V is for Venom

Fourteen stories. Fourteen more poisons. Just because it's fiction doesn’t mean it's all made-up ...

A brilliantly fun way not only to learn some chemistry but also to better appreciate the genre’s greatest writer.

Harkup balances the macabre with the scientifically intricate.

Hugely entertaining and informative, V is for Venom is an expertly written exploration of a fascinating topic. It's also a brilliant reminder of Agatha Christie's incredible skills as the Duchess of Death.

Harkup’s book overflows with clear science, intriguing crimes both fictional and real, many warnings to aspiring murderers of the “Don’t try this at home!” variety, and lots of interesting details about Christie’s life in crime.

A is for Arsenic and V is for Venom are part history, part scientific explainer, and part literary criticism that aren’t only fun, informative reads in their own right. They also heighten your admiration of Christie as a writer.

I’ll be keeping a copy of V Is for Venom handy … I hope it doesn’t make me a suspect every time somebody dies unexpectedly after leaving my house.

A fascinating look at the world of poison in Agatha Christie's work that will engage any readers "little grey cells." Harkup blends her scientific expertise with deep knowledge of Christie's extensive body of work.

Kathryn Harkup is a former chemist turned author. She writes and gives regular public talks on the disgusting and dangerous side of science. Her first book was the international best-seller A is for Arsenic: The Poisons of Agatha Christie , which was shortlisted for a Mystery Readers International Macavity Award and a BMA Book Award. Her other books include Death by Shakespeare: Snakebites, Stabbings and Broken Hearts and Superspy Science: Science, Death and Tech in the World of James Bond.