Title The poisoner's handbook : murder and the birth of forensic medicine in jazz age New York / Deborah Blum.

SRP 2012 REVIEW: Blum writes nonfiction in a fascinating way, drawing the reader into this world of intrigue and conspiracy. She weaves in history, science, and social commentary as she relates anecdotes from an era filled with death by poisoning. I was reminded a bit of Mary Roach (author of Bonk, Stiff, and Packing for Mars)--a little humor and a provocative turn of phrase makes the medicine of technical information go down nice and smooth. Anyone interested in criminology should find this book fascinating. It's a quick read and I learned a lot about an era I previously gave little thought to.