Play Book Tag discussion

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

I read this book while waiting for my son to be seen at the emergency department a few nights ago. It seemed like an appropriate setting. It is very interesting about the start of forensic science being used in New York City in the 1920s. The system of having coroners appointed by the mayor was being used and it was very corrupt. Money changed hands and bodies would go to certain funeral homes or if you didn't like the verdict it could be changed with a bribe. Murderers were going unpunished because the coroners were not experienced in determining what happened to someone. This changed when Charles Norris becomes Chief Medical Examiner and toxicologist Alexander Gettler helps design tests to figure out what poison may have killed someone.

What was very interesting in this book was different case studies that highlighted different poisons. I often think how do people lean what is toxic or safe and this was talked about in the book. This was tagged book club by 142 people.

Trigger warning- describes experiments done on animals and humans in detail

I found this book to be quite fascinating. Like you, I was in a doctor's office and couldn't help but wonder what people thought if they saw the title of what I was reading. I tended to keep the book down in my lap, covering up the title!

I listened to the audio ... while working for a group of pediatric surgeons!

Fascinating history.