Deadly Doses: A Writer's Guide to Poisons

by Anne Klarner and Serita Stevens

Book Overview

Describes the symptoms, forms, methods of administration, and reactions of various poisons, and briefly traces the history of poisioning. This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0898793718
• ISBN13: 9780898793710
• Release Date: January 1990
• Publisher: Writer's Digest Books
• Length: 298 Pages
• Weight: 1.00 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.9" x 6.0" x 9.0"

Customer Reviews

A must-have item for any writer!

While I agree that a quick browse can get you the name for a poison mentioned in your draft, I always wanted a much "physical" way to instantly check in the research. This book is essential in my collection now.

a must for historical or mystery writers!!

This book is a super reference book for writers. Gives you a short history of poisons,then moves in the classic aka Agatha Christie style poisons. Next we get into the what's on hand style of poisons i.e. household stuff. Plant poisons, the dead mushrooms etc. They cover movie poisons such as spiders and snakes, medical oops-es, what's in the garden pesticides. Even Street Drugs and a few hints on do-it-yourself-versions. They covered the methods, the forms, the symptoms, and even the time that is takes and just how successful (toxicity rating)....anything a writer needs to know....no no no don't touch that mushroom!Super reference work and highly recommended

Excellent Beginning Resource

Deadly Doses is an excellent beginning resource for the writer interested in using poison as an element within a story. It gives a brief history of poisoning, clearly divided chapters (plant based poisons, industrial, medical, etc.), and an easy to read format for each entry. Each poison is listed with a toxicity rating (6 being the highest), form, effects and symptoms, reaction time, antidotes and treatment, case histories, and notes of interest. Because the book has to cover so much, each entry is necessarilly brief and many less toxic forms of poison are glossed over or omitted. The author is quite open about this from the start.In addition to the known poisons, the author provides a chapter on how to create an imaginary poison for the sake of your story. You may not find exactly what you need to kill your main victim with, but you will certainly come out of this book with a much stronger sense of how to do it and where to look, thanks to a very infomative biliography. As an unlooked for benefit, you may find yourself far more knowledgeable of dangerous substances in your own life, and, while one hopes such knowledge will never be necessary, knowing the syptoms and treatment of a common household poison may be useful (especially if you have children!)

Very cool....

This is such a cool book! It has extreamly good descripitons for the 3 basic murdering poisons.... Cynide, Arsenic, and strychnine (yea, yea, I cant spell) It also details every other poison you could think of, and half of which are growing in your back yard, or stored in a cabinet! heehee, better watch what herbs your picking....

Worthy of more than only 5 stars!!

Did you know that the pit of a Peach is deadly?? Did you know that lovely foxglove growing in your garden is poisonous? Deadly Doses has been my favorite book from the Howdunit Series. This book gives a writer the information that is needed to write a believable poisoning in their story line. The variety of poisons and their forms, lethal dose toxicity levels, reaction times, effects, symptoms, and treatments are all covered in Deadly Doses. A writer will gain a wealth of knowledge by reading this book cover to cover. It is simply the best specific-topic writer's resource book I have ever read.Deadly Doses: A Writer's Guide to Poisons also gives historical cases where the method of poisoning was used in a homicidal or suicidal death. The types of poisons used are amazing. They include plants, household, medical, and even street drugs.Even if you are not a writer, read this book! It will get you thinking twice about the 'common' products that you use now. I find myself being really careful about the products I use at home and at work. I've even been reading the labels!

A must-have book for writers!

This writer's guide offers a thourough breakdown of every kind of poison known to man, along with helpful appendices that will help you understand each poison. Truly an asset for every writer's library!