Book of Poisons: A Guide for Writers
by Serita Stevens, RN, BSN, MA, LNC and Anne Bannon
Writer’s Digest Books, 2007
ISBN 978-1-58297-456-9
$19.99 paperback, 368 pages
Discover Deadly Doses to Kill off Characters
The readers of your crime and mystery stories should be trying to figure out "whodunit"—not wondering why your facts don’t make sense. If you want to kill off characters with something poisonous, you need to know how a villain would gain access to such a poison, how it would be administered, and what the effects on the victim would be. This thorough guide catalogs the classic poisons, household poisons, poisonous animals and plants, poisons used in wars, and more. With information on toxicity, reaction time, effects and symptoms, and antidotes and treatments, you’ll know exactly what your villain needs to succeed and exactly what could foil his plans. You’ll find:
- information about how real toxicologists uncover poisoning crimes
- a history of famous poisoners
- advice on how you can create your own fictional poison
- case histories about poisons used in literature, movies, and real life
With alphabetical organization and appendices that cross-reference by symptoms, form, administration, and other methods, you’ll be able to find the perfect poisons to fit your plot. Plus, a glossary of medical terms makes decoding symptoms and treatments easy for the writer with no medical background.
