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Title: A Is for Arsenic
Subtitle: The Poisons of Agatha Christie
Author: Kathryn Harkup
Narrator: Beth Chalmers
Format: Unabridged
Length: 9 hrs and 50 mins
Language: English
Release date: 09-10-15
Publisher: Audible Studios for Bloomsbury
Ratings: 4.5 of 5 out of 51 votes
Genres: Science & Technology, Medicine
Publisher's Summary:
Agatha Christie's detailed plotting is what makes her books so compelling. Christie used poison to kill her characters more often than any other murder method, with the poison itself being a central part of the novel, and her choice of deadly substances was far from random; the chemical and physiological characteristics of each poison provide vital clues to the discovery of the murderer. With gunshots or stabbings the cause of death is obvious, but not so with poisons. How is it that some compounds prove so deadly and in such tiny amounts?
Christie demonstrated her extensive chemical knowledge (much of it gleaned from her working in a chemists during both world wars) in many of her novels, but this is rarely appreciated by the reader. A is for Arsenic celebrates the use of science in Christie's work. Written by Christie fan and research chemist Kathryn Harkup, each chapter takes a different novel and investigates the poison (or poisons) the murderer used. A is for Arsenic looks at why certain chemicals kill, how they interact with the body, and the feasibility of obtaining, administering and detecting these poisons both at the time the novel was written and today. This book is published as part of the 125th anniversary celebration of Christie's birth.
Critic Reviews:
"Intriguing and illuminating.... This compilation should please mystery fans, true crime readers, and lovers of popular science." (Publishers Weekly)
"Released just in time to celebrate Agatha Christie's 125th birthday on September 15, this is essential listening for both aficionados of the Queen of Mystery and anyone with a morbid interest in dangerous chemicals. Narrator Beth Chalmers's demure British accent is easy to listen to and quite addicting.... The subject matter itself is grim, but Chalmers's buoyant tones perfectly suit the well-researched and good-humored text." (AudioFile)
Members Reviews:
Overall good.
This was actually pretty interesting, however, it did drag a bit in some of the more technical parts. Overall though I would recommend it...especially to Christie fans.
A +
Would you consider the audio edition of A Is for Arsenic to be better than the print version?
Probably the audio, I really enjoyed the audio version and I have listen to it more than once. I think this would be a book that I would like to own both in audio and print.
Who was your favorite character and why?
No characters as this is a nonfiction book. I am a huge Agatha Christie fan and I absolutely loved this book. To get facts about Agatha, her murderers and the poisons all in one place is wonderful !
What about Beth Chalmerss performance did you like?
Her accent was great. This is the first time I have listened to her work and I would be happy to listen to her again.
Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?
Yes, I hated to stop when I had to take a break.
Death caps, nightcaps, and recaps
What made the experience of listening to A Is for Arsenic the most enjoyable?
Beth Chalmers was an ideal narrator, capturing the Britishness of the book and dealing well with the technical detail.
What was the most interesting aspect of this story? The least interesting?
The book talks about several poisons as they were discovered, used in historical poisonings, and their effects on the body.
