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    The Poisoner's Handbook: Murder and the Birth of Forensic Medicine in Jazz Age New York
    The Poisoner's Handbook: Murder and the Birth of Forensic Medicine in Jazz Age New York
    The Poisoner's Handbook: Murder and the Birth of Forensic Medicine in Jazz Age New York
    Audiobook9 hours

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

    Written by Deborah Blum

    Narrated by Coleen Marlo

    4.5/5

    ()

    About this audiobook

    Deborah Blum, writing with the high style and skill for suspense that is characteristic of the very best mystery fiction, shares the untold story of how poison rocked Jazz Age New York City. In The Poisoner's Handbook, Blum draws from highly original research to track the fascinating, perilous days when a pair of forensic scientists began their trailblazing chemical detective work, fighting to end an era when untraceable poisons offered an easy path to the perfect crime.

    Drama unfolds case by case as the heroes of The Poisoner's Handbook-chief medical examiner Charles Norris and toxicologist Alexander Gettler-investigate a family mysteriously stricken bald, Barnum and Bailey's Famous Blue Man, factory workers with crumbling bones, a diner serving poisoned pies, and many others. Each case presents a deadly new puzzle, and Norris and Gettler work with a creativity that rivals that of the most imaginative murderer, creating revolutionary experiments to tease out even the wiliest compounds from human tissue. Yet in the tricky game of toxins, even science can't always be trusted, as proven when one of Gettler's experiments erroneously sets free a suburban housewife later nicknamed "America's Lucretia Borgia" to continue her nefarious work.

    From the vantage of Norris and Gettler's laboratory in the infamous Bellevue Hospital it becomes clear that killers aren't the only toxic threat to New Yorkers. Modern life has created a kind of poison playground, and danger lurks around every corner. Automobiles choke the city streets with carbon monoxide, while potent compounds such as morphine can be found on store shelves in products ranging from pesticides to cosmetics. Prohibition incites a chemist's war between bootleggers and government chemists, while in Gotham's crowded speakeasies each round of cocktails becomes a game of Russian roulette. Norris and Gettler triumph over seemingly unbeatable odds to become the pioneers of forensic chemistry and the gatekeepers of justice during a remarkably deadly time. A beguiling concoction that is equal parts true crime, twentieth-century history, and science thriller, The Poisoner's Handbook is a compelling account of a forgotten New York.
    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherTantor Media, Inc
    Release dateMar 3, 2010
    ISBN9781400185504
    The Poisoner's Handbook: Murder and the Birth of Forensic Medicine in Jazz Age New York

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    Reviews for The Poisoner's Handbook

    4.5/5

    145 ratings75 reviews

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    • 4/5
      PBS made a documentary based on this book for their American Experience series (it's available on their website). Many parallels can be drawn to today's current events and social issues. It's a highly entertaining and informative exploration of the beginnings of forensic pathology and reads almost like fiction.

      1 person found this helpful

    • 5/5
      The "history of forensic toxicology" isn't normally a topic of interest to the general reader, but Blum makes it come alive by focusing on Alexander Gettler and Charles Norris who developed their science in the face of scheming murderers, penny-pinching New York mayors, widespread use of poisonous substances in everyday life, and industry denials and cover-ups.
    • 5/5
      Story of Charles Norris and Alexander Gettler and how they revolutionized forensic medicine in the early 1900's in New York City. My copy is inscribed by the author, who I met in February 2018.
    • 5/5
      Loved it. LOVED it. The Poisoner's Handbook was an absolutely enthralling read, I ended up devouring in a few days despite this week being one of my busiest so far this year (I would read in elevators and the bathroom at work just to sneak in a few extra pages here in there). Though I did feel a bit conspicuous reading it in public - the title is such that when people would ask me what I was reading, they'd get a good eyeful and start subtly moving their food/drink out of my reach. It is such a good book, and I found it quite thought-provoking as well. To be honest, I have very little background with the history of that era, and while I was familiar with a lot of the chemistry I ended up walking away with a newfound appreciation for those who had to develop their techniques and process completely on the fly in a world brimming with unregulated chemicals. And the sobering statistics made me doubly appreciate what institutions like the FDA and the EPA regulate.
    • 5/5
      This was an amazing book -- well-written and full of fascinating stories. It was a total page-turner, and I stayed up way too late last night finishing it.
    • 3/5
      More like a 3.5. I think this would have worked better for me if I had read it instead of listening to it. Great book, great information, but my attention wandered a bit.
    • 4/5
      An unexpected treat! There are many kinds of poisons, but back in the early 20th century, there wasn't much knowledge about them. Often it was the case that a substance wasn't even known to be poisonous. Other poisons were known about but it wasn't known how to measure them or assess their action.
      It is written with a deceptively breezy style: there's a fair amount of science hiding in there but you barely notice it because the book is heavily laced with tales of nefarious doings and dastardly crimes, as well as tragic stories of ignorance leading to unexpected deaths. Mercury-laden tonics, ubiquitous arsenic distribution, beauty creams fortified with radium or thallium. Cyanide, mercury, carbon monoxide poisoning -- they all were deadly compounds attached to a roster of fascinating stories. But the dogged work of two uncaped crusaders of New York City -- Norris and Gettler, the first medical examiners and toxicologists -- helped create and define the field of forensic medicine. They brought science in to the light to show it could be used to solve crimes. They also tirelessly worked to demonstrate that Prohibition was deadly. It resulted in replacing legal alcohol with toxic alcohol alternatives, and blindness, paralysis and deaths skyrocketed.
      They were public service heroes, battling corrupt politicians, lazy bureaucrats, public apathy, and venal greed.
      Some battles are never won. Some things never change.
      Fascinating.
    • 4/5
      This book was bursting over with stories it wanted to tell. About Prohibition, about corruption in New York City politics, about the emergence of forensic science as a discipline, about Charles Norris (way tougher than Chuck) and Alexander Gettler who shaped it, and the individual stories of dozens of poisoners of the era. Most of the time it works, but it's a lot of balls to keep in the air, and there are a few places where something falls.

