This book takes an in-depth look at a variety of poisons -- how they work, their therapeutic vs. criminal uses, how they react in the body, how they were discovered, etc. Every poison profiled is also connected to criminal cases, some historical and some more recent. A disturbing number of the crimes discussed were carried out by members of the medical profession. Until relatively recent times, most poisoners were able to go about their deadly work without fear of being detected, since the scientific community had no way to distinguish a death from poison from a death due to diseases which were common at the same time.

The author does a wonderful job of explaining how each individual poison causes death. Even so, the explanations at times were a bit difficult to follow. Still, it was very interesting to read about how the body reacts, both outwardly in terms of symptoms, as well as the cellular process that is occurring within the body. The criminal cases discussed were also fascinating. It was quite disturbing to read how an early way to detect poison was for investigators to "taste test" various bodily fluids and tissues to determine if poison was present. If that were still the case today, I'm sure more poisoners would be able to get away with murder! The book ends with a helpful section called "Pick Your Poison" where each poison is discussed in terms of how it is administered, what the poison does to the body, symptoms observed after ingestion, lethal amount needed, and antidote (if any). I highly enjoyed reading about all the various poisons, and especially all the historical information surrounding each one.

Amid the increasingly crowded field of popular literature about poisons and poisoning, what distinguishes Dr. Bradbury’s effort to create narrative portraits of eleven deadly molecules (and the killers who used them)?

First of all, the author succeeds as a storyteller. With typical British wit, Dr. Bradbury draws the reader into his tales about deadly molecules by recounting different murder mysteries, each of which involves a poison of one sort or the other. He realizes the power of stories to intrigue and to captivate, and to compel us to know more about the pathophysiological actions of these toxic agents.

Secondly, Dr. Bradbury is an educator who realizes these stories are not just entertaining tales about crime. Instead, they are case studies or stories to educate. As he indicates, “this book…explores the nature of poisons and how they affect the body at the molecular, cellular and physiological level.” To fashion these tales into case studies, he stitches together narratives of criminal action and psychology, anecdotes from the history of science, courtroom testimony and drama, descriptions of pathophysiology and cell biology, and bits of medicinal chemistry. In doing so, he creates multidimensional portraits of eleven molecules that have become recognized poisons in the hands of infamous murderers.

As a result, Dr. Bradbury is eager to share how these case studies illuminate key tenets of pharmacology and toxicology. One of the recurring themes of the book is that the line between the use of molecules as therapeutic agents or poisons has been crossed in both directions over the history of medicine and crime. For example, digoxin and insulin were first isolated and utilized as medicinals, and later used in their purified forms as poisons. On the other hand, both atropine and ricin were first exploited as poisons before their beneficial uses were employed by the biomedical community. Dr. Bradbury’s accounting of the same molecule as therapeutic and toxic well illustrates Paracelsus’ dictum “it is the dose that makes the poison”. As every pharmacologist, toxicologist and clinician recognizes, pharmacological agents can have beneficial actions at lower doses and toxic effects at higher concentrations.

Reflecting a desire for the ordinary person to learn important pharmacological and physiological principles, Dr. Bradbury draws back the sometimes dense and complex curtain of scientific concepts, and shows how these molecules exert their life-giving and deadly effects in ways that all can understand. With clarity and simplicity, he can’t help but convince us that a practical understanding of physiology, pharmacology, and toxicology matters to our everyday lives.

Finally, the book shows that bioactive molecules have power to be used for great good or for great evil. Employed benevolently, they can act as important tools for scientific discovery and medical practice in the hands of well-meaning scientists and clinicians. Yet the same molecules have power to transform healthy physiology into pathophysiology, and ultimately cause death, in the hands of those would work them for malevolent purposes.

What a fascinating book this is! With an engaging mix of stories about the uses of the eponymous poisons as well as background into their origins and mechanisms of action, Bradbury has crafted a book that proves fact is often stranger than fiction. His writing style is conversational and easy to fall into, whether focusing on the poisonings or the poisons.

Neil Bradbury shares his knowledge of poisons utilized in murders, both real and literary. The book is a well-paced journey through 11 poisons utilized for nefarious ends but in the laboratory contribute to an understanding of our physiology. There is enough science to help the true crime lover to understand how poisons kill the victims in their favorite murder mysteries. The book is a very worthwhile read!

A Taste for Poison by Neil Bradbury is a superb read with a well defined plot and characters. Well worth the read!

