A is for Arsenic: The Poisons of Agatha Christie By Kathryn Harkup
When it came to offing her characters, iconic crime novelist Christie preferred poison. Chemist Harkup delves deep into the history and science behind more than a dozen lethal substances, introducing each through its appearance in Christie’s writing. You don’t have to be familiar with the likes of Miss Marple or Hercule Poirot, however, to enjoy Harkup’s detailed, near-gleeful dip into what she calls Christie’s “deadly dispensary.”
Places of the Heart: The Psychogeography of Everyday LifeBy Colin Ellard
Despite the title, neuroscientist Ellard is decidedly unromantic about deconstructing both natural and human-made environments into components that trigger specific cognitive responses. From Neolithic monuments that awe to “playground casinos” that empty wallets, Ellard argues that a scientific understanding of how our surroundings affect us must be the foundation on which we build the cities and homes of tomorrow.
Risky Medicine: ...
