Table of Contents

• Preface
• Selected Dates in the Life of Agatha Christie
• Part I. A Poison for Every Purpose
  • 1. A Matter of Taste: Better Dying through Chemicals
  • 2. Disposal of Unwanted Persons with Time-Honored Poisons
  • 3. Disposal of Still More Unwanted Persons: Natural and Unusual Poisons
  • 4. Poison or Not a Poison? That Is the Question
  • 5. How Was That Poison Given?
  • 6. Chemical Control of Body, Mind, and Soul
  • 7. Murder with Medicines
  • 8. Taking Drug Compliance to an Extreme: On Addicts and Addiction
  • 9. Poisoning by Professionals: Helpful or Harmful Health Providers
  • 10. Science and Scientists: Benefits versus Risks to Society
• Part II. A Guide to Christie's Poisons, Drugs, and Chemicals
• Appendix One. Complete List of Novels and Short Stories and the Ways Poisons,
• Drugs, and Chemicals Are Used in Each
• Appendix Two. Medical Use of Drugs in Novels and Short Stories
• Notes
• Bibliography
• Subject Index
• Title Index

About the Author

Michael C. Gerald is Professor of Social and Administrative Sciences at the University of Connecticut, as well as an avid student of the works of Agatha Christie.

Reviews

"... an enjoyable account of the techniques of fictional murder from the perspective of an expert on pharmaceutics ... a quirky, eccentric book which is essentially sui generis ... it certainly will raise the interest of general readers in the romance of pharmacy."oTony Hilfer, professor of English, University of Texas at Austin, and author of The Crime Novel "For people who are simultaneously interested in medical topics and murder mysteries, this labor of love should be a must."oAlan B. Combs, professor of pharmacology and Bergen Brunswig Centennial Fellow in Pharmacy, University of Texas at Austin