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V is for Venom: Agatha Christie's Chemicals of Death
Fourteen novels. Fourteen more poisons. Just because it's fiction doesn't mean it's all made-up ...
Agatha Christie revelled in the use of poison to kill off unfortunate victims in her books; indeed, she employed it more than any other murder method, with the poison itself often being a central part of the novel. Her choice of deadly substances was far from random – the characteristics of each often provide vital clues to the discovery of the murderer. With gunshots or stabbings the cause of death is obvious, but this isn't the case with poisons. How is it that some compounds prove so deadly, and in such tiny amounts?
This book, the follow-up to Kathryn Harkup's best-selling A is for Arsenic, features fourteen more poisons from the books of Agatha Christie. V is for Venom explores the scientific facts behind the chemicals Christie put to such deadly use in her fiction. How do these compounds affect the body? What is their history of use in real-life murder cases, some of which may have inspired Christie, and how feasible was it to obtain, administer and detect these poisons, both at the time the novel was written and today?
V is for Venom is a celebration of the use of science by the undisputed Queen of Crime.
Agatha Christie revelled in the use of poison to kill off unfortunate victims in her books; indeed, she employed it more than any other murder method, with the poison itself often being a central part of the novel. Her choice of deadly substances was far from random – the characteristics of each often provide vital clues to the discovery of the murderer. With gunshots or stabbings the cause of death is obvious, but this isn't the case with poisons. How is it that some compounds prove so deadly, and in such tiny amounts?
This book, the follow-up to Kathryn Harkup's best-selling A is for Arsenic, features fourteen more poisons from the books of Agatha Christie. V is for Venom explores the scientific facts behind the chemicals Christie put to such deadly use in her fiction. How do these compounds affect the body? What is their history of use in real-life murder cases, some of which may have inspired Christie, and how feasible was it to obtain, administer and detect these poisons, both at the time the novel was written and today?
V is for Venom is a celebration of the use of science by the undisputed Queen of Crime.
320 pages, Hardcover
Published June 24, 2025
46 people are currently reading
450 people want to read
About the author
Kathryn Harkup
14 books96 followersKathryn Harkup is a chemist and author. Kathryn completed a PhD then a postdoc at the University of York before realising that talking, writing and demonstrating science appealed far more than spending hours slaving over a hot fume-hood. Kathryn went on to run outreach in engineering, computing, physics and maths at the University of Surrey, which involved writing talks on science and engineering topics that would appeal to bored teenagers, and she is now a science communicator delivering talks and workshops on the quirky side of science.
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Displaying 1 - 24 of 24 reviews
July 7, 2025
I spent my weekend learning about poisons, and it was so much fun! This meticulously researched non-fiction book delves into Agatha Christie's use of 14 different poisons in her mysteries, and has elements of biography, science, history, and true crime. This is a follow-up book to A is For Arsenic, but works as a standalone.
During World War I, Agatha Christie worked as a pharmacy assistant in a hospital dispensary. At that time, drugs were mixed by hand to meet the specifications of the prescribing physician. The knowledge she gained about poisons, dosages, and their effects on the human body made its way into her work. Poison was used as a weapon in many of Christie's novels, and she often used the specific properties of these substances to enhance the clues or misdirections in her plots.
Egagingly written and presented in easy-to-understand terms, the author examines the properties and effects of the poisons Christie used in her books with scientific and historical overviews of each. Additionally, the book discusses instances when these poisons were used or suspected in real crimes, and how those events may have influenced Christie and added legitimacy to the ways she used poisons in her stories. It was fascinating!
I enjoyed this deep dive into Christie's work so much and cannot wait to reference this the next time I read one of her mysteries where poison plays a role. And I appreciated that this avoids spoilers of Christie's books for those who haven't read them yet. Interesting, thorough, and well organized, but quick reading, I highly recommend this to current and future Christie fans!
Thank you to Bloomsbury Books for the gifted review copy. All opinions are my own
During World War I, Agatha Christie worked as a pharmacy assistant in a hospital dispensary. At that time, drugs were mixed by hand to meet the specifications of the prescribing physician. The knowledge she gained about poisons, dosages, and their effects on the human body made its way into her work. Poison was used as a weapon in many of Christie's novels, and she often used the specific properties of these substances to enhance the clues or misdirections in her plots.
Egagingly written and presented in easy-to-understand terms, the author examines the properties and effects of the poisons Christie used in her books with scientific and historical overviews of each. Additionally, the book discusses instances when these poisons were used or suspected in real crimes, and how those events may have influenced Christie and added legitimacy to the ways she used poisons in her stories. It was fascinating!
