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The Poisoner's Handbook: Murder and the Birth of Forensic Medicine in Jazz Age New York by Deborah Blum - 4* - My Review

The Poisoner's Handbook is a blend of true crime, science, and history that chronicles the birth of forensic toxicology in the early 20th century. Blum focuses primarily on the contributions of two individuals: Chief Medical Examiner Charles Norris and toxicologist Alexander Gettler. It is set against the backdrop of Prohibition-era New York City, a time when poisoning deaths were common due to not only murderous intent, but also the widespread consumption of toxic substances in everyday products and the unintended consequences of enacting Prohibition laws.

The book is organized by poison types, such as arsenic, carbon monoxide, chloroform, cyanide, lead, mercury, radium, wood alcohol, and more. Each chapter provides examples of individuals who died from consuming these chemicals. It also relates the methods developed to detect specific poisons, which resulted in both criminal convictions and exonerations. The book is easy to read and understand. It does not require in-depth understanding of chemistry. The author does a good job of balancing scientific detail with human interest stories.

Many themes from the book remain pertinent today, such as the ongoing battle between scientific evidence and political pressures, the importance of proper funding for public health and safety, and the need for continued regulations of dangerous substances. I am amazed at how many toxic chemicals were standard ingredients in food, drink, or hygiene products at the time. Blum’s book covers the foundations of modern forensic science while commenting on justice, evidence, and the larger role of science in society. I occasionally felt a bit queasy, since some of the descriptions of animal experiments, autopsies, executions (which I found unnecessary) and results of poisoning can get quite graphic.