Perfect Poison: A Female Serial Killer's Deadly Medicine

by M. William Phelps

"M. William Phelps dares to tread where few others will: into the mind of a killer." —TV Rage

At the Veterans Affairs Medical Center in Northampton, Massachusetts, Kristen Gilbert was known as a hardworking, dedicated nurse. Yet so many emergencies and sudden deaths occurred under Kristen's watch that others jokingly called her the "Angel of Death." No one suspected the horrifying truth: that over the course of six months, Gilbert had caused the deaths of as many as forty patients. With new insight into the sociopathic mindset of nurses who kill, and the latest details on Gilbert's ongoing prison sentence, M. William Phelps exposes how one person's good intentions went so chillingly, killingly wrong. . .

"Phelps is one of America's finest true-crime writers." —Vincent Bugliosi

"Phelps is a true-crime veteran."—New York Post

"Anything by Phelps is always an eye-opening experience." —Suspense Magazine

"One of our most engaging crime journalists." —Katherine Ramsland

Sixteen Pages Of Dramatic Photos

160,000 Words

Genres: True Crime, Nonfiction, Crime, Biography, Serial Killer, Audiobook, Medical

500 pages, ebook

First published June 1, 2003

About the author

Crime, murder and serial killer expert, creator/producer/writer and former host of the Investigation Discovery series DARK MINDS, acclaimed, award-winning investigative journalist M. William Phelps is the New York Times best-selling author of 30 books and winner of the 2013 Excellence in (Investigative) Journalism Award and the 2008 New England Book Festival Award. A highly sought-after pundit, Phelps has made over 100 media-related television appearances: Early Show, The Today Show, The View, Fox & Friends, truTV, Discovery Channel, Fox News Channel, Good Morning America, TLC, BIO, History, Oxygen, OWN, on top of over 100 additional media appearances: USA Radio Network, Catholic Radio, Mancow, Wall Street Journal Radio, Zac Daniel, Ave Maria Radio, Catholic Channel, EWTN Radio, ABC News Radio, and many more.

Phelps is also a member of the Multidisciplinary Collaborative on Sexual Crime and Violence (MCSCV), also known as the Atypical Homicide Research Group (AHRG) at Northeastern University, maintained by NU alumni Enzo Yaksic.

Phelps is one of the regular and recurring experts frequently appearing on two long-running series, Deadly Women and Snapped. Radio America calls Phelps “the nation’s leading authority on the mind of the female murderer,” and TV Rage says, “M. William Phelps dares to tread where few others will: into the mind of a killer.” A respected journalist, beyond his book writing Phelps has written for numerous publications—including the Providence Journal, Connecticut Magazine and Hartford Courant—and consulted on the first season of the hit Showtime cable television series Dexter.

Phelps grew up in East Hartford, CT, moved to Vernon, CT, at age 12, where he lived for 25 years. He now lives in a reclusive Connecticut farming community north of Hartford.

Beyond crime, Phelps has also written several history books, including the acclaimed, New York Times bestselling NATHAN HALE: The Life and Death of America’s First Spy, THE DEVIL’S ROOMING HOUSE, THE DEVIL’S RIGHT HAND, MURDER, NEW ENGLAND, and more.

Reviews

[Erin Clemence · Rating 3 out of 5]

Kristen Gilbert was a dedicated, hard-working nurse, admired and praised by her colleagues and peers at the Veterans Affairs Medical Centre. Yet, whenever Kristen was on shift, numerous patients began to die from sudden heart failure. None of these patients had ever had any heart trouble before, so why were they dying? And why only on Kristen’s watch? M. William Phelps details the grisly cases, right through to the legal proceedings that eventually brought Kristen Gilbert a life sentence.

There have been far too many “angel of death” cases on TV, in books, and (even more disturbingly) , in real life (most recently, the Canadian nurse Elizabeth Wettlaufer comes to mind) and sadly, this one is just another one to add to the mix. For me, the Kristen Gilbert case is not as well known, since it took place in the United States during the 90s, when I was more focused on boy bands and Pogs than serial killers (oh how times have changed).

I do enjoy true crime novels, especially those that specifically focus on serial murderers. However, (and this seems to be the case in all of the novels I’ve read thus far of this genre) , the writing can be choppy, and is often portrayed as if in conversation, with very little descriptive details and more slang and conversational tones. Phelps’ novel fell into this category, too.