I enjoyed this deep dive into Christie's work so much and cannot wait to reference this the next time I read one of her mysteries where poison plays a role. And I appreciated that this avoids spoilers of Christie's books for those who haven't read them yet. Interesting, thorough, and well organized, but quick reading, I highly recommend this to current and future Christie fans!
Thank you to Bloomsbury Books for the gifted review copy. All opinions are my own
October 18, 2025
Gruesome and fascinating and scientifically sound, this is for all of us who wondered what the hell "Calmo" was.
June 13, 2025
V is for Venom is for fans of Agatha Christie, crime novels, the science of poisons, and anyone interested in learning new things. I grew up reading Agatha Christie books and watching the TV adaptations of the Hercule Poirot stories with my dad. Reading V is for Venom brought back fond memories, and added new context to some of the various methods of murder most foul that Christie subjected her characters to.
I loved the mix of scientific explanation of the poisons and other chemicals used in the novels. There was a decent amount of solid scientific explanation for how they worked, were normally used, and how Christie folded them into her own storytelling. I also learned how Christie herself worked with pharmaceuticals, which I had not been aware of before. This was written in both an informative and engaging manner, which made it fun to learn. If all textbooks could be written like this, showing the details along with real accounts and those from the crime novels, it could make classes a lot more fun.
Overall, this was an enjoyable book for the science and/or true crime nerd.
I read this early as an ARC. All opinions are my own.
I loved the mix of scientific explanation of the poisons and other chemicals used in the novels. There was a decent amount of solid scientific explanation for how they worked, were normally used, and how Christie folded them into her own storytelling. I also learned how Christie herself worked with pharmaceuticals, which I had not been aware of before. This was written in both an informative and engaging manner, which made it fun to learn. If all textbooks could be written like this, showing the details along with real accounts and those from the crime novels, it could make classes a lot more fun.
Overall, this was an enjoyable book for the science and/or true crime nerd.
I read this early as an ARC. All opinions are my own.
December 5, 2025
Thanks to NetGalley and Bloomsbury for the ARC.
By the author of A is for Arsenic, even more scientific explanations of Agatha Christie's choice of poisons in her novels! I read the first book back in high school, I think, and I loved it. This is more of that, which is never a bad thing. Explaining how chemically each of the poisons can kill, what it would take to survive them, and real cases where they were used, both in Christie's time and ours, this is as thorough as you can get in a little over 300 pages.
By the author of A is for Arsenic, even more scientific explanations of Agatha Christie's choice of poisons in her novels! I read the first book back in high school, I think, and I loved it. This is more of that, which is never a bad thing. Explaining how chemically each of the poisons can kill, what it would take to survive them, and real cases where they were used, both in Christie's time and ours, this is as thorough as you can get in a little over 300 pages.
August 13, 2025
Fascinating stuff - but how vulnerable are we humans!
November 13, 2025
I love the connection between two of my loves — mystery novels & science. I listened to the audio, which was delightful, and I definitely want to add a copy to my classroom library as well!
December 8, 2025
Well written and entertaining. I learnt a lot about a whole lot of poisons - its interesting to think how easy so many deadly chemicals were to acquire back in the early 20th century!
June 2, 2025
4/5 stars
Recommended if you like: Agatha Christie, chemistry, poisons, murder mystery
Big thanks to Bloomsbury, Netgalley, and the author for an ARC in exchange for an honest review!
I'll admit, I wasn't a particular fan of the one Agatha Christie book I read (Death on the Nile), but I was intrigued by learning about different poisons.
As the title suggests, this book is pretty centered on Agatha Christie's writings, both her books and her plays, and particularly on the poisons she uses for murders and misdirects. Harkup works to ensure each chapter is thorough while also not spoiling the particular story each poison is featured in. There are a couple places where she can't avoid it, but Harkup does provide spoiler warnings, so those sections are easy to skip if you want.
I enjoyed learning about the different poisons and as someone interested in venturing into mystery writing herself, I'll definitely be following up on some of these for my own stories. I will admit, I was hoping for a greater description of how each of the various poisons acted on the body medically. Symptoms, body systems, and the likes were what I was hoping to read about, though Harkup seems more interested in the chemistry side of things here.
Each chapter is broken up into an introduction of the poison and the circumstances Christie uses it in, then an overview of the chemistry of the poison, followed by a more thorough accounting of how it appears in the story, what could be done for someone with that kind of poisoning, and any real life cases. By and large I enjoyed reading about the poisons and the various ways Christie's victims fell prey to them and the plausibility of those scenarios. As mentioned above, I'm not really an Agatha Christie fan, but the brief stories here definitely have me interested in more of her work.
