Poison: The History of Potions, Powders and Murderous Practitioners [Hardcover]

As every amateur toxicologist knows, the difference between a poison and medicine is often simply the dose.

There is no weapon as insidious, as seductive or as mysterious as poison. In this terrifying account of history's silent assassin, discover the gripping tales of users, abusers and victims of these mysterious substances, from Cleopatra and Catherine de' Medici to contemporary secret service agents and terrorists.

Documenting royal scandal, political upheaval and personal tragedies,Poisondetails a gruesome thread that runs often undetected through human history. This is a beautifully designed and informative gift book that is perfect for fans of true crime and dark history.

CN

Ben Hubbardis a non-fiction author who has written extensively on history and science, including the recently publishedBloody History of Paris,Flashpoints in 20th Century HistoryandPlantagenets.

Sophie Hannahis an internationally bestselling writer of psychological crime fiction, published in 49 languages. Since 2014, with the blessing of Agatha Christie's family and estate, Hannah has published three new Poirot novels, allSunday Timesbestsellers. In 2013, her novelThe Carrierwon the Crime Thriller of the Year Award at the Specsavers National Book Awards.

A beautifully dark gift book,Poisondocuments the tales of the users and victims of these mysterious substances. Profiles of the most commonly used toxins of each era reveal how poisoners have harnessed these natural killers to achieve their ends.Chronologically recounting the story of history's silent assassin,Poisondocuments the gripping tales of the users and victims of these mysterious substances, from Cleopatra, the Borgias and Qin Shi Huang to contemporary secret service agents and terrorists.Poison in the headlines as Novichok used in attack against ex-Russian spy.Foreword bySunday Timesbestselling crime author