I also wanted to know more about Kristen’s upbringing. Although her parents were present at Kristen’s trial, I only got some tidbits about her childhood (such as she made a lot of false accusations against her mother, whom she apparently disliked, and that she resented her younger sister) but nothing that satisfied the “why did she do it?” part of my brain. I wanted more of Kristen’s thoughts and opinions, but this novel tended to give me more of the legal background, detailing the investigation and trial.

Needless to say, this novel was very unsettling. Kristen Gilbert is a manipulative narcissist, who killed people purely for the attention it brought her. To target veterans made her crimes even more despicable, and there is no doubt in mind she got the justice she deserved.

Phelps definitely covered all of the bases, from both sides, but I would have loved to hear more from Kristen’s side of things. “Perfect Poison” is definitely a true-crime novel to its core, a haunting tale of a person put in a position of trust, and violating that trust in the worst possible way.

[Rissa · Rating 2 out of 5]

Lots of thoughts on this book sadly not alot of them are good.
Perfect poison uses just last names then just first names and i didnt know who was who (which was really annoying). The beginning made me feel like i was reading through a doctors file (which was kinda the point), but it was a little much. But i did enjoy the diseases, disabilities, and diagnosis that were mentioned and described in the book.
I enjoyed the multiple murders in the beginning and how Gilbert was named the Angel of death.
Kristen, a nurse that is also a serial killer... i am going into health care and the main thing my teachers nail into my head is you have to have empathy, compassion and truly want to help people. Kristen missed that class.

The "relationship" between Perrault and Gilbert was strange at first, weird and rushed, maybe it was supposed to be.

Henry: I took 30 red pills last night and 20 this morning I drink a 12 pack of beer.
They are developing the character of a schizophrenic Henry Henry Hudson so obviously Kristen is going to want to kill him or maybe fall in love with him I can't tell yet but I think he's going to be a victim and I don't want him to be a victim, i want him to live. (Lets see if im right). Wow within five pages hes dead, but did Kristen do it?
Okay so if shes killing people, alot of people and everyone is just saying yeah whatever nothing we can do now. Angel of death seriously come on you people are supposed to be smart.
Kristin kills another one and finally someone wants to take her down but doesnt want to say anything without evidence. Walsh good for you.
I think this could be a good movie because reading Kristin killing people over and over is getting boring to read but could be speed up nicely in a movie. Like a lifetime cheesy movie not a real movie.

Thoughts throughout the book:
Does this book speed up?
Why is no one questioning Kristin?
Angel of death come on people
Last name or first name make up your damn mind.
Are ture crime books supposed to be this boring?
I hate bashing books but seriously.

[Valerity (Val) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another good one by M. William Phelps. True crime story of Kristen Gilbert, a VA nurse accused of killing multiple patients at a VA Medical facility in Northampton, MA after several of her fellow nurses notice an increase in the number of codes and deaths during her shifts over a number of years. They ask for an investigation.

[Jeanette · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is one of the two or three best out of his dozens. It's chronological patient by patient and Ward C as a daily record for a period of the mid-1990's. Most especially 1995 and 1996. Beyond the detail of these medical cases, it also holds the very accurate descriptions of mood swings and obscure and blatant manipulations (both) that Kristin Gilbert had cored, not just then, but nearly throughout her entire lifespan up until then.

This is also a tremendous explicit example of bureaucracy in massive and governmental hierarchies within systems that are MUCH better controlled and operated at local levels. When something is "off" it just takes too long to fix it. And there are too many levels of authority to do so even when the exact causes are determined. It's no coincidence that she got so far down the murder count line at a Veteran's Administration hospital.

True life heroes are the three nurses who came forward with witness and physical proof. Their own lives were censured and impugned from the very first of secret off hospital meeting to this very day. One has died but the other two will have consequence until their own last days for being protective and honest as they were. Difficult to impossible onus was put on their shoulders and they faced it squarely.

Without such people watching and evaluating and reporting realities of operation/ data- we are as humans just evil dominated lost. Not only in hospital, law, industry, transport or any physical reality truth either. People have got to believe their own eyes and not media or reports from on high. (This is especially true about the state of our own bridges in many Mid-Western states.)