      But still, who could stop reading? About Norris's dogged persistence agitating for more funds for his department, about Gettler's somewhat grisly methods for establishing cause of death, about the tragic fate of the girls who painted radium on the face of watches, about the horrifying things people ended up drinking just to get a little hooch during Prohibition.

      So, basically, not as magical as Love at Goon Park (but so few books are). But some great stories are uncovered and shared here.
    • 4/5
      Very informative and somewhat shocking. This chronicles the birth of toxicology, and specifically how that came to be used in the criminal justice system. Several toxins are addressed and described, along with the deaths they caused. Very interesting the science and processes developed to test for different poisons.
    • 4/5
      The Poisoner's Handbook: Murder and the Birth of Forensic Medicine in Jazz Age New York by Deborah Blum
      336 pages

      ★★★★

      This book is a wonderful mix of science, mystery, and science. Starting in 1918 Charles Norris would become the first scientifically trained medical examiner to be appointed in the New York City. Alexander Gettler, the first toxicologist for the city, would join the team shortly afterwards - forever changing how death was investigated. It was the birth of forensic science.

      I really enjoyed this book (I listened to the audio version). This was one of those books that I have trouble putting down. I would finish a chapter and think “alright..I’m done…ok…maybe one more chapter” until suddenly it was nearly 4am and I had officially chosen this book over sleep. This is my kind of book with my background in science, my degree in history, and my fascination in crime. The author only goes into the basics of chemicals and poisons making this book accessible to all, not just those with a degree in the subject. It all true and it’s all real but this book easily reads like a novel. Definitely worth the read in my opinion.

      PS. PBS recently did a 2 hour long special on the book and was fabulous. It follows the book well and merits a watching if you can find the time.
    • 5/5
      Deborah Blum does a great job of writing about the early years of forensic science in a fast-paced, fiction style prose resulting in a fascinating historical account of the misuse of poison, both by poisoners and the Federal government during prohibition as an alcohol additive to discourage drinking. Poisonous elements are also implicated in accidental deaths from cosmetic and medicinal additives, such as Radithor, and industrial poisonings of workers exposed to toxic chemicals. Charles Norris and Alexander Gettler's research on toxicology is highlighted. Having listed to this book on audio the only drawback is Colleen Marlo's badly improvised New York accented narration of Gettler's quotations. It sounds more like an impersonation of Tony Manero from Saturday Night Fever.
    • 4/5
      A well-researched, well-documented, and very well-written tale of chemical mysteries in early twentieth century New York. Dr. Charles Norris, the chief medical examiner of NYC, and his devoted toxicologist, Dr. Alexander Gettler, revolutionized New York's justice system by forcing it to pay attention to scientific evidence. Their painstaking, meticulous, and yet audacious work into chemicals' interactions with mammals helped catch and convict murderers. This isn't all forensic pathology and chemistry, though--there's a great deal of history, all woven together with the anecodotal tales of murderers, bootleggers, and accidental poisoners that Norris & Gettler encountered.
    • 4/5
      Poisons, in New York City, in the years around and during Prohibition. Sounds too niche to fill a whole book, but it's not. The story revolves around Charles Norris, the city's first scientifically trained medical examiner. (Previously, it had been a cushy and rather corrupt political position.) The book is separated into chapters on specific poisons, and the stories are often tragic, occasionally a little bit funny, and always fascinating. Great for a lover of chemistry and forensic medicine.
    • 3/5
      This book profiled the development of forensic medicine in New York, primarily through the actions of a reformer and a chemist.

