Molecules of Murder: Criminal Molecules and Classic Cases

Format:	Hardback 276 pages

In stock

Usually despatched within 24 hours

£14.95

Check store availability

Add to wish list

About this book
Bookseller reviews
Customer reviews
Just ask ...

Synopsis

Molecules of Murder is about infamous murderers and famous victims; about people like Harold Shipman, Alexander Litvinenko, Adelaide Bartlett, and Georgi Markov. Few books on poisons analyse these crimes from the viewpoint of the poison itself, doing so throws a new light on how the murders or attempted murders were carried out and ultimately how the perpetrators were uncovered and brought to justice. Part I includes molecules which occur naturally and were originally used by doctors before becoming notorious as murder weapons. Part II deals with unnatural molecules, mainly man-made, and they too have been dangerously misused in famous crimes. The book ends with the most famous poisoning case in recent years, that of Alexander Litvinenko and his death from polonium chloride. The first half of each chapter starts by looking at the target molecule itself, its discovery, its history, its chemistry, its use in medicine, its toxicology, and its effects on the human body. The second half then investigates a famous murder case and reveals the modus operandi of the poisoner and how some were caught, some are still at large, and some literally got away with murder. Molecules of Murder will explain how forensic chemists have developed cunning ways to detect minute traces of dangerous substances, and explain why some of these poisons, which appear so life-threatening, are now being researched as possible life-savers. Award winning science writer John Emsley has assembled another group of true crime and chemistry stories to rival those of his highly acclaimed Elements of Murder.

Book details

Published
01/08/2008

Publisher
Royal Society of Chemistry

ISBN
9780854049653

Publisher and industry reviews

Jacket review

"This book is clearly written and much easier to digest than the compounds it describes." "Emsley has written a book that satisfies the true-crime reader as well as the science-orientated specialist." "I'm sure Gil Grisson, former head of the forensic investigation team in the TV Show "CSI" would have a copy on his shelf" -- Chemical and Engineering News, Feb 2 2009, Volume 87, Number 05, Charles Tumosa Chemical and Engineering News "The accounts are superbly written, with appropriate ammounts of chemistry expertly blended with gripping accounts of criminal acts." "...I found this book fascinating and a brilliant mixture of chemistry and crime. The writing is excellent, the research thorough and the resulting book outstanding." -- Education in chemistry, John Nicholson. Education in Chemistry "This book is a must read for students of forensic science." "...is the right balance between a book on toxicology and an analysis of the use of poisons in crime" "The case study analysis makes the book useful in other disciplines apart from a pure science and this would be a very good text for use in criminolgy or other social science based courses" "The book has a very good glossary making it a useful reference source" -- Physical Science Centre, Volume 9, Issue 2 Physical Sciences Centre "...each chapter is full of interesting nuggets of information that you just don't find in the standard toxicology textbooks." "...an excellent read for the chemist, toxicologist or occupational hygienist who is interested in the world of "true crime." "...the writing is a model of clarity, the stories logically laid out." "Highly recommended, too, for anybody who enjoys a good thriller!" -- Safety and Health Practitioner Safety and Health Practitioner