death is obvious, but poisons are inherently more mysterious. How are some compounds so deadly in such tiny amounts? Agatha Christie used poison to kill her characters more often than any other crime fiction writer. The poison was a central part of the novel, and her choice of deadly substances was far from random; the chemical and physiological characteristics of each poison provide vital clues to the discovery of the murderer. Christie demonstrated her extensive chemical knowledge (much of it gleaned by working in a pharmacy during both world wars) in many of her novels, but this is rarely appreciated by the reader. Written by former research chemist Kathryn Harkup, each chapter takes a different novel and investigates the poison used by the murderer. Fact- and fun-packed, A is for Arsenic looks at why certain chemicals kill, how they interact with the body, and the feasibility of obtaining, administering, and detecting these poisons, both when Christie was writing and today"--Amazon.com Shortlisted for the BMA Book Awards and Macavity Awards 2016 Fourteen novels. Fourteen 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 is not the case with poisons. How is it that some compounds prove so deadly, and in such tiny amounts? Christie's extensive chemical knowledge provides the backdrop for A is for Arsenic, in which Kathryn Harkup investigates the poisons used by the murderer in fourteen classic Agatha Christie mysteries. It looks at why certain chemicals kill, how they interact with the body, the cases that may have inspired Christie, and the feasibility of obtaining, administering and detecting these poisons, both at the time the novel was written and today. A is for Arsenic is a celebration of the use of science by the undisputed Queen of Crime. "Fourteen novels. Fourteen 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 is not the case with poisons. How is it that some compounds prove so deadly, and in such tiny amounts? Christie's extensive chemical knowledge provides the backdrop for 'A is for Arsenic,' in which Kathryn Harkup investigates the poisons used by the murderer in fourteen classic Agatha Christie mysteries. It looks at why certain chemicals kill, how they interact with the body, the cases that may have inspired Christie, and the feasibility of obtaining, administering and detecting these poisons, both at the time the novel was written and today. 'A is for Arsenic' is a celebration of the use of science by the undisputed Queen of Crime." -- provided by publisher Investigates The Poisons Christie Employs In Fourteen Of Her Mysteries, Discussing Why The Poisons Kill, How They Interact, Obtainability Of Such Poisons, And Which Cases May Have Inspired Christie's Stories. A Is For Arsenic : Murder Is Easy -- B Is For Belladonna : The Labours Of Hercules -- C Is For Cyanide : Sparklin Cyanide -- D Is For Digitalis : Appointment With Death -- E Is For Eserine : Crooked House -- H Is For Hemlock : Five Little Pigs -- M Is For Monkshood : 4.50 From Paddington -- N Is For Nicotine : Three Act Tragedy -- O Is For Opium : Sad Cypress -- P Is For Phosphorous : Dumb Witness -- R Is For Ricin : Partners In Crime -- S Is For Strychnine : The Mysterious Affair At Styles -- T Is For Thallium : The Pale Horse -- V Is For Veronal : Lord Edgware Dies. Kathryn Harkup. Includes Bibliographical References (pages [312]-313) And Index. Content: A is for arsenic : Murder is easy -- B is for belladonna : The labours of Hercules -- C is for cyanide : Sparkling cyanide -- D is for digitalis : Appointment with death -- E is for eserine : Crooked house -- H is for hemlock : Five little pigs -- M is for monkshood : 4.50 from Paddington -- N is for nicotine : Three act tragedy -- O is for opium : Sad cypress -- P is for phosphorous : Dumb witness -- R is for ricin : Partners in crime -- S is for strychnine : The mysterious affair at Styles -- T is for thallium : The pale horse -- V is for veronal : Lord Edgware dies.