I’m a big fan of Agatha Christie’s mysteries. I’ve read most of them. Christie used poison as a favorite way to commit a murder that Miss Marple and Hercule Poirot could investigate. Kathryn Harkup does a through job in explaining the aspects of the poison Christie uses. In addition, Harkup provides an Appendix that usefully lists all the causes of death (not just poison) in all of Agatha Christie’s mystery novels. Handy! I recommend this book to you if you’re a Christie fan. Plenty of good information here!
TABLE OF CONTENTS:
1. Dame Agatha’s Deadly Dispensary
2. A is for Arsenic – Murder is Easy
3. B is for Belladonna – The Labours of Hercules
4. C is for Cyanide – Sparkling Cyanide
5. D is for Digitalis – Appointment with Death
6. E is for Eserine – Crooked House
7. H is for Hemlock – Five Little Pigs
8. M is for Monkshood – 4:50 from Paddington
9. N is for Nicotine – Three Act Tragedy
10. O is for Opium – Sad Cypress
11. P is for Phosphorus – Dumb Witness
12. R is for Ricin – Partners in Crime
13. S is for Strychnine – The Mysterious Affair at Styles
14. T is for Thallium – The Pale Horse
15. V is for Veranol – Lord Edgware Dies
Appendix
Glossary
Bibliography
– See more at: http://www.bloomsbury.com/us/is-for-arsenic-9781472911308/#sthash.M0jJVUWC.dpuf
Fascinating. I remember the use of nicotine, as I always had a hard time getting my head around it, but if anything should put you off smoking it’s that!
Jeff, I was amazed at the range of poisons Christie used in her novels. She really studied the subject!
Just saw CRIMSON PEAK, which poisoned various people. Never said what the poison was though.
Patti, CRIMSON PEAK looks great on the screen. I’ll await your full review.
I love “reference” books like this. Thanks for the tip on this on, Put in a hold at library. There are several people ahead of me for the single copy that have. Coincidentally, I’ve been thinking about doing some of the reference books on my shelf for FFB.
Still in the blur world here, but by making it Very Big I can read this blog. Can’t say the same for email, which doesn’t seem to expand.
Rick, I’d enjoy reading about your Reference Books for FFB! Hope your new glasses arrive soon.
Me too!!!
I also forgot to mention that I really like the Arts & Crafts style cover design on this book.
Oops, I meant to say ART DECO style.
Rick, the ART DECO cover on A IS FOR ARSENIC is very cool!
I see there are books which used poison (Death In the Air, for instance) which aren’t included. I’m guessing if a particular poison was used more than once, the author picked a book and went with it.