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The Friday 56 (With Book Beginnings): The Poisoner's Handbook: Murder and the Birth of Forensic Medicine in Jazz Age New York by Deborah Blum + 50/50 Friday

 



On Friday's I take part in three weekly link ups - The Friday 56, hosted by Freda's Voice, Book Beginnings, hosted by Rose City Reader, and 50/50 Friday is a new weekly link up and it is hosted by Carrie @ The Butterfly Reader and Laura @ Blue Eye Books.  For The Friday 56, you choose a book, a book you have just finished, a book you are about to start, your current read, and share a line or a few lines that grab you (but don't spoil anything) from page 56 or 56% of the way through the ebook.  Post it and share your post's url on Freda's most recent Friday 56 post.  As for Book Beginnings, you share the first sentence or so and your initial thoughts, impressions, or whatever else it inspires, and then link up your post's url with Rose City Reader.   Then, for  50/50 Friday, every week there's a new topic featuring two sides of the same coin - you share a book that suits each category and link up on the hosts blogs.


This week I'm spotlighting one of my current reads, a nonfiction book called The Poisoner's Handbook: Murder and the Birth of Forensic Medicine in Jazz Age New York by Deborah Blum.  This is actually my seventh book for Fall 2017 Bookish Bingo - I'm really on the ball this time - and it fulfills the American History square.  Anyway, I'd seen this come through the library recently and it really caught my attention.  So far it's fascinating.

Beginning:

Until the early nineteenth century few tools existed to detect a toxic substance in a corpse.

56:

Alexander Gettler, tracking cyanide problems in New York, kept a list of accidental poisonings, such as those caused when someone with an open cut on a hand polished the family silver.  The exposure was low enough that most people, after becoming miserably sick, survived.

50/50 Friday: Author You'd Most/ Least Like To Meet


Least - E.L. James


Most - J.K. Rowling

Are you taking part in Fall Bookish Bingo this season?  What have you read for it so far?  As always, thanks for visiting my blog, and perhaps even commenting down below.

Comments

  1. Wow what an interesting, yet deviant sounding book. Hope you are learning a lot.

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  2. It does sound rather fascinating! I do love the first line... instantly I'm intrigued!

    Brilliant cover,too. Glad you are enjoying it. Thanks for sharing.

    Haha! Yes, is it teaching you how to poison people? lol

    Here is mine: https://alternative-read.com/2017/09/22/tgif-friday56-read-with-instagram56-bookbeginnings-thetasteofbluelight-by-lydiaruffles-followfriday/

    The Taste of Blue Light - it's a like a young adult's version of The Bell Jar!

    Luv Sass
    :)

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    Replies
    1. It certainly caught my interest! CSI forerunner!

      Thanks for sharing, Sassy!

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  3. Your current read does sound interesting. One of my recent cozy mystery reads had a death by cyanide poisoning...

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  4. Not heard of your book there so hope you like it and I agree with your authors.

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  5. This sounds fascinating. I would love for you and your readers to check out mine . . . http://tinyurl.com/LisaKsBookReviewsSOTJ

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  6. Fascinating! Thanks for sharing, and for visiting my blog.

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  7. Interesting fact about cyanide poisoning from polishing silver! This book sounds like it would be a good resource for writers of murder mysteries or others who need a way to kill their characters.
    My Friday post features Half Broke Horses.

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    Replies
    1. I knew it used to be in all kinds of products, but I never thought about many of the consequences.

      Thanks for sharing!

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  8. I don't think this one is for me, but hope you love it! Happy weekend!

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  9. Sounds like an interesting book. I hope you are learning a lot. I am featuring The Hunt by Chloe Neill this week. Happy reading!

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  10. Yes J.K. Rowling would be so wonderful to meet!! I'd love to at least go to an author event with her as a speaker sometime :) Thanks for linking up, Lauren!

    Laura @BlueEyeBooks

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  11. I had forgotten all about The Poisoner's Handbook! I remember thinking it sounded like something I might be interested in when I first heard about it, but I see it's not on my wish list. I hope you are enjoying it! It sounds interesting.

    J.K. Rowling was my pick too. I have such respect for her.

    Have a great weekend, Lauren!

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    Replies
    1. It really is a fascinating read! I'd definitely be interested in hearing what you think of it!

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  12. I've never read any of E. L. James's books and don't plan to read them either!! I'm not interested in meeting her as an author either.

    I've also wanted to The Poisoner's Handbook by Deborah Blum!! Interestingly enough there is a documentary about this book and it was good.

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    Replies
    1. I don't blame you there!

      I think I've actually seen some of it before - I'll have to look for it!

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  13. I agree with your least so freaking much it's not even funny. Yuck, I'll pass on meeting her too.

    Thanks for linking up!

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  14. I've lowkey had this on my TBR. I find poisons and how they are used to be fascinating. Please don't think I'm too weird for it, Lauren 🙈

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    Replies
    1. As long as you don't think I'm weird for reading this on my lunch break! :) either way it's really fascinating! :)

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