Review on my blog, 3rd January:

I don’t read a lot of non-fiction, but there was something about the cover to A TASTE FOR POISON that really called to me. I requested it on that whim and ended up reading it in a few sittings, picking it up over some of my fiction books - which I really didn’t expect. It’s left me with a hankering for more non-fiction, and lot of that is down to Neil Bradbury’s very accessible writing.

The way the book is set out is very interesting. It covers case studies both historical and recent, the way that the poisons chemically interact with the body, and the history of the poisons - including, interestingly, positive uses for some of the substances. I know extremely little about chemistry, so at first I was a little worried that it would be too complicated for me to get properly interested in, but it was incredibly accessible and easy to read. Considering that it’s been a while since I last read anything digitally, I’ve been struggling with physical reading, I was surprised to find myself so immediately invested. The chapters are broken down in an interesting way, and it all ties together cohesively for a fascinating true-crime and natural science read.

I hope that Neil Bradbury writes more non-fiction, because I will definitely be picking it up, and I’m going to be reading more non-fiction in 2022 largely because of this book.

This is a good, intriguing and highly fascinating book about the use and misuse of highly toxic plants. How some of these plants can be used to treat diseases but when used to harm can become deadly. Very good and would recommend to any true crime enthusiasts

Endlessly Fascinating…
Poison, weapon of choice, for so many murder mysteries - both of the fictional and realistic variety. This is a compelling account of such poisons and the killers that used them. Alongside the accounts of the crimes, the methods and the murderers, the author provides the medical science into how these poisons affect the human body. Perfectly compiled, eminently readable, grotesquely entertaining and endlessly fascinating. A nigh on perfect companion for any reader of crime, murder and means - beit fiction or otherwise.

This is such an interesting read, I have already been recommending it to friends. It examines poisons both from the angle of how they were discovered and how they affect the human body, and the science to back these aspects up, and the use of these poisons in real life crimes. It was a fascinating read and well balanced between being factual without being dry and boring. I can’t rate it high enough

This was a really interesting and informative. I finished this feeling like I learnt more about some crimes I knew about already and others I hadn't heard of. The writing was good and I kept me hooked throughout. This was a good read and I'd pick up more by this author in the future.

A most fascinating study of poisons, based on historical records and news headlines. Thank you to netgalley and the publishers for giving me a copy of the book.