Molecules of Murder

"Molecules of murder is a paean to forensic chemistry. It is also an eminently readable discussion of classic poisoning cases and the science behind them." * Molecular Interventions, P146. * "This very well written book should find its way into most school libraries, as it will appeal to those - young and old - who are fascinated either by the chemistry involved, or by the history of several murder cases." * Science in School, issue 13, Tim Harrison, University of Bristol. * "...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 * "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 * "In this highly engaging, detailed and morbidly fascinating slim volume, chemist John Emsley narrates the stories of those who made use of science for killing their fellow beings through deadly means""The cases are fascinating for science buffs because of the scientific background about the poisons, and for others for the ingenious thinking that went both into murders and the detective work involved in solving them." * Ashutosh Joglekar Blog, December 04, 2008 * "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. * "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 *

Dr John Emsley is best known for his series of highly readable popular science books about everyday chemistry, some of which have run into multiple editions and printings in the UK, and all of which have been translated into several other languages. He has also published in national newspapers and magazines, and he has written chemistry text books and booklets for industry. John has a carved an impressive career in popular science writing and broadcasting over the past 20 years, emphasising the benefits of chemistry, and the chemical and pharmaceutical industries. John's chemistry career started in 1960 with a PhD in phosphorus chemistry from Manchester University. With spells at the University of London, Westfield College and Kings College as lecturer and reader, he became science writer at Imperial College and then the University of Cambridge where his prolific writing career took off. With his background in chemistry he has had over 110 original research papers published, mainly on phosphorus chemistry and on hydrogen-bonded systems. He has also had more than 500 popular science articles and features published in: New Scientist, The Independent (for which he did a regular column 'Molecule of the Month' for six years), The Guardian, Chemistry in Britain, Chem Matters, Focus, Science Watch and many more. Some of his best selling popular science books include: Better Looking, Better Living, Better Loving, (2007), Elements of Murder (2005), Vanity, Vitality & Virility (2004), Nature's Building Blocks (2001), The Shocking History of Phosphorus (2000), Molecules at an Exhibition (1998) and The Consumer's Good Chemical Guide (1994, Science Book Award Winner) His skills derive from the objectivity gained through a combination of an academic background and freelance writing. The breadth and the topicality of his coverage of chemical issues is second to none, and ranges from food chemistry to advanced semiconductors, from alchemy to Viagra. Although John is primarily an inorganic chemist he has proved himself capable of covering all branches of chemistry, helped in no small way by his willingness to consult those with specialist knowledge and to enlist them in checking his texts before publication. In this way his writing has gained a reputation for thoroughness of coverage and reliability of content. No science has suffered as much from media alarms and misinformation than chemistry, and much of this would have gone unchallenged but for John Emsley. John is regularly approached by the media and asked to take part in broadcasts, more often simply seeking advice on some aspect of chemistry, and his skill is to be able to provide a clear explanation. He is well-known to many in the media and he has been a stalwart of the Association of British Science Writers for 25 years. Dr Emsley is a great science communicator. His entertaining books have contributed to the advancement of a positive awareness of science and he says of himself in the preface of his book Nature's Building Blocks: 'As a writer of popular science, I am aware of the desire of people to know more of the world about them.'

Part I: From medicine to murder; Chapter 1: Ricin and the assassination of Georgi Markov; Chapter 2: Hyoscine and the murder of Belle Elmore; Chapter 3: Atropine and Mrs Agutter's gin and tonic; Chapter 4: Diamorphine and the Dr Jekyll of Hyde; Chapter 5: Adrenaline and the near-perfect murders of Kirsten Gilbert; Part II: So simple, so useful, so deadly; Chapter 6: Chloroform and the murder of Edwin Bartlett; Chapter 7: Life & Death & CO; Carbon monoxide and the homemade gas chamber; Chapter 8: Cyanide and the death on the Nile; Chapter 9: Paraquat and the poisoned gravy; Chapter 10: Polonium and the poisoning of Alexander Litvinenko;