Reviews tagging 'Murder'

The Poisoner's Handbook: Murder and the Birth of Forensic Medicine in Jazz Age New York by Deborah Blum

17 reviews

evgeorge's review against another edition

This wasn’t what I expected or hoped. It is a good overview of how one forensic scientist went up against the New York City boss system and developed the methodologies to identify the effects of chemicals on the human body. I had hoped for a narrower story about poisoners in the Jazz Age. Stories of chronic wasting disease, horrifying industrial injury and crumbling bones are not for me. Others with medical interest, less squeamish and visual may enjoy this. It is well written. 

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Body horror, Death, Medical content, Medical trauma, Murder, and Alcohol

aestass's review against another edition

challenging dark informative medium-paced

4.0

In depth explanation on how the science of toxicology developed, using individual characters of the time and specific criminal cases as a backdrop.

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal death, Death, Medical content, and Murder

sam_rm94's review against another edition

dark informative mysterious sad medium-paced

4.25

“The dose makes the poison.”

---

Content Warnings

Moderate: Animal death, Death, and Murder

sonygaystation's review against another edition

challenging dark informative sad fast-paced

4.25

Really interesting and thorough on so many different types of poisons, but pretty hard to listen to at times. Hearing about how people died and how they used dogs for poison testing in graphic detail was really uncomfortable for me

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Animal cruelty, Animal death, Child abuse, Death, Suicide, Terminal illness, Medical content, Murder, and Alcohol

Moderate: Cancer and Child death

Minor: Adult/minor relationship, Chronic illness, and Abortion

suzanna_m's review against another edition

informative medium-paced

4.5

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Murder

mechameowru's review against another edition

dark informative reflective medium-paced

5.0

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Suicide, Torture, Violence, Medical content, and Murder

chelsealauren17's review against another edition

dark informative medium-paced

3.5

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal death, Death, Medical content, Murder, and Alcohol

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

balrogfemme's review against another edition

dark informative medium-paced

5.0

As my graphs indicate, I’m not a huge nonfiction reader, but I was genuinely wandering around the house reading this while walking. I’d already watched the documentary, but I’d say the book is even better, and manages to make forensic toxicology gripping. 

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Murder

Moderate: Animal cruelty and Animal death

thehutonfowlslegs's review against another edition

dark informative medium-paced

3.75

An interesting look into the discovery and research of several poisonous substances in the 20th century. At times I found myself zoning out and having to rewind and listen again, particularly during sections that read more like a textbook than a novel, but I really enjoyed learning about this topic. I especially liked learning about the history and dangers of the prohibition era. Also, whenever the author would quote someone, the audiobook narrator would mimic their accents; though they weren’t bad, it was a bit jarring and strange, as it would take me out of the experience for a moment or two. 

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcoholism, Death, Drug use, Medical content, and Murder