As someone whose background in chemistry only goes as far as honors chemistry in high school, a lot of the chemistry Harkup describes in the book is too detailed for me. She comes at it from a much greater level of understanding than I (and I would assume the casual reader) have and if we had to have that level of chemical knowledge, I would've preferred it be explained at an easier level, even if that would've made the explanations longer. As it stands, I had some trouble following the talk of forming and dissolving chemical bonds and how it all impacted things. At times, I found myself scanning the text without actually reading it.
On the flip side, I do have an extensive understanding of psychology and biological psychology. This led to an interesting paradigm where portions of the text were too chemically advanced for me, resulting in skimming, while others were too psychologically 'basic,' which also resulted in skimming. I suppose these parts are also technically chemistry, but personally I place Na+/K+ ion channels into the realm of psychology and biology. Harkup pays particular attention to how sodium and potassium exchanges occur in the body and so information about these channels gets repeated throughout the book. After the second or third time Harkup explains Na+/K+ ion channels, I started getting bored and was wishing she just mentioned a particular poison acted on those channels without going into yet another explanation of them.
Recommended if you like: Agatha Christie, chemistry, poisons, murder mystery
Big thanks to Bloomsbury, Netgalley, and the author for an ARC in exchange for an honest review!
I'll admit, I wasn't a particular fan of the one Agatha Christie book I read (Death on the Nile), but I was intrigued by learning about different poisons.
As the title suggests, this book is pretty centered on Agatha Christie's writings, both her books and her plays, and particularly on the poisons she uses for murders and misdirects. Harkup works to ensure each chapter is thorough while also not spoiling the particular story each poison is featured in. There are a couple places where she can't avoid it, but Harkup does provide spoiler warnings, so those sections are easy to skip if you want.
I enjoyed learning about the different poisons and as someone interested in venturing into mystery writing herself, I'll definitely be following up on some of these for my own stories. I will admit, I was hoping for a greater description of how each of the various poisons acted on the body medically. Symptoms, body systems, and the likes were what I was hoping to read about, though Harkup seems more interested in the chemistry side of things here.
Each chapter is broken up into an introduction of the poison and the circumstances Christie uses it in, then an overview of the chemistry of the poison, followed by a more thorough accounting of how it appears in the story, what could be done for someone with that kind of poisoning, and any real life cases. By and large I enjoyed reading about the poisons and the various ways Christie's victims fell prey to them and the plausibility of those scenarios. As mentioned above, I'm not really an Agatha Christie fan, but the brief stories here definitely have me interested in more of her work.
As someone whose background in chemistry only goes as far as honors chemistry in high school, a lot of the chemistry Harkup describes in the book is too detailed for me. She comes at it from a much greater level of understanding than I (and I would assume the casual reader) have and if we had to have that level of chemical knowledge, I would've preferred it be explained at an easier level, even if that would've made the explanations longer. As it stands, I had some trouble following the talk of forming and dissolving chemical bonds and how it all impacted things. At times, I found myself scanning the text without actually reading it.
On the flip side, I do have an extensive understanding of psychology and biological psychology. This led to an interesting paradigm where portions of the text were too chemically advanced for me, resulting in skimming, while others were too psychologically 'basic,' which also resulted in skimming. I suppose these parts are also technically chemistry, but personally I place Na+/K+ ion channels into the realm of psychology and biology. Harkup pays particular attention to how sodium and potassium exchanges occur in the body and so information about these channels gets repeated throughout the book. After the second or third time Harkup explains Na+/K+ ion channels, I started getting bored and was wishing she just mentioned a particular poison acted on those channels without going into yet another explanation of them.
October 27, 2025
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for this eARC.
🧪 Kathryn Harkup’s V is for Venom is a wickedly smart, scientifically grounded homage to Agatha Christie’s favorite murder weapon: poison. Following her acclaimed A is for Arsenic, Harkup returns with fourteen more toxic tales, each dissecting a different chemical compound used in Christie’s fiction. But this isn’t just a forensic catalog—it’s a literary autopsy that reveals how Christie’s deep pharmacological knowledge shaped some of the most chilling and clever mysteries in the genre.
🧬 Each chapter focuses on a specific poison—from carbon monoxide to strychnine—exploring its chemical properties, historical usage, and the real-world cases that may have inspired Christie’s plots. Harkup’s writing is crisp and accessible, balancing technical detail with narrative flair. She doesn’t just explain how poisons work; she shows how Christie weaponized them to mislead readers, deepen character psychology, and build suspense.
This isn’t dry science—it’s storytelling with a scalpel. Harkup’s tone is playful yet precise, making complex chemistry digestible even for readers who flunked high school science.
