I was interested in the book because I wanted to learn more about how women were used in the arts as symbols of poison. Crosby does a great job in linking political debates and actual crime cases with discussion in the art world and the use of poison within literature.
I found it especially compelling how the poisonous muse was a double-edged sword: on the one hand, the figure was a popular metaphor and an important driving force in the creation process of artists, while on the other hand, the idea of powerful women - even metaphorical - was tinged with ideas of sin, manipulation and weakness. In fact, Crosby shows how some artists were criticised by being "feminised", i.e. given feminine qualities to ridicule the man. It's very much close to the idea that feminine traits - whatever those may be - are inherently negative and inferior.
However, Crosby shows that there is also an element of justice and revenge, showcasing examples where poisonous women and their crimes were deemed as fair and just because they had been wronged in some way or another.
It this ambivalence and contested identity that makes the topic endlessly fascinating and complex to study because the figure of the poisonouse muse/woman is, depending on the context, either an evil witch hellbent on poisoning the souls of men, a muse that inspires male artists or a wronged woman seeking justice. Considering that this trope exist until today in new clothes, the book is not only a historical study but relevant to contemporary problems about the idea of women withing patriarchal society.

All in all, this book is a must-read!

Thank you NetGalley, I loved this book! what an interesting read!