A Taste for Poison by Neil Bradbury is a well written and meticulously researched history of the favored poisons used throughout the centuries. Beginning with arsenic, that old favorite, to polonium, the history.

Arsenic has long been a favorite, but was made more popular as a favored weapon of the Borgias. Although the recipe has been lost, cantarella was frequently used, as was Aqua Tofana. Believed to be a mixture of arsenic, lead, and belladonna, cantarella was so precise that it could be considered time release.

Then there's polonium, arguably the most expensive poison in the world. After all, doesn't everyone have a bit of refined uranium lying around.

I would highly recommend this title to anyone interested in the history of poison.

In the interest of full disclosure, I received a free digital copy of this title to review from Net Galley.

#ATasteForPoison#NetGalley

This book is filled with some fascinating stories about past poisoners and the various substances they used. It also goes deep into detail about how the substances work and affect the body which, while interesting, became a little tedious at times. I was amazed by how one such substance was able to be used to try and kill someone in one instance, and to try to hide the use of poison in another. And then it was used as an antidote to a poison in the 3rd situation! You can’t get more versatile than that. It always amazes me how people come up with so many ways to try and kill one another, and poison is one of the most sneaky and sinister. It’s a good thing that science has gotten so much better at detecting it in recent years, but it still takes someone who thinks to look for it first, in most cases. A satisfying read, overall. Advance electronic review copy was provided by NetGalley, author Neil Bradbury, and the publisher.

Neil Bradbury writes in 'crime noir' fashion a book at the intersection of medical science, criminal history and classic literature. With his dark humor, he keeps the story of 11 ways to poison someone connected to the 11 ways poisons work and criminal investigators likely catch you if you would be so foolish to put to use his teachings.

It is a fun and interesting ride, each chapter loosely connected to the previous, but still independent enough to read in sections or in one go on a plane ride across the nation.

I received an ARC of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

This was definitely a different spin on “true crime.” It was super interesting to read about different poisons and how they have been used throughout history.

Thank you to NetGalley, the author and publisher for an e-ARC in exchange for my honest opinion
of this book.

First, I will say if my science teachers back in high school spoke and explained things the way this author does I would be so much more interested in science than I was and who knows where that might have taken me!

This author does a wonderful job of explaining each poison, its history, what its medical benefits are (when used properly) and how it effects the body in both a positive and negative way. He also provides stories of misuse of the poison. I found myself Googling each case after I read that section to find out even more.

The book is well paced and you will not get overload from too much science. A great read for any True Crime Lover as well as those interested in history!

Overall I really enjoyed my time reading this book! I, like I'm sure many people, have a fascination with poisons and their history and this was a thoroughly enjoyable and enlightening read.

In TASTE OF POISON, we get a deep dive into a different poison each chapter. We learn about the history, the naming, one or two cases of poisoning linked to the chapter's specific poison, and how, scientifically, the poison interacts with the body, making it so deadly.

I found the balance between historical context, murder/trial, and chemistry to be really well done, and it kept the book moving at fun pace. I don't necessarily process scientific information super well, but it was done in such a way that was really digestible and accessible.

I would say the strength really lies in the connection of historical context. I had a lot of lightbulb moments reading the book and was constantly highlighting fun-facts to recall later on. From how things were named, and learning of the prevalence of poisons in building history and meaning into what we still know and do today- the dilating of eyes from belladonna still being used today in low lighting in restaurants was a particularly fun fun-fact.

My main critique of this book is that I think it needs a sensitivity read. There are some outdated words, ideas, and ingrained beliefs from the author that pop up throughout the book, and I think it detracts from overall spirit of the book.

Thank you to Neil Bradbury and St Martin's Press for an advanced reader copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

I received this book for an honest review from that galley #netgalley

This is a great non-fiction book I've always been fascinated by poisons and the people that use them as a history major especially. you can tell that this book went into great detail and I really appreciate that.

Such a fascinating and captivating book. It is well written and easy to follow. Very informative and one I will be purchasing in hardcover once available.

The author is very detailed and it shows in the excellent descriptions. I truly enjoyed reading A Taste for Poison.

Great work!

It’s rare to find a book that gets it a 100% right in all accounts but let me tell you this one is just that.

It covers all basis. True crime. Murder mystery. Scientific sourced information. An author that can keep you enthralled and entertained.

I can’t sing this books praises loud enough.

This book makes my morbid little heart full with glee (or arsenic).

Fascinating and darkly delightful. A recommended first purchase for collections where true-crime and forensic titles are popular.