🕵️♀️Christie’s background as a pharmacy assistant during WWI gave her firsthand knowledge of lethal substances, and Harkup argues convincingly that this expertise was central to her success. Unlike blunt-force trauma or gunshot wounds, poisons allow for subtlety, misdirection, and delayed consequences—perfect tools for a mystery writer who thrived on psychological nuance.
Harkup highlights how Christie used the characteristics of each poison not just to kill, but to clue. The symptoms, onset time, and method of administration often serve as narrative breadcrumbs, guiding the reader toward—or away from—the truth.
💀 V is for Venom is a meditation on how fiction mirrors forensic reality. Harkup explores how Christie’s poisons reflect broader anxieties—about trust, domesticity, and the fragility of the human body. The book also touches on ethical questions: What does it mean to fictionalize death so artfully? And why are we so fascinated by invisible killers?
If you loved The Poisoner’s Handbook or enjoy true crime with a scientific twist, this book is a must-read. It’s also ideal for Christie aficionados who want to understand the mechanics behind the mystery. Harkup doesn’t just celebrate Christie’s genius—she reverse-engineers it.
📝 V is for Venom is a brilliant blend of literary analysis and chemical curiosity. Kathryn Harkup proves that behind every Christie corpse lies a molecule of murder—and a mind that understood how to wield it. It’s a book that will make you reread Christie with new eyes—and maybe check your tea twice.
🧪 Kathryn Harkup’s V is for Venom is a wickedly smart, scientifically grounded homage to Agatha Christie’s favorite murder weapon: poison. Following her acclaimed A is for Arsenic, Harkup returns with fourteen more toxic tales, each dissecting a different chemical compound used in Christie’s fiction. But this isn’t just a forensic catalog—it’s a literary autopsy that reveals how Christie’s deep pharmacological knowledge shaped some of the most chilling and clever mysteries in the genre.
🧬 Each chapter focuses on a specific poison—from carbon monoxide to strychnine—exploring its chemical properties, historical usage, and the real-world cases that may have inspired Christie’s plots. Harkup’s writing is crisp and accessible, balancing technical detail with narrative flair. She doesn’t just explain how poisons work; she shows how Christie weaponized them to mislead readers, deepen character psychology, and build suspense.
This isn’t dry science—it’s storytelling with a scalpel. Harkup’s tone is playful yet precise, making complex chemistry digestible even for readers who flunked high school science.
🕵️♀️Christie’s background as a pharmacy assistant during WWI gave her firsthand knowledge of lethal substances, and Harkup argues convincingly that this expertise was central to her success. Unlike blunt-force trauma or gunshot wounds, poisons allow for subtlety, misdirection, and delayed consequences—perfect tools for a mystery writer who thrived on psychological nuance.
Harkup highlights how Christie used the characteristics of each poison not just to kill, but to clue. The symptoms, onset time, and method of administration often serve as narrative breadcrumbs, guiding the reader toward—or away from—the truth.
💀 V is for Venom is a meditation on how fiction mirrors forensic reality. Harkup explores how Christie’s poisons reflect broader anxieties—about trust, domesticity, and the fragility of the human body. The book also touches on ethical questions: What does it mean to fictionalize death so artfully? And why are we so fascinated by invisible killers?
If you loved The Poisoner’s Handbook or enjoy true crime with a scientific twist, this book is a must-read. It’s also ideal for Christie aficionados who want to understand the mechanics behind the mystery. Harkup doesn’t just celebrate Christie’s genius—she reverse-engineers it.
📝 V is for Venom is a brilliant blend of literary analysis and chemical curiosity. Kathryn Harkup proves that behind every Christie corpse lies a molecule of murder—and a mind that understood how to wield it. It’s a book that will make you reread Christie with new eyes—and maybe check your tea twice.
May 1, 2025
V for Venom is the book for all of us Nerds. It has chemistry, biology, pharmacology, forensics, history, literature, true crime--there's something for everyone! There are some heavier science sections which may be tiring/bog someone down if that isn't their cup of tea. But Harkup breaks these concepts down to make them as accessible as she can, without using unnecessary or convoluted analogies.
Some topics include insect venom, bacteria, acid, carbon monoxide, barbituates and other sedatives, and many more medications. We learn exactly how these things work in our bodies, what happens at toxic doses, and how Agatha Christie used that knowledge to create original stories. Often she made up fictional medications, which allowed her to push the limitations of the chemicals that served as her inspiration, while still staying true to what we know about that class of chemicals.