      It's a good crash course on different common poisons in the era (and their availability-- you could pick up arsenic-laden rat traps at any pharmacy). It's also a pageturner.

      However, while I found the main narrative educational, I'm not sure how much weight I could put into some of the case studies and historical references Blum brought up. At one point, she mentions Lucrezia and Cesare Borgia as people who used poison as a frequent weapon; this is no longer an academic consensus (at the very least, a powerful noble house such as Borgia had minions for that kind of thing), particularly where concerns Lucrezia. It's a minor point but one that is so easy to research that I found myself skeptical of every other anecdote to follow.


    • 5/5
      Book on CD read by Coleen Marlo.

      The subtitle describes the book perfectly: Murder and the Birth of Forensic Medicine in Jazz Age New York. In the early 20th century poison was often the method of choice for murderers. Corruption ran rampant in New York City’s Tammany Hall-controlled coroner’s office. However, when Charles Norris was appointed chief medical examiner in 1918 things changed. With the help of toxicologist Alexander Gettler, Norris quickly set about making “cause of death” dependent on sound scientific studies, and put many a poisoner out of commission.

      But lest you think this is merely a true-crime book, Blum also gives considerable attention to other poisonings of the day – accidental asphyxiations, industrial poisoning, and the many instances of death due to additives used in Prohibition-era alcohol.

      The book is divided into chapters, each focusing on one element – mercury, chloroform, radium, carbon monoxide, etc – and moving the story from 1915 to 1936. Blum includes basic scientific information on the compounds, their effects on human tissues, and the scientific experiments / tests used to identify poisons in the body.

      It may not sound like it, but this is really a page-turner. What makes this more than a textbook or simple history is the inclusion of personal stories: the “radium girls” who painted luminescent watch dials and died of resulting aplastic anemia, or the bookkeeper exonerated of killing his family based on scientific evidence (instead of the popular opinion which resulted in his being accused). Blum brings the Jazz-Age New York to life – teeming slums, smoky speakeasies, and noisy streets. In contrast she gives us two scientists (and their team) who quietly toil in their laboratories to find answers to the city’s crimes, treating the dead with equal respect regardless of their station in life – millionaire or beggar.

      Coleen Marlo does a very good job of the audio version. Even when imparting relatively dry scientific information, she manages to convey a sense of interest and excitement in learning, which helped this listener maintain focus. The text version does include about 20 pages of notes and bibliography which are not read on the audio.

      The first time I read a book about forensic science I was in 7th grade. The subject has continued to fascinate me ever since. I highly recommend The Poisoner’s Handbook, even to non-science-geeks.
    • 4/5
      A riveting account of the beginning of the New York Medical Examiner's office, as well as American toxicology/forensic chemistry. The book follows the life of Charles Norris, the first person in charge of that city's dead with a genuine interest in the science and circumstances of how they died.

      The book takes the reader through a litany of poisons, from the dangerous quasi-booze of Prohibition to everyone's favorite, arsenic. Norris, with tremendous help from his chief scientist, Alexander Gettler, pioneered the use of science to convict criminals of wrongdoing, as opposed to a policeman's supposition/forced confession.

      A very worthwhile read for any loves of history, chemistry or just a good story.
    • 5/5
      I absolutely loved this book. It is a highly readable account of the rise of forensic medicine and toxicology in the United States, focusing on the Bellevue lab in New York City. The book talks about a number of homicides (or, in some cases, accidents that were believed to be homicides) that resulted from poisonous chemicals. There are chapters on arsenic, cyanide, carbon monoxide, radium, thallium, etc. Some of the compounds that the author discusses were known to be poisons (like arsenic and cyanide, for example), whereas some were new compounds, discovered in the first third of the twentieth century, that were not discovered to be poisonous until ill effects were reported.The book is not just about crime or homicidal maniacs who use poison as their weapon of choice. It is also about changing technologies, corporate greed, and egregious misuse of chemical compounds that borders on being comical to the modern reader. (Radium health tonics. Blearghhh.)The book is well written (the crisp, non-academic writing is very refreshing - unlike the radium health tonics) and does not get overly bogged down in scientific terms. The author provides enough medical and scientific background to be relevant, but she presents it in layman's terms. I love reading about the periodic table, but since I am not a scientist, I find that sometimes I get lost when there is too much detail. That is not the case here. I highly recommend this book.
    • 4/5
      This is the story of the first scientifically qualified medical examiner in NYC (and also his chief toxicologist, who actually seemed to do more work, I noticed). Each chapter deals with a different poisonous substance, and how his office worked to identify how it caused death, and then translate that into convictions for crimes. The office was established during Prohibition, so many are related to additives to illegal liquor. There's also a fascinating chapter on radium, how it was believed to be harmless and people did the CRAZIEST things with it (to very sad result). I will note that, through no fault of his own, the medical examiner's name was Charles Norris, which inevitably led to me filling in bits of the book with observations such as "Charles Norris can detect a trace amount of arsenic with a single roundhouse kick."Grade: B+Recommended: It's like toney true crime disguised as history, and very well-written.
    • 5/5
      I read this book for a book club and boy am I glad they picked this one.

