Reviews

The Poisoner's Handbook by Deborah Blum

hollymc28's review against another edition

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informative medium-paced

5.0

elfsteel's review against another edition

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adventurous dark informative tense medium-paced

5.0

nglofile's review against another edition

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2.0

This was OK. The title, however, is much more exciting than the text itself. I also think I learned more about the unfortunate effects of Prohibition than I did about forensics, though the latter part of the book was stronger in its education.

audiobook note: To be honest, not a stellar production. I was willing to excuse a few slightly mispronounced words (it could be dialect, right?), but when words are allowed to be transposed without correction (submitting a "one letter sentence of resignation"), you've exasperated me.

keruichun212's review against another edition

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5.0

Great writing style for a nonfiction book. Engaging. Loved the shorter vignettes, which helps me not get bogged down. The subject matter was fascinating. I toyed with the idea of giving it 4 stars simply because I wish there were more stories, more poisons, etc..

mickey_d's review against another edition

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challenging dark informative mysterious reflective slow-paced

3.0

It was a fine book. I just hadn’t realized it was nonfiction when I started it. It’s got a good balance between the science and the story, but the science can get a little tedious. 

primreaper's review against another edition

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informative medium-paced

5.0

lakecake's review against another edition

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4.0

This was a really interesting book, a review of the Medical Examiner's Office in New York City during the 1900's through 1930's. The book itself is really good--using fascinating examples of crime from a different age, and weaving in the background of the people in the city and in the office. The narrator of this version makes some mistakes that are really jarring and brought me out of the story with regularity, so I'd recommend getting the actual book versus this version.

gothic_donut's review against another edition

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dark funny informative mysterious medium-paced

5.0

It was my favourite book for awhile.

jmmstp's review against another edition

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informative fast-paced

4.0

chaibby's review against another edition

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dark informative tense medium-paced

4.25