A is for Arsenic: The Poisons of Agatha Christie

Introducing A is for Arsenic, a new book by Kathryn Harkup that explores the poisons used by Agatha Christie in her novels. Agatha Christie used poison to kill her characters more often than any other crime fiction writer. The poison was a central part of the novel, and her choice of deadly substances was far from random; the chemical and physiological characteristics of each poison provide vital clues to the discovery of the murderer. Christie demonstrated her extensive chemical knowledge, much of it gleaned by working in a pharmacy during both world wars.

Written by former research chemist Kathryn Harkup, each chapter takes a different novel and investigates the poison used by the murderer. Fact and fun packed, A is for Arsenic looks at why certain chemicals kill, how they interact with the body, and the feasibility of obtaining, administering, and detecting these poisons.

The UK publication date is 10th September 2015.

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