Harkup also provides us with histories of chemical discoveries and uses. She includes some ancient uses, their introduction to the pharmaceutical market, the plausibility of Christie's characters acquiring and using these chemicals, and how they are used in modern times. Each chapter offers real-life cases of these chemicals being used to kill, followed by a comparison to Christie's use of them. Finally, we are given an analysis of how these fictional exposures could have been treated, and if the surrounding characters in Christie's works could have implemented those treatments easily to prevent these deaths.
As a pharmacist, I am almost the perfect audience for this book, but I think someone (with an interest in science) who is also familiar with the Agatha Christie works mentioned in the book will enjoy this deep dive even more.
I had a lot of fun with this one, and found myself sharing what I learned with coworkers on more than one occasion. It does read a bit like a textbook at times, but that's to be expected given the content.
Thank you Netgalley and Bloomsbury for the e-ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review.
Some topics include insect venom, bacteria, acid, carbon monoxide, barbituates and other sedatives, and many more medications. We learn exactly how these things work in our bodies, what happens at toxic doses, and how Agatha Christie used that knowledge to create original stories. Often she made up fictional medications, which allowed her to push the limitations of the chemicals that served as her inspiration, while still staying true to what we know about that class of chemicals.
Harkup also provides us with histories of chemical discoveries and uses. She includes some ancient uses, their introduction to the pharmaceutical market, the plausibility of Christie's characters acquiring and using these chemicals, and how they are used in modern times. Each chapter offers real-life cases of these chemicals being used to kill, followed by a comparison to Christie's use of them. Finally, we are given an analysis of how these fictional exposures could have been treated, and if the surrounding characters in Christie's works could have implemented those treatments easily to prevent these deaths.
As a pharmacist, I am almost the perfect audience for this book, but I think someone (with an interest in science) who is also familiar with the Agatha Christie works mentioned in the book will enjoy this deep dive even more.
I had a lot of fun with this one, and found myself sharing what I learned with coworkers on more than one occasion. It does read a bit like a textbook at times, but that's to be expected given the content.
Thank you Netgalley and Bloomsbury for the e-ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review.
October 29, 2025
CW: graphic descriptions of poisoning, death by suicide, medical gore.
If you loved A IS FOR ARSENIC like I did, this one is definitely a must-read. You do not need to read A IS FOR ARSENIC first, this book completely stands on its own, but the more common poisons were in the first book.
I LOVED this book. This book weaves together the real life history of poisons and their chemistry/toxicology with the fictional use of these poisons in Agatha Christie novels. You don't need to read the Agatha Christie books to appreciate the content here. However, I did read DEATH IN THE CLOUDS, which is the book featured in the venom chapter and I do think it enhanced the experience for me.
My favorite chapters were the oxalic acid chapter and the nitroglycerin chapter. I really loved how Harkup simply described what an acid is (which came up in the formic acid chapter, the hydrochloric acid chapter, and the oxalic acid chapter). I am really excited to add oxalic acid as an example of a deadly chelator to my spring chemistry class. Acids that are toxic for reasons beyond the H+ ions they release are super interesting to me. It is the conjugate base you need to worry about!
I also loved the nitroglycerin chapter. Harkup explained bond energy so simply and I love her for it!
I personally found the level that Harkup explained the chemistry and biochemistry to be perfect, but I am a chemistry professor. But my husband who is not a chemist (but has a degree in biology) also thought the level was really good. It was interesting at science book club, many folks felt like the chemistry was not accessible for them. So your mileage may vary on this one! But, it was pretty perfect to me.
If you loved A IS FOR ARSENIC like I did, this one is definitely a must-read. You do not need to read A IS FOR ARSENIC first, this book completely stands on its own, but the more common poisons were in the first book.
I LOVED this book. This book weaves together the real life history of poisons and their chemistry/toxicology with the fictional use of these poisons in Agatha Christie novels. You don't need to read the Agatha Christie books to appreciate the content here. However, I did read DEATH IN THE CLOUDS, which is the book featured in the venom chapter and I do think it enhanced the experience for me.
My favorite chapters were the oxalic acid chapter and the nitroglycerin chapter. I really loved how Harkup simply described what an acid is (which came up in the formic acid chapter, the hydrochloric acid chapter, and the oxalic acid chapter). I am really excited to add oxalic acid as an example of a deadly chelator to my spring chemistry class. Acids that are toxic for reasons beyond the H+ ions they release are super interesting to me. It is the conjugate base you need to worry about!
I also loved the nitroglycerin chapter. Harkup explained bond energy so simply and I love her for it!
