A is for Arsenic

A is for Arsenic: The Poisons of Agatha Christie has lethal charm. Harkup leads every chapter with a literary quote, then proceeds to tell us what the poison is, how and under what circumstances it kills, some real-life instances of its use and what role it plays in the Christie plot ... good fun. * The Washington Post * This book is fascinating, and anyone who is interested in the myriad painful and unpleasant ways in which people can be killed will relish it. * The Times * Harkup superbly captures the texture of Christie's books, the sunshine and the surreptitious villainy. * Daily Mail * A cracking compendium of Christie's poisonings ... A Is For Arsenic will appeal to any fan of Christie's work, but as a potted history of poisons, antidotes and medicines it has much wider reach than that. * BBC Focus * Fact and fun packed, A is for Arsenic looks at why certain chemicals kill, how they interact with th body, and the feasibility of obtaining, administering and detecting these poisons. * Agatha Christie Website * An enjoyable, alphabetical overview of the renowned mystery writer's frequent weapon of choice. * Washington Independent Review of Books * A knockout analysis of poisons used in Christie's novels and short stories Each chapter gives riveting information on the poison's chemical makeup, how it kills, whether there's an antidote, its history and its use in Christie's works and in real life ... This is an absolutely bravura chemical compound. * Booklist * If you are coming to Agatha Christie's work for the first time, an avid fan, have an interest in crime or toxicology, or just like being taken on an adventure through time, A is for Arsenic is a must read. * Chemistry World * A killing read that combines scientific expertise with fan-based knowledge. * Saga *

Kathryn Harkup is a chemist and author. Kathryn completed a doctorate on her favourite chemicals, phosphines, and went on to further postdoctoral research before realising that talking, writing and demonstrating science appealed a bit more than hours slaving over a hot fume-hood. For six years she ran the outreach in engineering, computing, physics and maths at the University of Surrey, which involved writing talks on science topics that would appeal to bored teenagers (anything disgusting or dangerous was usually the most popular). Kathryn is now a freelance science communicator delivering talks and workshops on the quirky side of science. @RotwangsRobot

1. Dame Agathas Deadly Dispensary 2. A is for Arsenic Murder is Easy 3. B is for Belladonna The Labours of Hercules 4. C is for Cyanide Sparkling Cyanide 5. D is for Digitalis Appointment with Death 6. E is for Eserine Crooked House 7. H is for Hemlock Five Little Pigs 8. M is for Monkshood 4:50 from Paddington 9. N is for Nicotine Three Act Tragedy 10. O is for Opium Sad Cypress 11. P is for Phosphorus Dumb Witness 12. R is for Ricin Partners in Crime 13. S is for Strychnine The Mysterious Affair at Styles 14. T is for Thallium The Pale Horse 15. V is for Veranol Lord Edgware Dies Appendix Glossary Bibliography