Medical serial killers are the most prolific. People are just about defenseless within this scenario of manipulative control. It isn't at all a fluke that she did the in/out mental facility as a patient herself so many times in her young life. Or that she ended up being originally indicted for something different than the murders or attempted murders.

The coverage of the police and prosecutors was most excellent on this one too. More organized and clearer described work paths and subsequent inquiry or other case context.

[♥ Marlene♥ · Rating 5 out of 5]

on Thursday, March 29, 2007 I wrote:


I read this book, which is not a small one, pretty quick. This is a great true crime book. Very well written, interesting from page 1 till the end.
Highly recommend if you like to read True Crime

[Kimberly · Rating 4 out of 5]

A true crime story that takes place in a VAMC. This one hit close to home since I'm a nurse.

[Megan · Rating 2 out of 5]

Wow this author had a high opinion of themselves and their importance to the case, given that as far as I can tell most of the major players didn't speak with them until after it was published, if they even did at all.

[Denise Wallace · Rating 5 out of 5]

A bold, appalling, and twisted crime by a woman in white...

[Donna · Rating 3 out of 5]

Wow. I’m glad I’m not scheduled for any hospital care in the near future.

This book tells the true story of Kristen Gilbert, a registered nurse convicted of killing some patients in a Veteran’s Hospital, and believed to have killed many more.

It is a horrifying tale of a woman on the edge of madness (are all murderers?), and we have a front row seat in watching her life deteriorate. This story has it all --- romance, break ups, risky behavior, manipulation, murder, madness and bomb threats! It is amazing that someone so deeply troubled could appear normal to so many for so long.

The author does a good job of keeping the reader’s interest, though the court proceedings details do get a bit tedious. He left nothing out. The writing is not as smooth as one might hope for, but true stories are rarely as lyrical as fiction. I would recommend this book to anyone with an interest in psychology, crime or police procedure. I definitely don’t recommend it to pass the time if you are confined to a hospital bed.

[Catherine Spannagel · Rating 2 out of 5]

It was too long and drug on.

[Carol · Rating 5 out of 5]

It is unthinkable that this woman would kill all these innocent patients in one place. She has no heart! I was a caregiver for many years and had nothing but love, compassion and empathy for my patients. After finishing the book in its entirety, I was very disappointed that she did not get the death sentence, as she should have. She has it easy in jail. Meals every day, fresh air outside, cot to sleep on, outdoor activity, etc. She doesn't deserve any of that! Where is the justice???? If I were a family member of one of those who died, I would be livid. The case dragged on too long and those witnesses that came forward did the right thing but she really isn't suffering in jail. She should have gotten the same treatment she gave all those people she killed. Very disappointing! Thanks to M. William Phelps for keeping me up all night. You truly are a great writer.

[Crystal Passfield · Rating 3 out of 5]

Could have been written clearer. Jumped around causing confusion 🤷‍♀️

Still an interesting read.

[Ronnie Cramer · Rating 4 out of 5]

Back in the days before eBooks and Goodreads, I read this paperback several times. I decided to read it again after ten or fifteen years and I'm glad I did; it's well done and the case it examines is fascinating. I had forgotten that the killer was unmasked about halfway through the book, yet there was plenty of weirdness to come.

[Anna Maria · Rating 4 out of 5]

It was well written for a true story. It made me sad to read that a nurse who is supposed to care for her patients, enjoys killing them instead. I love looking after people who need help, so found it hard to read she killed, because she wanted to see her boyfriend and get off early. I am glad she ended up with nothing, she deserved the death sentence. I gave it 4* because once you have read one like this, any other true life will read the same. I would recommend the book.

[Mindelei · Rating 1 out of 5]

This was going to be the first true-crime book that I've read; however, I could not finish it. I was annoyed by the biographers writing style. I felt that there was too much "telling" and not enough "showing" of what was happening in the book. I just couldn't force myself to continue because it was just too dry of a read.

[Rachel · Rating 4 out of 5]

I had not heard about this particular case before. As a nurse it is always interesting to me to read about nurses turned murders because I don't know why someone would go through all the trouble of finishing nursing school and then commit murder.

[April · Rating 3 out of 5]

Well written and visually realistic. I felt like I was watching a good show about the real life murderess. What a scary monster. This gal had no empathy at all which is normal for a sociopath. Informative read. Can believe the outcome of her case.