I personally found the level that Harkup explained the chemistry and biochemistry to be perfect, but I am a chemistry professor. But my husband who is not a chemist (but has a degree in biology) also thought the level was really good. It was interesting at science book club, many folks felt like the chemistry was not accessible for them. So your mileage may vary on this one! But, it was pretty perfect to me.
April 26, 2025
The author’s previous books are perfect for readers who enjoy mysteries and non-fiction. As a huge Agatha Christie fan, I love reading about her background, her plots and the science in her novels. This volume is about how the Queen of Crime used chemicals to dispatch her characters. One of the things I’ve enjoyed about her previous work is that the science was approachable. This time, though, the technical part went way above my head. It may be that I’m not very knowledgeable in chemistry, so readers with a more solid background in this, may enjoy it more. Each chapter explores the use of specific chemicals (or group of chemicals) in Christie’s novels; the science behind them, the plausibility of their use, possible antidotes and real-life cases (which will please true-crime fans). She then puts it all together to figure out how believable the scenarios are, and whether the victims would have survived in the real world. These were the parts that I enjoyed. As usual, there are almost no spoilers, so you can be surprised when you read Christie’s novels (or plays). Whenever a reveal is necessary, it is well-marked. So, to recap, this book will be very informative for readers who are not as chemistry-challenged as me.
I chose to read this book and all opinions in this review are my own and completely unbiased. Thank you, NetGalley/Bloomsbury USA | Bloomsbury Sigma.
I chose to read this book and all opinions in this review are my own and completely unbiased. Thank you, NetGalley/Bloomsbury USA | Bloomsbury Sigma.
July 23, 2025
This captivating book takes you on a compelling journey through fourteen additional poisons highlighted in Agatha Christie’s stories. It dives deep into the scientific intricacies of these lethal substances, revealing their chilling application in real-life murders and the stark contrast in their accessibility, usage, and detection from Christie’s era to today. Remarkably, the author shares fascinating methods without disclosing who the murderer is, ensuring that readers can fully immerse themselves in Christie’s thrilling narratives without fear of spoilers.
As a brilliant follow-up to Kathryn Harkup's acclaimed A is for Arsenic, V is for Venom brilliantly showcases how Christie masterfully wove poisons and her scientific knowledge into her plots. This illuminating book not only explores the chemistry of these hazardous substances and their real-world consequences, but it also examines the evolving methods of detection over time. By merging Christie’s exhilarating mysteries with enriching scientific insights and gripping true crime tales, V is for Venom powerfully underscores the remarkable intellect of the legendary Queen of Crime. This novel combines literature and science, promising to enhance your appreciation for one of history's greatest storytellers!
As a brilliant follow-up to Kathryn Harkup's acclaimed A is for Arsenic, V is for Venom brilliantly showcases how Christie masterfully wove poisons and her scientific knowledge into her plots. This illuminating book not only explores the chemistry of these hazardous substances and their real-world consequences, but it also examines the evolving methods of detection over time. By merging Christie’s exhilarating mysteries with enriching scientific insights and gripping true crime tales, V is for Venom powerfully underscores the remarkable intellect of the legendary Queen of Crime. This novel combines literature and science, promising to enhance your appreciation for one of history's greatest storytellers!
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May 5, 2025Author Kathryn Harkup follows up her 2015 book _A is for arsenic : the poisons of Agatha Christie_ with another volume about how the legendary mystery writer used poisons in her many books and short stories.
The first part of the book is a short overview of Christie's life, with an emphasis on her training as a pharmacy assistant in World War I (and Christie later took refresher classes so she could serve in the same capacity during World War II). The training explains why Christie wrote poisons so well, only making occasional mistakes. (which are pointed out in each chapter).
Each chapter of the book describes a poison used by Christie's fictional killers. This book is a bit science heavy; the reader will get short lessons in chemistry, human physiology, and, when appropriate, botany and zoology. People who hated science classes back in high school would probably either not finish this book, or would at most skim for the parts about the plots of the stories. But for people who adore tv shows like CSI in its many incarnations will find this book fascinating.
There is also an appendix, listing all of Christie's works (except her plays) and the methods of murder used.
Recommended for medium to large public libraries, and for the classic English mystery fan in your life.
The first part of the book is a short overview of Christie's life, with an emphasis on her training as a pharmacy assistant in World War I (and Christie later took refresher classes so she could serve in the same capacity during World War II). The training explains why Christie wrote poisons so well, only making occasional mistakes. (which are pointed out in each chapter).
Each chapter of the book describes a poison used by Christie's fictional killers. This book is a bit science heavy; the reader will get short lessons in chemistry, human physiology, and, when appropriate, botany and zoology. People who hated science classes back in high school would probably either not finish this book, or would at most skim for the parts about the plots of the stories. But for people who adore tv shows like CSI in its many incarnations will find this book fascinating.
