The Inheritor's Powder: A Cautionary Tale of Poison, Betrayal and Greed Paperback – July 17, 2014
by Sandra Hempel (Author)
Best Offers Considered !! // Very Good Condition! // Ships Well Packed! // Freeship In The USA!!! // USA Seller !!! Ships Out *with Tracking* Within 1 Day Of Order
Truth is indeed stranger than fiction!!
Reviewed in the United States on August 1
This is a fascinating book. It is a murder mystery, and like any good murder mystery we do not find out who committed the crime until the end. There is gripping courtroom drama, an amazingly incompetent policeman, arrogant but profoundly ignorant experts and crime-scene investigations that make the flesh crawl. Add to that the story of a great forensic chemist who had no formal qualifications, yet revolutionized the analytical chemistry of arsenic while working for a pittance in the service of Her Majesty's Government. For good measure there are numerous anecdotes of life in the 1830s and 1840s, a time when men were hanged for homosexuality, youths were whipped for stealing items worth a couple of pence, and malefactors lucky enough to escape the gallows for more serious offences were subject to transportation, in frightful circumstances, to harsh servitude in the prison colony of New South Wales. If this were a work of fiction, we would be most impressed by the author's imagination and her ability to weave an engaging story. This is not fiction, however. It is all true, and the book is complete with endnotes to show the sources of the information. All in all, it is a great read, and a book that can be read again to appreciate all the details and byways of the story. Whether your interests lie in murder mystery, true crime, social history, or the beginnings of forensic chemistry, you could not fail to enjoy this book.
In the nineteenth century it was criminally easy to bump off unwanted relatives.
A Household Thrown into Chaos
Plumstead village, 2 November 1833. Wealthy landlord, George Bodle is taken violently ill. He dies within hours. When his wife, daughter and two maids are also taken ill, there is only one terrifying explanation . . . arsenic poisoning.
A Murder Most Foul
Yet, while arsenic was readily available over the counter in the 1800s, poisoning was almost impossible to prove. As the evidence mounted up, a picture emerged of bitter family rivalries, brewing resentment, greed and ill-will.
A Sensational Tale
In this account of one of history's most notorious poisonings, Sandra Hempel tells the story of the birth of toxicology - the science of poison - and of a mystery which gripped the nation.
Product details
Publisher : W&N (July 17, 2014)
Language : English
Paperback : 312 pages
ISBN-10 : 178022222X
ISBN-13 : 978-1780222226
Item Weight : 8.5 ounces
Dimensions : 5.55 x 0.91 x 7.8 inches