[Jeanine · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was difficult to put down.The amount of research that went into this is apparent. A very complex case is laid out in an extremely cogent manner. Excellent book.

[Silke · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.75

Perfect Poison: A Female Serial Killer’s Deadly Medicine by M. William Phelps is a riveting journey into the heart of darkness, a true crime narrative that explores the chilling reality of a female serial killer. Released in 2003, this book takes readers on a gripping and haunting exploration of a criminal mind that is as fascinating as it is terrifying.

M. William Phelps, a seasoned true crime writer, brings his trademark storytelling prowess to the forefront in Perfect Poison. The narrative unfolds like a carefully crafted thriller, drawing readers into a world where a lethal brew of deception, manipulation, and murder becomes the canvas for a female serial killer’s deadly acts. Phelps’ writing is both compelling and compassionate, offering a balanced portrayal of the individuals caught in the web of this sinister tale.

The strength of Perfect Poison lies not only in its meticulous detailing of the crimes but also in the author’s commitment to understanding the psychology of the central character. Phelps goes beyond the surface, delving into the motivations, struggles, and complexities that shape the mind of a female serial killer. In doing so, he creates a narrative that is as much a psychological study as it is a true crime story.

The pacing of the book is expertly managed, keeping the reader engaged from the opening pages to the shocking revelations that unfold in the later chapters. Phelps skillfully combines the tension of a crime thriller with the depth of a psychological examination, resulting in a narrative that is as enlightening as it is suspenseful.

The characters in Perfect Poison are vividly portrayed, each contributing to the intricate tapestry of the story. The author’s attention to detail and commitment to accuracy shine through, offering readers a sense of immersion in the lives of those touched by the chilling events. The courtroom drama is particularly gripping, adding a layer of legal intrigue to the overall narrative.

In conclusion, Perfect Poison: A Female Serial Killer’s Deadly Medicine stands as a testament to M. William Phelps’ ability to craft compelling and thought-provoking true crime narratives. For those with an appetite for gripping storytelling, psychological insight, and a fascination with the darker aspects of the human psyche, this book is a captivating and haunting exploration of a female serial killer’s deadly deeds.

[Janice · Rating 5 out of 5]

The scariest by far.

After reading a dozen of Phelps true crime drama, much of the the depravity that a human being can inflict on another has been clinically laid out for the reader. I found this book, however the most scary book of his I had read. Not because of the gore or the torture inflicted by the murderer who shed almost to none of the victim's blood. The horror in these murders were not the how they were carried out but by the persona of the Grim Reaper. A petite, young and pretty nurse who looked like an angel of mercy was actually the angel of death.

According to "Tim Braun, president of Braun Consulting & Investigation, LLC," the shocking part of the crimes committed by serial killer and nurse Kristen Gibson, is not the brutality of the crime, but instead “[I]t’s the environment they choose to work in and the victims they choose to kill.” In fact where would someone feel safer than a hospital under the care of the most competent medical personnel available. Or so one would assume. Even Phelps acknowledges the irony of being killed by someone trained and pledged to care for patients, "Which, for my money, makes the nurse/caretaker serial killer the most dangerous killer out there."

[Lori Ann Dupont · Rating 4 out of 5]

Overall, excellent true crime. Phelps does an excellent timeline, with much detail, especially the actual crime investigation pieces. I did wish there were more personal memoirs included — such as, what happened/ was happening during the sometimes long stretches of time over the holidays, from Thanksgiving to New Years? There is a bit of detail as far as hard facts but there were virtually no anecdotes over sometimes long periods. I would have liked to have seen more filling out of, say, Mr. Strickland. For that matter, what about Mrs. Strickland? Kristen’s early life? Oh, there was some detail, but not nearly enough for me....
And where was Tara, her sister in all this? What did she think, how did she feel? Where the hell was she?!? Was she supportive? Not supportive?
I would have rated this a 5 star but for the fact that I really wished for more personal detail from her early life, detail including her family.
I thought the book was well written, it kept me engrossed for the better part of a whole weekend. I had trouble walking away!
Mr. Phelps, that is a real compliment!!
Kudos to you for this 4.5 star read!