      I've seen some other reviews complaining that it's heavier on the history than it is on the science, but I found it to be a good mix of the two. The focus is on the work of Charles Norris and Alexander Gettler, New York City's first medical examiner and toxicologist, respectively. We learn about developments in forensic science through their work: the main cases they come up against, the political climate, and the time period in which they lived. Blum paints their world so clearly with some of the best storytelling I've ever experienced in a piece of nonfiction. You get a thrilling narrative, a 1920s-1930s history education, and hard scientific facts all in one fun package. I was so taken in by the story that I had to force myself to take it slow so as to be able to retain my knowledge for my book club meeting.

      This book was fantastic. You should read it.
    • 5/5
      Despite the fact that it took -forever- to read, I really enjoyed it. It included all the fascinating information about the time period and the poisons, but somehow managed to keep it reading like a good mystery (and just finding one of those is hard enough). Some of the cases it covers are truly bizarre, and the fact that it's all true is icing on the cake.
    • 5/5
      I first heard about "The Poisoner's Handbook" when NPR aired an interview with its author, Deborah Blum. She talked about the government deliberately poisoning alcohol during prohibition, about Frederic Mors, who confessed to killing eight people with chloroform and walked away, about young girls in New Jersey who painted luminous watches with radium paint. I was hooked.I had a hard time putting the book down. It is a fascinating look at New York in the beginning of the 20th century. Blum mixes together stories about murderers and innocents, descriptions of medical procedures and scientific experiments, political commentary and history. The book's eleven chapters, each named after a poison (chloroform, wood alcohol, cyanides, arsenic, mercury, carbon monoxide (with two appearances), methyl alcohol, radium, ethyl alcohol, and thalium), cover the time period from 1915 to 1936 and the two men -- Charles Norris, first Chief Medical Examiner of the City of New York, and Alexander Gettler, New York City's chief toxicologist -- who laid the foundations of modern-day forensic medicine, toxicology, and made the office of the Medical Examiner a respected one, despite having virtually no support from the various Mayors of New York.
    • 3/5
      During the first third of the 20th century, the average American citizen was exposed to many chemicals and lives made better with their use. Chloroform was being used as an anesthetic, wood alcohol could be used to make varnish, and cyanide was effectively used as a metal polisher. However, each chemical innovation can, and often does, have negative consequences.This book's title belies the true purpose of this book, which was to detail the careers of two individuals who operated out of NYC's Bellevue Hospital, who helped to bring forensic science and toxicology into the 20th century. The two were chief medical examiner Charles Norris and forensic toxicologist Alexander Gettler. Charles Norris believed so passionately in his work that he often battled the city government to create a premiere forensic laboratory often personally funding some of its expenses using his own salary when support wasn't given. Gettler established forensic procedures to identity the various toxins highlighted in each of this book's chapter headings. These two individuals helped provide evidence against poisoners who murdered significant others as well as exonerate other individuals falsely accused of crimes.The book's novel, Deborah Blum, writes that "anything, in a large enough amount, can kill", however, many of the toxins included in this book required surprising little to cause some horrific deaths. Charles Norris, not only battled NYC's bureaucracy but advocated for legislative changes for better toxin control. His work assisted in the repeal of the 18th Amendment which established prohibition and an underground alcohol beverage industry, which resulted in numerous, unnecessary deaths. My description doesn't do justice to Deborah Blum's description of these two forensic scientists; thank goodness that Ms. Blum does.
    • 4/5
      A very easy to read and very informative book about the very beginnings of forensic science. The dedication, scientific knowledge, and determination of those early pioneers is a strong testament to their will and commitment. Modern medical science and current criminology own so much to these men.
    • 4/5
