Molecules of Murder
Criminal Molecules and Classic Cases
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John Emsley (Author)
ISBN: 978-0-85404-965-3
Copyright: 2008
Format: Hardback
Extent: caxxiv+242
Price: £14.95
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, but 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.
Ch 1: Ricin and the assassination of Georgi Markov
Ch 2: Hyoscine and the murder of Belle Elmore
Ch 3: Atropine and Mrs Agutter's gin and tonic
Ch 4: Diamorphine and the Dr Jekyll of Hyde
Ch 5: Adrenaline and the near-perfect murders of Kirsten Gilbert
Ch 6: Chloroform and the murder of Edwin Bartlett
Ch 7: Life & Death & CO; Carbon monoxide and the homemade gas chamber
Ch 8: Cyanide and the death on the Nile
Ch 9: Paraquat and the poisoned gravy
Ch 10: Polonium and the poisoning of Alexander Litvinenko
Author Information
Another bestseller from John Emsley - the award winning popular science writer!
From the pen of Dr John Emsley comes yet another bestselling true crime and chemistry story to rival that of his highly acclaimed Elements of Murder book, published in 2005.
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 as a chemistry graduate 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 very strong 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 (which have been translated into many foreign languages including German, French, Italian, Spanish, Portuguese, Polish, Finnish, Chinese and Japanese) include:
- The Consumer's Good Chemical Guide, 1994 (Science Book Award Winner)
- Molecules at an Exhibition, 1998
- The Shocking History of Phosphor
