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mechameowru's review against another edition
dark
informative
reflective
medium-paced
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Suicide, Torture, Violence, Medical content, and Murder
honeygirl13's review against another edition
dark
emotional
informative
5.0
Wonderfully informative, utterly fascinating.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Animal death, Child abuse, Child death, Chronic illness, Death, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Drug use, Infidelity, Mental illness, Misogyny, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Blood, Medical content, Grief, Medical trauma, Death of parent, Murder, Pregnancy, Alcohol, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism
mintlovesbooks's review against another edition
informative
medium-paced
5.0
Deborah Blum explores the birth of forensic medicine in New York City with a focus on two key figures: Charles Norris and Alexander Gettler. Her use of fictional-style prose at many points in the novel really drew me in. I read this book on a trans-Atlantic flight, and it helped the hours fly by.
The book was organized almost like a series of inter-connected short stories, with each chapter focusing on a different kind of poison. Many case studies were included, some solved and others not. I found this to be a unique and interesting way of organization, though others may find it to be slightly disconnected.
As someone with very little knowledge about toxicology and chemistry in general, Blum did an excellent job of laying out the many scientific concepts she explores in the book in an easy-to-understand and entertaining fashion. However, people with more knowledge in these areas may not appreciate the lack of technicality, nor the time spent on topics other than toxicology such as her exploration of the implications of Prohibition or the politics of New York City at the time. The science of toxicology is certainly an important theme in the book, but it is not the only one explored.
Do note: Blum explores the effects of various poisons and the methods used to test for them in detail. You may want to avoid this book if you are squeamish about such subjects.
For more of my reviews, please visit:
The book was organized almost like a series of inter-connected short stories, with each chapter focusing on a different kind of poison. Many case studies were included, some solved and others not. I found this to be a unique and interesting way of organization, though others may find it to be slightly disconnected.
As someone with very little knowledge about toxicology and chemistry in general, Blum did an excellent job of laying out the many scientific concepts she explores in the book in an easy-to-understand and entertaining fashion. However, people with more knowledge in these areas may not appreciate the lack of technicality, nor the time spent on topics other than toxicology such as her exploration of the implications of Prohibition or the politics of New York City at the time. The science of toxicology is certainly an important theme in the book, but it is not the only one explored.
Do note: Blum explores the effects of various poisons and the methods used to test for them in detail. You may want to avoid this book if you are squeamish about such subjects.
For more of my reviews, please visit:
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence
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