THE POISONER'S HANDBOOK Murder and the Birth of Forensic Medicine in Jazz Age New York

Pulitzer Prize winner Deborah Blum’s fascinating study of the birth of forensic medicine is a finalist for the Audie Award in nonfiction, and narrator Coleen Marlo is one excellent reason. Marlo’s voice is pleasant; her delivery, cool and compelling. Blum introduces Charles Norris and Alexander Gettler, the dedicated men who developed techniques for tracing poisons in human tissue. She chronicles specific poisons and specific cases from nineteenth- and early-twentieth-century poisonings, including chloroform, arsenic, and cyanide experiments; hard-to-listen-to graphic descriptions of grisly animal testing; and accounts of serial poisoners. She constructs a convincing indictment against societal ignorance, corporate corruption, and political cronyism. Blum’s spirited prose and well-researched science and Marlo’s intelligent performance make this nonfiction production seem like a series of powerful short stories. S.J.H. 2011 Audies Finalist © AudioFile 2011, Portland, Maine [Published: MARCH 2011]