A Taste for Poison truly is a fascinating compilation of historical entries on how different elements came to be called as poison. Dr.Bradbury not only discusses about toxins, but also how common items can become deadly and induce comatose in an individual. Enough science and story to make this enjoyable over audio. I devoured this audiobook in a day. The English accented narrator their job perfectly!

Thank you Macmillan audio via Netgalley for the ALC.

This book was a page turner from beginning to end. It is crazy to not only know the history of poison but what people actually think that they can get away with and then how they get caught. Highly recommend if you are a fan. I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

This one was fantastic. For all true crime lovers, it was just enough science, just enough story. I feel like I could be an expert on poisonings now. The narrator was also great, I don't remember much of him, and in a nonfiction, not remembering is a good thing. I want more from the author- a podcast, a blog, I want more.

A Strong 4.5. I probably shouldn’t enjoy reading books about poisons as much as I do, but books like this make it so easy. I listened to the audiobook version of it and it moved along so easily and I was so engaged in it I was almost surprised that I finished it in one day, but it is less than 8 hours.
One thing that Neil Bradbury is very keen on is showing that the poisons themselves are not inherently bad. Beladona was used for cosmetic purposes, atropine will save you from a Russian organophosphate assassination attempt, apparently strychnine is on the Olympics’ banded substances list but that hasn’t stopped athletes in 1996 and 2016 from being caught using it as a PED. He goes into the science of each poison and how it works on the body in a way that a non biology major, or even high school bio class taker could understand. There is a smattering of wit among the history, but if you are not a fan of hearing about scores of nameless and thankless mice and frogs dying even the humor might not liven it up for you. Science aside the human stories of how the poison’s had been used to murder were utterly fascinating. I have no idea how the Dr, Neil/Cream story has not been made into a period piece for BBC/PBS. I would watch it in a heartbeat. And this is very much something I do not do, but stay for the credits, his acknowledgment made me literally laugh out loud.
If you enjoy nonfiction and true crime, along with finding out how things work when they kill a person, this book will be right up your alley. Thank you to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for the advance copy of this audiobook.

This book was okay- as books about the biochemistry of poisons goes, it's pretty standard. The classic poisons are discussed, and not much more. I've read or heard of all of the poisoning accounts described in the book, so it felt like I didn't learn much or hear any new stories. The descriptions of how the poisons worked were well described for laypeople, but it would be nice if it maybe went a little more in depth.

A Taste for Poison is a nonfiction look at the stealthiest of stealthy killing techniques that will appeal if you are:

- A murderino*

- Walter White**

- Scientifically inclined***

- Bell Biv Devoe****

- Someone with a huge life insurance policy on a spouse*****

To my surprise, I have heard of many of the poisonings author Neil Bradbury covers, since several have occurred during my lifetime. While some sections felt like collegiate-level chemistry lessons, I never lost interest and learned a lot about ingestible killers.

* A murderino is a person with an obsessive interest in true crime, as coined by followers of the podcast “My Favorite Murder.” (MFM is my one and only podcast addiction, thus I am in fact a murderino.)

** Walter White is the main character from the exceptional TV series “Breaking Bad.” If you know, you know.

*** Scientifically inclined people do science. I am not and I do not.

**** Bel Biv Devoe, aka BBD, is an R&B group popular in the 90s whose hit “Poison” taught a generation of young men to never trust a big butt and a smile.

***** People with huge life insurance policies on their spouses who want to cash in early now have a how-to manual.

My thanks to Macmillan Audio and the author for the opportunity to review an advance listening copy via NetGalley. The audiobook clocks in at 7 hours 15 minutes and is narrated by Derek Perkins. Publication is slated for February 2022.

Fascinating tales of how various poisons are used in actual murder cases, then the explanations of how the poisons attack the body to shut the systems down

My thanks to Net Galley and the publisher for allowing me to to review this audio

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 most expensive poison in the world.

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 audio copy of this title to review from Net Galley.

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