There is also an appendix, listing all of Christie's works (except her plays) and the methods of murder used.
Recommended for medium to large public libraries, and for the classic English mystery fan in your life.
May 21, 2025
Agatha Christie’s world of poison revealed
I know, it is unbelievable, but I haven’t read an Agatha Christie novel. Nor am I a whiz at chemistry, but I still found this a fascinating and informative book. For each type of poison, Harkup describes how Christie used it in her stories and how she would have likely encountered it. She uses real-life murders to inform us on the effects and possible cures for the poison. There are interesting takes on how likely you could save someone, today or at the time Christie wrote the book.
Each chapter covers a different poison and method of death. The effects of some of the poisons are nightmare-inducing (I am looking at you, Hydrochloric acid). Harkup has done a lot of research. She excels at breaking down the technical science to layman’s terms. She highlights how clever and knowledgeable Christie was in creating her mysteries. She gives insight into how science at the time affected the story. I plan to read some of Miss Marple and Hercule Poirot’s mysteries.
V is for Venom will appeal to Agatha Christie fans and true-crime junkies.
Thanks to Bloomsbury USA and NetGalley for access to the DRC.
I know, it is unbelievable, but I haven’t read an Agatha Christie novel. Nor am I a whiz at chemistry, but I still found this a fascinating and informative book. For each type of poison, Harkup describes how Christie used it in her stories and how she would have likely encountered it. She uses real-life murders to inform us on the effects and possible cures for the poison. There are interesting takes on how likely you could save someone, today or at the time Christie wrote the book.
Each chapter covers a different poison and method of death. The effects of some of the poisons are nightmare-inducing (I am looking at you, Hydrochloric acid). Harkup has done a lot of research. She excels at breaking down the technical science to layman’s terms. She highlights how clever and knowledgeable Christie was in creating her mysteries. She gives insight into how science at the time affected the story. I plan to read some of Miss Marple and Hercule Poirot’s mysteries.
V is for Venom will appeal to Agatha Christie fans and true-crime junkies.
Thanks to Bloomsbury USA and NetGalley for access to the DRC.
November 4, 2025
This is a book about the chemistry of poisons. But I couldn’t tell you a single thing about that. What I could tell you is to not ever eat rhubarb leaves because they're poisonous. I'd never looked into why, or what the poisonous substance was called, it was just a thing I knew as a gardener.
So it should be no surprise that my favourite parts in this book were the plant reveals in relevant chapters (eg. oxalic acid), or knowing what was coming when a poison is named after a plant (eg. digitoxin from digitalis, aka foxglove which I grow as a beneficial native ornamental). It's pretty neat that this book series has such wide appeal to such a variety of people - chemists, true crime fans, gardeners, nerds in general, and presumably fans of Agatha Christie's writing.
I recommend starting with A is for Arsenic, just because it has more commonly known poisons in it, but this was a fantastic follow-up and certainly stands on its own. Both books follow a similar format with each chapter discussing one poison: the chemistry of it, how Christie used it, and some real life examples.
So it should be no surprise that my favourite parts in this book were the plant reveals in relevant chapters (eg. oxalic acid), or knowing what was coming when a poison is named after a plant (eg. digitoxin from digitalis, aka foxglove which I grow as a beneficial native ornamental). It's pretty neat that this book series has such wide appeal to such a variety of people - chemists, true crime fans, gardeners, nerds in general, and presumably fans of Agatha Christie's writing.
I recommend starting with A is for Arsenic, just because it has more commonly known poisons in it, but this was a fantastic follow-up and certainly stands on its own. Both books follow a similar format with each chapter discussing one poison: the chemistry of it, how Christie used it, and some real life examples.
May 3, 2025
** I received an advanced copy of this book through Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. This book is scheduled to be published on June 24, 2025 in the US. **
Omg this is just SUCH an interesting and fascinating read. I learned so many new things that I had not known yet. Each chapter is broken up into several bits so that you can learn about: which Agatha Christie book the particular poison or venom was from and how it was portrayed, how it affects the body chemically, whether or not there is an antidote, what the procedure for dealing with it is today, and real life cases. So much information that is carefully packed into easily digestible information. I particularly enjoyed the appendix and bibliography included in the back. This is the second book the author has written about poisons that Agatha Christie used and I would absolutely be interested in reading a third.