[Nancy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Beginning in 1995, an RN named Kristen Gilbert administered lethal doses of medications to patients, causing their hearts to stop. This lead to a "Code" type situation in the inpatient unit of the VA hospital that she worked at in Leeds, Massachusetts. It is thought that she was responsible for the deaths of 40 or more patients. This is her story.

This was an excellently written story by M. William Phelps. I have seen him on some true crime shows but never read one of his books until now. I like his style, which is to say that he doesn't drown you in needless details about where each player was born and raised. He also glossed over the opening and closing arguments, which is a plus for me because I hate reading those. They are very boring and repetitive. Phelps is pretty straightforward with just the facts and no wasted space or details.

[Hanako · Rating 4 out of 5]

Story-all true, pretty wild so 5?
Writing- very thorough, bordering on tedious minutia 4
Enjoyment-4

I enjoyed this author's retailing of Gilbert's crimes because of the in-depth research that went into the book. While the trial report seemed a bit much, I would rather have too much information than too little. Honestly, if this wasn't a true story it would not be believable because the idea of someone trying to get away with these actions is pretty brazen. Having this all take place in a locale I'm familiar with was pretty trippy too! It gave the story more depth for me, knowing the mall and the different towns that all of the crimes and story took place in. Anyway, if you're into local or true crime, this one's for you!

[Holly Ites · Rating 3 out of 5]

My three stars has nothing to do with the quantity or quality of Phelps' research and writing. As always, he outlines the case methodically, providing all the necessary information without getting bogged down in legal minutia. It's just that this case was a little too much to have to contemplate... a nurse killing veterans for attention. Narcissistic much? The facts Phelps outlines in the epilogue about "angels of death" in nursing settings only added to my discomfort. Aren't hospital stays stressful enough without having to worry about a nurse sticking a syringe into an IV being a psychopath?

[Daniela Sorgente · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is a meticulous reconstruction of a criminal case from the late 90s, of a nurse accused of killing some of her patients. The first half of the book describes the facts and the second half details the trail. It is a very absorbing read, the book is very interesting and well written, one feels that there are months and months of work behind it, of interviews, of reading documents.
The only negative thing is that on the back cover of my edition it says that there are "sixteen pages of shocking photos", when instead the photographs are only of the protagonists of the story and of some tombstones and therefore they are not shocking at all.

[Verité · Rating 4 out of 5]

Read this for a total of 10 hours I think. Very engaging from start to finish. Contains a lot of jargon a medical or allied practitioner could follow through, otherwise it could sound tedious for an average reader.

But this should not turn you off from reading this book because the author did his best to explain jargon in common terms and besides, it paints a picture of what goes inside the mind of a psychopatic serial killer and what made them do things that are considered horrific.

This was based on true events.

[Yuliza · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was definitely not what I was expecting, when I started getting further into the story and was hit with a full blown murder investigation. This book definitely focused more on the investigation that under went when trying to bring Kristen Gilbert to justice and I was expecting a sort of biography on this woman's life. So for those who have a high interest in reading full blown crime investigations and the process this is the perfect book for you. Indeed it is a very well written true crime.

[Denise Meister · Rating 5 out of 5]

Compelling True Crime

This book is a must for true crime fans. Kristen the nurse is a classic study in narcissism. That the most vulnerable were her victims is pure evil. Veterans and most ill, deserved the best of care. She used their lives to feed her insatiable need for attention. She is where she belongs. Behind bars. And I hope she loses every appeal. And to those families who lost their loved one's life to her madness, may they cherish the memories and know that their loved one is a hero for serving our country, never forgotten.

[Clint · Rating 3 out of 5]

Fairly straightforward narrative about a Massachusetts nurse who became a serial killer by poisoning a number of patients in order to — it seems like — just get them out of her hair. The book seemed to come mostly from court transcripts and, likely, from police files. Not sure how much original reporting was done. Certainly an interesting case. This particular audio book was not helped by the reader, J. Charles, whose voice intonations were no better than those a child might use.

[Tara · Rating 3 out of 5]

What kept me going with this book is that it took place when we'd just moved to the area and it was all over the news. I enjoyed learning more about the players involved in this tragedy. The writing, however, is not good, written more like a scandalous newspaper article with choppy transitions. It also is often repetitive with little character development which would have really added to the storyline. I'm still glad I read this to learn more about what went down.