      b> 57. [The Poisoner's Handbook: Murder and the Birth of Forensic Medicine in Jazz Age New York] by Deborah Blum This is a heady mix of chemistry, history and true crime as Blum deftly explores, well as it says on the title,early forensics in the time of poisons and prohibition. It’s a fascinating mix, organised into chapters of poisons such as wood alcohol and arsenic, radium and monoxide and linked together by history. Not only in actual crimes but also charting the lives of chief medical examiner Charles Norris and toxicologist Alexander Gettler who together help change the face of forensics in North America. This eclectic approach could appear disconnected and dull but Blum is skilful enough to weave a story littered with interesting facts. The chapter on what Radium was used for legally (face cream anyone?) is horrifically mesmerising as are the lengths people would go to find an alcoholic drink. It’s as much of a dip into humanity as science and it’s simply frightening how badly prohibition failed and how deaf people were to the issues.The only issue I can see with it, is as it has so much breath someone who wishes a more detailed look may be disappointed.Highly recommended, history buffs and crime lovers will find much here. Would be poisoners maybe disappointed unless they need a what not to do guide.
    • 4/5
      toxicology, criminal cases, New York, Twenties, prohibition, bootleggers, arsenic, Alexander Gettler, Charles Norris
    • 5/5
      This book scared the hell out of me.
    • 4/5
      The Poisoner's Handbook (2010) is a retelling of poison cases in New York City during the 20s and 30s, which were investigated by Charles Norris and Alexander Gettler, two pioneers of forensic toxicology. We learn of a dozen or so different poisons and ways to use them, and 30 or 40 true crime tales that could have been perfect murders, had it not been for the sleuthing skills of Gettler and Norris. It's fairly well written, though occasionally bogs in the details of chemistry. I'll forget most of these stories eventually, but one is memorable, that of "Mike the Durable", an Irish homeless drunk who could not be killed in a black comedy of errors. I was amazed at how little was known about poison, and how certain deaths became textbook lessons that we still benifit from today, in particular radioactive material. This is a deep and narrow book - forensic toxicology in 1920s and 30s New York surrounding 2 investigators- but ultimately very human and interesting.
    • 5/5
      This is a fascinating look at the birth of forensic science in the United States from 1917 through the 1930's; specifically, at the revolutionary changes brought about by two men: the Chief Medical Examiner of New York City, Charles Norris, and toxicologist Alexander Gettler. It's well-written, engrossing, and sometimes even sensational. The book is divided up by chapters, each representing one of the prevailing poisons of the jazz-age era and the crimes committed with them, with an inevitable focus on the effects of prohibition. While there are some deviations within each chapter in order to maintain a chronology in the historical narrative, each chapter focusses on breaking down a specific poison, its physiological effects and methods of detection. Blum does this in a way that is both accessible and fascinating...and sometimes gruesome. My only complaints are purely personal: Blum wrote a thorough, comprehensive history of these two great men, but that requires a discussion of animal experiments, something I can't tolerate even as I recognise their contributions. I also found that the emphasis on the dangers of prohibition-era alcohols grew tedious. There's no way to write a history of this time frame without methyl- and ethyl- alcohols dominating the history, but I still found myself growing a bit weary of reading about them towards the end. What these two men accomplished in their time was phenomenal; their dedication, their perseverance is downright inspiring. If you enjoy science and/or history, I'd recommend this book without reservation.
    • 4/5
      This book was brutal, heart breaking fascinating and quite eye opening.

      Trigger warnings: death, poisoning, suicide, grisly deaths, experiments on animals, radiation exposure, prolonged illnesses
    • 4/5
      Where I got the book: purchased at Borders ALAS POOR BORDERS.This short (278 pages of text) nonfic covers the development of forensic toxicology in New York from 1915 to 1936 (with a little look before and after) against the background of Prohibition, which led to an epidemic of self-poisoning as people drank, seriously, ANYTHING because they couldn't get regular alcohol. I had no idea it was that bad, or that Prohibition had done quite such a splendid job of turning moderate tipplers into binge-drinking maniacs. Says a lot for human nature.Interestingly, each chapter focuses on a specific poison, although the Prohibition theme is relentlessly hung on every hook the author can find so things go a bit off-topic at times in an engagingly rambling sort of way. Lots of anecdotes of real crime, a little bit of science and a few brisk character sketches add up to an entertaining read. Although I suspect this is not the best book on poisoning out there, it's worth reading for a little inspiration.NO, not inspiration to poison people. Honestly. *Rolls eyes.* I'm talking about inspiration for stories. Talk about truth being stranger than fiction. As for the writing, I'd class it as highly competent journalistic prose but not exciting per se. Still good enough to merit 4 stars and to whet my appetite for more murder.