The design and UX isn't done, Rob and Abbie, okkurrrr! 😌
gimchi's review against another edition
3.0
enjoyable! thoroughly disgusting, living in history would have been terrible. i'm sure we'll say the same thing in the future about our current times.
enjoyed the basic information about how people lived, what living situations were really like, and how people died. less interested in the 2nd half of the book - too many names and stories that i couldn't keep straight and promptly forgot. did not care at all about modern poisoning.
enjoyed the basic information about how people lived, what living situations were really like, and how people died. less interested in the 2nd half of the book - too many names and stories that i couldn't keep straight and promptly forgot. did not care at all about modern poisoning.
notthemonalisa's review against another edition
2.0
I know that the historic fashion facts were false, and it made me question everything else in this book. Maybe that is a strong reaction to have, but it's mine nonetheless.
kamikazefinn's review against another edition
informative
fast-paced
5.0
If you love Forensic Files and history then you’re going to love this.
novelesque_life's review against another edition
4.0
RATING: 4 STARS
June 12, 2018; St. Martin's Press
First, I saw the gorgeous cover and was ready to request this book, but then figured I should read the synopsis. I read the intriguing description and clicked on request! I wasn't sure if this book would be to my liking as true crime books can be a hit or miss with me. I don't like the scandalization of murders, but rather learn how it was solved and what we can do to prevent it in the future. Eleanor Herman was going to look into the "poisonings" and deaths of Royalty - history, science and mystery. These poisonings were not all murder plots. Often, it was just a case of not knowing the consequences of every day things and uses. I was going to write "miseducation", but I am not sure if that is the correct word as there was no scientific knowledge on these consequences. As the titles indicates, it was often germs from urine/fecal matter/dust/filth in general, beauty practices, and medical practices and medicine that over time cause poisoning.
I think Herman does. great job in briefly explaining each form of poisoning. She gives you the facts in layman terms in a way that is easy to read. In the second part of the book, Herman gives us case studies of which royals were assumed to be poison. After providing a description on the Royal's demise, she provides the cause of death at the time period and then a modern day verdict. This was the most interesting part to read! The last section of the book is the "modern" look at the science behind poison and of royal poisonings. I believe that Herman in this book balances educating and entertaining readers quite well. It is what kept me reading and interested. I would say that this is probably a book you will go pick up here and there rather than reading it in one sitting. I would recommend that you get the eBook on your phone, as it is a perfect one to pull out while waiting in line or for the bus.
***I received an eARC from NETGALLEY***
My Novelesque Life
June 12, 2018; St. Martin's Press
First, I saw the gorgeous cover and was ready to request this book, but then figured I should read the synopsis. I read the intriguing description and clicked on request! I wasn't sure if this book would be to my liking as true crime books can be a hit or miss with me. I don't like the scandalization of murders, but rather learn how it was solved and what we can do to prevent it in the future. Eleanor Herman was going to look into the "poisonings" and deaths of Royalty - history, science and mystery. These poisonings were not all murder plots. Often, it was just a case of not knowing the consequences of every day things and uses. I was going to write "miseducation", but I am not sure if that is the correct word as there was no scientific knowledge on these consequences. As the titles indicates, it was often germs from urine/fecal matter/dust/filth in general, beauty practices, and medical practices and medicine that over time cause poisoning.
I think Herman does. great job in briefly explaining each form of poisoning. She gives you the facts in layman terms in a way that is easy to read. In the second part of the book, Herman gives us case studies of which royals were assumed to be poison. After providing a description on the Royal's demise, she provides the cause of death at the time period and then a modern day verdict. This was the most interesting part to read! The last section of the book is the "modern" look at the science behind poison and of royal poisonings. I believe that Herman in this book balances educating and entertaining readers quite well. It is what kept me reading and interested. I would say that this is probably a book you will go pick up here and there rather than reading it in one sitting. I would recommend that you get the eBook on your phone, as it is a perfect one to pull out while waiting in line or for the bus.
***I received an eARC from NETGALLEY***
My Novelesque Life
dexkit10's review against another edition
dark
informative
medium-paced
3.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Drug use, Excrement, Medical content, Vomit, Blood, Death, Gore, Murder, and Terminal illness
Moderate: Animal death, Cancer, and Chronic illness