Omg this is just SUCH an interesting and fascinating read. I learned so many new things that I had not known yet. Each chapter is broken up into several bits so that you can learn about: which Agatha Christie book the particular poison or venom was from and how it was portrayed, how it affects the body chemically, whether or not there is an antidote, what the procedure for dealing with it is today, and real life cases. So much information that is carefully packed into easily digestible information. I particularly enjoyed the appendix and bibliography included in the back. This is the second book the author has written about poisons that Agatha Christie used and I would absolutely be interested in reading a third.
July 1, 2025
Thank you to NetGalley and Bloomsbury for providing a complimentary copy of this book.
Agatha Christie, Queen of Crime, has written some truly incredible murder mysteries. One of her common methods of murder is poison, and this book does a great job on describing which drugs/contaminants she used in her stories. The author does a great job in providing some of Dame Christie’s background in pharmaceuticals and her training in the medicinal field. I thought it was really cool to read about the history behind the drugs/poisons utilized in her stories as well as real-life cases in which they were used. I also really like the discussions of the compounds and how they interact with the body. I felt like I was reading a biography, history, chemistry and biology book all at the same time.
I didn’t realize the amount of information on poisons was so fascinating!
Agatha Christie, Queen of Crime, has written some truly incredible murder mysteries. One of her common methods of murder is poison, and this book does a great job on describing which drugs/contaminants she used in her stories. The author does a great job in providing some of Dame Christie’s background in pharmaceuticals and her training in the medicinal field. I thought it was really cool to read about the history behind the drugs/poisons utilized in her stories as well as real-life cases in which they were used. I also really like the discussions of the compounds and how they interact with the body. I felt like I was reading a biography, history, chemistry and biology book all at the same time.
I didn’t realize the amount of information on poisons was so fascinating!
July 4, 2025
A follow up to A Is For Arsenic looks into 14 more poisons and chemical substances used by Agatha Christie in her novels. It goes through the science of the substances and how they work. It then talks about each one's use within Agatha Christie novels. This was really interesting! I love Agatha Christie books, so I enjoyed seeing the science behind the poisons/toxins/other killer substances used. I did find it a little technical in a few places that made it clunkier to read. Despite that though, it was a fun read, great for any Agatha Christie fan!
I received my copy from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review!
I received my copy from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review!
May 18, 2025
Amazing!!! I absolutely adore Agatha Christie novels so I was incredibly excited to get the chance to read this! Kathryn Harkup does a great job covering the science & history behind Christie’s poisons. There is a slight tendency to go off on tangents, but I loved each and every one! Highly recommend to any of my fellow crime junkies!
Thank you to Bloomsbury USA for providing this book for review consideration via NetGalley.
Thank you to Bloomsbury USA for providing this book for review consideration via NetGalley.
September 24, 2025
Another interesting (if overly technical in parts) guide to some of the poisons/venom used accurately and to great effect by the Queen of Crime in a selection of her novels - a follow-up to A is for Arsenic.
December 25, 2025
Good, if you are ok with a LOT of science and history.
May 2, 2025
Thank you Netgalley and Bloomsbury for the e-ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review.
So, I'm very picky when it comes to non-fiction, and I wasn't quite sure what to expect here. I am absolutely delighted to say that this went above and beyond my expectations.
I thought the writing was engaging. It had a decent pacing and was easy to follow. I loved reading about Agatha Christie's history in pharmacology. It was absolutely fascinating to hear about her experience with her training/journey to become a certified pharmacist and how that played into her storytelling.
The author also does a really good job of introducing the poison and/or poisoning method and pairing it with a book title that went along with it. It did have sections that were a bit more in-depth with the science of it all, but again, everything was easy enough to follow. (Thank you, Harkup, for taking pity on all of us who only have a layman's knowledge of chemistry!)
I really enjoyed this comprehensive breakdown of plotting with poisons and other deadly things, and I think if you're a Christie fan, you will too.
So, I'm very picky when it comes to non-fiction, and I wasn't quite sure what to expect here. I am absolutely delighted to say that this went above and beyond my expectations.
I thought the writing was engaging. It had a decent pacing and was easy to follow. I loved reading about Agatha Christie's history in pharmacology. It was absolutely fascinating to hear about her experience with her training/journey to become a certified pharmacist and how that played into her storytelling.
The author also does a really good job of introducing the poison and/or poisoning method and pairing it with a book title that went along with it. It did have sections that were a bit more in-depth with the science of it all, but again, everything was easy enough to follow. (Thank you, Harkup, for taking pity on all of us who only have a layman's knowledge of chemistry!)
I really enjoyed this comprehensive breakdown of plotting with poisons and other deadly things, and I think if you're a Christie fan, you will too.
September 29, 2025
For my full review click on the link below:
https://crossexaminingcrime.com/2025/...
https://crossexaminingcrime.com/2025/...
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