Table of Contents

1. Deadly elements; 2. The history and the chemistry; 3. One man's medicine is another man's murder weapon; 4. Arsenic and adultry; 5. Off the wall poison; 6. Insidious antimony; 7. Requiem for a metal; 8. Deadly lead; 9. When the Empire struck lead; 10. Mercury in the Tower; 11. Mad cats and mad hatters; 12. Young and deadly; 13. Driving you hairless; Glossary

About the Author

John Emsley is Science Writer in Residence in the Chemistry Department at the University of Cambridge. He wrote a "Molecule of the Month" column for the Independent for many years, received a Glaxo award for science writing and the Chemical Industries Association's President's Award for science communication. His books include Molecules in an Exhibition, Nature's Building Blocks, and Vanity, Vitality, and Virility: The Science Behind the Products You Love to Buy.

Reviews

Meticulously researched, this book reads like a novel and a reader could pick up enough colourful anecdotes on which to dine out for some time. The Lancet Endlessly fascinating book...Every page reveals delights and horrors...It is the perfect book to take on a long-haul flight Telegraph The Elements of Murder is full of such intriguing nuggets...Emsley must have been an outstanding chemistry teacher.